How much of the Ileum is used for constructing the J-Pouch

RJG,
Jan will be able to correct me on this one but I think that they use about 1-2 feet (depending on the pouch...k pouches use more to create the valve).
My Surgeon told me that my pouch would take over a lot of the digestive functions of my colon in the long run (absorbing water and some trace minerals/elements etc).
I suppose that he was right.
It took a few years but I can tag the year that things 'switched' over...I started gaining weight about 4yrs out...my urinary output was higher and my pouch 'stuff' was thicker as opposed to pure liquid.
Not sure if this helps answer your question.
Sharon

They use 9-12" inches to create the jpouch. Most of us DO NOT of absorption problems.

Sue

Sue is correct. Sometimes they use more, if an s or w configuration is used. Or, if they need to resect some terminal ileum due to backwash ileitis or other reasons, there may be more small bowel loss. But, generally, is it not a great deal. For the most part, we have most of our small bowel available for absorption.

You have about 20 feet to begin with and absorption issues do not begin until you are down to less than 7 or 8 feet. However, you can have the normal length of small bowel and still have short bowel syndrome, if your useful length of small bowel is reduced, such as with active Crohn's disease, celiac disease, extensive small bowel bacterial overgrowth, etc. Having a j-pouch by itself does not put you in that category.

Jan

Ok thanks Jan, Sharon, and Sue. Nice hearing from you again Sharon and Sue... It's been at least a year since I've written anything. Very interesting what I'm reading about the Paleolythic Diet, although I do believe they me exagerate a little with some of their myth making. However, I do believe it's an interesting guideline and helps us think more about what happens when "things" enter our digestive tract. At the moment I've eliminated almost all simple carbs for seeing if I can begin burning the fat stored... I will not remove legumes as do the Paleos...

Ross

Not all ileum is the same. Some absorption activities occur chiefly in the terminal ileum (the end of the ileum) - e.g. Vitamin B12 and bile salts. Nevertheless, J-pouchers don't seem to commonly become B12 deficient.

Thanks Scott!

Sounds couragous RJG,
I managed to re-cut-out bread/cake/pastries etc for a whole week...until I made pancakes for hubby and broke down (I am a sucker for a fresh pancake!)and gobbled a few...a few days in a row
So, I am still pretty good on anything flour based, mostly anti-gluten and only eating gluten-free candies, ice cream etc.
No change.
I am fighting some sort of arthritis based problem that goes from my back down to my feet...trying the gluten-free approach but I am not seeing any improvement (how long does it take to see improvement?).
I am working out a lot to burn that fat and seem to be toning up but I have a long way to go.
Hope that life is giving you everything that you desire.
Sharon

Hi Sharon, "life giving me everything I desire"? Ha! Ha! and a Spanish Ja! The test for problems with Gluten is 4 weeks without, but supposedly ideally 3 months. After those 4 weeks, you see how you feel and you return to your original diet. If the problems had gone and return with returning to the original diet, then you have problems with gluten... But, supposedly it isn't only gluten. If you are Coeliac, you may have problems with all proteins with similar molecular structures as that of gluten, such as milk protein (casein), proteins from corn and possibly rice... I remember reading back around 4 years ago that one of the possible main diet causes of Rheumatism is the consumption of wheat products (that includes oatmeal), dairy products and possibly red meat. Now, I'm seeing that those proclaiming against Wheat products are not saying anything about red meat. In fact, there seems to be a trend towards increasing the consumption of red meat and animal fat...

The new diet has been very easy for me and I feel lighter, cleaner and more energetic. I firmly believe that the inproved feeling is due to a sudden reduction of inflamation. However, I'm not diagnosed with anything related to wheat or carbs... It just sounds incredibly logical and I think it is about time...

On another note, my younger sister (43-years-old) was just diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in her rectum and believes she was told she cannot have a J-Pouch or reconstruction of her rectum.

For me, toning is not enough. I need to remove the 20kgs... I'm tired of the doctors looking at my weight and not considering bone mass or muscle mass and telling me I must lose weight instead of looking into the actual issues...

Oh, and about food cravings... Pancakes were never my favorite, since they always made me feel horribly sluggish... I loved French Toast. But, what I will miss is a good pizza or a wonderful baguette... fried eggs with toasted hearty bread... Fortunately, I'm living in Mexico where all of that is very hard to come by... Burritos with flour tortillas... But, I'd rather finally lose the weight.

It's always wonderful hearing from you Sharon.