jpouch

Don't be afraid it is well worth it it just takes the body time to adjust

No need to be afraid. Just remember that it's a journey.

Why are you having it done? Has something changed? It tends to be better going in somewhat healthy but if you are like many of us and this is your only option....why worry?

I went in to surgery having no idea what was going to happen or how it would work out. Thirteen years later....no regrets!

So, ask questions. Tell us your worries. Vent.

I am so nervous reading bout all the things that could go wrong when I am healthy now (physically).Mentally, not so much. Even having been diagnosed with crohns is this too risky? The doctor that did the first surgery said NO, but if i realy wanted it done, to go to Cleveland. So here I am and I cant even decribe how I am feeling. One minute OK this is what i want then the next its like what in the heck am i doing.
I wish I had a cyrstal ball to look into the future to make sure that this is worth it!

My worries are well
How long will this last?
My family, they say why are doing this, when you are healthy now?
What I have said to them is. I am not happy with myself trying to work with this is hell, sulcluding myself from going places,being around just hiding the fact that i have a ostomy is exhausting and i an tired.
I am afraid that I will live in the bathroom, will this happen?
I was told that I have to hold it so make the pouch stretch? what if this does not happen, then i will live in the bathroom,right?
What about this pouchtitis? OMG the scares the day lights out of me.
plus the doctor said as much as i empty the pouch is the amount of times i will use the bathroom?which is about8 depends on what i eat

I have had a sm. bowel ubstruction, which will make my tract shorter, the dr was not worried she said i have plenty but i guess you never know

The reason why i want it done is because with my ostomy i am hiding. I have really no friends except maybe one the I am comfortable talking with.I hide it at work sometime I am even afraid to use the bathroom and go places on my lunch hour.what about it blowing with air that the hardest to hide for me.

who is your surgeon? I am 10 minutes away from CCF and had mine done there 5 years ago. I had Dr. Kalady. and Shen is my pouch maintainance doc.

Having read this in addition to your other thread (where I just commented) I think you MUST seek therapy before you move forward with surgery. Cutting your body is not going to resolve issues in your mind.

I agree with Liz. If you are freaking out now which is obvious you are than after surgery you are going to get even worse. You really have to be mentally and emotionally prepared for a surgery like this. This is a major thing and when its done its done you as re going to have to live with it. You can not use a site like this to sit back and read posts and ease your worries. Most people that are on here are having issues or freaking out because they think they are having issues and are looking for advise from people that have been there done that. I've learned a lot of tips and tricks from people on the site that have helped me through but I don't come to this site and read post to turn a bad day into a good one unless you want to read all the success stories and I'm sure there are quite a bit but you are more likely to find people on this stuff asking advise about problems they have rather than giving praise to their pouch. You are certainly welcomed to look up my info and email me if you would like to talk on a more personal level. I had UC for 10+ years and am now about 10 months post takedown. Take it easy. Stress is going to be the worst thing for any medical condition. Try to relax.

I just read one of your other posts...you have been healthy for 9 years and currently on no meds? Why are you hiding because of the ostomy? I have had an ostomy for 4 years and live a very full life...much fuller then it ever was with UC.

the doctor doing it is DR Meagan Costedio

Catja,
You had or have an ostomy? I dont know why but It bothers me. I its noisy, constanley making excuses at work as I work as a Registered Dental Assistant.Working that close to someone adds alot of stress for me. Thank goodness the handpiece was running the other day, i had the loudest noise out of my pouch I was able to hear it I sure hope the dr didnt hear it. I always say if it happens " I have the loudest stomach ever, dont mind all the noises" this is what i say to coworkers.I too on lunch breaks leave the office to us the bathroom, I am afraid that someone will comment on the smell. I never want to leave my house in fear my pouch will fillup with gas and believe me it happens alot. You would think that after nine yrs i would accept this but now my anxieties are just ketting worse!

Ljk-I believe the success rate of the j pouch with Chrons patients is far less than UC. I don't know percentages but many who are diagnosed with Chrons after j pouch construction end up going back to the ileostomy. Please get more opinions on this. Additionally my j pouch gets noisy at times too so there's no guarantee your intestinal gurgles will be less. It seems you're dealing with more emotional issues rather than physical. Good luck in your decision.

randy, Nothing is active I have not been on meds for 9 yrs crohns was only in lg intestine and that has been removed.

you would think after ten yrs i would be fine dont you?

Randy you are right it is emotional the whole reason for jpouch surgery. surgeon did inform me that it may not even be possible to do with the scar tissue already existing. I am prepared for that. My rectum needs to come out regardless.

Again my biggest concern with you is that you have a Chron's diagnosis. It's great that you've been in remission 9+ years but that's no guarantee you'll never flare again. Plenty of patients have had long runs of remission followed by flares that lead to colectomy. I hate to see you turn in your current, healthy drug free condition for one that may not be optimal. This is probably a great debate topic amongst the experts. I noticed you have another thread running on this topic and others have chimed in with similar concerns. On a positive note you're having this done at Cleveland Clinic. They're suppose to be the best! Keep us posted

I agree with Randi, a j-pouch isn't often recommended with a Crohn's diagnosis. Even if it's inactive.

kathy