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@Former Member posted:

I’m pleased you appreciate mine and the opinion of St Marks Hospital in regard to yearly rectal screening.

However, the eminent Surgeons at St Marks must know what they are talking about, otherwise the Hospital wouldn’t have gained such a reputation.

Their logic, which is based on medical knowledge and expertise, is that patients such as myself; are no more at risk of developing cancer than the general population; thus elective pouchoscopies are unnecessary.

Therefore, I much prefer to follow the recommendation of the Worlds leading Colorectal Hospital rather than the opinion of a web forum member; but thanks for your concern.

Thank-you for being so nice . I understand fully. And thank-you for seeing I was speaking because I care. I hope everything works out though. I see the J-pouch was invented at the hospital you mentioned by, "Sir Alan Parks" around 1978. Thank goodness for him!!! Because a ostomy failed me- I see he won quite a few awards too. I know the year but do you know what month he did it in???

Thank-you for being so nice . I understand fully. And thank-you for seeing I was speaking because I care. I hope everything works out though. I see the J-pouch was invented at the hospital you mentioned by, "Sir Alan Parks" around 1978. Thank goodness for him!!! Because a ostomy failed me- I see he won quite a few awards too. I know the year but do you know what month he did it in???

I don’t know what month.

I believe, during 1976, Dr. Alan Parks combined three previously performed procedures into one and came up with the W Pouch; the outcome of which was first published in a medical journal during 1978.

Prof John Nicholls, also at St. Marks Hospital, continued to develop and perfect the procedure, which I assume transpired into what we now know as the J Pouch.

However, Dr. Rudolf Nissen performed some kind of Pouch surgery as early as the 1930’s,

Developments of such a procedure continued throughout the 1940’s, 50 and 60’s; with the creation of the the Kock Pouch by the late 1960’s.

@Former Member posted:

I don’t know what month.

I believe, during 1976, Dr. Alan Parks combined three previously performed procedures into one and came up with the W Pouch; the outcome of which was first published in a medical journal during 1978.

Prof John Nicholls, also at St. Marks Hospital, continued to develop and perfect the procedure, which I assume transpired into what we now know as the J Pouch.

However, Dr. Rudolf Nissen performed some kind of Pouch surgery as early as the 1930’s,

Developments of such a procedure continued throughout the 1940’s, 50 and 60’s; with the creation of the the Kock Pouch by the late 1960’s.

I never knew about John Nicholls, I only read that Sir Alan Parks invented the J-pouch in 1978. I see others have continued to work on it over the years too. Before it was called the j-pouch, it was called "Parks Pouch" I see Lol

@Former Member posted:

It’s fascinating; painted onto the wall of a corridor to the Frederick Salmon Ward at St. Marks Hospital, is a brief history of the Hospital and its achievements; truly fascinating.

Wow! All three doctors are painted onto the wall??? I so got to go there someday! I found it! It looks like it was done June 29th- first time ever!!! Click on it and check it out let me know what you think???

https://www.atlantichc.com/st-...ery-at-the-hospital/

Last edited by Lauren Of Emerald City

Wow! All three doctors are painted onto the wall??? I so got to go there someday! I found it! It looks like it was done June 29th- first time ever!!! Click on it and check it out let me know what you think???

https://www.atlantichc.com/st-...ery-at-the-hospital/

No, not paintings of the Doctors but a timeline of the History of St. Marks, with illustrations depicting various achievements; there’s a portrait of Frederick Salmon.

Last edited by Former Member

Soooo COOOL!!! Did you check out that website??? It has the month and day of the first J-pouch surgery from Sir Alan Parks

Yeah, I did thanks. 
  Although I’m sure the Parks’ Pouch was first performed earlier than 1978.
I believe the reference to 1978 is when the procedure and the associated study was shared with the medical profession  within a medical journal.

  I’ve been searching the internet to find the original medical article I read when I first became aware of the J pouch but although it’s such a phenomenal procedure, which has not only transformed surgical practice but also the lives of those suffering from UC; there appears to be very little available; and what I do find, appears to be reworkings of the same paper.

