Had my KP done at Mount Sinai in NYC (Drs. Gelernt and Kreel) in November 1974. I would be interested in finding anyone with a perfectly functioning KP for as long. Happy 44th to me!
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How wonderful!! It’s great to hear that they can last that long! Hope you have many more years- endless- of j pouch success!
Excellent year! And many many many more excellent years to come. Kudos to you.
Congrats! I have had my K-pouch for 42 years. Bauer did mine at Mt. Sinai in NYC.
Wish I had mine by the late Gelernt. He was the best. He studied with Dr. Nils Koch in Sweden - 1969. My pouch leaks a bit - I've had 1 or 2 revisions.
I saw Dr. Bauer this past July because I thought I was having an issue with my KP. Had to fly to NYC (Mt Sinai) because there are NO colorectal surgeons in Colorado who are familiar with the KP. My KP turned out to be perfect...problem was a kidney stone...flew back to Denver and had lithotrypsy. Congrats on your 42 years!
Congratulations!
My K Pouch was 36 years old on Nov. 9th. It was done by Dr. Fishbein at Johns Hopkins in 1982. I was only 21 years old. It worked perfectly until the last year and half, but I’m hoping to get back on track with it. I’m not giving up on it yet.
Hi All!
I am so happy to have found this group! I had a k pouch done by Dr. Gelernt at Mt. Sinai 39 years ago because of UC. My pouch worked great for so long! I had 3 children. It was fine. I had a case of pouchitis once years ago. Then, over the past couple of years, my pouch was more irritable. And now I’ve been fighting pouchitis and the pouch will leak gas at times. I feel like I have 2 things going on. 1. I’m fighting pouchitis. Which actually can get you very sick and give you Crohn’s type symptoms which included terrible joint pain. 2. Even though I’ve been scoped, Dr. Rubin in NYC cannot see a problem with the nipple valve. However... I’m thinking I will need a revision at some point because I’m used to a functioning k pouch and I really cannot function if gas is going to leak at any point. Even with the pouchitis quieted down the pouch leaks gas. I went to see Dr. Bauer at the beginning of all of this, before I even go scoped, but he said if he had to do a k pouch revision he would change the location of my pouch to the other side of my abdomen, etc, etc. It scared the blank out of me. It seemed like a big surgery rather than a small revision. Over 30 years ago, when Dr. Gelernt did a couple of revisions he never changed the location of the k pouch opening. So... there you have it and thanks for listening. I’ve felt pretty alone with this for a very long time. I’m just not sure what to do. Also- when I saw Dr. Bauer he said “oh, we never guarantee that gas won’t escape from the pouch.” So...Do I go back to Bauer? Do I go try to get a BCIR? I like Dr Bauer and wish Dr. Gelernt was still around. I’d go to him in a second. Thanks for any advice!
I have not had any serious issues but Dr. Bauer has been responsive with any issues or questions. He has left Dr. Gorfine at Manhattan Surgical Associates.
Hi. Yes. Dr. Bauer is extremely knowledgeable and responsive! He’s top notch for sure. But I wasn’t sure about the idea that it is acceptable at all for gas to leak out from a k pouch sometimes and that the site would have to be moved to the other side if I had a revision. Those aren’t really acceptable conditions for me at this time. So... I’m wondering about the BCIR surgery and others who have had recent k pouch revisions and how they are working? Thanks.
Based on my two revisions in the last year and my daily struggles now, if I just had gas leaking and no stool, I wouldn’t do anything. Too much of a chance for complications. Just my opinion.
Thanks, Kim. Who did your revisions?
I definitely hear that. To go back into surgery after everything we have been through with surgeries in my life, is a huge deal for me. I also know there is recovery time and pain and risk. It’s hard because, I like just wearing a patch on my side. It has given me freedom over the past 35 years. But now, I need to put a bag on my side if I’m going to class, on a long car ride or even out for a whole day because...gas can and will escape at any time. You can’t live just having gas leak out at any time like that anywhere. That’s not ok. So- I either deal with what I have (wear a bag in many public situations) or try to take the surgical risk and restore my k pouch nipple valve to the way it was.
This gives me great hope as I prepare to get a KP thanks everyone for sharing
Emily...Who is doing yours?
Mine is being done by Satish Warrier and Phillip Smart in Melbourne Australia
Wishing you the best!!
Emily – welcome to our k pouch klub! When is your surgery. Keep us posted please. We’ll be here for you to answer questions and provide support. Janet
Great Group!!!!
