Hey all,

I'm coming up on my 10 year pouch soon and just wanted to say this forum proved to be a major help in my life. Thanks all for being there when questions come up and to check for answers. Here's the tineline..

Spring 2004 - Emergency Subtotal Colectomy with Ileostomy less than 3 months after getting married!  (I did not know I had IBD, surprise! In sickness and health!)

Spring/Summer 2005 - 2-Step pouch. Pouch creation with loop ileostomy. Then Pouch takedown.  Cedars-Sinai, Beverly Hills... West LA. 

2008-10 - Symptoms and official Diagnoses of CROHN'S ... wah wah wahhhh.... everyone was sure I had UC.  

2015- Living with Crohns and a pouch. Pouchitis about 3-4 times a year. Crohn's under control at the moment with Cimzia.  Humira failed. First year without a course of prednisone in a few years. That's a plus. Still can't sleep all night though.  :/  

So yes, I'm still learning to live, psychologically (toilet locations, cramps, anxiety/urgency), and physically (Crohn's, pouchitis) with my pouch.

I feel optimistic. Keeping my head up. I can eat most things, I have a career, family, I can do 90% of anything I want to do, I am a 3-year old father!! I flared up right after his birth! Hah. Life is good though. God is good. IBD can only make me stronger with the right attitude. 

Thanks all,

Ian