This was my first Thanksgiving with an ostomy. It was also my first Thanksgiving without active inflammatory bowel disease. And it was awesome!
There were no worries yesterday. We were tightly squeezed around my parents’ table, and I didn’t once think, “What would happen if I suddenly had to get out of this chair?” I ate everything I wanted and as much of it as I wanted.
Not that I usually turned things down on Thanksgiving. Even with IBD, if there’s one day you’re going to break the rules, it would be Thanksgiving. But this year, there was no thought of regretting it the next day. I didn’t have to take just the tiniest scoop of corn, because I knew it wouldn’t sit well with me. I took all that I wanted! (Which looking back now, was probably still not the smartest thing to do.)
But reaping the consequences the next day, is not the same as it had been last year, or the 13 years prior. “Cheating” would have been painful for me in the past. It would have given me some extra time in the bathroom. But today, I am just taking it a little easy. I had some coffee and a protein shake for breakfast to help flush out the pipes, but there’s no pain. No thinking, “Why did I do that?” I suppose the concern about a leak is a little higher today than it is usually, but it’s honestly not enough to make me even think twice about enjoying everything yesterday.
I am so thankful for that. I’m so thankful to be able to enjoy the holidays with my family without worrying about running to the bathroom constantly. I’m so thankful to be sitting here healthy and happy… very happy.