Bodoni posted:Congrats! I have had my K-pouch for 42 years. Bauer did mine at Mt. Sinai in NYC.
Wish I had mine by the late Gelernt. He was the best. He studied with Dr. Nils Koch in Sweden - 1969. My pouch leaks a bit - I've had 1 or 2 revisions.
That interesting. I had my K Pouch 44 years ago in UK.
learned a lot over these years but my health is good.
Bodoni posted:Congrats! I have had my K-pouch for 42 years. Bauer did mine at Mt. Sinai in NYC.
Wish I had mine by the late Gelernt. He was the best. He studied with Dr. Nils Koch in Sweden - 1969. My pouch leaks a bit - I've had 1 or 2 revisions.
That interesting. I had my K Pouch 44 years ago in UK.
learned a lot over these years but my health is good.
I had my k pouch done by Dr. Gelernt in 1979 and a revision with Dr. Bauer in 1999-2000. I see Dr. Rubin due to pouchitis which is troublesome to say the least. I was told in 2017 by Dr. Rubin that there was ulcers in my pouch and that they are seeing crohns like symptoms in older pouches. Anyone have success with any medications with recurring pouchitis? Dr. Rubin is now putting me on xifaxan vs cipro. I heard about VSL probiotics? Anyone use biologics? I live in upstate NY and the docs up here aren't sure what to do with K pouches so I make the drive back to NYC.
Arlene – – so sorry to hear you have developed pouchitis. There is quite a bit of information on the site about treatment. I don’t think it makes a difference as to whether you have a J or a k pouch as to the treatment. That said, a couple comments.
the stoma nurse at Cleveland clinic said frequent irrigation could help minimize the chance of getting pouchitis. I think this makes sense because the less that stool hangs around in the pouch, then the less bacterial buildup. my pouchitis necessitated removal of my J pouch three years ago and so far no reoccurrence. I irrigate almost every time I evacuate.
You will find lots of opinions on what works and doesn’t and I think that’s reflective of how individuals respond differently to various treatments. what was very effective for me is to go off all refined sugar and I have stuck to that routine, well 99% — have some dark chocolate every day. No doubt rifaximin works for some, but for most of us it didn’t. Very very expensive. One antibiotic that is not often mentioned, but was very effective for me, is Augmentin. From what I have been told, by my G.I. doctors, vsl is effective only if the pouchitis is in remission. Other people swear by it.
In solidarity with the frustration of my doctors not knowing what to make of the k pouch. And I live in Boston! Good luck with the treatment. Janet
Hi Arlene, I am in a similar situation. Have had the k pouch for over 35 years but now am fighting pouchitis for a little over a year and also have Crohn’s like symptoms to include mouth sores and joint pain when a flair up is bad. Never had this before. Dr. Rubin put me on a few things at different times. I tried xifaxin. It was good for a little while but did not really last as far as controlling the pouchitis. But it’s worth a try. I had no bad side effects with it. I tried budesonide pills for many months. It helped a little for a while but didn’t get rid of the pouchitis fully. Recently he put me on prednisone 60 mg which I tapered down and flagyl. I think this helped with my pouchitis symptoms but taking those 2 meds was extremely tough on my body in other ways. I don’t know if I could do it again. So far though, it has slowed down my pouchitis symptoms. I am hoping it lasts for a while. I have not tried biologics yet. I am cutting all dairy and gluten and have as little sugar as possible. Hoping it helps. Augmentin has helped me in the past and that is a good one to try as mentioned above.
I hope you find something. Please let us know how it is going. Thanks.
Thank you both, pouchitis sucks. I hope to see Rubin soon to see what else we can try, honestly for a long time I took cipro 500 mg every other day (I know crazy) and it helped for a few years. But April 2017 Rubin scoped and found raging ulcers in pouch but days later I ended up in ICU with PE causing heart failure. I left hospital on prednisone and Xarleto, prednisone 40 mg a day. Somehow after days in ICU no pouchitis? Cause of IV? Anyhow a few months ago after predisone dose lowered to 5 mg a day things flared up again. GI docs up here at a loss. I am so thankful to be able to reach out to all of you!
Arlene,
How did your revision go with Dr. Bauer in 1999? Is your k pouch still continent? Why did you need it and did his revision solve the problem you were having? Did he change the side of your k pouch opening or did you retain the same one? Thanks for any advice you can give me. Because I am considering having him do a revision at some point! Marce
the revision worked, valve was inverted. I love Dr. Bauer. He did change sides. it was no problem getting use to using the other side.
