J9,

I am not sure...I was warned that as far as contraceptives were concerned that IUDs were out of the question. That the pill was helpful and that periods were going to get worse.

That was 35yrs ago. I was sort of hoping that things had changed and gotten better for you guys. Does your Obs/gyn know about your pouch? 

What I do know is that periods felt like I had a concrete block in my uterus, that it felt like it wanted to drop out onto the floor, that my lower back felt like someone had taken a baseball bat to it and that heating pads were my friend. 

My pouch would run like water, my stomach would churn and I would want to hide in the bottom of my bed for a  week.

Fasting helped, so did yoga and deep breathing, hot baths and rolling around on the floor on a mat or a big ball (I never did have anyone to massage my back)...But now I would suggest those grain or seed filled pillows that you can heat up in the microwave oven...a pure godsend!

I have one filled with cherry pits that is shaped like a very big snake (thank you Kia for the thoughtful gift!)...I place it on my bed lengthwise from my pillow  on down...then lay on it (it runs the length of my spine)...and my whole spine and lower back suddenly relax and feel so much better...not sure but it could help you.

They are not expensive and go a long way to relieve all sorts of back pain...

As for the IUD, if your doctor feels that it is safe then why not? But personally, if you want kids later in life I would go for a less 'aggressive' form of birth control...we have enough scar tissue as it is...We don't need yet another reason to compromise our fertility...

Sharon 

Hi Sharon,

Thanks for your input! Those microwaveable bags are *awesome!!* I definitely don't want to ever get pregnant, and kind of regret not getting tubal ligation at the time of my colectomy. I didn't think to ask about it until after the fact, and while it's possible, it's now a riskier procedure than it usually would be thanks to the j-pouch. Hence, the IUD!

I definitely talked to my GI surgeon before getting it and he said there was no risk it would pose to the j-pouch. He also shares an office with my ob-gyn once a week, so thankfully they can communicate easily! My periods are actually much lighter now, but I've fallen into such a fatigue-cycle the last three months and have had horrible reactions to other hormonal birth control in the past, so I'm extra-suspicious of the IUD.

But, being that I haven't slept through the night in over a year and have always had pms-induced diarrhea even with with a colon, I can't be entirely sure. I've had blood work done and have been taking iron pills for the last two weeks, but am still struggling. And from what I've read on here it's not uncommon for j-pouch folks to be fatigued in general.

Anyway, if any ladies on here have ever noticed an increase in j-pouch grief and exhaustion within the first six months of having an IUD, I'd be curious to know!

(As an aside, I'm aware there is a non-hormonal IUD - it gave me a six-month long period before I finally threw in the towel :/)

If you are married, how about hubby having a vasectomy if you are 1000% certain you are done with your childbearing years?

I was 40 when I had my j-pouch surgery and did have a tubal at the same time. I was not interested in midlife babies. It was a good decision for me, as otherwise it would have been another decade of birth control...

Jan