Who would be more likely to survive on an island?

Poucher hands down.   Considering how fast my UC took a downturn, I wouldn't have survived even a few weeks, even if I wasn't on a island. Even someone with only moderately severe UC would have challenges.

 

Obviously a poucher's paramount issue is staying hydrated. But that's what coconuts are for. Heh.

I have a good functioning J Pouch - with medications.  You did not indicate whether there is a pharmacy or a good stash of cipro, flagyl, pentasa, and entocort on this island.  I can survive for a long time with that stuff - I have done it for 20 plus years.  Not too long without though.  Without those meds the person with moderately severe UC has the edge over me, assuming we both have an equal supply of bugs, rats and lizards to eat from.  With the stash of those meds, I have the edge.

 

I don't know if you ever watched the TV show "Naked and Afraid." Basic premise of the TV show is to strand one attractive and naked male and one attractive and naked female in a desolate location with no food and see how they make out over time, with each other and with their bodies. The show I watched followed the exploits of two who were stranded in the Costa Rican rain forest.  They managed to catch and cook a turtle, but apparently didn't cook it enough, as she got violently ill and severely dehydrated.

 

What you guys are not considering is that in these remote environments, there are a variety of foods that you may be forced to eat which will be sickening you and dehydrating  you. The coloned person has the huge edge in these situations. Dehydration can kill you. That's going to be the biggest factor on an island - maintaining one's hydration, and avoiding these types of situations where rapid dehydration will occur.

 

Someone started a thread about the supposedly bad taste of VSL#3.  On this Island I assume you will be tasting bugs, lizards, cockroaches, rats, or whatever else moves and can be eaten. Apart from taste issues, how is your body going to handle it?

 

I assume there are no IVs being sold on this Island, which you can hookup to when you start throwing up from eating stuff your body can't handle?

 

By the way the girl who got sick on "Naked and Afraid" tried drinking coconut water and rain water the first couple days after being food poisoned, but she could not keep anything down, and vomited it back up.  She really looked awful and lost a lot of weight, and you could see it in her body as the show progressed. There was some controversy over this episode because the producers of the show, reportedly, IV'd her off camera, which was considered "cheating." As far as the viewers were concerned, of course it was cheating, but the producers had some moral duty to preserve the health of the young lady. If it was a real life situation, this woman may have died, and she probably would have been in dire straits if she had a J pouch.

Lol, the j poucher without question! 

A island such as Hawaii ?

In all honesty, with a question like this, someones got too much time on their hands.

This forum isn't Facebook

Sorry, I guess I was just trying to make myself feel better about getting the surgery done this coming April 3rd... I don't think it's because I have too much time on my hand, in fact, this surgery is all I can think about now

 

but back to the original question, assuming you were on a plane to Hawaii, but instead got stranded on some random lone island in the middle of the ocean/nowhere, just like that movie Cast Away

 

CTBarrister, I wonder if the salt water could serve as an antibiotic by just sitting in it? Could that replace your antibiotic stash?

 

Also, assuming you were able to find fresh source of water and coconuts, but no people, pharmacies or drugs. Just nature.

Interesting question. The only thing I would probably be worried about is dehydration. But if there is an ample supply of freshwater (and I could start a fire to cook spear caught fish) money is on j pouch


And naked and afraid didn't necessarily always have attractive cast members lol. That show pissed me off so many times the way they jumped around days at a time...I want to see more of how they get through their days don't skip ahead 6 days.....I love watching dual survival, survivor man,  Wild man, Alaskan bush people etc.... if it's a shoe about survival I'm totally there. Don't ask me to do it though. I'm comfy with my modern day things lol. If I was forced to like this plane wreck I'm 70% confident I could do it.

Well, I needed drugs when I had UC and I do now.  So it wouldn't be good either way on an island.  But I don't live on an Island. I live in Connecticut, have lived here my whole life, and my life is pretty good. Because I have the meds I need and they work.

 

Your question is interesting, but its not the one you should be asking because you are not Tom Hanks and you probably will not be a castaway on an island where your only friend is a soccer ball.  I had my surgery in 1992 and I have zero regrets. Don't look back, look forward.

I think I understand where you are coming from with your question. I know for myself, it feels somehow "vulnerable" to be reliant on meds, equipment, ostomy supplies, etc. and that causes me worries.

But CtBarrister is right... its an artificial concern and actually might distract you from thinking through your actual circumstances and what is actually going to be best for you. 

 

Or it's just a distraction for your very occupied mind. You have a lot to think about. I get that too. :-)

Personally, I don't think anyone with a chronic illness would fare well on a deserted island without modern resources. With uncontrolled UC, it. May be worse, because you'd bleed out and become severely malnourished. If all you had was a j-pouch without problems, you'd do better (at least until you fell off a cliff or died from an infection when you cut you leg running in the jungle).

 

Jan

If there were supplies to start an IV (jelco and tubing) you can use coconut water instead of saline.  It is sterile and can be infused directly into a vein.

i do prefer my coconut water with a little whipped cream and rum but hey, in a pinch, the plain stuff will do.

Give me a tube and enough lube (or coconut oil and a straw) and my k pouch would win hands down...not that I am planning to try it anytime soon...By the way, you didn't mention if it was a nice, warm tropical island or a cold northern island...I prefer the warm and sunny kind given half a choice. 

I understand where you are coming from...the fear and terror will get to you pre-op...mind games (or mental gymnastics) are very helpful in allaying the fears...

good luck

Sharon

ps...you didn't mention...would there be a Tarzan to my Jane?

J-pouch, even if stranded with nothing.  Lots of good in coconuts and I think I'd be able to stay hydrated.