Last edited by Former Member

I found this Table; an extract from The British Medical Journal, which seems to suggest the first patient to receive a Parks’ Pouch was on the 9 July 1976.

The link below opens as a PDF and the Table is shown at the top of page 3

It appears to be the original Case Study which was first published in The British Medical Journal on the 8 July 1978.

https://www.bmj.com/content/bmj/2/6130/85.full.pdf

Proctocolectomy without ileostomy for ulcerative colitis A G PARKS, R J NICHOLLS


Although, this isn’t the article I found years ago.

Last edited by Former Member
@Former Member posted:

Yeah, I did thanks. 
  Although I’m sure the Parks’ Pouch was first performed earlier than 1978.
I believe the reference to 1978 is when the procedure and the associated study was shared with the medical profession  within a medical journal.

  I’ve been searching the internet to find the original medical article I read when I first became aware of the J pouch but although it’s such a phenomenal procedure, which has not only transformed surgical practice but also the lives of those suffering from UC; there appears to be very little available; and what I do find, appears to be reworkings of the same paper.

More than likely you are right. I am sure they had to do tests to make sure it would work before they did it at the St. Mark Hospital. Too bad we do not know much about it before 1978. He changed the lives of people and went down into history!

@Former Member posted:

I found this Table; an extract from The British Medical Journal, which seems to suggest the first patient to receive a Parks’ Pouch was on the 9 July 1976.

The link below opens as a PDF and the Table is shown at the top of page 3

It appears to be the original Case Study which was first published in The British Medical Journal on the 8 July 1978.

https://www.bmj.com/content/bmj/2/6130/85.full.pdf

Proctocolectomy without ileostomy for ulcerative colitis A G PARKS, R J NICHOLLS


Although, this isn’t the article I found years ago.

WOW! Its amazing how you found that article!!! You must have dug and dug to find that article! That is pretty amazing how you found that. I wonder where he did it at? He probably did it there first and then it got approved for the hospital permanently. Did you have to pay anything for your surgery or was it all free for you since you are in the UK?

WOW! Its amazing how you found that article!!! You must have dug and dug to find that article! That is pretty amazing how you found that. I wonder where he did it at? He probably did it there first and then it got approved for the hospital permanently. Did you have to pay anything for your surgery or was it all free for you since you are in the UK?

Suppose, to some extent I searched and searched but I only have a smartphone.

The first procedure and case study was carried out at St. Marks during 1976; the additional procedures and studies mentioned within the report state 1977.

Dr Alan Parks, was appointed  Consultant Surgeon at St. Mark’s Hospital from 1959 and until his death during 1982 at the age of 62.

Yeah, all my care, treatment, emergency admissions into Hospital by Ambulance ,stoma appliance, supplies, medication and surgery, all provide by the UK’s magnificent NHS; not technically free as such, as we all pay for it in Taxes and National Insurance Payments but we don’t need Medical Insurance or insurance approval before a procedure can proceed.

Last edited by Former Member
@Former Member posted:

Suppose, to some extent I searched and searched but I only have an iPhone.

The first procedure and case study was carried out at St. Marks during 1976; the additional procedures and studies mentioned within the report state 1977.

Dr Alan Parks, was appointed  Consultant Surgeon at St. Mark’s Hospital from 1959 and until his death during 1982 at the age of 62.

Yeah, all my care, treatment, emergency admissions into Hospital by Ambulance ,stoma appliance, supplies, medication and surgery, all provide by the UK’s magnificent NHS; not technically free as such, as we all pay for it in Taxes and National Insurance Payments but we don’t need Medical Insurance or insurance approval before a procedure can proceed.

Are you sure it was 1976? That other article I found said they celebrated the 40th anniversary of the first procedure on June 29th, 2018? If it was in 1976 at St Mark's hospital, why did they celebrate the 40th anniversary in 2018???

