Hi, my name is Dan Stowell, and I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis when I was sixteen. After four excruciating years, I’m here to tell my story. My case has been unique putting me through all the twists and turns of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Over time, I’ve learned to adapt and create methods to cope and live the best life I possibly can.

The vulnerability of putting yourself and story out into the world can be intimidating, but I feel like I have a duty to help as many people as I can. Whether it be mindset tweaks, lifestyle adjustments, daily routines, someone to look up to, diet assistance, you name it.

I know how chaotic everything can get and wish there was someone that I could relate with when I was going through my early battles.

As a disclaimer, there are a few graphic images that may be disturbing. However, this has been my reality.

Please keep any rude or any unwanted comments to yourself.

Thank you.

Backstory:

Throughout my childhood, including infancy, I’ve always been extremely healthy. I played sports, was outgoing, enjoyed the outdoors, and ate whatever I wanted. I played basketball for my high school and could bench press up to 210 lbs. I weighed a compact 150 lbs. standing at five feet eight inches. I never realized how good I had it at the time, but life would soon give me a blaring wake-up call.

Everything changed the summer going into my senior year of high school. Initial signs that something was wrong first appeared that previous December when I noticed a trace of blood in my stool. I thought it was something I ate and disregarded it until it continued to reappear.

Since I felt normal and was hoping that it would go away on its own, I didn’t tell anybody. It’s also an uncomfortable topic that nobody wants to talk about, hence why I kept it to myself. Knowing what I know now, I should have told somebody once it reoccurred the second time. The quicker you’re able to identify a problem, the faster you can treat it. It wasn’t until mid-March that I spoke up and said something about it. Just two weeks later, I experienced my first of many ER visits.

Life took a dramatic shift in the summer.

My digestive system was slowing down and getting severely constipated between May and June. Unsure why this was happening, I figured that I could resolve the issue on my own by adjusting my diet and adding more fiber. I didn’t have any changes in my bowel movements until mid-July when things did a complete 180. Literally overnight, I went from not being able to get anything out of my system to hardly making it into the bathroom. It was like someone was smuggling a hazardous amount of laxatives in every meal I consumed. It was horrible! At first, we thought I might have caught some stomach virus. It just didn’t make sense how or why my system completely flipped overnight. I was having around 15-20 bowel movements a day. After three weeks of this continuing, we realized that it’s probably something more serious and went back for a follow up with the Gastrointestinal (GI) doctor. In an upcoming ER visit, a C. diff infection was discovered, and a few days later, on August 28, 2015, I was officially diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis.

Treatments:

Unfortunately, health professionals are unsure about how these diseases develop, and treatment options are very limited. The three categories of treatment include oral steroids, IV infusions, and surgery.

I wasn’t very satisfied with my limited options, but I was willing to try anything to feel better. I started on oral steroids for a few months, though they didn’t do anything except give me a round poufy face. Next were the IV infusions, Remicade was the treatment they put me on. IV infusions are something you go in every few months for and has high remission rates. Sad to say that was not the case for me. I fell into a small category that reacted negatively to the treatment. I didn’t have any serious reactions, but it did not help and made me feel worse. I would get extremely fatigued, waves of nausea, experience hot/cold flashes, and increased bowel movements for the next 2-3 days. After five attempts of the infusions being ineffective, my only option left was surgery.

Surgery Consultations:

I’m not going to lie, I can be stubborn, and surgery was NOT an option for me. Just the thought of it was too overwhelming for me to handle at the time. I first met with a pediatric surgeon from the University of Michigan (U of M) Hospital. This doctor was a general surgeon and did not specialize in gastrointestinal disorders. His approach was a horrendous three-part surgery that I stopped listening to after the first five minutes. I was not going to let that happen to me.

That’s when we decided that I needed to see someone more specialized.

