Category Archives: Surgery decisions

My first post-surgery multi-pitch climb: my imaginings turn into reality (feat. new video)

Posted on August 5, 2012 by

In the weeks after making my decision to have a permanent ileostomy, my imaginings of what life was going to be like after surgery played in my head like little movies. There was the one that featured me happily leading … Continue reading →

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Hand jams and high steps: outdoors on the rock (feat. new video)

Posted on December 1, 2011 by

Five days ago at our local crag, I stood at the base of a short, easy (5.6) route, looking up and assessing the possible moves and thinking about how my body might handle them. This outdoor climb (on real rock!) looked easy … Continue reading →

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Part eight in a series: I am thankful for online friends

Posted on November 24, 2011 by

I am thankful for online friends I am not sure what words I typed into the search engine to stumble upon Charis Guerin’s Inspire.com website, but it was one of those lucky moments of fate. I was just entering a … Continue reading →

Posted in A series of thanks, My favorite posts, Surgery decisions, Surgery recovery | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Part five in a series: I am thankful for Remicade

Posted on November 21, 2011 by

I am thankful for Remicade “What?!” my friends and family might say upon seeing Remicade on my list. “But you hated that drug!” Sometimes it turns out that the things we are most thankful for are the same things we didn’t … Continue reading →

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Part four in a series: I am thankful for my surgeon

Posted on November 20, 2011 by

I am thankful for my surgeon, Dr. Craig Brown How could I possibly be laughing? I had just been wheeled into the sterile operating room, had scooted over onto the operating table and was now gazing at the big round … Continue reading →

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Another view of Heidi’s story

Posted on November 12, 2011 by

My name is Doug, and I’m the lucky one who is married to Heidi, the champion of the effort called Ostomy Outdoors. When Heidi started this blog six months ago, I didn’t imagine that I would be writing in it … Continue reading →

Posted in Marriage and love and spouse, Surgery decisions, Surgery recovery | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Celebrating my first year as an ostomate

Posted on November 8, 2011 by

Today is the one-year anniversary of my ileostomy surgery. I thought about climbing a mountain to honor the 0ccasion, but decided to celebrate by enjoying a normal day. After all, as much as I love getting outside to challenge myself, … Continue reading →

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A dot marks the spot

Posted on October 30, 2011 by

It was a gorgeously sunny October day last year when I packed up my harness and backpack and headed out the door. No, I wasn’t going on a hike or climb. In fact, the place I was traveling to wasn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Climbing, Hiking and backpacking, My favorite posts, Stoma, Surgery decisions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Permanent ileostomy or j-pouch: that was the question

Posted on October 17, 2011 by

One of the questions I get most often from readers of my blog is why I chose to have a permanent ileostomy instead of trying j-pouch surgery. Though I have mentioned a few of the reasons in other posts, I … Continue reading →

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Crossing the expanse (feat. new video)

Posted on August 5, 2011 by

“How about going ziplining,” our friend suggested.  My first thought was, Absolutely! That sounds fun, I have always wanted to try it. My second thought was, Wait, what about my ostomy? How will my pouching system hold up to zipping … Continue reading →

Posted in My favorite posts, Surgery decisions, Video, Ziplining | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments