Everyone is different, and it depends how your recovery is progressing. On average it's about 12 weeks, but always listen to your doctor. (In my case I waited almost 6 months, but that's because I had a post-opt obstruction requiring additional hospitalization that added a few more weeks onto my recovery, and then my surgeon went on vacation and my takedown was postponed another month because of his schedule). Anyway, we can't really advise you on this. I would say, however, that if your doctor feels you can manage with 9 weeks and everything else seems fine, then you shouldn't have anything to worry about. I'm sure your doctor will probably want to do a few more tests before takedown, such as a pouchogram or pouchoscopy, so be prepared for that too.

yes, she is planning the pouchoscopy and flex sig the day before takedown because we're 2 hours away and cant do the back and forth. she did the same for the creation. all tests day before and it went great. i thought the average was 8 to 10 weeks. hmmm...

As Spooky said, everyone is different. It's really up to you, your doctor, and your circumstances. I waited over a year to get my takedown.

Do you have extended family that could come and stay with you? That way you wouldn't have to feel so pressured about this decision.

i do but this is an intimate recovery if you know what i mean and i want my wife to comfort me to be honest. we cuddled in bed every night from my early hospital visits with colitis right up to last surgery. its my therapy plus this last one put me into a deep anxiety/depression. docs think its the anesthesia cause i was like a bull through whole illness til now. the other thing is the stress keeps piling on. my kids and x were held in their home in ny (im in fla) at gunpoint so i need to get home as quick as possible to be there for my kids. x is falling apart and kids need me badly. i know it sounds hard to believe but you cant make this stuff up.

In my case 3 months.

Step 1: April 10, 1992.
Takedown: July 10, 1992.

I passed the pouchogram on June 19, 1992.

I'm not sure if there is a standard "average." I mean, there are one steps after all. But my surgeon said 3 months, which is 12 weeks, and he recommends that as the minimum for his patients. Like everyone has been saying, though, we are all different. It's important to listen to your surgeon, your body, and in many cases, your own instincts (i.e. when you feel mentally ready), to get the timeframe that is best for you.

It does not matter because until you pass the pouchogram, there can be no takedown, whether it is 9 weeks, 11, 12 or 15. The key event therefore is the scheduling of the pouchogram at the earliest possible date. But then if you fail, you will have to go for another pouchogram and everything will be backed up.

pouchogram will be day before takedown and if i fail then i leave it in fates hands but today i must decide. where is my magic 8 ball???

Well, I would say schedule the pouchogram. It doesn't hurt to have one to see what's going on in as far as healing goes. Anyway, you won't know what's going on unless you have it done. And if you pass, you can go ahead and have your takedown. So it's win-win, in the sense that even if you fail, you'll at least have a good idea what you're working with in terms of timeframe, etc.

I waited a year because I felt so good with the temp ileostomy once I figured out which appliance, etc. worked best for me. Also, having the surgery in the summer worked best with my job calendar. I could have kept the ileostomy longer and was really reluctant to have the takedown. That was over ten years ago!

if i waited a year id be a mess. not sure i would but know i could. i commend you. my body loved the end ileo but with the loop it feels like im actually weaker and malnourished so im eager for takedown. i went ahead and moved it up agreeing that my pouchogram will be the deciding factor anyway. ceeeeceeee im so glad youve done well...

Personally, I'd say go for the earlier date. Since j-pouches can be done in one step that indicates that things heal very quickly. There have been members here who've had to move their takedown surgery up quite a bit because of problems they were having with the ileostomy. I had a 3-step and it was 2 months between the second and third (takedown) surgery.

kathy

Had my second surgery J-Pouch formed on August 19, 2010 takedown was October 7, 2010. Everyone is different.

I had my temporary ostomy installed on June 1st. Takedown was August 1st- two months to the date.

My Doctor recommends 2 months to his patients.

I only waited 8 weeks exactly.

3 months and 2 weeks. (can you tell I was counting the days?! ) It would have been sooner but I had a complication after step 1 that set me back a bit.

I had zero wait because they made my pouch and hooked me up on the same day. No problems.