Gacleader1
You are very right about making sure that your surgeon is a local as possible, that he is openminded and willing to 'cross-control' you if you have either the Bcir or the K pouch...my surgeon in Paris is a great guy, old school but so darned open minded that not only does he think outside of the box, he doesn't know that there is a box.
He does neither k pouches nor bcirs but forms j pouch through laporoscopy and does other keyhole surgeries...his specialty.
When I initially contacted him about my failed k pouch/valve/hernia problems (emergency) he not only listened but requested all of the doc/files etc, met with me and then invited my Canadian surgeon over and gave him priviledges here. Since then he has followed me closely, done 4 other surgeries on me & my pouch solo and invented 2 or 3 totally original techniques for k pouch fixes.
The guy is a God.
You need an openminded colorectal surgeon or internist who is willing to work with you and not against you...they are rare but they exist.
Good luck finding one
Sharon