My ‘Ken butt’ experience | by Kevin

In 2023, I faced my biggest challenge to date – number 8 of my surgeries but this one would change my body forever. I was going to have a proctocolectomy or a Barbie butt/Ken butt. This meant I would be saying goodbye to a part of my body I have lived with all my life.

When I was told I was going into surgery for an 8^th time the nerves began again and the thoughts of what I was going to have to endure again, and more so the thoughts of the recovery. I soon began to realise this was going to be the only opportunity I would have of getting rid of the diseased part of my large bowel which was tucked up inside as I had a loop ileostomy. For years after my stoma formation and a number of further resections, I’d still been dealing with pain, fatigue and other nasty symptoms at the tail end.

The surgery was going to be my best chance of gaining control and potentially my life back, even if it meant that there were going to be some pretty big physical and emotional adjustments.

Recovery wasn’t straight forward and days into having my Ken butt, I had sepsis and a nasty collection in my wound area and groin. I was taken back down to the surgical theater and had to be cleaned out and a drain fitted where they had just taken away my rectum.

Throughout my recovery it was the support of family friends even work colleagues that got me through the tougher days. Surgery as big as a proctocolectomy will challenge even the strongest but it’s a journey that those who have had it done will all say it was worth it.

Some tips I would like to share with those due to have this surgery would be:

• Be kind to yourself: we think of healing as the physical side to recovering from an operation but it’s also the emotional side too, it’s ok to get upset.
• Laugh: you may not feel like it right away but trust me its worth it. Talk to family and friends, don’t bottle things up or reach out to others. There are many individuals who have gone through the surgery or are planning to have it done and there are people out there who have lived experiences so it’s worth asking if you are unsure on something.
• Celebrating the little wins: whether that’s getting up and doing a few steps to eating your first meal, every one of these all count.
• Finally try not to compare your journey to others: although it’s great to speak to others, your journey will take as long as it takes. Don’t be disheartened if you have a small hiccup as I did, it will get better, and the body is a remarkable thing and will heal in its own time.

My proctocolectomy surgery took away a part of me that needed to go but it gave me back the freedom and my life to be able to do the things that I enjoy whether that be hobbies or travelling. No longer am I rushing off to the toilet due to diversion colitis. I’m able to take back control of my life and my body to be able to achieve the things I want to achieve. If you are due to have this surgery, it will be ok, yes it will be a journey, but you have already been on one and overcome so many challenges – this is just one more and you can do it.

Kevin
@thestomaguy