I've had a J-pouch for 17 years and in that time haven gone through normal boughts of pouchitis. I was recently hospitalized after losing half of my hemoglobin and referred to Stanford to have the pouch removed. Apparently this ulceration is at the fold of the pouch where the intestine is stitched back to back and not treatable. I'm not really happy about the idea of loosing this pouch. Has anyone out there had a similar situation.
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I was also unhappy about having my 30 year J pouch removed, but recurrent high grade dysplasia and a malignant polyp in the anal canal made pouch removal necessary. I very strongly did not want an ileostomy with its quality of life issues and opted to get a BCIR (very similar to a K pouch). These options do not require having an external bag and there is a lot of information about both procedures in the internet. I have now had a BCIR for 6 years and have had no problems with it.
Interesting, I wasn't aware of the procedure. I will have to include it in my discussions with the surgeon. Thank you Bill
Briand, most people and many doctors are not aware of this procedure since the J pouch has become the most widely performed procedure for those wanting to avoid having an external bag. The two websites that I suggest you visit for more information are: www.bcir.com and www.ileostomy-surgery.com. These websites will help you prepare a list of questions for discussion with your surgeon. Please send me a PM with any questions you have and your contact information if you would like to have a phone conversation.
Bill
Ok Bill, as I move further into this I'm sure I will have a mountain of questions. Right now this is moving at a snails pace. I'll get a look at these sights and contact. Thank you Bill
Hi Bill. we spoke in April and you graciously informed me of the BCIR. I spoke with DR. Schiller and he didn't feel like I needed the procedure at that point. He thought I should give the pouch time to heal. I know have an ileostomy loop and don't have high hopes of the pouch healing. This stoma is 1/2 concave and the enzymes in the stool are eating my flesh alive. I have contacted Dr. Schiller and I think I'm going to try and move forward with the procedure. I was hoping you would let me pick your brain. Thank you, Brian
Brian, I would be pleased to answer your questions. Please send me a PM with your phone number and I will call you back.
Bill
