Eric Tapley

Since being released from the hospital on Friday I’ve been plagued with restlessness and insomnia. I know part of it stems from the high dose of steroids I’m on again leading up to the operation - Prednisone does a great short-term job of keeping ulcerative colitis at bay by reducing inflammation - but it has to be more than the drugs.

I just feel as if there is so much to do in the next couple of weeks, and I keep waking up after just a few minutes rest, ready to head back into it. I know this is the worst possible thing if I’m trying to rebuild my body’s strength prior to surgery - instead of helping I’m hurting. But I just don’t know what to do so I can relax and rest. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

I’ve been trying to write a post, a thank you, an expression, some thing that would be able to capture just how tremendous all the support, prayers, and understanding I’ve received in just the past few days have been. But I can’t. Not without sounding saccharine, or phony, or just cheesy and lame. Under it all there’s a very solid truth, though, my core is swelled with the greatness of others, and it makes it all so much easier to cope. I am not incredible. I am not strong. I am not even unusual. I’m loved, and that’s way more than I could ever hope for, and will get me through whatever may lie ahead.

As you’ve probably heard by now, I’ve been in the hospital for the past two weeks with severe intestinal problems. Specifically I suffered from a complete intestinal blockage due to inflammation of my small intestine near the spot of my previous surgery. This was exacerbated by ongoing problems with Ulcerative Colitis, lots of ongoing medications, and a possible bacterial infection.

Initially my doctors thought I would need emergency surgery, so I was transferred from hospital to hospital until I ended up at the Boston Medical Center. Rest and aggressive medical therapy was able to relieve the blockage. As a result the surgery has been delayed to give my body a chance to rebuild some strength and to schedule the operation for a more convenient time.

My surgery is scheduled for May 11th at 7:30 am. This is a major operation, during which I will have the remainder of my colon removed to get rid of the Ulcerative Colitis permanently, a “J-Pouch” constructed for eventual return to normal bowel functionality, and a temporary colostomy bag installed while my insides heal. It will be about a 5-hour procedure followed by 7-10 days of hospital recovery and then a gentle schedule of home rest and recovery. Two months after the initial surgery I will return for a smaller procedure to remove the colostomy bag, which will again be followed by a few days of hospital recovery and then - finally - a gradual return to normalcy. In the time between the two surgeries and initially following the final procedure I’ll be working closely with my doctors to monitor and and evaluate the healing and recovery process.

I’m very optimistic about this turn of events. I was able to avoid emergency surgery and have a bit of time to prepare physically and emotionally for the operations and recovery. I’m also working with top specialists in this field, a team lead by Dr. Becker, so after three or four months I should finally get back to being healthy. It’s been a very long two years and I’m excited to be solving these health problems.

Thanks for your understanding, support, prayers, and generally being great while I’ve dealt with these health problems. I know it’s hard because we don’t like to see our friends or loved ones in pain, but with a disease like mine there is very little anyone else can do. Now this is finally coming to closure and I’ll be able to resume my life - yea!