Are you sure it was 1976? That other article I found said they celebrated the 40th anniversary of the first procedure on June 29th, 2018? If it was in 1976 at St Mark's hospital, why did they celebrate the 40th anniversary in 2018???

Cos they got it wrong.

I’ve not read the full article but it appears to be the Case Study of the procedure, which first appeared in the The British Medical Journal in July 1978,

At the top of page 3 of the PDF, there’s a Chart/Table which list patients which took part in the Case Study; Patient 1 it states an operation date of  9 July 1976 and other patients having their operation during 1977.

https://www.bmj.com/content/bmj/2/6130/85.full.pdf

Unless, 1978 is when St. Marks began performing the procedure as an alternative to an ileostomy.

 

Mistakes get made in news articles all the time. I never take anything I read to the bank.  In the 24 hour news cycle it's who gets the story published that counts, and often the facts must be damned.   I once saw a historical piece on UConn's basketball team which had a blatant factual error in it left up for weeks on CBS's website, with no correction ever being made.  I kept checking back to see if the correction would be made and it never was. 

On another note, I read the New Haven Register daily and it's stunning to me the amount of corrections they have to print on a daily basis. 

On yet another note, a reporter for another local publication once wrote an article on a foreclosure sale I did, which was newsworthy only because 2 houses on the same sleepy street in the Morris Cove section of New Haven were being auctioned on the same day at the same time, almost across the street from each other.  That and it was a slow news day. I was a bit more friendly and talkative with the reporter than the Committee who was assigned to do the other auction. I explained to the reporter that I would file a report with the Court on the result of the auction and that it was subject to Court approval (which does not happen until some weeks later).  However, the story he published the next day made it sound like it was a done deal then and there, something a few knowledgeable readers excoriated him on in the comments section to his article.  These mistakes happen because nobody edits worth a damn, the stories are rushed to print, and quite frankly the dude did not take very good notes when he interviewed me, because I told him the sale was subject to Court approval, and he did not report it.

Last edited by CTBarrister
@Kangaroo posted:

I use baby wipes and they need to be thrown out. I prefer baby wipes because they are much cheaper, more durable and come in a larger quantity than the flushable wipes. The only drawback is they can't be flushed.

Definitely I use all natural baby wipes after I have used toilet paper. But I thought it was just to have a better clean also because I noticed that there no way around the splashing bm on your other more sensitive areas. Hence the need to keep it as clean as possible.

OMG this dang gone virus has made it hard as all get out to get toilet paper, wipes, and sad to say adult  pullups  😞

@Former Member posted:

Cos they got it wrong.

I’ve not read the full article but it appears to be the Case Study of the procedure, which first appeared in the The British Medical Journal in July 1978,

At the top of page 3 of the PDF, there’s a Chart/Table which list patients which took part in the Case Study; Patient 1 it states an operation date of  9 July 1976 and other patients having their operation during 1977.

https://www.bmj.com/content/bmj/2/6130/85.full.pdf

 

 

Wow!! I think everything you said is right. I never knew some articles got stuff wrong, I assumed that they researched everything before announcing things to the public. You would think they would do that instead of not researching fully. But maybe you are right about that last part too when you said, "Unless, 1978 is when St. Marks began performing the procedure as an alternative to an ileostomy." But who knows really since some articles get stuff wrong nowadays.

@CTBarrister posted:

Mistakes get made in news articles all the time. I never take anything I read to the bank.  In the 24 hour news cycle it's who gets the story published that counts, and often the facts must be damned.   I once saw a historical piece on UConn's basketball team which had a blatant factual error in it left up for weeks on CBS's website, with no correction ever being made.  I kept checking back to see if the correction would be made and it never was. 

On another note, I read the New Haven Register daily and it's stunning to me the amount of corrections they have to print on a daily basis. 

