Copying Janice's thread on anniversaries for K pouches....my question is why did you need one in the first place and how old were you when you got sick/had it done....
1st collostomy 1962 at age 2 for imperforated anal sphincter + major surgical complications
Collostomy closed in 1963.
Patial to full incontinence to 1972.
Anal reconstructions, gracillis muscles flaps (2: 1975 and 1978 Duke UN, N.C.) +IBD (both failed)
Suspicion of Hershprungs disease.
K pouch (thank you Dr. Cohen!!!!) 1979
Pretty good until 2000..Then???? Better now!
Sharon

It seems k-pouchers all have many complications that lead them here!
I was diagnosed with UC at 10 in 1991, had the colectomy in 1992. I wound up with a Straight Pull-Through in 1993. That was a 3 step procedure. I had incontinence for years. When I researched the net and figured out I had a very rare surgery and I didn't have to suffer, I was referred to a GI doctor, 2002 I think. He immediately referred me to a surgeon, who told me I'd probably wind up with an ileostomy.
I spent a couple of years debating it. I heard of the k-pouch back then and asked the surgeon who said it wasn't performed in Canada. I sought a second opinion and this new surgeon thought he could work around the pull-through. I received a j-pouch in 2004 by Dr. Buie.
I suffered from pouchitis and that made the incontinence so much worse. I finally heard about Dr. Cohen in 2009 and was referred to him. I had my k-pouch surgery in Toronto Feb 4, 2010.
So far this feels amazing to not have a leaky rear end! 16 years of poopy pants is more than enough! I am going to harrass my surgeon in Calgary to learn the procedure. It's ridiculous I had to travel so far for something that should be the next choice after a j-pouch.

I was 13 (1986) when I was diagnosed with UC...spent the next 4 yrs addicted to prednisone and right after graduating high school at age 17 (1990) I had step 1 of my j-pouch surgery (July 3rd). 3 months later I had the pull thru and really didn't have many problems (1 stricture repair & 2 cases of pouchitis...I'm so lucky to have had my pouch 19 yrs) until 5 yrs ago when I found this lump on my bum...it took 3 yrs to break thru and the dreaded perianal fistula was revealed. After spending almost 2 yrs trying to fix it I finally decided I had enough and started researching the koch pouch. The minute my surgeon presented it as an option I knew that is what I was going to have. This site and the advice of so many...like Janice helped me solidify my decision. My K pouch is pretty new...just had surgery with Dr. Launer Dec 8, 2009. I was fortunate to be his 2nd to last KP surgery before he retired from surgery. He told my mom he could tell a great pouch was created and I'm happy to say...so far so good : )

Keep smiling...you sound really happy with the pouch...so glad that it is working out...
Sharon

It was the spring of 07, I was a young 20 year old hot shot welder working 40- 50 hours a week. I started to get sick around march and spent the next 3 months cycling between cipro and flagyl as my doctor just though I had some sort of bug. By June I had no real bowel control, and lost 40 or so lbs. I couldn't go to the grocery store to get food. I finally demanded that he send me to a specialist. I went to see the GI and he did some blood work and scheduled a colonoscopy. I was so weak I had to sit on the floor while they scheduled my appt. A few days later the results from my blood tests and was told to get into the ER immediately because my white blood cell count was > 30000. Went the the hospital, spent a month there on TPN, pred, cyclosporin, antibiotics (to clear up the c diff I got from being on antibiotics for 3 months) and who knows what else. July 21 07 I had my colon removed. Nov 30 07 I had my j-pouch constructed and spent the next year on pain meds and trying to figure out why my I had so much rectal pain. by the summer 08 i was fed up with it, contacted Dr. L and set in motion taking out my j-pouch and making a koch pouch. Had the surgery nov of 08 and I am healthy, going to school in Alaska and living a dream that I never could have realized had I not gotten sick in the first place (funny how that works). Haven't looked back since!

I had stomach aches and cramping pain at 7 yrs through 12 when blood appeared in stool. Diagnosed within 2 weeks with UC. Continued flares and hospitalizations (never went into remission) with high dosage of oral prednisone from 17 to 21 yrs. Had perm ileo (plus rectum removed) to build up my weight and health and then six mos later converted to kock pouch.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: JaniceM,

Amazing how it is like a hit and run...you never seem to see it coming and then Bam! You have UC and life as you know it is over.
Funny how all of us are still smiling and optimistic.
Keep those stories coming. You all have such interesting lives and histories.
Sharon