Tummy tuck and J pouch

Hi Kh, I had three surgeries. They were done robotically. My largest scar is at the hair line above the pubic area and beside the belly button at the old stoma site. Depending on your surgeons recommendation, you do not have to have a midline cut to have these surgeries. That's if it's elective. Don't wait for it to be an emergency. 

Thank you AIMC. That was very helpful. Im so confused what to do. I’d love to get a tummy tuck but I’ve been so hesitant- it’s been 15 years since I was first diagnosed with UC and sometimes I think about having the j pouch surgery. I don’t think I’m “there” yet though. My uc isn’t terrible. I have a flare or 2 a year that gets under control with prednisone. I am afraid of cancer though and sometimes wish my colon was just gone. It would obviously be better to have a TT after jpouch surgery but I just don’t know when that time will come? The main reason for the TT would be to fix my large gap in abdominals. Ugh, what to do!?

I didn't have a tummy tuck but I did get scar revision surgery post op...twice. I get infections in my scars and they pop open and heal very badly. So post op I have them redone....it takes time to get it done but for me it was worth it.

Sharon

I’m seriously considering getting a mommy makeover for my 40th birthday. I have been largely healed of all symptoms since I had my last surgery in ‘06 - only had a few flares and pouchitis a couple of times in the last 13 years. I’m with a previous poster, if you can get surgery done without it being an emergency I’d go for it. Healing would probably be a lot easier when you’re not already on your last leg with a toxic colon - I almost died. Also the surgery caused me to become infertile, too much scar tissue on my tubes. I wonder if it hadn’t been an emergency if that would have been prevented. Nonetheless I’m healthy, I’m alive and I’m tired of my wrinkly, scar ridden belly aesthetically. The surgery was a vertical cut, then I had bleeding so I had to be recut and my wind had to heal open and packed. It was gross but again it saved my life. Because of the surgery and pregnancy (via IVF) I now want my belly back so I’m on the process of evaluating doctors...

Lovin Life posted:

I’m seriously considering getting a mommy makeover for my 40th birthday. I have been largely healed of all symptoms since I had my last surgery in ‘06 - only had a few flares and pouchitis a couple of times in the last 13 years. I’m with a previous poster, if you can get surgery done without it being an emergency I’d go for it. Healing would probably be a lot easier when you’re not already on your last leg with a toxic colon - I almost died. Also the surgery caused me to become infertile, too much scar tissue on my tubes. I wonder if it hadn’t been an emergency if that would have been prevented. Nonetheless I’m healthy, I’m alive and I’m tired of my wrinkly, scar ridden belly aesthetically. The surgery was a vertical cut, then I had bleeding so I had to be recut and my wind had to heal open and packed. It was gross but again it saved my life. Because of the surgery and pregnancy (via IVF) I now want my belly back so I’m on the process of evaluating doctors...

Thanks for the reply! So glad you are healthy now! You’ve been through a lot! ...I totally think you should go for the mommy makeover. Since I made the original post, I’ve had two surgical consults and decided on a surgeon. My jpouch surgery will be in mid June. I’m nervous but excited at the prospect of feeling better and eliminating my colon cancer risk. I’ll be doing the 2 step surgery. Hoping once I’m all healed up from the final surgery, I can have a tummy tuck at some point to get rid of scars and pregnancy loose skin and whatnot!

https://www.j-pouch.org/topic/...0#592556449083541040

Curious if you ever had the tummy tuck?? Like you, I had complications and ended up with the old school open procedure when I had my colon removed in 2017. After take down was cleared quickly for pregnancy which obviously did not help the wide gap between my abs (though who knows if time would have helped significantly). Right now, I have kind of an oval gap around my belly button than I can fit two fingers between. It is starting to cause some pulling/abdominal pain in the area (and I swear back pain from such poor core strength) and I was already unhappy with the appearance so the decreased functionality is frustrating...if only insurance would kick in for it

I had emergency surgery because my colon ruptured. Mine was still done robotically. After all 3 surgeries the only scar you really see on me is where the stoma was and its healing up nicely. You can see it but it's not red, raised or horrible.

@Kmiller posted:

I had emergency surgery because my colon ruptured. Mine was still done robotically. After all 3 surgeries the only scar you really see on me is where the stoma was and its healing up nicely. You can see it but it's not red, raised or horrible.

WOW! That must have been very scary! I am glad you made it through!

Did you go septic???

