@Scott F posted:One option you could consider is to break this up into manageable, smaller things. In the short run it sounds like getting off steroids is most immediate medical need, so a subtotal colectomy (leaving enough rectum for a future J-pouch) with an end ileostomy would probably accomplish that, leaving you plenty of time and choices going forward. Some people here have stayed that way for years before deciding to proceed with J-pouch construction.
I had a virtual consult with a University of Chicago surgeon this morning and he told me something similar to what you mentioned above, Scott. He told me one option would be for me to have the subtotal colectomy done by my local surgeon, then travel to him for the j-pouch creation, and then he said I could pretty safely have the reversal done locally too since that step is fast and easy. I am leaning towards that option. That would make things MUCH easier for me if I only had to travel once.