I had a total colectomy at 24 years old. It took me a while to recover (as I was critically ill), however once I did, I realized I had more quality of life than I had had in a long time!!!!! My ileostomy does not stop me from doing anything I want to do and I was able to get off all meds!!!! I went to grad school, met my husband, moved house 3 times, traveled, went skin diving and even went cage diving w/ great white sharks!!!!! Don't get me wrong, it was not all peaches and cream, but I can honestly say that I would not have my life, nor the joy in it, had I not had the surgery. I tried to look at it as my new lease on life and 16 years later, it is just a part of me-don't think that much about it anymore. I hope this helps and I wish you the very best in the future! Feel Good!