On yet another note, a reporter for another local publication once wrote an article on a foreclosure sale I did, which was newsworthy only because 2 houses on the same sleepy street in the Morris Cove section of New Haven were being auctioned on the same day at the same time, almost across the street from each other.  That and it was a slow news day. I was a bit more friendly and talkative with the reporter than the Committee who was assigned to do the other auction. I explained to the reporter that I would file a report with the Court on the result of the auction and that it was subject to Court approval (which does not happen until some weeks later).  However, the story he published the next day made it sound like it was a done deal then and there, something a few knowledgeable readers excoriated him on in the comments section to his article.  These mistakes happen because nobody edits worth a damn, the stories are rushed to print, and quite frankly the dude did not take very good notes when he interviewed me, because I told him the sale was subject to Court approval, and he did not report it.

Hahaa!!! You are soo funny! I never knew that stuff happens. I cannot believe that the media does crap like that. 

@Former Member posted:

Cos they got it wrong.

I’ve not read the full article but it appears to be the Case Study of the procedure, which first appeared in the The British Medical Journal in July 1978,

At the top of page 3 of the PDF, there’s a Chart/Table which list patients which took part in the Case Study; Patient 1 it states an operation date of  9 July 1976 and other patients having their operation during 1977.

https://www.bmj.com/content/bmj/2/6130/85.full.pdf

Unless, 1978 is when St. Marks began performing the procedure as an alternative to an ileostomy.

 

Have you been to the British Library??? It looks soo beautiful in pictures!!!

Yeah but only because I missed my train and I had a couple of hours to kill, in fact I fell asleep in there.
   Suppose it looks quite spectacular from within but from the outside, its not that great; whereas, St Pancras Railway Station looks amazing.

Last edited by Former Member
@Former Member posted:

Yeah but only because I missed my train and I had a couple of hours to kill, in fact I fell asleep in there.
   Suppose it looks quite spectacular from within but from the outside, its not that great; whereas, St Pancras Railway Station looks amazing.

WOW!!! You are soo luckyy!!! I love libraries and that library is legendary!!! It must be amazing to live in the UK, you are soo lucky!! I would go there everyday if I lived in the UK!!! No doubt!!! And dang that train station looks amazing!!! Both the library and the train station look like something out of a fairytale  book!!! Are you guys allowed to go into Buckingham palace and meet the Queen?

Yeah, Buckingham Palace has Tours during the summer, although I’ve never been but not this summer due to Covid.

We can’t normally meet the Queen, unless achieved something of significant and are invited to one of the Queens Garden Parties.

Last edited by Former Member
@Former Member posted:

Yeah, Buckingham Palace has Tours during the summer, although I’ve never been but not this summer due to Covid.

We can’t normally meet the Queen, unless achieved something of significant and are invited to one of the Queens Garden Parties.

WOW that is super cool!!! I so need to go there someday!! And Big Ben looks soo beautiful! I never knew they put fireworks all around Big Ben for certain holidays, it looks perfect!!! Your country is soo perfect compared to ours. You guys have free healthcare, beautiful sights, and nice people lol. Have you been to America or the states???

Yeah, Big Ben does look amazing, although it’s not as tall in real life compared to how it looks in photos and on TV.

Big Ben is actually a Bell inside the Clock Tower; until a few years ago, the Tower itself didn’t have an official name, as such; it was just the Clock Tower of either the Palace of Westminster or the Houses of Parliament; since 2012, its been renamed the Elizabeth Tower, although the majority of UK citizens wouldn’t even know..

It will look even better when the restoration has been completed.


No, I’ve never been to America or the states, although I thought  America was the States.

@Former Member posted:

Yeah, Big Ben does look amazing, although it’s not as tall in real life compared to how it looks in photos and on TV.

Big Ben is actually a Bell inside the Clock Tower; until a few years ago, the Tower itself didn’t have an official name, as such; it was just the Clock Tower of either the Palace of Westminster or the Houses of Parliament; since 2012, its been renamed the Elizabeth Tower, although the majority of UK citizens wouldn’t even know..

It will look even better when the restoration has been completed.


