"So, How's Your Poo Today?"
No, Really? How is your poo?
This is all it seems we talk about in my house these days. It's the first thing I ask Mark when I get to the hospital. It's the first thing the Doctor asks him too. All we do, is sit around and talk about poo. We are way beyond the occasional boofa subject matter, now we're getting much more serious. Poo has taken center stage and at this present moment, it's all about what goes in and what the details are, when it comes out.
I know, so sorry...but I warned you that I was going to be raw and honest.......
3 days ago Mark had a severe attack of dia.....you know what I mean. Lets just say that things weren't really "running" very well. Because he has been on so many antibiotics for such a very long time, it ended up killing all of the 'good' bacteria in what little intestines he has left. The bad bacteria multiplied and took over, this was NOT a good thing. Plus, the part of intestine that he lost, had the job of removing the water from our food, so Mark is now unable to 'dry out' his food. The last three days have been difficult. As a matter of fact, we were down right scared for a day or two and poor Mark, he was forced to get up every 40 minutes or so. This involved a number of procedures: unhooking him from the leg pumps, strapping on 'Das Boot', slowly sitting up and waiting for him to catch his breath, putting on the back brace (no small endeavor) walker placed in front of him, standing up and again waiting for air, walking over to the bathroom, settling him down and at last, some privacy....(until we all openly discussed his poo). By the end of THAT day, Mark had waaaaaay over done it, looked horrible and we were exhausted. He was in so much pain internally and out. I came home and just cried for him. I couldn't even write about it while it was happening because it was just too upsetting and the doctors were truly concerned. Were these beat up, bruised and stitched intestines going to start working right? Today, things are looking better, but he is not, he's a little green and sleep deprived. Today, all he could do was sleep, sleep, sleep while we whispered about his poo. I finally laughed out loud when the nurse came in and we all started clapping about his latest poo. He looked at us, proudly gave a lopsided grin and then fell back asleep. And that's the story, he's 25 years old and with tears in our eyes, we're gratefully clapping about his poo ;^)
posted by Darlene at
5:29 AM
50 Comments:
Sorry to say this (but it has to be said) - sh*t happens, doesn't it? You have to laugh, or you'd just cry. Seriously, I have a love/hate relationship with my own intestines, so I understand just how serious this is, and how much these troubles effect general wellbeing. Sounds like some diet modification is going to be called for?
oh woman...
cryin and laughin with you...
isn't it amazing how the little things become the BIG things?
love you ~~~
xxoxox
leonie
still sending love and good light
"pooped"
tired
worn out
fatigued
exhausted
done in
shattered
beat
dog-tired
bushed
....but STILL taking those baby steps;)
Ohhh DARlene!! You make me smile. I can see Mark with his lopsided grin and then going back to sleep. Too cute!
It really does let you know how things are going.
I am clapping with you!!
Bunches of Hugs XX
Well, that answers my email about his poo! Mark, Mark, MARK! Heal, Heal, HEAL!!! xo, Cinda (((((Mark)))))
Y'know, whether it's about poo, standing up, or whatever, we're all grateful that you can have conversations with Mark.
Each day, he's getting stronger...little steps, perhaps, but steps forward nonetheless.
Yay!!!
Our prayers are with you all.
-- f
We are clapping too Darlene.
Hugs.xxxx
Oh goodness, I have to admit, that I have a smile on my face after reading those last few lines. I feel terrible about what he has had to endure for the last few days, but oh so happy that it seems to be correcting itself. I always say, that we take it where we can get it...happiness that is...and in this case, it is more progress. It is difficult, but by the grace of God, it is progress....and that is all that matters at the end of the day.
Continuing to think of you every day and continuing to pray for you every day.
Love to you...
J
xoxoxo
mine's just fine thanks ;-)
i'll add my round of applause to Mark's latest 'achievements' too.
love to you x x x
Good God that's AWESOME blogging right there! We talk about "poo" all the time here at home! My poo, my husbands and all of our furry friends which includes 4 dogs and 9 cats. There's a LOT of pooing around here!
Ya for POO!!!!
YA for MARK!!!
Lotsa love coming at you!
Absolutely trying to contain myself poor mark, it reminds me of our house when any one says there unwell the first thing that comes out of my mouth is "have you done poos?) if so or not the ? continue.
lol poor Ben is still not used to it his big 1 week stint in hospital for salmonella really did it for him that was 6 months ago and POO is TaBOO, its so funny. Poor Mark though I cant imagine the strain on his body now and with dysentery on top of that ohh babe.
Just for conversations sake RED CORDIAL is what we used to give the aboriginal kids in the missions for that don't ask me why but it helps if hes on fluids it cant hurt. I give it to my babes along with frozen coke for the electrolytes when we cant get to a pharmacy, oh silly me I know hes in hospital but that was just a ramble of home remedies(sorry)
LOved your email and I already rang Danicka (again in awe of you all)
Lots of Love Sweet gal xxxx
Darlene you tell this serious story so beautifully that you ahve actually left me with a smile.