I then met an adult gastrointestinal surgeon from U of M that specializes in cases like mine, and he was a perfect fit for me. His plan was a two-part surgery that would occur on June 8th (four days after graduation) and August 15th of 2016. The first surgery completely removed my colon and entire large intestine while constructing a J-pouch with my small intestine, which would later get reconnected in the second surgery. This J-pouch is designed to serve the function that my colon would. In between surgeries, I had an ostomy bag.

I can’t imagine how my life would be if I agreed with the first surgeon. If you’re not comfortable or completely satisfied with your consultation, you should consider getting a second opinion. Even if things went well and you have minimal concerns, getting a second opinion is never a bad idea. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, especially in these extreme circumstances. Having a healthy, trusting relationship with your doctors is essential for optimal care. I can’t stress how important that is!

Surgery Day: June 8, 2016

My surgery was first thing in the morning, and I woke up midafternoon. Due to all the medications, I don't remember too much about this day. I do remember the moment I first woke up, though. Before surgery, I requested to be alone in postop. When I woke up, I immediately looked at my stomach. My first words were, “Oh, f*ck.” I’ve seen pictures of an ostomy bag, but it’s different seeing it in person, especially when it’s you! It was scary, but I knew what I was in for, well at least I thought I did. Later that night, I managed to take a victory lap around my floor as I watched the Warriors blow a 3-1 lead in the finals.

First Obstruction:

Day 4 at the hospital.

At this point, the only thing on my mind was getting home. I was exhausting every ounce of physical and mental energy I had left to get discharged. Most people stay in the hospital 5-6 days to recover, but I wasn’t going to stay any longer than I had to. It was around noon, I just got my IV out and was preparing for discharge. Just moments later, I quickly took a turn for the worse. Previously that morning, I had two small bites of a breakfast sausage link and was unaware that you CANNOT eat sausage with an ostomy bag because of the casing. I was experiencing my first obstruction.

June 12, 2016, was easily one of the most dreadful days of my life. I can recall every detail like it happened yesterday. Without any warning, a sharp pain came out of nowhere and exponentially got worse. At first, nobody knew what was happening. I was panicking, and the hospital staff was scrambling to get assistance. They first had to get an IV back in me to start the morphine drip. To make things worse, under all the pressure, my nurse poked and missed my vain multiple times until the doctor stepped in to insert it. I was getting nauseous and began to start dry heaving. The dry heaving went on until I eventually passed out from the pain and morphine. When I woke up, I began right where I left off. It turned into countless cycles of me dry heaving, passing out, then waking to restart the process.

This was when the doctors had a good idea an obstruction was taking place. There are two ways to resolve a obstruction without surgery. Either drink lots of liquids and wait for it to pass on its own eventually (very painful) or the doctors can insert a tube down the nose (that stays in for 24 hours) into your stomach which dislodges the obstructed area. I was extremely drugged up, hardly conscious, had my eyes rolled into the back of my head, and in the worse pain of my life. However, I was aware enough to tell the doctors a big NO every time I heard the word “tube.” I didn’t care how long it took; I wasn’t having that tube put in me. Initially, I couldn’t get anything out and was dry heaving for what felt like an eternity until I started to vomit my stool. I eventually cleared the obstruction on my own after hours of this demoralizing turn of events.

As devastating as it was, I’m fortunate this happened at the hospital rather than my house. My mother and I wouldn’t have had the slightest clue what was happening; not to forget the drive to Ann Arbor and the whole check-in process. I needed medical attention immediately.

Living with an Ostomy Bag:

For the next three months, I had an ostomy bag attached to me. I can’t put into words how much I dreaded that bag. Each day seemed like a repeated never-ending nightmare. I was embarrassed and extremely self-conscious, never stepping foot in public unless I had to.

This dark time helped me appreciate the little things in life that we take for granted. Being isolated inside for most of my days began to take a toll on my mental health. Without having any way to speed up or distract me from the process, I was forced to face reality.

