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Surgery


Sat, October 20, 2018 7:11 PM

Hello everyone,

I have had UC since 2009.  I have tried pretty much all the medications out there - but my body has a nasty habit of building up a resistance to the medications after a while.  My husband and I have decided to go ahead with a total colectomy and ileostomy.  My surgery is on New Years Eve ... new year, new healthy me I am hoping!

Does anyone have any information regarding surgery, healing time, was recovery painful?
Any resources that helped you through the process?

Really, any information would be helpful to me.  I have done a lot of research and discussed many things with my physicians, however, hearing it first hand would be helpful.

Thank you,

Katie D. 

FPO DEK85
Joined Oct 20, 2018

Sun, October 21, 2018 9:40 AM

Reply posted for DEK85.

Have you looked into a j pouch?  It involves an extra surgery, but to me it was worth it.  I hated wearing a bag, those bags always fail eventually.  I missed having a blowout in the communion line at church by five minutes.  I wish there was a support group in my area, it sure would have helped me.  I met a woman as I was buying colostomy supplies and she was so happy to meet another person going thru what she was . I didn’t have the heart to tell her I was having the take down surgery in three weeks. I was so happy to wake up in the hospital and the bag was gone.  Some people tolerate the bag very well.  My doctor has tried to talk me into having one permantly when I’ve had problems with the j pouch, but I can tolerate a lot before I would consider having a bag again. Unfortunately, I developed Crohn’s disease.  It’s not as bad the colitis, which I attribute to not having a colon anymore. it’s still nasty and I don’t respond to the new and very expensive biologics.

FPO charbs
Joined Oct 31, 2016

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