I am surprised at the pain and suffering people will seemingly be prepared to put up with to avoid an ileostomy. I have had a pouch for 22 yrs now and for most of that I have been able to pretty do what everyone else does. Although camping is a bit tricky! However the last 3 years have been very tiresome with chronic antibiotic dependant  pouchitis, abscess requiring surgery, fistula, stricture causing blockage requiring several dilations and then feeling crap from the cipro etc. What might be the final straw is ruptured tendon that was weakened by cipro and surgery for that - currently 2 weeks in - and managing going to bathroom on crutches especially in the night. I am at a point that I think having a bag would allow me to just get on with my life and not worry about drugs, side effects etc. anyway I need to get over Achilles surgery first ! From what I remember as a young man the ileostomy was not a big deal Although I dId know it was going to be reversed Of course.the irony is I feel fine at the moment and pouch behaving but I'm completely crippled.  Anyone out there in a similar position ? Adam 

I don't know about you but I went through 4 surgeries to get this j pouch. Had a blockage after last one and they couldn't tell my family if I was going to make it. That was in 2001. Have had 3 surgeons tell me to get the outside pouch (one of which was the surgeon who made the pouch). The first two years he kept diagnosing me with pouchitis and said since I was having chronic pouchitis I should have outside pouch. I went through hell to get this and no way was I giving up. It made no sense to me! Explain to me why this is happening. Never received any diet information from anyone. None of the first 3 surgeons wanted to answer questions.  The 4th surgeon is my hero and was recommended by a long time nurse friend of mine!! He educated me on this pouch! He made drawings showing exactly how it was made. He also told me that its was not uncommon to have up to 20 bowel movements a day during the first couple of years because the pouch is stretching so I didn't have pouchits.

In 2012 the 3rd gi dr found a stricture.3rd gi dr and 3rd surgeon said  it couldn't be fixed only answer was outside pouch.  My 1st visit with my hero (4th surgeon) had researched and printed a procedure that could fix sticture. He said yes and that they had a gi dr who specialized in those kind of procedures. Was always so afraid of losing my jpouch. Finally I knew I was with the right doctors!  Now I go to a dietician couple times a year but most of all this group was the only help I had for 3 years!! I am so greatful that I didn't make any decisions till I found a surgeon who answered all my questions. My big brother told me after first opinion of outside pouch as I was crying, educate yourself before you make any decisions. That's when I found the jpouch group. He passed away of cancer Jan 28th of this year. God how I miss him.  But thank god for him and jpouch group. I hope this helps someone. It was hard to keep this short. Its been a long road.

I lived with colitis for 10 years, then had a j-pouch for 7 years, and went back to a "temporary" ileostomy (which is permanent as far as my doc and I are concerned).

Constant pain plus 4 hours a day in the bathroom got to be too much. I couldn't work, my social life was limited and I spent every moment worrying whether I could make it through whatever I was doing. I couldn't imagine having/caring for kids.

Unfortunately, I had no better option than going back to the ostomy pouch.

And I really hate it. I'm always hoping it doesn't fall off, tear, or leak...only one brand works for me and its performance has been unimpressive. Everyone can see there's something under my shirt, especially when the damn thing fills up and sends me off to the can. Carrying my kids and lifting things is always worrisome, as is bending when the thing is full.

But...going back to a life of pain is not an option. So here I am. Sure wish Remicade had been available for ulcerative colitis when I was considering the initial surgery.

It would be good to know what one or two foods people avoid and what they eat that they think helps.  I sometimes avoid wheat.  I take Konsyl some of the time.  It holds everything together but probably increases frequency a bit.

Surgeon has told me that there is nothing else they can do to help me as my pouch has constantly given me problems, and I now suffer with incontinence after my sphincter muscle was damaged in a small Fischer op last year. I would still rather try and change my diet and my profession before reverting back to an external bag

I had an ileostomy bag for 12 years, and now have had the J-Pouch also for 12 years.

Never ever ever would I ever want to go back to an ileostomy bag. It created so much shame for myself, always trying to hide it, never wanting to have to explain things to anyone. People were always shocked and dumbfounded when they found out about the ileostomy, and they would see me differently, and I could feel their pity that I never wanted.

Now at least I look and feel normal, and can walk around without my shirt in the summer. As for health, things improved dramatically after switching to the J-Pouch. I think I must have been in constant dehydration with the ileostomy and didn't know it.

I never want to go back to the bag although I felt better with it than I did before the removed my colon the year I had it was very bad with lots of skin irritation.   Diet is the key, figuring out what works for your body.   I have determined that I can't eat everything and that is okay.  I feel better and am healthier 7 years later even with dietary restrictions.

There's no way on God's green earth that I would ever give up my j-pouch to go back to a bag. I wore a bag for about 5 months after my surgery and it was the worst time of my life. I hated everything about it and every single minutes. Unless it's a choice between life and death to take the bag or die, I'll keep the j-pouch as long as possible

My pouch is 10 years old and even after a bout of night time incontinence after my first pregnancy (I had no issues with my second) would never go back to having Colitis or an ostomy bag. I had an ostomy bag for 1 year between surgeries and that year sucked so much!

I am 11 years with my pouch for FAP and doing great!  I work in a hospital setting with many elderly who are incontinent.  I would consider returning to an ostomy in the future if I am ever demented and need to be physically cared for.  I do not believe it will be possible to keep someone who has 5 + bowel movements a day clean in a nursing home.  On top of being dirty, the stomach acid coming straight through would cause a serious decub wound which would never heal.  The pitfalls of my job include being able to imagine the worst case scenario for growing older!! 

I have to look back 22 years and I remember being in so much pain and not being able to void other than foam and blood.  I remember feeling like a brillo pad or SOS pad was being dragged through my intestines.  I am so much better now but had to go gluten free and am very glad I did as now I do not have to take anti-biotics.  It also has helped tremendously wiith my asthma and migraine headache issues.   I have also been experimenting with doing mostly dairy free.  I use cashew and almond milk.  I have used coconut milk in my coffee.  Not quite as good as 1/2 and 1/2 at all but tolerable. I take 6 prescriptions less than before I cleaned up my diet.  I now have only two on going scripts and not for pouchitis.  Yeah!!!!!!

I have a 20 year old pouch and absolutely love it!  I wouldn't change a thing except for not having UC obviously.  It has been a blessing and has saved me from so much pain.  I can lead a normal life.  The only problem I've had is when the connected area closes - where the pouch connects to the anus - it gets to where it closes and I cannot go to the bathrooom.  I have to have outpatient surgery.  Botox (YES THAT botox) is injected around the area so the muscles relax and I can evacuate my pouch.  i've had this done twice. Other than that I consider myself very lucky.

Hugs to all,

jill - pouch

so far so good.I have had the poch for 4.5 years and it works well.i think it takes time and care to adjust and is a never ending job but i feel quite "normal" and  have a good life.I would go back to the bag if i had too and i could handle it ok but i definetly prefer the pouch when i take a shower,look at myself in the mirror,use a public bathroom,go to the pool etc....