I love your post Gary and the optimism that it vehicles...yup, it is not perfect but then again, How could it be? We are living colonless and mother nature did not plan things that way...but you are so right, we learn to adapt and find the joy once we have mastered our own personal 'pouch instruction booklet'...
Stay happy and healthy
Sharon

I agree that it's not perfect but when I think back to how sick I was with UC, my j pouch is nothing short of a miracle.

Continued good health to you!

You are all so right. I'm nearing my take-down surgery, and I've finally accepted that things will never quite be the same, but I trust it will be so much better than living with UC...it already is. This has been a great place for support, and I've only been on here for about a week. Take good care!

You'll read it all here. But the initial takedown period can be tough. Difficult nights. Lots of baths, creams and you get through it. It's another subject but I swear by VSL. It's expensive but worth it and only reason I've stayed off antibiotics.
All the best to everyone else. It's really tough to stay positive but so key. I offer no judgement on anybody who gets really down in the dumps. Its a tough disease.

quote:

I agree that it's not perfect

Me too, in fact as far as perfection goes, out of all the many surgeries I've gone through, including life threatening that was more serious than J Pouch surgery, nothing has been more of a failure than J Pouch surgery. The trolls here will always defend it, when mgmt10 even just said his/her self that "it's not perfect." That's the truth. There's way too many holes in it and I'm sorry I'm stuck with this bad compromise now.

Thank you so much for popping in with an update on you!

kathy

Excellent attitude Gary. That will get you through. That doesn't mean you aren't going to have rough patches...as our lives are forever changed. However, it's very simple -- we make a choice to be survivors and not victims. Show me anyone who has physical perfection. Obviously, you understand that dwelling on the negative will get you nowhere. Keep coming here for inspiration, encouragement and understanding. We get it -- the good, the bad and the ugly.

@kathy&Laurie- I am rolling on the floor laughing my butt off! I needed some comic relief for the day.
@ Gary- I love this site too. We are very lucky people to have such a huge support system in place! Congratulations to you and your accomplishments (physically and emotionally).
Kim

80km!?! That's awesome! Congratulations!

I look forward to being able to do things again and hearing posts like yours is always encouraging. Even with the complications of a jpouch, it will most likely be better than the UC!

A lot can be done. Life requires more planning for sure -- and maybe that's not fair compared to others who are healthy. I jut eat a small yogurt for breakfast, take Imodium before the ride, and grab a snack like granola bar to eat in the middle of my ride. Sometimes I do have to stop and find a bathroom. It happens. I tell you one thing, docs don't talk about it much, but exercise helps bowels physically and psychologically. Sitting still, a sedentary lifestyle, is not good with a pouch.
As for people who the J-pouch hasn't worked for, I haven't had your experience and I am sorry you had to go through it. But reality is you can't know if a J-pouch will work unless you have the surgery, I have a good friend in this boat who regrets the extra surgery.
In hindsight it was a mistake but I'm not sure how you can know that in advance.

Yes, so true. No guarantees in life. But, I think generally, this surgery is not done on a whim, but because there really are no better alternatives. There are no colectomy options that are completely without issues. You just have to pick which issues you are willing to live with and go for it. If it is a bust, you move on and go for plan B.

No point in lamenting the fact you have bowel problems or shaking your fist at God about it. Even people who seem to skip through life without a care are not without issues. They just have not had to deal with them yet.

I am just very happy to be living in these times where these options are available to us. My life is not perfect, but I have what I need, people who love me, a nice home, and a positive outlook. Every day is a gift I say, so find the joy in simple pleasures. It will make others around you happier too!

Jan