For the first few weeks, my body was still partially immobilized from surgery. It was honestly like I was 17 going on 71, I felt so helpless. At first, I couldn’t get out of bed on my own, getting food was exhausting, and taking a shower felt like a CrossFit session. It took me around a month to be sufficient on my own again. During this period, I started taking walks outside and rediscovered the simplicity of life and how peaceful it is. Even though it was midsummer with most of the days being in the 90’s, fresh air never felt so good. I was still too embarrassed to go out in public; however, this was enjoyable at the time.

Out of desperation, I started to get out towards the end of the third and final month. I mostly only went to the gym during dead times and would avoid every person within ten feet, but hey at least I got out right?! As long as I kept my distance and did my own thing, I felt at ease. It was a completely different ballpark when I had to interact with someone, though. All my anxiety and fears would pour in. Do they notice? What do I say if it makes a loud noise? Is my face getting red? What will they think? When will this conversation end?

I often reflect on this time of my life whenever I’m feeling unmotivated, fatigued, upset, whatever the case may be. I reflect on how I was unable to do the things I wanted and how awful that felt. It’s my life, time to take control and start living it.

The only person holding you back is you!

Connection Issues: August 16, 2016

When my small intestine got reconnected, I immediately had complications. I wasn’t used to this new way of processing food and was in extreme amounts of pain. Within the first four weeks, I developed three separate obstructions that resulted in me getting admitted into the hospital.

The next few months was a very slow recovery process. It had taken a long time to adjust to my body and its new functions. I was mostly on a liquid diet while my doctors collaborated to figure out a solution. To help reduce blockages and pain, my doctor suggested getting an anastomotic dilation. This procedure is performed when there is a narrowing in the intestine. Doctors dilate the intestine with a balloon type device that widens the area providing better flow and function to the J-pouch. The procedure helped as I was able to eat more solid foods without getting obstructed. During the procedure, my doctor noticed a contorted area in my intestine and was not able to continue further. This contortion is a mechanical issue due to how my J-pouch settled in after the surgeries. It makes it difficult to empty my J-pouch fully and contributes to a lot of discomfort.

August 17, 2016

Nutritionist: January 2017

Meeting with a nutritionist helped show me how big of an impact diet has on Ulcerative Colitis. As my body changed with surgery, so did my diet. Everyone is different, and I wasn’t sure what I could tolerate. Due to the narrowing, I was on a modified liquid diet from August to Novemberish. So, when the nutritionist showed me all of these “safe foods” that I was most likely able to digest, I was extremely excited. I was currently staying away from many of the foods she suggested simply because they weren’t allowed when I had an ostomy bag. I started on a Low FODMAP diet; the goal is to mitigate symptoms by limiting certain types of carbs that are poorly digested and absorbed. In theory, this will lower gas and bloating, which would reduce abdominal pain. As time went on, my symptoms and pain management began to improve. My diet mainly consisted of fruits, limited vegetables, eggs, chicken, turkey, seafood, lactose-free, and gluten-free.

I continued this diet and slowly started adding in new foods one at a time. My nutritionist gave me a smart way to introduce these foods. It’s a three-day process. Day one, select one new food to try. Make sure it’s the only new food that you’re introducing into your system and only eat a small portion. Consuming more than one new item will prevent you from knowing which food is safe and which causes issues. Day two, same food and concept except you increase to a medium size portion. Day three, you guessed it. Secure that napkin in place and dive in, we’re feasting today. By the end of the third day, you should have a pretty good idea if that food agrees with you or not. This process is a safe, efficient method for anyone with digestive issues to utilize. If you are already having a bad day or week, don’t attempt to try new food. You don’t want to risk feeling worse. You also won’t be able to identify if the pain is preexisting or from the new food. Sure, it may intensify, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that the new food is responsible. Be smart and wait until you’re feeling more stable. Doing it this way helps assure if the food is safe or not.

Physical Therapy: March 2017

I began seeing a physical therapist to help manage pain and rehabilitate pelvic muscles that are inflamed and forgot how to work in between surgeries. Physical therapy isn’t for everybody; however, it has dramatically improved my quality of life. If you are interested and would like to know more feel free to contact me.

