Saw my surgeon about a month ago and asked why the K pouch was never mentioned, she look amazed and I gave her the stuff I'd printed on the BCIR. After a lengthy discussion with her colleages she said nobody in Australia does the K pouch, or had even heard of it, and even if it were attempted(which I wouldn't let them do as they don't know what they are doing)it would cause short gut syndrome,(as they would have to create a new pouch)and give me even more loose bms than I have now(hard to imagine). So I'm stuck with the J, and all the rectum pain still, just had 3 courses of Flagyl, and must admit its slightly better. I've been put on the op list for going back to an illeostomy(yuk), but have to consult with the top specialist first at end of January 2010.So thats it, no easy answer

Not sure where your surgeon gets her info, but you can have more than one ileal pouch procedure (such as in a j-pouch redo or conversion to a Kock pouch) without suffering from short bowel syndrome. You have 20 feet of small bowel and short bowel syndrome does not occur until you have half or more of your small bowel removed. An ileal pouch takes only 6-12 inches.

Pouch re-dos are not that rare and the outcome is usually good.

But, you are right, you do not want a continent ileostomy done as a first by your surgeon. And traveling to a foreign country for it would make follow ups difficult, if not impossible. But, never heard of them? They were the common procedure before the ileoanal pouch. The j-pouch just basically replaced it because it is easier and has a more consistently good outcome. Plus, the premiere doc in the U.S. actually came from Australia, Dr. Fazio of the Cleveland Clinic!

Jan

Hi..here's a thread from another member from Australia who has hopes of a kpouch. You may want to PM her to see if she has had any further luck.

http://j-pouch.org/eve/forums/...1006091/m/4571024603