How awesome that you can stnad outside this situation for a moment. And yes, I am so glad the "poo" has improved.
Smiling here :) Especially since poo has been a major topic of conversation in our house lately. Our precious labrador has had a very poorly tummy which needed the Vet's attention urgently, and I whooped with joy when he did a solid one yesterday! ;D
Poor Mark, every time he gets some strength up, he seems to need it all in one go. It must be exhausting for all concerned.
Praying for his strength to continue to build so that he can keep some in reserve, and that his intestines will soon heal & begin to work properly...
So thankful that we are having these conversations at all.
Love to you all, and big hugs.
Suze xXx
(((Darlene))))
Keep up the good work and keep clapping.
What???? You wanted a poem today?? ;)
I'm glad to read that Mark's continuously healing.
And if it makes your hospital conversations seem less weird.. they talked about poo when I had my tonsils taken out. I would have never thought that a standard surgery such as a tonsillectomy could spark such interesting discussions. Poor Mark though, I remember being mortified back then. ;)
Still thinking of you all, hugs
luzie xo
the fact that poo is coming out is a sure sign of how far Mark has come - i think it's fantastic! before he wasn't even eating... this is such a good sign, i feel, for his recovery.... sending BIG hugs to you right now Dar xxoo
Darlene,
No wonder Mark is recovering....you just have the best way of coming through the darkest and most unsavory of challenges.
Continued healing for you all...strength, courage, peace and love.
CC Kitty
Another grand HUZZAH for the poo.
Another step on the road to recovery.
What guts he's got left are the brave ones. I can't help but be inspired by you all.
And to think, he can smile at the attention his poo is getting. What a guy.
You sure did raise him right.
I dare say he understands the words, We Shall Overcome, because he is doing just that.
Keep on truckin' Mark, and the rest of you as well.
a' hee!hee!hee!...Isn't it glorious to giggle...more gigglesand smiles and laughs are going to come your way...
You are such a brave darling mama!
Luxie
simplylux.blogspot.com
Hurrah! I'm clapping too. I remember after having my first baby (via c-section)... a completely minor ordeal alongside Mark's experience... but afterwards it was all about poo for me too... for very different reasons -post-op constipation- I remember actually telephoning my best friend very late at night because I just had to share the wonderful news that I had finally (though painfully) pooed!!
Mark's stamina and endurance continues to amaze me. As does your dedication and love.
Always by your (bloggy) side.
Vanessa
Darlene,after reading your comment on some one else's blog, I have just spent the last hour or so reading thru the ordeal you have been going thru with your son. You are one STRONG mama. Mark will be added to my prayers as well.
I have an embarassing but funny now poo story from when I was in the hospital when I was in a car accident that broke my neck. Because I wasn't able to get up and move about to get other things moving, they had to give me a suppository every morning. On this particular morning I was scheduled for an early morning x-ray because they were going to do a fusion. The suppository lady came in and I told her that they were gonna come get me for the x-ray any minute so could she come back after? Nope..gotta do it now. No sooner had she left when guess who came! The transport people! I told them I just had a soppository so could they come back in 20 minutes? Nope. Gotta take you now!
So there I am in x-ray with my surgeon and all the technicians when...well...I don't have to tell you what happened next, do I? LOL
I hope my story made you laugh.
I'm glad you are seeking out the humor in Mark's ordeal. To be able to laugh in the darkest of times is so important!
Hugs and prayers!
Patty
This reminds me of when we potty train them as babes, and we all get to admire the result.LOL
It's tiring enough when you are able bodied to have to run for the bathroom, no wonder he's exhausted.
His body is functioning again ..slowly but surely..hooray..!
Good news indeed.
tears and rollercoasters and joy and poo
i guess that's what life is all about...
hugs!
I get the whole poo fascination, I really do! When my mom was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer, the way they found it was that it had spread to her bowels and messed up a bunch of stuff* that had to be removed or repaired and I remember the time when a big part of our day revolved around the drama of poo - when, how much, texture, the whole bit. :-) So I'm clapping for Mark right along with you!
*"messed up a bunch of stuff" is my highly technical medical explanation of the problem! ;-)
More clapping from this corner of the world...and prayers for continued 'poo' and improvement, strength and courage, and serenity to continue to cheer on those baby-steps. First we were held, then we learned to crawl, we learned to stand and progressed to a hold-on walk...he's covered a million miles already! ;)
I'm with Susannah--the fact that he was not able to eat and had nothing going through means that lots of baby steps have taken place in between then and now. He is eating and things are coming out; to me that is a good sign. I won't deny that there is some fine tuning in order, but all in all I think it's fantastic!