Diet Adjustments: May 2017

Beginning to truly understand the importance of food and its impact on overall health. I’m reading labels and analyzing ingredients to make sure a product is safe before consumption. I never realized how bad conventional American food has gotten. Most likely from being young and ignorant. I began researching different foods and wanted to start a Pescatarian diet. I’ve also checked out the many benefits of Veganism and will strive to make that my overall goal.

Grilled tilapia with peppers, onions, and mango

Challenging Uncertainty: July 17, 2017

I took a huge leap in breaking down some mental barriers by taking a five day trip to Mackinaw City. This trip was significant because it was the first time I got out of my comfort zone and pushed myself to deal with uncertainty. I wasn’t sure how I would manage being on the road away from the comforts of home for five days. Honestly, I think my anxiety and fears were holding me back more than my physical condition was. There’s always that “what if” factor that creeps into your mind. Luckily, I was able to shake it off and continue with my life. Efficient planning and preparation helped put my mind at ease. It’s also important to acknowledge the worst-case scenario and all the bad things that could go wrong. That way if something were to happen, I wouldn’t be thrown off guard and would have a plan for the situation.

Premeditatio Malorum

Oops:

Believe it or not, I only had one issue during the trip, and honestly, I should have known better. It’s the second to last day, and everything is going perfect. I pitched up a sun tent on Lake Michigan with an Arizona iced tea and some fresh beef jerky. Wait what, beef jerky? Why would I risk trying beef jerky on a day like this?! Oh yeah, because it’s the best beef jerky in the world. That’s why. My parents and I would camp at Brevoort Lake every year when I was a kid, so I'm familiar with the area. There’s this gas station/deli called Gustafson’s that has the best smoked meats and cheeses ever (4.9 stars on Google, the hype is real). There was no way I could go to Mackinaw City and not make a trip to that legendary gas station. Everything is fresh and homemade; you can’t find better quality anywhere else.

This was the first time I tried beef jerky since my surgeries. I wasn’t sure how it would settle, so I only tried a little piece. The small amount I did have was enough to throw my entire afternoon off. I wanted to explore downtown more and try this specific seafood restaurant, but the pain kept me in bed for most of the night. Jerky is very tough and dry, making it difficult to digest which caused a deep stabbing gas pain. I haven’t had it since and added it to the list of foods not to eat.

Physical Activity:

I’m starting to make an effort to show up at the gym more consistently while focusing on exercises that expand the body with wide range motion movements. Using kettlebells and free weights over restrictive, one-way exercise machines is the best method. Scar tissue contracts and pulls inward when your body heals after surgery. Doing these exercises help reverse that process by reducing the stiffness and lack of movement. This is prevalent in my lower torso, where the incisions took place. Yoga is also a fantastic way to improve mobility in these areas.

Discovered the Benefits of Intermittent Fasting and Autophagy:

While searching for new ways to help manage my symptoms, I decided to try intermittent fasting. Intermittent fasting is a type of fasting that’s performed daily. It allows an 8-hour eating window with a 16 hour fast. At first, I was only able to hold off for 12 hours, but your body learns to adjust. I found that regulating when I eat according to my schedule has been very effective in reducing pain and increasing productivity. It seems simple, but we underestimate how often we snack, sometimes unconsciously, we all know how tempting those late night cravings can be. Intermittent fasting has also reduced the amount of daily and nightly bowel movements. When you’re eating around the clock, you give your body no rest, no time to adequately digest food and recover. Arranging scheduled eating times helps regulate bowel movements.

Autophagy is a natural physiological process that becomes induced during periods of starvation like intermittent fasting and other types of stress triggers. Organelles called Autophagosomes envelop impaired cellular components such as damaged protein aggregates and organelles. The Autophagosome then carries this waste to the lysosome where the cellular components are degraded and recycled into new material. This recycled material provides ATP (energy), which is used to fuel new cell growth.

