Thanks, Strange! Im sure I'll be calling on everyone again for advice and info.

My husband has had his j-pouch for 23 years.  Of course, there has been obstructions and pouchitis, but I think he is pretty happy with his quality of life.

Jfill, congrats on your decision. I am 58 and my second of 3 surgeries is in Aug. also. Good luck to both of us. I am looking forward to both these next two surgeries (well for them to be over anyway) . Cant wait to start my new noral life. Again, good luck

Aimee

Sounds great. It is difficult to commit, and many of us question the choice during those early weeks, but the doctors usually steer us in the right direction.

Good luck!

Jan

Do lots of Kegels.  They have helped me a lot, especially for leakage issues!

For those that read my post back in June (the T-chart), here's my update: I had Step 2 (of 3) surgery at CC on Friday and am writing this from my hospital bed. I'm doing well according to the docs and nurses. I'm also eating well and have walked the hallways several times today. I'm being told discharge tomorrow. I feel pretty good, certainly painful when I walk, but that was expected. Glad to have had the catheter removed this morning with the jp drain coming out tomorrow. So here I am, a decision made with no regrets, only optimism for the next set of challenges that I know are ahead. But so glad to be over this hurdle. Hey I've got a j-pouch!

Congratulations! 

Congratulations...... and good for you.

I'm so pleased at this stage it's going so well for you.

Also pleased you're feeling positive, it was such a huge decision; well, it was for me; but thats over with now.

As a preventative measure, get some ilex paste to protect your skin around the Stoma; I still applied the Cavilon Barrier spray first, then the ilex paste follow by a Stoma collar, then the flange/base.

I only discovered the ilex paste after experiencing issues, which were totally cured and prevented by use of the ilex 

Since my experience, I often say, it's best to have ilex paste to hand and not need it, rather than need it and not have it.

Thanks for the tips and congrats.

Strange, to clarify, do you put the barrier ring directly on top of a thin layer of Ilex paste and then the wafer on top of the ring? I've been told to wipe off a rash cream after letting it stay on the stoma skin for a few minutes, due to potential adhesion issues.

Unsure what you mean by barrier ring ?

I used to spray on a Cavilon Barrier liquid onto the skin around the Stoma which dried almost as soon as it was applied.

Then without wiping or removing the dried barrier spray, I would apply the ilex paste around my Stoma on top of the dried Cavilon Barrier spray.

Then apply a Salts Stoma collar over my Stoma and directly on top of the ilex paste.

Next, I would apply a self adhesive Stoma flange/base plate of a Two Piece Stoma appliance over my Stoma and the Stoma collar.

I guess, with applying the ilex paste around my Stoma, there was maybe no need to apply the barrier spray.first but thats what I did and it seemed to work.

Applying the ilex in such a manner; I too was initially concerned about adhesion but in reality you have no choice.

The ilex acts as a barrier which  protects the skin; I don't believe it actually has healing properties. 

When the skin around my Stoma was red raw and oozing;  I applied the ilex directly to the skin without applying the Cavilon spray first and the flange/base plate adhered perfectly and without leakage or issues.

If you guys are talking about a stoma and such here. Which is throwing me off because the post is about a j pouch. Sorry if I seem off.  But as for red raw skin under the wafer a good stoma powder has helped me several times and can be left on.   It supposed to help heal as where leaving a paste there wouldn't seem in my mind to help. I get itchy rashes that requires a prescription cream. I put it on the whole area before a shower and stays on till I wash it off. I can't leave it on as it will not let a wafer stick. But for the few minutes it's on its properties get absorbed and help with what I have. What I have is related to my autoimmune disease. Sorta related to celiac disease.  But in no way is caused by the wafer. I get it on my arms and legs also. I cannot remember the name for the life of me. I'd have to look it up. 

Richard. 

Found the name. I can't remember all this stuff.  And I wouldn't wish it on anyone. But it's easier to deal with than uc ever was. 

Dermatitis herpetiformis. 

Yeah, we're talking about a Stoma, although the op has recently had a J pouch created; normally referred as stage 2 of this type of procedure, which results in a Temporary Loop ileostomy (Stoma) also being created, which remains until the J pouch has healed and confirmed as sealed.

The final stage of this precedure, often referred to as Takedown (stage 3) removes the need to require the Temp ileostomy and the end result is a functioning  J pouch, which the op is yet to receive.

I'm sharing my experience to help prevent output of the Temp Loop ileostomy from burning and eroding the skin around the Stoma.

The Loop ileostomy can be more difficult to create a sufficient seal; output is normally more acidic and liquidy, which can leak under and between the flange/base and onto the skin.

Before my J pouch creation; I had a Stoma for years and although I experienced the odd leak here and there, I never endured the burning and skin erosion, that is, until awaiting Takedown surgery with a Temp Loop ileostomy..

With the Temp ileostomy, I tried every cream available to alleviate my pain, suffering and skin erosion and the only product which provided instant relief and healed my festering and oozing skin within 3 days, was the ilex protectant paste.

I continued to apply the ilex around my Temp ileostomy, purely as a preventative measure, until my Takedown surgery.

Congratulations on your decision to move forward with the j pouch. I'm also on the step 2 of 3 for new j pouch redo surgery (June29). Step 3 in Oct. This surgery was a bit rougher than 20 yrs ago. Probably because I had a 5yr. old, 3 yr. old, & a 6 mnth old to worry about.  This time around my surgeon got rid of my fistula,scar tissue and fixed a hernia. As with each j poucher nothing is for certain until they open you up and get a look. I'm looking on the bright side if it fails again, an ileo will be ok by me & my husband. I just want to be healthy.

Ok. That clears it up. 

I'm sorry. 

And yes. I had the dreaded temporary ileo. Omgoodness.  That thing was terrible. I thought the end ileo was gonna be like that and dreaded getting it. But the end ileo is easy.  It doesn't mess the skin all up.  Also sorry I can't help.   

Richard. 

I had red, sore skin with my temp ileo, too. I had ordered Ilex paste but was too nervous to try it as I assumed I had to let it fully dry and I was concerned about adhesion. Strange, good to know that it doesn't need to dry before applying everything!

Yeah, apply ilex to skin around temp ileo and apply Stoma collar or base/flange directly onto the ilex whilst tacky, no need to wait for ilex dry, I didnt.

If skin is red raw, broken and oozing; ilex needs to be applied heavily, kind of smeared over the damaged skin, again no need to wait for it to dry;  keep the ilex applied for as long as possible to be effective, although, when changing appliance, it will normally peel off in large chunks.

If skin still damaged, then reapply ilex in a similar manner as described earlier, otherwise, only apply a small pea size amount spread over the skin and around the ileostomy, don't rub the ilex  into the skin, it has to be applied on top of the skin to create a barrier.

This is what worked for me.