I don't think we are different from those with colons, in terms of aging. Genetics and hereditary, along with lifestyle and diet probably play a larger role in the aging process.

Sue

I am not concerned with the esthetique aspect (although I must admit that I wish I had gotten a pass on the wrinkles)...it is the 'how is my body going to age' aspect that scares me...I am battling severe sacro-ilitis right now and it is killing me along with chronic tendonitis in various joints (ankles, wrists, elbows)...so that along with my 'delicate' pouch leaves me wondering what I am going to be dealing with in the next 10yrs (not even thinking beyond that)...
I live off of NSAIDs and I know that that can't last forever.
Sharon

I think about this same question in conjunction with my liver.....how will it weather the bombardment of medications it is being subjected to. I sometimes wonder if liver cancer will be how I die. You can't help but have these thoughts. I try not to think about it too much, but certainly my liver chemistries are always a topic of interest when I go for my annual physical examinations. The good news is my heart is aging well, I passed my stress test last year with flying colors.

When this subject comes up my cousin-in-law likes to say, "nobody gets out of here alive....we are all going to die." I also think about the same stuff with my parents who are in their mid 70s, aging well so far, except for my mother's very bad degenerative arthritis in her knees.

A few years after surgery, I started noticing arthritic pain, etc. Thirteen years later, it's still there but under control via meds.

My issues with my j-pouch and subsequent Crohns are not going to go away. Since it's an immune system issue, I expect I will continue to have immunity issues. But I try not to think about it.

On a funny note, I called my mom today and she said she had heard I was sick. I told her that I have strep throat (or tonsilitis for my non-tonsiled self since the strep test was negative) and that I had started antibiotics. She then asked, "So this has nothing to do with your colon stuff?"

No, mom, I just have a sore throat. lol

Mom's are sweet!
Sharon

Well, after 19 good years with my pouch, chronic pouchitis has reared its ugly head, and only responding marginally to everything they are throwing at it. I teach an aging class, where I am usually optimistic and say, "Aging only happens to us if we are lucky" but with all the pouch stuff I have dealt with the past 2 years, the cynic in me is saying, "Getting old sucks"...It's not for sissies, anyway