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Keep J Pouch or go back to ostomy


Tue, September 10, 2019 8:40 PM

Hi! 

I’m currently 19. I was diagnosed at 17 in April 2018. In August 2018 I had an emergency colectomy. In October 2018 and December 2018 I had the next 2 surgeries to complete my J Pouch surgery. I’ve had mixed feelings about my J Pouch. After having recurring pouchitis (3 or 4 since January 2019) and cuffitis (2 since July 2019) I’m beginning to wonder if a J Pouch is really worth it. These cases aren’t that bad but they get exhausting after a while, especially when the treatment for each one takes anywhere from 2 weeks to a month before everything’s back to normal again. My J Pouch when it’s operating well operates very well: 2-4 BMs a day, 1 at night. But these recurrent problems are really putting me off of it. 

Basically my question is: Does anybody have any experience with a voluntary reversal back to an ileostomy? There is no pouch failure (yet), and my surgeon has only brought up the idea of a reversal once, but it’s very hard to go on like this, especially with the school year starting. It’s hard to go to class and study when I have to run to the bathroom every 20 minutes. 

Thanks, 
Anna

FPO Anna1298
Joined Sep 10, 2019

Thu, May 25, 2023 3:32 PM

Reply posted for Anna1298.

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FPO jemijonson12
Joined Sep 14, 2022

Wed, February 16, 2022 3:47 AM

Reply posted for Anna1298.

If you have had these organs removed, you may have an ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) procedure to provide a new way to store and pass intestinal contents per anus. In an IPAA, the ileum (the lowest part of the small intestine) is formed into a pouch to store solid wastes. This pouch is connected to the anal canal, allowing you to store and pass stool through the body’s usual route.

FPO radley112
Joined Feb 16, 2022

Fri, January 10, 2020 11:13 PM

Reply posted for Anna1298.

I think you should give your pouch more chance, and focus on improving the microbiome of the pouch. Also exercise, keep stress low, get good sleep to decrease overall inflammation. If it still fails after all that, then you can say "at least I tried hard to make it work, but it did not." If you make the decision to reverse impulsively, you might regret not having tried harder.

FPO Elif
Joined Jan 8, 2020

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