I was a poor candidate for a pouch to begin with. I then had a very difficult first surgery and was only given a 50/50 chance of success after. My biggest issue was incontinence, unlike many it was daytime and not much at night. I also had a few bouts with pouchitis. Could I have adapted to the pouch? Yes, and that was the problem, my life was being contracted by my pouches needs and its poor function. I lived with it 20 months and then had it disconnected and an end ileo constructed. The disconnected pouch didnt behave and I had a large amount of secretions from the disconnected pouch. I expected some as I had had them with my loop ileo but this became a growing issue and problem, nothing seemed to stop watery mucus, so I had the pouch removed in a 4 hour surgery on Dec 13. The surgery went really really well, better then my surgeon expected (he was all smiles after) all done laproscopically. It is not a simple surgery. I was in the hospital 5 days. I am recovering a bit unevenly which is typical for me. I am 60 so that doesnt help and have now had 5 surgeries in 3 years. But I am up and about, took a 3/4 mile walk/hike today and not in much pain. My end ileo is functioning really well. I opted not to have my anus removed but merely sewn up on the inside. This is making recovery much easier as that wound can be difficult to heal. I am very pleased so far.