I was wondering if there are any people on here from Minnesota?(Or close by..)


Jamie

Hi Jamie,

I used to live in Minnesota. I lived in the 'burbs of Mnpls and Mankato. I moved to Iowa a couple of years ago but still go back to visit friends and family.

I had my IPAA surgery at Rochester Mayo and can recommend a great surgeon there if you are looking for one in Minnesota.

Karabeth

Hi Karabeth...
That's neat you lived in Minneapolis. I haven't met anyone on here that lives in MN yet. I had my surgeries back in 1998 at Fairview Medical Center in the Cities. I was thirteen at the time and I was diagnosed with UC in March of 1997 when I was 12. I've had some problems with pouchitis and blockages. I have alot of problems with adhesions. How have you been doing since you surgeries..any problems? Great to hear from someone close by hope to hear from you again.


Jamie

Total Colectamy 1/98, J-pouch 5/98, Takedown 7/98

Jamie,

Wow! You were young when you had your procedures formed. Mine were just a couple of years ago (I was 27 at the time). I too had a lot of problems with adhesions. Mine was a 3-step procedure like yours was. A few months after my colectomy, adhesions tightened up around my small intestine and caused a severe blockage. I was in the hospital for a couple of weeks hoping it would free up on its own. It didn't so they went in to surgically remove the adhesions--at the same time, they made my j-pouch. I had a few other blockages before my takedown but none as serious as that first one. Now I am dealing with adhesions blocking my fallopian (sp?) tubes. Both of my tubes are totally blocked. My husband and I are going through the in-vitro process right now to try and start our family. Otherwise, I have been very lucky--no pouchitis or anything of the sort (knock on wood)!

Sometimes we miss Minnesota. We moved here for a simpler life (got sick of fighting Twin Cities traffic--especially 494!) and for a slightly better climate. We have found both. When we visit MN we usually just head to Mnpls but some friends of ours live in Duluth. One of them works in the career services office at St. Scholastica. Duluth is beautiful! It gets VERY cold though!

Take care,
Karabeth

Hi Karabeth,

Yeah, I was pretty young when I had my surgeries. It was really hard I had a difficult time dealing with it. Yeah, Duluth can be really cold. I was born and raised here I love it here. Yep 494 in the Twin Cities get's pretty bad. It's nice in the cities but tons of traffic. I don't think I would want to live down there though. Adhesions are such a big problem. I have them really bad to ever since my surgeries. The problem is none of the surgeons will do anything about it unless it's a major emergency because they're afraid I'll get them back worse. But, yeah there awful I been hospitalized several time because of them. I'm sorry to here your adhesions are blocking your fallopian tubes. That must be hard on you and your husband. That's something I've always been worried about is having kids someday. I love children very much. It just worries me that these problems I'm having are going to make it hard to have children. But, I wish you and your husband good luck with having a baby. It was really nice to hear from you. It would be great to keep in touch. Hang in there.


~Jamie~


(((Never Give Up Hope!)))

Hi Jamie and Karabeth-
I am also in Iowa. Where in Iowa are you at? I've been to Duluth, it is beautiful there. My sister just moved here to Iowa with me from St. Cloud.
Tracey

Hi Tracey,

So, you lived in St.Cloud. It's nice down there very busy. I don't think I would ever live down there I was born and raised in Duluth. I really like it here. So, do you have a j-pouch? I've had mine since 1998. I've had quite a few problems with adhesions, obstructions, pouchitis, and weight lose. Have you had any problems? Well, it's nice to meet you. Hope to hear from you again.


~Jamie~


(((Never Give Up Hope!)))

Hi Jamie-
No, I did not live in St. Cloud but my sister did. I live in Cedar Rapids, IA and she moved here with me to help out while I was sick.

I did have a J-pouch but it just did not work for me, I had a lot of problems with it. I had a K-pouch done in April with Dr. Fazio in Cleveland and so far so good! I hope all is going well with you.

My sister doesnt like it here, she cant wait to move back to Minnesota. I will be headed that way soon, on my way to WE Fest!!
Tracey

I live in Northfield, MN. I will actually be up in Duluth this weekend for a wedding.

Sam

Hi All,

I too am from MN. I grew up in Inver Grove Heights and now live in the West Central part of the state. I had my 1st surgery at Mayo in Rochester on 11/04 and takedown on 2/05.

I have had chronic pouchitis since my takedown and am presently on Cipro and Entocort. It has been great having this site to go to.

Tracey

I live in Cedar Rapids also. Please tell me a little about your surgery and current situation. Did you say that you went to Mayo? Who was your surgeon? Anyone else have Dr. Pemberton at May?

sorry!

Has anyone else had Dr. Pemberton at Mayo?

Hi Laurie,

I did have my j-pouch surgeries at Mayo with Dr. Devine. Unfortunately I was one of the unlucky ones whose j-pouch was a complete failure. I elected to have kock pouch and had that done with Dr. Fazio in Cleveland. I am doing great right now but go back to see Fazio on September 14th to have everything checked out.

How about you? Do you currently have j-pouch and how are things working? Since we both live in CR we should get together!
Tracey

Tracey,

That's interesting that you had Dr. Devine. I went to Mayo twice other to talk to them about my options. I talked with Dr. Devine at that time and didn't like him much. The second time I went I talked to another J-poucher and she told me of Dr. Pemberton.(He is truly the best!!!!) I had my surgery back in 94. I had a child in 96 and things seemed to be going well. Then in 03 I started having a perianal cyst that just wouldn't go away. I was put on antibiotiocs and it would go away. It seemed to come with my cycle. Dr Pemberton did surgery on it and told me it was a fistula. He sent me to a gastro. and I was then told I have Crohns. I can't get myself to really thing of it as Crohns. Denial I guess!!! After everything I went thru with Colitis I can't fathom having Crohns. I was told the fistula was healed and we are now in the process of trying to have a baby. I can get insurance with my work next July and they pay up to $15,000 for infertility. So I guess we will be waiting. It's so frustrating that no one told me that getting pregnant would be a problem.

Anyway sorry to rant!! That would be great to get together!! Do you have a family or anything? How did you end up in CR?
Laurie

Laurie

I sent you a PM.

Thanks,
Tracey