When your k pouch was done was it done lapriscoptically or were you cut open? I forgot to ask my surgeon what he does.

I was cut open. You will have to speak with your surgeon and see how he performs the surgery. Either way, just make sure he has done A LOT of them. Wishing you the best.

I never heard of lapro kock pouch/bcir. It's major surgery and you'll have an open incision.

Rosie,
From what my Dr told me it is not done laporoscopily (is that a word?)...they really have to open you up and use their hand to get the right feel...I translated the surgical proceedure protocol for my French surgeon and did the instantaneous translation 1/2 hr pre-op...from what I remember of the gory details, they open up, take the guts out and place them on a cloth on the abdomen and start building the pouch and valve from there...(I was begging for general anesthetic by then...)My French surgeon is a laproscopic specialist but agreed that it couldn't be done properly that way...maybe one day.
Sharon

Now all of a sudden, I am nervous. Both my J pouch creation and my colectomy were done lapriscopically. Will I be at a greater risk for abscesses with being cut open. I wonder if I was getting an end ileo and complete proctectomy if I would still need to be cut open...not that I want that....but now I am scared because it will be a whole new experience and I wonder if I am making the right decision........

rosie..you consulted with Dr Dietz, you may want to call his office and get more details how he plans to do your kp. Absesses can develop after any surgery. It's just a risk that comes with lapro or open.

I know he is going to try to form the k pouch out of my j pouch, I just forgot to ask about the incision.

Janice- thanks for the info about abssesses, I wasn't sure what conditions led to them.

I know I am going to get the K pouch and I am sure I will love it, but the truth of the matter is like all of us, I really just want a healthy colon and no more surgery (obviously that is not an option!)So here is to making lemonade out of lemons! I think probably a good cry will help and then I will be out of this funk I'm in.

Rosie,
I can really identify with what you're feeling! I was really depressed after my kp surgery for several months. Just really mad/sad about no colon and getting the back door sewn shut and everything. I think healthy people don't understand. You need to grieve when you lose something, like the ability to poop like a normal person. Give yourself some time, not likely to get over that in a couple of days!

One night though, maybe 4-5 months out from my surgery I was headed home and it hit me, I had only been to empty my pouch 4 times in one day. Only four times to the bathroom, no urgency, no pain, no fear. It was literally like having big heavy chains come off my arms. And I just started to cry because I was so happy! I hadn't had that kind of freedom from the bathroom since i had my healthy colon back when I was a kid.

At 6 months I went for a scope just to make sure pouch was doing ok, and I'm laying there on a stretcher in the endoscopy area and this nurse walks by me with an enema, headed for the patient down the hall. And that was another joyous moment. I will NEVER EVER EVER have another stupid enema or suppository or even a rectal exam WOOHOOOO.
some things are exciting to give up

Kaydbird- Thanks for the encouragement. You are right, it will take me a while to go through the whole spectrum of emotions. But, I am really excited/relieved about getting the K pouch. I am literally in so much pain on a daily basis. I could deal with the incontinence even though it is disgusting/embarrassing/horrid. But the pain is just unbearable....the burning, stinging, and the stabbing feeling in my anal canal. I am thinking of going to my doctor to try to get something for pain to at least hold me over until the surgery....it seems so far away. I feel like I am always wishing my life away, but I wish it was November or at least October!

Rosie

I know that Nov is really far away for you but if you know of a really good acupucturist they may be able to help you with some of the pain...I am not a true believer but I know that it does help some people and so can hypnotists ( they do do full surgery under hypnosis) but you need a really very qualified one...I learned self hypnosis for pain and even went through mild procedures using it in my teens...if it isn't perfect it does help to deal with the pain on a day to day basis and may allow you some peace and real sleep...for now until you get your k pouch...
hugs from way over here...
PS...how is the weather going over there??? are you in the line of the storm?
Sharon

Thanks Sharon, thats a good idea. I used to see an accupunturist long before I had the surgery for anxiety and loved the results. It never crossed my mind to go for pain, but I bet it would help, even if it could just get me to relax a little. I know pain gets worse when your body is tense, but it seems like a natural reaction to tense against the pain.

We are in the line of the storm and everyone around here is going crazy. The stores are all shut down and everyone stocked up on flashlights and water etc. As long as we don't lose power I will be all set! Don't want to give up the comforts, such as A.C., television, the warm water Bidet, etc! Hopefully we won't get hit that hard, as it seems like the storm is losing some speed as it moves North. We are not used to the intensity of hurricanes that the Southern part of the U.S. usually experiences.

Thanks for the reply!
Rosie