I'm 3.5 months out of my last surgery (takedown). I came to this forum when I first was told I needed the 3 surgeries. I was diagnosed with UC only just before this, however, I was always aware something wasn't right, as in, really not right. When I first started reading about the negative outcomes some people had I was super nervous (obviously) about how my outcome would be. I play music for a living and I was home on July 2nd this year from the hospital after my takedown and I played a 45 minute show on the 10th of July. I know people who have dealt with pouchitis etc, I personally don't even think about when I eat or what I eat now, I don't drink all the time, but when I do it's generally in a sizable amount and I get a bit gassy if I'm drinking beer, but other than this I have no dramas with it. I've been meaning to write a post about how well mine turned out for me, but I don't think many people that come to this forum have had the same result, but the idea was to let people know that it can work out without sounding like I'm bragging.. I had the roughest 2 years of my life before this surgery just like anyone else, but I am very happy I had this surgery done and the group of surgeons at the Peter Laugheed Centre in Calgary Canada are elite at what they do. I'm a single 34 year old male who didn't cope well at all with the ostomy as it got in the way of my personal life, so to speak.. Now it just looks as if I've been shot and there is a little scar where the bullet went in and they had to do a few surgeries to fix the damage (that's what I jokingly tell people at the pool at least). I hope this at least gives you some hope as I intended it to. Good Luck!