Has anyone had your BCIR done at the Palms in St. Petersburg Florida? Would be interested in hearing about your procedure and experience there.

Also looking for anyone in upstate New York with a BCIR or K pouch. Considering this as an option due to a J pouch-vaginal fistula.

Thanks, Becky

Becky;

I had a BCIR done at the Palms Hospital in FL in 2002. Had an ileo for 30 years before that due to UC. The Palms is a tremendous hospital that has an entire wing devoted to the BCIR effort. They have a highly qualified nursing staff with many RN's providing care. Private rooms that can accomadate a companion during your stay (free of charge, including meals). They have wifi, large screen tv's in every room. You will spend about three weeks there and upon release be will unhooked from all drains, staples, and lines. Take plenty to read, take a lap top, cell service is excellant.

Anything else you want to know, please email me at suskieray@aol.com title it BCIR.

Ray

Wow! Is this facility just private care, or do they accept hmo/ppo insurance?

Janice;

The palms of Pasadena accepts most insurance plans, I used Aetna & BC/BS. Their website is
bcir.com.

You also have a hospital in your back yard that does the BCIR, Olympia Medical Center in LA. Their website is olympiamc.com.

Also go to a website that is much like this one, qla-ostomy.org

Anything else I can help with please ask.

Ray

Ray,

How did your procedure go? Any complications? Are you happy with it?

I did send some info to Susan Kay, it is just so far from NY. Really want to make sure this is the route I want to head in before I make a commitment.

How have you handled your follow up care? Do you have to return to FL or do you have a doctor local who can help you or who works with the Palms doctor?

Thanks for any info you can provide!!

Becky

Becky;

I'll give you a brief overview:

I withstood the operation in 2002 very well, but I was not sick with UC this time around. Before the operation date I concentrated on getting my body in shape with some running and also loosing some weight. Granted the first 5 days or so after the operation are no picnic, but the hospital staff is excelant.

After coming home I contacted a Surgeon in my home town that has done Kock pouches. I had a consult with him and he promised that if I needed immediate attention he would be there for me. Well I did need him one day when I had an obstruction in the small bowel at entry into the pouch (2005). He opened me up and under the quidance by my surgeon at the Palms via phone phone performed an exploratory operation to examine the integrity of the pouch. All was fine except "free air". Recovery was another story since no hospital staff had experience with my anatomy. I and my wife(who is a nurse) had to train them. I survived. I also gave BCIR reading material to my PCP so he would be up on my condition. I have a Hematologist that I see every six months with blood work done every three months. We do B-12/folate, Iron/tibc, Feritin, CBC/DIFF/PLTS, comprehensive metabolic, and %saturation. Blood work is imperitive in an ostomy patient.

Lastly: Statistics caught up with me several months after the BCIR was built. I developed mutiple Fistulas and had to have a new pouch built in 2003. This time at the Palms I knew what to expect and when. It was a piece of cake.

The entire staff at the Palms is only a phone call away. Believe me they do respond quickly. The hospital has a web site that has a q&a section. I suggest to go online and see how others tolerated the operation.

Happy is not the word. I am delighted beyond words. I just wish that the BCIR was around 40 years ago when I was first operated on.

Hope this helps

Ray

Ray,

Thanks for the info. Have sent my medical records for review...will just have to wait and see how it goes from here.

Thanks again,
Becky