Your lucky about your scars! I have 8 scars (battle wounds lol)

@Former Member it was very scary. I was in the hospital for a very bad flare when I ruptured. And I can tell you it ruptured 3 days before surgery because the pain was worse I've ever had. And I've given birth, so there's that. I wasn't septic. They finally ordered a CT scan and came in and told me CT wasn't good, surgeon was on his way. I was so unprepared. In 18 years I had only had about 3 bad flares. I didn't know what a j pouch was, had no clue how an ostomy worked. I remember waking up and I didn't want to touch my stomach because I didn't want to know. I was pretty depressed. I didn't have years of feeling horrible with uc, I led a fairly normal life. So for me, a j pouch isn't an improvement on how I normally felt 90% of the time. But it's life, I'm not high risk for colon cancer now. I'm fortunate with my scars and glad to be alive.

I had my tummy and breasts done about 5 years after my j-pouch surgery.  My stomach was a mess from the two large incisions. It was a good decision for me.  

@Lisa H posted:

I had my tummy and breasts done about 5 years after my j-pouch surgery.  My stomach was a mess from the two large incisions. It was a good decision for me.  

That’s awesome! Happy for you I wanted to ask you, was the tummy tuck recovery a struggle with the jpouch? I really want a tummy tuck but I have some issues emptying my pouch. Dysfunctional defecation. I’m so worried what will happen after a tummy tuck? With pain pills and constipation, pushing to go to the bathroom. Did you have any troubles?

https://www.j-pouch.org/topic/...7#661243557872067837

thanks for sharing! That is where I feel like my stomach is at and the separation is becoming a functional issue for me now

@Kh1988 posted:

That’s awesome! Happy for you I wanted to ask you, was the tummy tuck recovery a struggle with the jpouch? I really want a tummy tuck but I have some issues emptying my pouch. Dysfunctional defecation. I’m so worried what will happen after a tummy tuck? With pain pills and constipation, pushing to go to the bathroom. Did you have any troubles?

The tummy tuck surgery was a relatively easy recovery (as I remember - it’s been quite a few years ago.) I’ve had other surgeries where I’ve had issue with my digestive system waking up and wound up hospitalized.  Most recently, disc surgery in my neck which went smooth except my digestive system didn’t cooperate and I was back in the hospital where they did the surgery and they were convinced that I had a blockage - I knew better.  I had them transfer me to Mt. Sinai in NYC where I knew they could better handle my digestive issues.   For me, IV Zantac is  the miracle drug to restart my digestive system.  

@Lisa H posted:

The tummy tuck surgery was a relatively easy recovery (as I remember - it’s been quite a few years ago.) I’ve had other surgeries where I’ve had issue with my digestive system waking up and wound up hospitalized.  Most recently, disc surgery in my neck which went smooth except my digestive system didn’t cooperate and I was back in the hospital where they did the surgery and they were convinced that I had a blockage - I knew better.  I had them transfer me to Mt. Sinai in NYC where I knew they could better handle my digestive issues.   For me, IV Zantac is  the miracle drug to restart my digestive system.  

I’m glad the TT recovery wasn’t too bad! Did your system have trouble waking up with that surgery? Or just other ones? Good to know about the IV Zantac!

It appears that the Zantac (ranitidine) recall applies to the injectable version as well as the tablets. The NDMA contamination affected all the formulations, so the drug isn’t currently available, at least in the US.

I had a tummy tuck five years after my j-pouch surgery. The only problem I had was a partial blockage three days after my tummy tuck surgery which sent me to the hospital. They gave me IV fluids for 24 hours and thank goodness I was able to evacuate my j-pouch. Because of so much vomiting I ripped my stitches out and had to heal without them re-stitching. The best advice, I can give you is don’t eat the entire day before except drink plenty of clear liquids then after surgery I remained on clear liquids until I knew my bowel was working. The one thing I did wrong was to drink a good dose of prune juice, too much fiber. This is what caused my blockage. The doctor told if I didn’t pass the blockage they would have to operate and remove part of my bowel.

@Kmiller posted:

@Former Member it was very scary. I was in the hospital for a very bad flare when I ruptured. And I can tell you it ruptured 3 days before surgery because the pain was worse I've ever had. And I've given birth, so there's that. I wasn't septic. They finally ordered a CT scan and came in and told me CT wasn't good, surgeon was on his way. I was so unprepared. In 18 years I had only had about 3 bad flares. I didn't know what a j pouch was, had no clue how an ostomy worked. I remember waking up and I didn't want to touch my stomach because I didn't want to know. I was pretty depressed. I didn't have years of feeling horrible with uc, I led a fairly normal life. So for me, a j pouch isn't an improvement on how I normally felt 90% of the time. But it's life, I'm not high risk for colon cancer now. I'm fortunate with my scars and glad to be alive.

LOVE LOVE THIS!!!! I feel the same way, J-pouch is  life! I believe its our happy ending