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4 years ago today was my take down surgery. I walked out of the hospital new year's day, 1/1/2011, thinking it was all behind me and I had to recover a little and would finally be rid of the pain I experienced all the years with UC. I was wrong but, I'm still alive. I would not want to do those years over again. I started back on antibiotics again for pouchitis and am still treating my chronic cuffitis.

Whenever I see a probability of any number I am always going to believe I'm going to get the worst outcome. My husband recently had a rapid increase in his PSA. His urologist said there was a 25% chance he had prostate cancer and he could wait longer to do a biopsy. I talked him into having the biopsy then. He did and he had prostate cancer. He's had his prostate removed and appears to be cured, only time will tell for sure.

These are reasons I don't care about what the percentages are. You will either have it or you won't. I read that only 4% of j-pouchers get cuffitis. I have it and it's chronic.

I'm still glad I had the surgeries but wonder how different things would be if I had just gone for an end ileo.
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TEMarie, I was three weeks ahead of you having had my takedown on December 10, 2010. Happy "made it through the past four years" anniversary! Yes, it's been a rocky road for sure. Not as bad as UC but rough. I'm with you regarding percentages. It is what it is but it's easy to be in that small number of sufferers. I'm in the 33% of women who have worse migraines after menopause Frowner . I don't think I'm being negative but, rather, realistic when I say that I had my doubts about going for a j-pouch and perhaps I should have listened to my gut and stayed with my end ileo. Anyway, what a relief that you listened to yours with your husband and that he's ok!
I know I have some issues, but thank goodness I had 20ish years of no meds and very minimal issues. Got me through my youth/young life pretty "normally," as it goes.

I hope you all get the pause I had. Bless you all who had issues right after takedown. I'm much more secure taking on issues 20ish years later at 43 than I would've been at 19 when I had my surgery and my new boyfriend (hubby since 1998; he knows EVERYTHING about me, knew me right after my big surgery, through the loop, and onward.) I feel blessed I was "cured" for 2 decades.
Thanks for sharing and caring ladies.

Lambiepie - I didn't know about the menopause migraine connection! I had daily headaches for 7-8 years years before getting successful treatment, medication, for them. I had sinus surgery in 2005 and the doctor said going into it that he wasn't sure if the surgery would end my headaches. That surgery did wonders for me as I hardly ever get sinus pain anymore but the headaches persisted. I had a partial hysterectomy - uterus only, when 40. I was tested to see if my ovaries were still working before the j-pouch surgeries. They'd shut completely down so I had my surgeon remove them while in there removing my colon and making my j-pouch. Good thing too as one had a cyst. So I am postmenopausal for sure now. I'd like to blame the headaches on my GI system but what good would that do? I have so many different things wrong with me I have a hard time telling what is causing what symptoms anymore. I switched to a Mayo Clinic neurologist because my GI there referred me. The medication the local neurologist had me on wasn't working too well. The Mayo doctor said they are probably due to my genetics. My mother use to have them frequently.

rachaelraven, I'm glad you were able to live such important years of your life symptom free. It's great you were able to have children too! Too bad they can't go in and make you another one for the rest of your life.
Happy Anniversaries ladies,
It is a long and rocky ride for many, often almost as rocky as the pre-op ride that some have with UC...but generally worth it.
In my opinion it is a case of percentages...of better or worse/more or less complicated etc...less meds and less bathroom time...
I find that in spite of the constant complications and problems that the good months/years are worth it all.
I may not have normal plumbling but I have hope...and that carries me through the hard days...I seemingly walk into surgery without a blink (only you guys know how really scared I get) because I honestly believe that each surgery will bring me good (or at least better) health. What I lack in colon I make up in optimism...
I am not sure of how this menopause thing is going to effect my pouch...I have already noticed the thinning of my muscles, the slowing of my healing process and a general lessening of energy but other than that no period also means no monthly hell and less anemia.
You win some/you lose some!
Congratulations on surviving...Be healthy and happy...
Sharon

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