I was one of the first to get a j pouch at the Mayo Clinic. Although I experienced a high emptying frequency, butt burn and some leakage, I felt that this was much better than having an ileostomy with its various issues. During the 30 years I had the j pouch, I was able to ski the Rockies, participate in equestrian competitions, travel abroad and experience intimacy. These activities would have been compromised if I had the bag. A high percentage of people have acceptable to excellent results with a j pouch, but these people rarely visit these message boards.
Unfortunately, I had recurrent high grade dysplasia and a malignant polyp in the anal canal that made pouch removal necessary. Since I did not want to be stuck with the bag (pun intended), I opted to get a BCIR, an internal pouch procedure that does not require an external bag and is easily emptied at your convenience 3-5 times a day using a small plastic catheter. The k pouch functions in the same way. There is lots of information available on the internet about both of these procedures. They both have a high success rate and high user satisfaction. You may want to consider these alternatives if you decide against the j pouch. Please feel free to send me a PM if you have any questions.
Bill