What are the long term effects of having a j pouch? I'm talking 30-40 years down the road. Just wondering if symptoms of anything develop, or if the pouch starts to loose any of it's effectiveness.
I guess I'm trying to plan for when I'm 80!

I've had my pouch for 22 yrs...still going strong!

I have had the J pouch for 16 years starting in July 1992 and still going strong......I have had to treat pouchitis with antibiotics since 1995, but it's been successfully treated. I rate my J Pouch's functionality as better than what it was back in 1995. Other than the treatable pouchitis, I have had no problems except a septum that developed inside the J pouch in 1998 and had to be surgically removed in 2000, because it was interfering with proper evacuation. Since then, life has been good.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: DJBHusky,

There are no long term studies on this but there are people on this board who are doing well with pouches that are 25 years old. A CR surgeon was asked this question at a jpouch meeting in LA a couple months ago and he said that it's looking like jpouchers won't have the typical incontinence problems that the elderly often get and the reason is that our sphincters get a lot of exercise and are well tuned!

Sue

I've had my pouch for over 18 years. I have a friend in the area who's had hers for over 25 years.

You probably won't see anything older because the surgery has only been around since the early 80's. We're all the future statistics.

kathy

Also 22 years out and doing fine. Sure, a few adhesions here, a revision there, the odd bout of pouchitis but pre-pouch, I couldn't even think of a chili-cheese dog without running to the can. Now, I wash down two with a beer and live to tell the tale.

MSH

I have had mine for 25 years, and havn't had any issues with it. Mine is actually an S-pouch, but same principle. Mine was made in 82/83, and I turned 50 this last February.

I have even been known to ride 500 miles on a Goldwing motorcycle with my husband and only having to stop to pee...

I've had mine for 16 years. It was a one-step. Absolutely no regrets. It keeps getting better and better. No urgency, can eat anything (have been snacking on sunflower seeds lately), but do notice that function is better when I eat fewer foods with refined flour and sugar. I was actually going easy on high fiber foods such as salads and seeds, but have found that they aren't a problem.
Rose

My only worry when talking down the road is if and when I find myself in a nursing home. I'm 6 yrs out but still have some frequency problems. But, my main concern is that I also have chronic diahrea. I dread the idea of someone else having to deal with that issue. I guess I'm a little vain....My luck I'll have chronic BB because they won't clean me up often enough.
Please let me live to die at home!!
Julie