What have folks heard about the maximum age for j pouch surgery and rationales for age limits. One surgeon I spoke with said it is not "recommended" after sixty-five and another said it's not recommended after age sixty. I'm presently sixty-two but have only taken corticosteroids for poison oak, usually a single injection, probably a total of five times. I work out most days and still do squats with 135 pounds on my shoulders (my weight is 150). I like to think I'm a young sixty-two.
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I don't think there is a maximum age; it's more about overall health. Gloria had her surgery at age 69, she's now 82, I believe? There have been others that had jpouch surgery in their 70s and early 80s.
Sue
Sue
MI retired GI had universal ulcerative colitis for years (treated me for 20 years) and was on many meds including prednisone. He opted for jpouch surgery at age 60 (only shared with me after he retired from practice when I consulted with him before mine). He chose to have surgery due to a long life line in his family, he was tired of being on meds all the time and not feeling well and the fear of possible cancer risk, although he did not have pre-cancer going into the surgery.
You sound like you are in great shape other than the UC and as long as you are VERY MOTIVATED and have strong enough sphincter muscles, I personally think you should do fine.
You sound like you are in great shape other than the UC and as long as you are VERY MOTIVATED and have strong enough sphincter muscles, I personally think you should do fine.
My mother in law's neighbor had j pouch surgery when she was 80 and did and still is doing terrific. I'm not sure why at that age a surgeon would do such a complex surgery though. I don't think I would want my mom or dad to have this surgery at their age.
rebe1505 is another older retired lady who had her J Pouch surgery past age 60. Generally it is encouraged to do J Pouch surgery at a younger age, but some people age well with few other health problems, and at age 60 may still be good candidates for J Pouch surgery. I doubt there is any hard and fast rule. The surgeon will make an assessment as to whether to cut you or not based on many factors of which age is only one. I had my surgery at age 29 and my surgeon, who was then among the best J Pouch surgeons in the USA and a pioneer of the surgery, refused to cut me unless I lost 10 pounds. It's possible that a fit 60 year old might be a better candidate than an obese 30 year old.
I was 61 when I had step 1 and 62 when I had the takedown. No age related problems as a result of the surgeries. Am now 72 and just had a full on, open hysterectomy last December. Easy recovery for me. I'm far from being in great shape but not overweight. Maybe that helped.
Having had both too, to me a total open hysterectomy was a total breeze..... on my scale a mere 5% compared to the colonectomy/j-pouch!
Thanks for your comments.