Really??? And it still works? No leaks at all? No leaks of gas? It’s totally continent? When he told me he’d have to change sides I got really nervous about that!
no it still works thank God. Tell Dr. Bauer I said hello! He said when he did it that he would give me another 20 years and fingers crossed....
Dr. Bauer was the surgical resident in on my KP (Drs. Gelernt and Kreel) in 1974. As I noted I flew in to NY recently because I thought I had an issue and there is no colorectal surgeon in Colorado who is truly familiar with the KP.He was caring and reassuring. I highly recommend Dr. Bauer.
Was not a KP issue;-)
Thank you All, for all your comments! Much appreciated!!
To address your post up above Arlene... I’m sorry it’s been so hard. I’ve suffered this year too. It’s a bit scary. I don’t know how you did Cipro for so long. I would if I could. I know it helps but i Can’t tolerate it very well. As for the prednisone, after I stopped - I got my symptoms back just a little. So although prednisone helps for a short time, it’s not a cure. I wonder if they took out the old pouch and built a new one if that would get rid of our disease and give us 20-30 more years with a k pouch with no symptoms. I know that may not be realistic if we don’t have enough intestine left. It is also a big surgery and I’m not sure if I could do that. Or... if the pouch needs to come out will we get the disease under control? If we take it out will those painful Crohn’s -like symptoms then go away? The pouchitis would, but would the mouth sores and joint pain too? Of course, I don’t want to lose my k pouch! Just trying to figure it all out. I hope you and everyone else with pouchitis finds the things that will help put it into remission. Marce
Just reading posts. My story is back to front than those I have read
For many years I must have had pouchitis. Could not get any help.
I was allowed ciprofloxine some years ago for a short while. I am now not allowed any meds here. Antibiotics are not allowed.
I could seriously write a book about this pantomime. I am now so good with my diet. Yes dairy is a horror followed by wheat and coffee. I have never been able to tolerate fats. All herbs and spices are fine. Turmeric is excellent as this is anti inflammatory.
If only doctors tried to grasp the subject.
I have been told by a Nutritionisthere that I still have the ulcerative colitis condition and that is what doctors fail to acknowledge. I honestly believe this to be true.
My doc said they really only get one shot at the pouch creation. Not too sure that they could trash it (due to severe pouchitis) and create a new one. I’m curious if anyone else has feedback on that??
Bubba,
My surgeon, Dr Z Cohen, who did and redid and re-redid mine since 1979 says differently. According to him you can redo them as long as you have enough intestine. He also flips them over to create new valves so that he does not need more than 30cms of small bowel to do it...saves a lot of bowel that way. He always told me that I had enough to redo my pouch 3xs if needed.
Sharon
First off, Congratulations. 44 years is worth celebrating!!!!
Next, mine was done in 1979 by Zane Cohen (retire recently...don't know what I am going to do without him!!!) at TGH in Toronto but he then moved to Mt Sinai and opened the IBD centre there...Wonderful staff, wonderful people.
I have Ehler's-Danlos disease so I do not heal. Every surgery leads to 3 more. It was a nightmare for both him and me. But we got through it...took 3 surgeries (pouch fell off of the wall, twisted, unfinished 2nd surgery...I woke up in the middle!) to finish and get a working pouch. 20 yrs later had a very botched redo (moved the site up to under my belly button!!! Idiot) here in France and then Dr C did emergency surgery on me when the valve sunk and twisted because of the new site. He went back to the original site.
2 yrs later he had to move it due to a peristomal hernia that required numerous redos and ended up moving it again later...Always on the right side.
Since then (and menopause) I ended up with about 8 surgeries (I look like a patchwork quilt inside...All mesh!) including 4 laparoscopic ones to fix hernias etc. Still the original pouch. Just new valves. He flips the pouch over each time.
As for diet? I use a dissociated diet to avoid pouchitis. I had it continuously for about 11 yrs in the beginning until I figured out that the dissociated diet helped me to control it. It gave me something that no one at the time could...reasons, explanations and methods to control my digestion, output, pouchitis.
I read a book, it explained digestive processes, I followed the logic and it worked (for me)...doesn't mean that it will work for anyone else but it is so easy, free and uncomplicated that after nearly 27yrs doing it I could not imagine eating any other way.
I have coffee or tea, water + vitamins, freshly squeezed juice and some fruit in the morning when I wake until noon. Usually, a banana break or other fruit around 10ish to fight the empty feeling and hunger. This successfully clears out my pouch every morning.
