I had my takedown surgery in June of this year. My quality of life has drastically improved. It's amazing how quickly I was able to notice a difference. I'm sure there will be bumps along the way, this site has shown me that but in comparison to my life before the j pouch, it seems to be worth it. I haven't modified my diet. I eat whatever I want. I have noticed that when I eat a lot of sugary foods then I go more and get butt burn. It hasn't proven to be severe enough to stop me from eating sugary foods! I really should do that. I don't take any medication now. I occasionally use Imodium; that's usually when I have a longer drive to make and helps me with the UC anxiety I am so accustomed to. All in all, I would recommend the surgery.