I realised that the only time I seem to resurface to the board at the moment is when something goes wrong. So... I wanted to post a "rave" about my pouch as a little encouragement to people about to have surgery, or are still adapting to their new pouch.

I had just turned 17 when I had a severe/acute case of UC which lasted around 5-6 months with no "remission" period. After taking an allergic reaction to azathioprine,and generally feeling like cr*p, I begged my doctor to perform surgery as I was fed up of constant pain/blood/hospitals/etc (you all know what i mean... )

adjusting to the the stoma was a bit daunting but I do remember how much better I felt after surgery immediately (minus the surgery pain). The "icky" UC feeling was gone.

Anyways, I did have some problems with the 2nd step where I had a loop-ileo (moving virtually all the time and leakages)

I'm trying not to go ooooon, but I remember the first year, even perhaps the first two years with the pouch were great although I did have intermittent bouts of pouchitis which was cleared with antibiotics.
A couple weeks after my takedown I went back to university (I asked if I could have my takedown over the christmas holidays..yes I am nuts).

The first year at uni didn't quite work out,but I was able to (after recovery time) go back the year after meanwhile returning to do all the things which I loved to do before UC.

I definitely think my pouch has got better with age and fingers crossed it continues to do so.

My pouch doesn't stop me doing anything... I graduated with my undergraduate degree in electronics/electrical engineering, I play in two orchestras a week and also tutor teenagers percussion at orchestra. And after graduating last yr, I started a 3yr research phd in computational neuroscience in October which means I'm getting to travel lots to places like Germany/Finland and hopefully Canada soon.

I'm not boasting, I just want people to know that I most definitely "live life to the full" and even with the occasional hiccup I love my pouch because it gave me my life back.(i.e. I wasn't chained to a toilet all day) Things like how many times I go to the toilet don't bother me. I don't even count.


Anyway, I think that's all I have to say... I'm 23 now and shortly it'll be coming up to the 6th "anniversary" of my 1st surgery, and what can I say except getting rid of my poisonous colon was the best choice I ever made.

Lynsey

Lynsey! I'm so glad you're doing all that you want. Thanks for coming back and posting. We don't even expect you here at all EXCEPT when you run over that bump in the road.

kathy

Holy moly, that's impressive. Nice to read you are feeling well. All the best.