I had 1 crazy year, 2023, when UC occurred for the first time in my life. I was 53. I've never been a competitive bodybuilder, but have followed the culture & lifestyle, for the most part, going to the gym for 40 years.
Long story, short, the j-pouch was worth it. I'm lifting again & everything, for the most part, is relatively back to normal.
As a bodybuilder, <10% body fat, i went from a full/hard 220# in Jan'23, to 210# in Apr, then 160# by June. I was dying, I lost tons of blood & Drs don't understand nutrition. I feel that I only made it 2 months without eating because of the qty of muscle I had before getting sick.
Longer story follows......
Within 2 months of intermittent rectal bleeding (Feb-Mar), I was in the hospital during Apr '23 for UC, colon totally turned to paper-machéte. I had an emergency colectomy in early May '23. The 3-step process, w/surgeries in June & Aug & final takedown in Dec '23. The ileostomy/pouch was difficult for me, but I did it, especially between the last 2 surgeries. My stoma would prolapse, like 2-penises sticking out of one hole, 3-4" each. My surgeon, Dr Fleshner, from Cedar's in Los Angeles, was adamant that I'd be happier with the j-pouch, over the long run.
It's been a tough road, w/the ostomy/bag & w/j-pouch. Earlier this year, 2024, I was 2nd guessing myself & the surgeon; Burning ass, ~15 watery poops a day, little sleep, etc. I tried creams, prescriptions & everything. I had 2nd thoughts on life itself. Psyllium husk helped reduce burn, thicken stools, stopped any issue (albeit small) of leakage, really changed things for me.
Not being able to provide for a wife and 4 kids was almost beyond what I could bear. I'm an engineer, mechanic and i (generally) work on & fix everything. 2023 shut me down hard. And 3-4 months of 2024 weren't much better. But I slowly started feeling better, being able to work on items around the house, fix the cars, etc.
But now, 14 months after my first surgery, things are back to a new normal. I eat healthy, am back in the gym, and am working everyday. Pooping I still different. Caffeine & energy drinks take their toll, quickly. Food moves through the small intestine crazy fast if one consumes those items. Taking lomotil or loperamide can help normalize & slow gut motility, if caffeine is consumed (for me). I know that we are all different.
My cousin lost his j-pouch & has a permanent ostomy. He's had issues & relentless surgeries his whole ~50 year life. That's what he deals with. I get a pouchoscopy every 3 months. Everything seems good. The surgeon says pouchitis & other issues have not been (generally) tracked to be caused by anything specific. I eat "healthy" & eat whenever. I generally wake up 1-2x at night.
I Drink lots of fluids, eat plenty of clean protein, avoid processed/fast foods, avoid seed oils, try to reduce simple sugars, take non-gmo algae DHA oil. Most foods eaten are whole foods, naturally grown with little to no processing. Eggs, avocados, bison, etc. Take a few vitamins & anti-oxidants. Make most of my own foods.
I'm not a year into my j-pouch, but it's worth it, for me. I'm still normalizing. I had a hard time going to the gym with a bag. Now I just have some radical scars down my abdomen. And intimacy wasn't an issue, ever. But for me, I feel less self conscious, not having a bag. My wife never cared one way or another. She never made it an issue. It's been a tough road for me. But I am aware that so many of you deal with so much more. I wish the best for each of you. And just get educated, read up (lots), make your own choice & go with it.