Think of it as an organic food compost. The leftover waste of decaying organic materials (impaired cellular components) such as the peals and cores get discarded into a compost bin (the lysosome). This waste then gets recycled into fertilizer (ATP), which is used for new growth. The discovery of Autophagy has made such an impact that it won the 2016 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

The Art of Resistance:

February was an extremely difficult month for me to get through. At the start of the month, I could already tell that something was off with my body. I began to communicate my daily symptoms with my doctor, just in case. I was nauseous, had the chills and sweats, going to the bathroom more frequently, and very fatigued. On the 5th, I was diagnosed with Mono. On the 10th, I received an MRI that found some inflammation in my intestine. Lastly, on the 13th, I was in so much pain that I had to go to the ER. My pain was easily at a 10! I threw up right before we left and more on the way to the hospital. When I threw up the second time, I felt and heard a loud popping sound inside my stomach. I had the sensation of a mini explosion which scared the hell out of me; I honestly thought my intestine perforated! After testing, the doctors discovered I had an obstruction and E. Coli infection. It was very hard for me to keep food down and maintain my nutrition. Furthermore, I couldn’t do any physical activity for six weeks due to having Mono. All these factors caused my weight to drop down to 119 lbs. which is the lowest I’ve been since post-surgery. Not to mention a sudden three and a half year break up with my girlfriend in the middle of all this. I was already stressed and didn’t take it well at first, but shortly realized that it was for the best. I was then able to focus on myself and prioritize what’s important.

Now that I had a ton of much needed me time, I became obsessed with improving myself. I was upset about all the weight I lost and began working out 4-5 times a week and would listen to podcast after podcast. I even made a private twitter account that only follows self-improving accounts such as Business Insider, Inc, Entrepreneur, and eventually Daily Stoic, which exposed me to Stoicism. I also started reading books; Own The Day, Own Your Life by Aubrey Marcus started a chain reaction that lead me to obtaining my personal library of books. While immersing myself in knowledge, I began journaling daily which has been one of the best decisions of my life. Journaling helps me retain information and stay in sync with life. Looking at my future, I identified my long term goals. I started chipping away at them and decided that I want to transfer into Michigan State.

Although this was one of the most burdening months ever, both mentally and physically, I wouldn’t want it any other way. Pushing through the resistance is what builds character. I needed this to happen. It helped put life into perspective and jumpstart my transformation.

Rebounding: March 2018

I’m finally starting to feel better! My physical restrictions have been lifted, and I gained the 6 lbs. that I lost. Due to a larger appetite and struggle to put on and maintain weight, I’ve increased my eating times to start at 10 am through 8 pm. It’s not quite intermittent fasting, but it’s still very beneficial for me to regulate my eating times. I was able to find something that helps and modify it to my needs. I’ve also realized that going vegan would be extremely difficult for me considering all the foods I can’t tolerate anymore. I still have an extremely healthy diet that stays away from gluten, soy, sugar, and animal products. But with my limitations, it can be hard to manage sometimes. It’s not perfect, though I’m always aware and making the best decisions that I can.

Weight Gain: April-May

130 lbs!

My weight has fluctuated from 119-125 lbs. since my second surgery in 2016. Ten pounds may not seem like a big deal, but this was a huge milestone for me. During mid-May, I kept my weight steady between 130-133 lbs. I peaked at 135 lbs. twice but haven’t been able to maintain it yet. If I can stay above 130 lbs, I’ll be happy.

Awareness: May 2018:

Building confidence to get out of my comfort zone and do things again. It’s not easy, and I tend to psych myself out more times than not. Each time I am able to overcome my fears, I realize how things aren’t ever as bad as I imagine them to be. Fear immobilizes the mind. Once you’re able to break that barrier, anything is possible.

Wake Up Call: November 9, 2018

Every year I get an annual flexible sigmoidoscopy (colonoscopy for an individual with a colon) as a maintenance check for my J-pouch. This procedure uses a camera to view inside the J-pouch. During the scope, my doctor discovered a score 3 of Pouchitis along with several new ulcers. When I first heard the news, I was extremely concerned. I was thinking long term and how this will affect me. On the contrary, what good comes from worrying about the future? Nothing. The only thing that derives from worrying is fear and anxiety. Many people get stuck in their heads, trying to figure out solutions for things that may never happen. When you do this, you’re not living in the present moment. I should be trying to figure out how I can improve my current situation.

