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Pregnancy after colectomy

Tue, April 19, 2011 8:19 PM

After 20 years of UC, I have been diagnosed with low grade dysplasia (LGD). I had 2 additional opinions, confirmed pathology results with 3 pathologists, and and had an additional chromoendoscopy showing more LGD. All gastro docs are recommending a total colectomy to make sure I do not get cancer. The toughest part is I have been in remission for well over a year now (after increasing my Remicade) and feel the best I have felt in years (going 1 to 2 times/day). I am searching for success stories about woman who have gotten pregnant and delivered after surgery.

My husband and I have been together 21 years (married 11) so he has been with me as long as I've had UC. We were high school sweet hearts and have been trying to start a family for over 5 years now (I'm 37). I have had 3 failed IVF cycles, but we now have many embryos frozen until after the surgery in case the surgery impacts my reproductive organs.

I will likely have the J-pouch surgery, but the colorectal surgeon at The Cleveland Clinic is first recommending a temporary ileostomy and leaving the rectum until after delivery in order to avoid being too invasive in the pelvic area.

Can you share with me how long you had to wait to try to get pregnany after surgery? How long did it take you to get pregnant after surgery? What should I expect in terms of pain after the surgery? Did your surgeon recommend having a temporary ileostomy during pregnancy rather than going directly to the J-pouch? What complications, if any, did you have with the ileostomy during pregnancy? What was the hardest part of having an ileostomy during pregnancy?

Thank you SO much for any stories/advice you can share.

sportsgirl
Joined Oct 17, 2008

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