Yesterday I saw my GI and I told him that the PT is, well, not working out.

Well, let me back up a little.

Now I haven't been posting here lately because of being really busy, but I've still been doing my 'research' on the J-pouch and Ostomy, my two other options. Originally, I thought the J-pouch would not be a whole lot different from the PT, but reading posts and links, I found out differently.

Accidents would be reduced greatly, same with butt burn, and BMs. Oh and my favorite part: NO DEPENDS AT NIGHT
I absolutely HATE depends and the iLEX and desitin I have to put on at night. So sticky and uncomfortable, blah!

And if, for whatever reason, the J-pouch doesn't/won't work out for me, I'd happily go back to the ostomy. I never found it bad and realize my life was a lot easier with it than with a PT.

Okay, now I can get back to my story:
Yes, I went to my GI doctor and told him everything I knew about the J-pouch. All the facts, all my opinions, and how even if the J-pouch didn't work out for me, ostomy is no problem, a lot better than the PT, I think.
Well... He says. You've done your homework and you've done it well. I have not much to add to that.
LOL Thank you

Then he scheduled me for an appointment with a surgeon who is a specialist it IBD. Perfect.

When will the appoint be? I ask.
When do you want it to be? he asks with a smile
ASAP, I grin
He laughs.
My mom laughs.
I laugh.


My appointment with the surgeon is next Tuesday and he can discuss all further information with me. It's perfect.

I thank ya'll so much!! You've been all so helpful and I wouldn't have know all the information I know now without you.



xo♥,
Win

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Winnie~,

Hey Winnie. That's great! And good for you for looking into things and doing some research, I think that it's really important to be informed as a patient. Hopefully your meeting with the surgeon goes well and you'll be a good pouch candidate. Keep us posted

Winnie! What great news. I hope everything works out exactly the way it's supposed to. Pretty amazing how fast this is all happening. No matter what happens, you'll still be perfect.

Thanks for the great update!!!

kathy

That's great Winnie!!

Brilliant news Winnie!

Good luck with your appointment on Tuesday. Keep us posted.

Shell

Aww, thanks everyone. Yes, it's going so fast, but the sooner the better I say. I'll keep you guys posted!

I really don't know how I could say much I appreciate all of everyones support. We're all like family, I ♥ ya'll!!



♥,
Winnie

Okay, update.

Yesterday I met with ther surgeon. Very nice guy. Young. Good with kids. LOL

Yes so we discussed the everything pretty much starting off with my history and other operations I had performed at another hostpital before I moved. He said so much and we discussed so much so I will try to keep it as short and sweet as I can.

I told him that I'm not satisfied with the PT, and would like a J-pouch. He said right after op IF I get a jpouch, then my muscles would be much too weak to function as good as my pt right now. What they'd do is take out my whole rectum, then create a totally new pouch for me out of my illium, which has never had to work like a muscle as well as absorb food. The first few weeks, he said, would be an adjusting period, then after that we can get an idea.

Then he wanted to get an idea of where my illium was connected to my rectum, so he inserted his finger in my bottom, but could not get it past my sphinkter (sp?) muscles because the opening was too narrow.

He said this is not bad, but good, in a way. He asked if my bms are usually hard and I said sometimes and he said that my illium may have made it's own pouch by squeezing at contrasting. Strange.

Therefore, this could mean that if I get a J-pouch, then not a whole lot would really change for me (I also told him ostomy would be perfectly fine if this didn't/won't work out).

So he is arranging test for me in about 2 weeks to have some tube sticked up my butt into my rectum and illium to get an idea of where my illium meets my rectum and how narrow the muscles are. Then we can take it from there.

I really am not giving up my option of the perm ileo either . . . my surgeon is hopefull and optomistic about the j-pouch but . . . I dunno. The more and more I think about it, the more and more I feel more free and happy about the ostomy.

I don't know what else to say; I got lots on my mind.



xo♥,
Win

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Winnie~,

Hi Winnie,

I don't envy you having to make this very big decision, but as you know only you can decide what is best for you. You are doing the right thing by researching all the options and learning about the pros and cons.

Reading this board can sometimes be very overwhelming as it seems to be all doom and gloom. To put everything into perspective you need to remember that as this is a support site you well get a disproportionate amount of people coming here with problems.

Whatever you decide we will all be here to cheer you on and support you.

Good luck and take care.

Shell

Winnie, you are wise beyond your years.....

You are doing everything right, and I know how you feel. I had being tested over and over again, and having to explain the same thing dozens of times, but unfortunately, that's what we have to do.

I had my jpouch sugery done as a one step 4 years ago and for 2 years my pouch worked great. I had some problems and in February had surgery to correct it, and had a temporary ostomy for 8 months. Those 8 months were great, it gave my pouch a chance to heal, and gave me my life back. I have just had the ostomy reversed and my pouch seems to be doing well.

My point is that you can always try the pouch, and if things don't work out, then you can go to the permanent ostomy. I am happy that I experienced the ostomy, because now I am not afraid of what will happen if my pouch ever fails. I know that there is another perfectly acceptable option for me.

It's hard decision for you to make, but you're doing everything right. Good luck with your tests,

janna

I completely agree with Janna. I have had my fair share of complications, but I don't regret getting the pouch at all. (The colectomy was an emergency, so I didn't have a choice on that one). I have another temp ileo now, but I'm hoping to get that reversed after a few months of Remicade. While I only had 3 months of actually "using" the pouch (after takedown) they were so great. Some people are great with handling having an ileo...I'm just not one of them. I deal with it, but I REALLY don't like it.
Hope it will be smooth sailing for you!