We don’t know what the future has in store for us, all we have is now.

Amor Fati

I don’t have to like the situation, but I must accept it. Every obstacle provides new learning opportunities that enhance growth. I can use this as a wake-up call. Am I prioritizing what’s important each day? Am I constantly striving to achieve my goals? Am I eliminating all irrelevant distractions? Am I a better person than I was the day before? What can I improve? A good continuous reality check is beneficial.

“There are more things that frighten us than injure us, and we suffer more in imagination than in reality.”
– Seneca

Holistic Approach: January 2019

My physical therapist has decided to adjust her treatment approach while reinforcing me to remain physically active and do more stretching along with cleansing breaths. The reason behind this is that your pelvic muscles are linked to the back, abdominal, and legs. Focusing on these areas will help reduce tension in the pelvic floor. We both immediately noticed how tight my legs are and how this could be a factor on my pelvic floor.

Now that I know this, I set aside time to do daily yoga and make sure to pay close attention to these specific areas. I’m starting to get into a routine and identified certain positions that feel better than others. These include Double knees to chest, Happy baby, Supine spinal twist, Cat and Cow, Cobra, Wide leg child pose, Crescent lunge twist, and Reclined butterfly. It’s important to keep your breathing in check during these movements. We all know how stress can build up and cause tension in your shoulders or head. The same applies to the pelvic floor. Being able to tune into your body with purposeful breathing helps alleviate stress and tension build up within these areas. As for the physical activity, I enjoy playing basketball and taking my dog for walks. It doesn’t have to be a vigorous activity either. It can be as simple as taking two daily walks around your neighborhood. The main point is to get your body moving.

Trust the Process:

I’m currently hovering around 140 lbs. and am feeling the best I’ve felt since post-surgery. It’s taken a long time to adjust, but I’ve come to an enlightening realization.

It’s about the journey and who you become.

Not the end result.

Final Thoughts:

Persevering and overcoming these hardships has overall made me a stronger individual. It’s hard to say that I’m glad everything happened, but I am constantly learning and evolving each day. I wouldn’t be the person I am today if not for these struggles. Although this post is aimed towards helping others like myself, it can be a great lesson for anyone. Disregard the type of situation for a moment. I was forced into a set of circumstances that were out of my control with the odds seemingly against me. Yes, I was discouraged at times, but I never gave up. I’ve always believed in myself that I could overcome any obstacle thrown my way. Everything is perception. It doesn’t matter what you’re going through; there’s always a way to flip the script and seek the positive within the negative. You just have to be willing to look!

“It isn’t the events themselves that disturb people, but only their judgments about them.”
– Epictetus
EXPERIENCES + MINDSET = GROWTH

References

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“Mayo Clinic.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, www.mayoclinic.org/.

Ping, et al. “Intestinal Autophagy and Its Pharmacological Control in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.” Frontiers, Frontiers, 28 Dec. 2016, www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2016.00695/full#F1.

“The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2016.” NobelPrize.org, www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/2016/press-release/.

“Ulcerative Colitis.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 8 Mar. 2018, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ulcerative-colitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20353326.

“Vegetarian Diet: How to Get the Best Nutrition.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 3 Aug. 2018, www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/vegetarian-diet/art-20046446.

“What Is Stoicism? A Definition & 9 Stoic Exercises To Get You Started.” Daily Stoic, 6 Feb. 2019, dailystoic.com/what-is-stoicism-a-definition-3-stoic-exercises-to-get-you-started/.

“What Is the Low FODMAP Diet?” Myginutrition.com, myginutrition.com/diet.html.

Yoga Poses Dictionary | Pocket Yoga, www.pocketyoga.com/Pose.