At noon, if working I eat cheese chunks/Greek Yoghurt with cherry tomatoes and olives (easy, quick, no brainer). At home chicken/fish/meat whichever I am in the mood for with green veggies (raw, steamed, cooked...) or pasta/bread with butter and herbs. Sometimes I do veggies soups and toast...love it.
Whichever I ate a lunch (Protein or carbs) I eat the other one for dinner...So I eat 1 protein and 1 carb meal for balance.
If I need to lose weight I go to 2 protein meals/day. If I need my winter comfort food, I do 2 carb meals/day (puts weight on me)...
I am in control.
I went from Chronic pouchitis back then with the associated exhaustion, pain, cramping, bloating etc to almost no pouchitis in 27yrs.
I get about 1 bout every 2-4yrs.
I am off of antibiotics. And that makes a huge difference. I absorb mostly well, eat most foods that k pouchers avoid like nuts, popcorn and fresh veggies. During the week I am mostly vegetarian out of laziness. Just easier for work. Weekends I eat my meat and fish.
Dr says that my numbers are good, my pouch is happy (except that it just farted in front of my hubby and scared me to death last night!) and that I should keep doing what I am doing.
Sharon
Sharon,
i have always considered myself ”special”..because I got rid of my 12 year battle with UC and all of the meds I had to take. I have lived the last 44 years not thinking of..or exposed to the issues that some of my “compadres” have had. I thank G-d for my life every day. Learning about the issues that have avoided me and hearing stories like yours has had an impact on me. You and the other folks on this thread are the truly special people who have endured.... You folks are “special”..... I am just a lucky bystander. G-d bless you all!!!
Really interesting posts. we are all so complicated .
Had my kpouch for 42 yrs in Jan. Originally in ‘77 at Mayo Rochester with Keith Kelly. Last revision in 2000 at Mayo Scottsdale. Dr. Kelly (found retired in Scottsdale) consulted with Jacques Heppell. I was so blessed to find both of them. All is well. Recently found this .org while hunting for my favorite Weber & Judd catheters. Got some great info on new manufacturer. 🙏
1974KP,
thank you so much. We suffer, we survive and we live to tell the tale...that is what I was taught...that we pass it on, transmit the experience in order for others to lean and not have to make the same mistakes that we did.
The suffering will happen to us all, no matter what. Age brings on its own share of indignities and having suffered does not protect us from that.
I used to say that with all that I have suffered, I should get a pass on the stupid stuff.
But I didnt't.
I recently (18months ago), broke both of my arms and my wrists...no joke.
I was running (never a good idea in Uggs) from one campus to another and hooked both feet on a raised subway grating. I flew like superwoman (I am superwoman but I cannot fly apparently) and landed arms first. Hit my face next and then my knee. I passed out for the 1st time in my life.
So, I had always wondered how I would deal with my k pouch with only 1 arm (sort of like when you have an I.V. in it) but it never occurred to me how to do it without any arms...
They did not cast me, only x-rayed the 2 elbows and said that they do not cast elbows, to wear a sling...1 month later they were more broken than before.
18 months later they have not healed and they will do nothing to help me other than operate to remove the radial heads on both arms...Risky because they could paralyze my arms or do serious damage...
I live with it and have developed all sorts of new ways of intubating...we are, a resilient group...we find what we need to do and do it.
It isn't easy but it works...had to change my eating habits for a while..only liquids and soups etc so that I never had to irrigate or remove chunks from the tube...Had a nurse come in 3xs to help...She was a disaster and I gave up.
If I have any advice to give us all it is that the future is unknown so be prepared for anything...keep a hook-up kit ready, available and easily accessible, where you can put an indwelling tube in in a pinch and keep it there without help.
Always prepare 2 extra kits for travel and keep 1 in a carry on at all times if needed.
In 2 months I celebrate my 40yrs with my k pouch and I have never, ever regretted taking the risk and chance with Dr C...I thank you A thousand times for trusting me.
Sharon
Hi, Sharon. Do you do food combining? You do not eat protein and carb at the same meal? I've haven't read in-depth about food combining, only some articles, but I understand it to be:
A meal of vegetables and protein, or, a meal of vegetables and carbs.
No combining protein and carb at the same meal.
And eating fruit on its own, as a snack, but not with a meal? Can you please write about food combining, if it is what you do to keep well? I crave carbs sometimes but I have to be careful because of blood sugars.
Dear Superwoman (aka Sharon), omg I can believe you broke both arms and wrists. I could not imagine how to deal with pouch. I just tried using only my left hand and couldn’t even get the tube in. You are amazing. I wish you all the best and hope the doctors help you.