Hi all!

I don't think I've ever introduced myself (I've lurked and been in chat a few times)so here goes. I'm Kate and I am almost one year post J-Pouch surgery (Feb '07). I had UC for 18 months w/no remission. My surgery was a one-step procedure done at UNC Chapel Hill.
That aside- I like to ride horses, travel, read, work out, hang out with friends, etc... Prior to coming down with UC- I had gone back to school to get my teaching certificate (grades k-6). I was in the middle of my internship and had to stop. I hope to resume
that in the coming year.
Anyhow- look forward to meeting everyone!

Welcome!! I havent been here long myself but there is a ton of information here and alot of friendly people.

Hi Kate! Welcome to the site. The information and support I've gotten from this site has really been amazing. I hope it can be a good resource for you as well

Hi Kate,

I'm new here myself and agree there is a lot of good info and friendly people here. It's really nice to know there are people that have been through what you're going through and that want to offer support.

So, welcome aboard.

Hi I am fairly new. I found the site after finding out i needed jpouch. I had UC for 16+ years. finally couldnt live that way anymore. had surgery nov 2007. we had just moved from NJ to SC, didnt know anything about the dr's or hospitals here, but went through with it. Im really happy with the look of my scar, much smaller than expected. still figuring out how to adjust my life now. thanks to all for sharing, its the only way to get answers!!!!

Hi,
This is the first time I have actually done more than look over this site since in November. That was when my Gastro told me I would need to have a refferal to a C/R doctor for surgery, I just had the appointment with Dr. Mark Mattingly in Flint, Mi I will be scheduled soon for surgery, He will either be doing the first step toward a J-Pouch or just a resection if things look well enough. B/C of other needed surgery for another very serious health condition, Neroscarcoidosis, that has left me blind in my right eye and a catract in my left eye that needs to be removed later this month I will not be having the colon surgery until in March or early April. My UC is doing fairly well so it can waite. I need the eye done b/4 I can not see to do my job at work and so I maybe can drive again, have not been able to drive for close to 2 years do to the damage caused by the Sarcoid in my spine/brain. ugh.
I have a very nasty growth in my right side of my colon that has not changed to either precancer or cancer yet. It is long,about 11/2 inches, and attaching to the lining in my colon. Since I have had UC so long my Gastro thinks I should just remove my colon B/C my risk for cancer is so high. The c/r doc says not so fast let us look ai the colon when we get in there and if everything looks good we will just do the resection.
I have mixed feelings on all of this. I wonder if I should go see another C/R doctor. In Genesse County he is the only C/R that does Lapproscopic J-Pouch. I have done alot research on this doctor and he comes with nothing but very high recomendations. I do not want to go to far away, maybe A2 or the Metro Deroite area. Any thoughts on all of this?
Thanks, babcha5