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Summary & Participants

People with inflammatory bowel disease often face surgery. New techniques can speed recovery and reduce post-operative discomfort. Meet an 18-year-old woman with ulcerative colitis, and follow along as she makes the decision to undergo laparoscopic surgery.

Medically Reviewed On: July 15, 2008

Webcast Transcript

ANNOUNCER: Lisa Fjedal has been in and out of hospitals for seven years.

This time is different. She and her mom have made a difficult decision, for Lisa to undergo surgery. Lisa is nervous, but also excited. She's hoping a simple dream will soon come true.

LISA FJELDAL: Just to feel much better. Like to be able to live my life, not feel like I have the flu, because that's pretty much how I feel every day, like I have the flu. And to be able to go out and not have to worry about, "Can I eat at this place or am I going to have to run to the bathroom?" Can I go out with friends and not have to worry about embarrassment and stuff like that.

ANNOUNCER: Lisa was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis when she was eleven.

DIXIE FJELDAL: Being diagnosed, when she was first diagnosed, I remember getting out of the car one time and Lisa, always being tall, Lisa jumped up to touch the roof of the garage and just said, "Mom, this isn't going to beat me." You know, "It's not going to. Don't be sad; this isn't going to beat me."

LISA FJELDAL: I didn't really let it affect me. I continued to play my sports, field hockey and softball. And it was just something that I had to deal with, because you have to when you're a kid; you have to live your life.

ANNOUNCER: Medicine kept Lisa's colitis under pretty good control, until the middle of high school, when hospitalizations became frequent, and fatigue was quick to set in.

LISA FJELDAL: Well, it was just harder to keep up with the other athletes, because I would be in-I'm anemic and everything, so I got tired much easier. And I would get winded more faster and I couldn't keep up with like the amount of practice.

DIXIE FJELDAL: But the last two years, you know, I don't know whether it's combined with stress, you know, high school years, that kind of thing. Stress definitely plays a part on it. Her father and I divorced, plays a part on it. And we just couldn't get a handle on it. And it's hard to explain when you don't experience it; kids just get so sick from this. You know, your whole body is just depleted.

And they mentioned surgery two years ago, but at 16-15-16. And quite frankly, as mother, I couldn't make that choice for her.

ANNOUNCER: Lisa pressed ahead. She graduated from high school, despite having missed more than 50 days of class. Finally, Lisa's mom, Dixie, came to support Lisa's decision to have surgery.

DIXIE FJELDAL: I think I just finally realized that she understands what the operation is and she wants to get on with her life. You know, it's kind of been on hold and I feel she's ready.

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