Hey,
What's up ya'll. My name is Blake. I'm a 30 year old male that lives in the St. Louis area and I just had my colon removed on December 6th due to Ulcerative Colitis. What to know about me-Well, I'm a father of a 2 year old boy, a husband to the most fantastic and supportive wife, an employee of a major beer company (St. Louis, anybody guess what beer company I'm talking about?). I have always been very athletic, played baseball and soccer all through high school and college and continued to play softball and weight lift since I graduated in 2003. I love to go to the gym, a little addicted and ever since I had my colon removed I've been so anxious to get back to the gym. I've even went to the gym 7 days after a total collectomy, don't worry, I took it easy. Anyway, it's Christmas Eve, it's 2:30 in the morning, and I'm on the damn computer writing about UC, J Pouch, and all my concerns still, so it is heavy on my mind.

I feel so much better now than I did with my colon already. It's been about 2 and a half weeks since I had it taken out and I'm feeling so much better about my life again. I've been doing so much research about J Pouch and people who have J Pouches and I am getting really scared about getting a J Pouch because there are so many negative things about it. It almost seems like so many people go back to their days of UC after getting a J Pouch that it's not even worth it. Are there people that are happy with their J Pouch? It could be that these people don't write on this website because they are content and they don't have anything to say, but it would be nice to hear from them. It seems like there are an awful lot of people that wish they never had it done, I don't want to be one of them, but nobody has a magic chrystal ball that will tell them their future.

I don't know when I will have my second surgery to create the J Pouch and remove my rectum, I think I will wait more than three months to make sure i am healed. I am in no rush, I am enjoying not going to the bathroom 20 plus times a day right now. Living with a bag is different, but it is a far better alternative than dealing with UC. I had a really bad case, I had UC for less than a year and it resulted in colon removal. I'm so scared of getting my J Pouch and returning to that life.

Anyway, I will be on this website quite often asking silly questions and getting to know you guys. I'm glad I found this place, hope to make some friends, get some advise and make people smile. Look forward to meeting you guys!

Blake

Hey Blake, welcome! I am having my surgery on Feb. 13th and very nervous about it. I may have the 2 step not quite sure yet, won't know till the doc goes in, if things look good may be able to have the 1 step. I have had UC for 26 yrs. have been in remission for about 10 years but have had the diagnosis of low grade dysplasia (pre cancer) from so many years of UC. My UC has now come out of remission after all this time and I am sure it is nerves about the upcoming surgery. You have come to the right place for answers. And yes, there are so many people who have had great surgeries and are out there living their lives, they post every now and then and give us updates and we have the regulars who help us on a daily basis ,we thank them all! Good luck to you, enjoy your UC freedom and if you don't feel the need to rush into the j-pouch take your time for sure. Happy New Year!

Thanks so much Holly! Wow, 26 years is a long time to deal with this crappy disease. I can't beleive you've endured it for so long. Surgery is scary, but looking back on it, it was kind of a breeze. Sure, you will have physical pain, maybe some mental frustration and depression, but I do think you will find it much more pleasurable than UC. I remember the first day after surgery, I was in so much pain, but I was already happy that I didn't have to run to the bathroom every 10 minutes, that was the best feeling. And then it just gets better day after day. I'm a little over three weeks out, I've been going to the gym every other day (against docs orders) and taking it easy, but I find that I can still do a lot of things as long as I don't put a lot of stress on my midsection. I've been going on long walks and playing with my son a lot, which is awesome to play with him again because I missed that so much when I had UC. Anyway, I'm sure your surgery will go great! You will love not having a colon because there will be no more UC. Good luck to you and Happy New Year to you as well!

Blake, yes 26 yrs is a long time to have UC, I have been lucy due to the fact that I have been in remission for a long time just recently have I been having symptoms again, think it is the nerves acting up anticipating surgery. I had never even heard of total colon removal or J-pouch until my low grade dysplasia showed up. I am sure I will feel so much better when my colon is out. It sounds like you are really feeling so much better. I take it you are adapting well to having and ileostomy? I can see why you don't want to rush the j-pouch surgery. Have a great New Years!!