Cliff - you stop kicking yourself, hear? I certainly wasn't piling on you. I was piling on Jill (or something like that...). It was totally apparent you were only offering Alicia your positive advice. I guess it was unfortunate that we all posted right after you, but I certainly wasn't taking you to task. Over the years on this site it's just seemed like the people who are having problems with their pouches are advised by the medical profession, families, friends and even people here to save their pouch no matter what. No matter if they're experiencing 24 hour pain and discomfort or no matter if they can't eat anything they like or do anything they want. So I also feel that we just need to mention that returning to an ostomy isn't such a bad thing and is certainly an option. Some of our favorite people are permanents! And some of our very favorite little one-year olds are children of permanents!

Keep on posting Cliff and don't second-guess your response. I think we all knew you were trying to help Alicia.

kathy

For the record, I love Laurie!

I think she is right, along with the first few posts, get yourself checked out. I'm going to steal Jan's signature, take a deep breath- this to shall pass.

I am sure going back to ileo is always an option but this might just be something that will be solved with a round of meds.

Best of luck to you!

Thanks for the mention of "shame on them" for the medical professionals who won't let their patient return to an ostomy. I feel for those who are told no. Thankfully, Dr. Vignati was very supportive and humble enough to say he really had no options left, and really was very supportive to us both. Big decision, no matter what. Definitely try to get to the bottom of your symptoms, though. Wish you the best!
Paul

Cliff and others, no offense was taken at all...At the time I had my pouch removed, I had three different doctors tell me they could save the pouch...the key is I didn't want it saved at that point.

I was simply making the point that sometimes an ostomy isn't a last resort but a choice.

I also was not implying Alicia should get her pouch out - in my original post I stated she should get the immediate situation resolved before making any decisions.

Dude. Word. I'm 17, and I have this miserable freaking j pouch and I hate it with a passion. I go like, 12-15 times a day. I know exactly how you feel- I have SERIOUS depression issues. And a lot of people are just like "Oh, maybe you should eat better." and they act like it's completely my fault that I'm missing one of my organs. Oh, ok. Completely my fault. Sorry.

No. Not at all. However....I would check ALL options before converting back to the ostomy. I mean, this is pretty horrible, but so is the ostomy. I was ridiculed beyond belief in middle school for it. Honestly, I'd rather kill myself than have the ostomy again. Yeah, it sucks....but wait a little longer. I've had these problems for 6 years now, and I'm still holding on. No, it hasn't gotten better, but I'm not very inspirational either. What I'm saying is.... it MIGHT get better. And thats all you need.

Thanks everyone who replied and Chelsea since you're about my age. Here's my screenname if you want to talk.

A rose 0f stone

Hi Alicia,I am from philly too and I have the same problems I recently went to the clev clinic and saw Dr Fazio and Dr Shen they immediately saw the problem and I getting surgery on April 2nd, my docs here never diagnosed my problem and i would have suffered like you if I hadn't gone So please go you never know your'e surgery might have done wrong Good Luck Ed

Alicia,

I ditto Jill's comments, well put. I have gone through what you are going through, as I too am a young person and an ostomy just wasn't an option I wanted (at least permanently) to try. After having UC for 10 years, and than having worse symptoms for 2 years after the jpouch takedown (much similar symptoms you discuss, the urges to go, constantly feeling like you have to run to the bathroom, general malais, etc.), I decided I wanted a permanent solution so I could move on with my life. There was no sense of predictability with my jpouch.

I can tell you, I had my end ileo surgery in October of this past year, and I have not looked back since. It is very easy to manage, I enjoy not having to run to the bathroom, and I am finally feeling healthy, eating healthy, and enjoying going out with freinds for a few ****tails now.

But most importantly, I would have regretted not trying, and always wondering "what if" by not trying the jpouch first. You will know when the right time is to make that decision, and everything alwasy has a way of working out. Best of luck to you,

Matt

Alicia....

I was feeling really crummy for a while. I didn't think I could get pouchtitis this soon. I had take down in Dec. I tell ya, 24 hours of cipro, and I felt 100% better. Now I feel like I think I am suppose to after this surgery.

Call your surgeon, girl!