In case I forgot to mention it, which I think I did, my TakeDown surgery is today. Actually I need to be at the hospital in about 90 minutes. I haven't eaten anything since Sunday dinnertime, nothing but clear liquids from then until 8:00AM this morning, and nothing at all, not even water after 8:00AM. Damn I'm hungry... and thirsty. A little over 3 hours until surgery.

So with any luck, the surgery will be short and completely successful. Not sure how long it'll take, it depends on whether there are any adhesions they need to remove and whether he needs to open me up through my big scar or whether he can do it all through the stoma hole.

Time in the hospital will vary depending on all those things, but I know he has me down for up to 5 days... hopefully it'll be less. Then it's home to recover for 4 - 8 weeks while my body learns how to cope with the substitute colon.

Anyway, just wanted to post a quick message for anybody following this. I'll be back in about a week. Wish me luck.

-jk