Hi,

I am 8 days out from Step 1 of 2, and doing pretty well I no longer have my colon or rectum! I'm really tired (as I've read on here so it was to be expected), but I'm eating and feel pretty good.

Megan took two weeks off from work to help with recover and I think she needed 'work' so she made documenting my surgery her duty. We wanted to document it though b/c we found SoccerMandy and Asklof photos SOOO helpful before I went into surgery. Here are some photos (a bit graphic):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/markandmegan/sets/

The comments we've added and pictures we've shown are more for non-jpoucher's and those unfamiliar with the procedure, but thought you might enjoy to see my recovery process.

Thanks again to everyone on this site who have made my recovery seem possible.

Mark

Awesome photos!!! I am having J pouch created in Sept. I had my colon removed in March. My question is this...what is the tube coming from abdominal area with blood in it??? Is this common? Good Luck in your healing!!

Hey Mark and Megan,

Looks like you had a pretty solid recovery from step 1 there Mark. Did you have UC? Because you seem extremely in shape and cut (makes me jealous, haha). The tube coming from the abdominal area is a drainage tube from one of the puncture sites. This is very common in laparascopic procedure. I had one as well for couple days, it simply takes excess surgical fluid/blood out of the body. It's no biggie at all. Mark, I think you got a good spot for your stoma because its even a bit lower than your belly button so you will probably be able to sit down on the toilet and empty. Just a tip, the nurse told me most men actually kneel in front of the toilet and empty the bag. The odor may be all up in your face but I find this is so MUCH easier. Anyways, good luck seems like you will do great!

Good to see everything is going well Mark. I am jealous because my incision is from just below my diaphram to just above my you know what. I think the tube "nys" is talking about is called a Jackson's Pratt. It is a tube that drains the abdominal cavity after surgery. I had mine taken out about eight days after surgery. I am not going to sugar coat anything or try and make you nervous but the most painful part of any of my surgeries was when they took the Jackson's Pratt out. It goes in a good ten inches or so, or at least mine did. Good luck Mark and just think your half way home...

Tom

Hi,

Yep, I had UC for 7 years, sick for 6 months, 6 month remission and then in a constant flare for 6 years (no remission, not once during that time) and averaged about 10 BM's a day with urgency, it has been a long 6 years. Up until recently it was hard to decide on surgery even though the doctors said 3 years ago I should do it b/c I was able to function most of the time. I was in a healthier phase before surgery b/c I was on prednisone 4 months before surgery. I've struggled with my weight b/c I've never had much weight on me. But it has by my job as a contractor and carpenter that somehow kept me going. I also started skateboarding again as excercise prior to the surgery. I think if I hadn't had my physical job I don't know what I would have done. Although, I don't know how I always did it with my joints and constant fatigue. I just feel so much better already without having my UC symptoms and not feeling like I have the flu.

great job...i think this is a really good way of showing someone how things are gonna be. like especially with the bag. i mean when they told me i would have an "appliance" i thought what?! am i gonna have some crazy machine on my side? but yeah once you've got it on there its not that big of a deal.

Great pictures! You look surprisingly well. Just wait til you have TD - you'll be amazed at how much easier that is. And good riddance to UC throughout, eh?

Mark, wow! seeing your pics brings back memories. That surgery sucked for me.

I gotta say, it looks like your doc did a great job with your incision. I would have much preferred a horizontal scar under the waiste line. I got a long vertical scar that runs from the top of my penis to above my belly button.

I know it sucks having this illness but we're alive right? Good luck man, take care, Erin

Mark, you look great! Its good to hear that you're feeling better. I had UC for 6 years too without remission. It was only the last 2 years that were kind of bearable due to being on 6-MP - it cut down on my bathroom trips but I was still very anaemic and couldn't eat too much and my activities were very restricted. I remember trying to cut our lawn before surgery and I could ony make it about 15 steps before I had to stop for a rest and then I went another 15 steps and another rest.... The scar looks great - I have the big midline scar so I envy you yours.

Best wishes for continued improvement!

Suzanne

Thanks for sharing your photos! I wish I had seen something like that before mine...all I had was this terrible video available in the hospital starring some crazy old people (no offense intended to any crazy old people out there) It would have been comforting to see pics of another younger person.

Hey Mark,

You look very healthy in those pics. It looked like your pants were falling down in pic #13..lol (another inch lower and we would've had to give it an "R" rating hahahaha.) I see they left most of your pubic hairs intact, whereas I had nearly all of mine shaved off. I guess that is because they were going horizontal on you instead of vertical? That'd be my guess.

Good luck on your recovery and enjoy your renewed health!

Johnny