I'm not sure I've prayed about bacteria before, but those are the prayers I'm sending your way today. Keep expecting the miracles; they are there!
Still got that candle lit for you awesome Mark. Everyday.
Love,
Kim
Movement- no matter what kind- is a sign of health, Darlene- so yay! for Mark! and love to you!
Oh man! This made me smile.
My hubby was in the hospital a little over a year ago with a nice bout of Colitis... The whole week he was there the ONLY conversation he ever had with any of the doctors or nurses was about poo. The two things I remember most were once when a nurse had to come collect a sample... UGH! It was horribly icky, he came in after the hubby was done... He was armed with a plastic baggie that had a plastic container, some long cotton swab things... and a plastic spoon! Yep, the poor man had to spoon himself a sample... GAH!
And then his friends came visit him.... Men are so... well they are just big boys... His friends bought him a big stuffed monkey, a "Butt Monkey" as they called it... and it was holding a tube of Beaudreux's Butt Cream. Good times! Now my kids fight over who gets to sleep with the Butt Monkey... *sigh*
I can't wait for more good news... even if its poopy ;-)
xoxoxo
Georgia
Celebrating the "poo" with you!! I am not only amazed but really humbled by your raw honesty. Thank you.
Well, the poo does represent the ongoing healing of his body, doesn't it?! So I say clap for the poo!
Still thinking of you all :)
hugs & kisses, Sophie
Milestones, they're all milestones. And every step forward should be celebrated. Keep clapping. :)
The cycles of life, right? Only you thought you were done clapping about poop! (I would clap big time, if I could see a little more of in in the actual potty, around here, ya know what I'm sayin'? So sick of changing diapers already!) Anyway, You know I am hoping the very best. Continue to take care of yourself. Laugh when you can! It heals!
:)
Oh sweetie!
You know he's going to roll his eyes when he reads this!!
Seriously though, this is where you are at in his recovery and it's an important milestone for him to get through.
Continued prayers and healing love your way... JP
Aah, the joys of medical life. Sending you bunches of love, always.
The more things change the more they stay the same.... :)))
Hey, it's all about the Poo!
This is such a good sign, get him a re-boot on the good buggies and it'll be a lot better.
lovely lovely lovely!!! i am so happy that he pooed!
your family amazes me.
you amaze me.
(hugs)
Have you ever read or heard about the Garden of LIfe products? They are all about getting the good bugs back into your system, and helped me and others immensely; especially the Primal Defense. My body is really sensitive to imbalances after I have to take antibiotics. I get the products at a local grocery that carries organic products.
Yup - Back to basics! But it is one way our body sends out "messages from the interior"!
Bravo to Mark on his strength and courage. Wishing you all good health and lots more joy. ;-)
- Lee
Some days that's what it all comes down to...the basics of how things function. Praise God for functional poo!
Bless you!
Trish
Isn't it interesting how things like that take on a whole new importance? My mom's illness required us to talk about the very same thing, we used to laugh and she'd say "who would have thought we'd talk so much about it?" But it is of vital importance so I can see why you worry or celebrate depending on what happens. It feels odd to clap and hooray over a BM but man, I so understand it. Stay strong dear Darlene....the light is still shining for Mark and the healing wishes ever present.
BIG love and hugs,
Lisa
Well, at least he is healing every day...and poo-ing..that's great!!! I remember when I would be excited about one of the babies when they had been constipated and finally "did" the deed.
You all take care, stay warm and keep progressing up there....can't wait for the day he is out of the hospital and improving at home...at least the hospital trips will be cut out...
blessings to Mark....
sandy/dd
Poo becomes a source of fascination with intestinal surgery patients. Tell Mark not to worry about having people clapping for his poo. My 75-year-old dad had a section of intestine removed this fall and we all clapped about his, too.
The only thing worse than having your mom and a bunch of strangers discussing your poo would be to have your grown daughters talking about it.
Love and light to you both.
Too cute... loving this.
And you.
So great to speak with you yesterday.
Hugs to Mark...
Bx
Wow, thats great. We as mothers are constantly monitoring poo, and when we get a good one out of our kids, we do clap.
xo
So glad that Mark is continuing to improve.
Thanks for continuing to share such heart felt information so clearly.
Here's to Mark's poo!!!
i must admit that i am happy to hear about mark's poo, too!!!
Is it time to start a chart for Mark awarding him stars or stickers for the good poops? :-)) Darlee, this is good news that his intestines are functioning even with some problems. You make me smile with your writing today. And yes, my own poo is rather......ok, let's just say IBS and leave it at that, ok?? :-)
Thanks for yet another update. We are right here for your with prayers, tears, laughter and whatever is needed for the day (yes, including sharing our poo stories)!
Ciao,
Dee
Horray for poo!!!
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home