Hi Indy_Dave. Had consultation yesterday, electing to have my "useless colon" removed probably in January (lots of commitments between now and Christmas). Seeing the surgeon shortly to discuss the various options. Would be interested to hear ppls experiences of recovery time from surgery - 2 step or 3 step.
Tone

I have only had the first step of 2 done. I was in really good health (only bloody D, pain, throwing up stuff ) and took a month off BEFORE the surgery to rest up. I still was very weak after surgery...like a truck had run me over. For the first 5 weeks I was sleeping a lot and barely able to walk to the mailbox. From week 6 to 8 I recovered really fast and was riding bikes, going places without toilets and taking long walks. Now, at 10 weeks I work 40 hours a week and on my feet the whole time at work with no problems...tons of energy! The ostomy thing has gotten easy to manage. I have not had 1 throw-up/pain/bloody D episode since the UC is gone.
No regrets at all for having the surgery...
Hope this helps
David

Tone: I had a two step procedure done. Step 1 in November 2006 and Step 2 in January 2007. If you are healthy there is really no reason that I'm aware of not to have two rather than three step. Many people are now have the procedure done in one-step although my doctor didn't recommed the one-step. The first surgery is very tough and the recovery takes some time and it is difficult (at least it was for me) to get use to the ostomy. However, I was able to visit my daughter in Spain, from the US, 6-weeks after the surgery and I had no real problems traveling although I was a little slow.

Step 2 is easier and the recovery is quicker.

Best of luck.

Kevin

Hi Kevin and David, thanks for your replies. Its good to hear from people with real life experience. My GI has started reducing the pred dosage aiming to slowly get down to 10mg by the time of the surgery. In the meantime like you David I have time to get fit and lose weight