Hello, I am new to this site and wanted to say thank you to all that are kind enough to tell their story.
I had my first stoma put in March of 2023. This past Jan I ended up in hospital again with a hernia that grew around my stoma they needed to close old and create a whole new one. I am in recovery mode now, but Dr’s say I should consider the j pouch after I heal.
I am wondering is their anyone out there that if the bag was doing okay and running properly did they still go through with the j pouch surgery and were you glad with that decision after the healing process.
I don’t like having the bag, but…..wondering is it better the devil you know then the devil you don’t?😟
I am so nervous after reading some of the complications.
I am being seen at Mass General Boston.
Hello! I am on this site intermittently and saw that you posted and no one responded. I am sorry that happened to you. You posted back in March and we are now in August. Did you make a decision and if so, how are you doing? I am thinking no one responded because you are new to the site and this section is more of an introduction to one another than a section on advice. Anyway, I hope you are doing well. Let me know what happened and how you are. As for me, I went straight to the J-pouch, although I did have some complications that left me spending more time with an ileostomy bag than I had thought I would. My J-pouch is 13 years old now and we are doing fine together. The frequent loose stools can be a hassle, but you learn to adjust. Some people have enough problems with the J-pouch that they go back to an ileostomy or try another mechanism (K pouch, for example). I think this site will be helpful to you if you do have a J-pouch and I hope no matter you chose, you are doing well. 