No, I’ve never been to America or the states, although I thought  America was the States.

Oh wow- I never knew The Bell was called Big Ben, I thought the whole thing was called Big Ben lol. Its cool how The Clock Tower got renamed! That is soo cool! The Elizabeth Tower sounds pretty! Definitely deserved after having an amazing Queen for so long. I wonder why they do not advertise that stuff over here. I never knew any of that stuff, but like you said- majority of U.K citizens do not know that either. I cannot wait to see it when its finished, I bet it sounds beautiful hearing Big Ben all of the time. It must sound magical, especially during Christmas!

 And you are right. America includes the states and Canada. I meant to say have you been to the states or Canada, my bad lol. Any plans to visit?

I don’t actually live in London but 300 miles from London; just chose St Marks, London for my J pouch surgery.

Yeah, when visiting London, I‘ve heard Big Ben chime but after a while, you kind of don’t even notice it chiming unless you relatively close to Parliament, well I don’t.

Since the beginning of the restoration, I don’t think its chimed for a few years.

No, I’ve not been to the States or Canada and I’m not planning on visiting either at the moment but maybe I will sometime in the future.

@Former Member posted:

I don’t actually live in London but 300 miles from London; just chose St Marks, London for my J pouch surgery.

Yeah, when visiting London, I‘ve heard Big Ben chime but after a while, you kind of don’t even notice it chiming unless you relatively close to Parliament, well I don’t.

Since the beginning of the restoration, I don’t think its chimed for a few years.

No, I’ve not been to the States or Canada and I’m not planning on visiting either at the moment but maybe I will sometime in the future.

Oh cool, that was pretty smart that you chose St. Marks for your surgery. It must have been a heck of a commute to have it there and travel back home. I am glad you went there though because we need this pouch to last our whole lives , makes sense to go to the best lol.  Especially having free healthcare, you get the surgery done for free and you get top of the line care for free too, You win in many ways lol. I am not sure if I already asked this but did you get free ostomy supplies with your 9 1/2 years of having a stoma???

I would want to hear it chime everyday hahaa. And yeah I see its not going to chime again until 2021 unfortunately. I wonder why its taking soo long!!! What could they possibly be doing for it to take that long lol. I bet its going to be crowded the day it chimes again! I saw on youtube it was crowded the last time it chimed.

When you do visit, definitely go to Disney, a lot of people from your country go there first lol. 

Yeah, all stoma supplies, wipes sprays etc all provided by NHS at no direct cost or outlay to myself; also if out of work due to illness or unemployed and in receipt of benefits, all travel expenses can be recouped.

   My journeys back n fourth to St.Marks wasn’t so bad; a couple of days before surgery, I got the train to London, then the Tube to St Marks; the Tube stops there at Northwick Park..

On my return, after surgery; St Marks organised an Ambulance to take me to London Euston; where railway staff took me onto the platform and right up to the door of the train on a golf buggy type thing; my Ticket was even upgraded to First Class by Virgin Rail and all meals & drinks served during my 3 hours journey back home were free.

Even when I arrived at my home town Station, a golf buggy was also waiting, which took me to the Taxi rank.

The UK’s NHS and Virgin Rail at their best, such an enjoyable experience.

However, I have no immediate plans to visit the US, although I guess sometime in the future I will, although I’d much prefer to explore California than Disney, always I do enjoy Theme parks

Last edited by Former Member
@Former Member posted:

Yeah, all stoma supplies, wipes sprays etc all provided by NHS at no direct cost or outlay to myself; also if out of work due to illness or unemployed and in receipt of benefits, all travel expenses can be recouped.

   My journeys back n fourth to St.Marks wasn’t so bad; a couple of days before surgery, I got the train to London, then the Tube to St Marks; the Tube stops there at Northwick Park..

On my return, after surgery; St Marks organised an Ambulance to toke me to London Euston; where railway staff took me onto the platform and right up to the door of the train on a golf buggy type thing; my Ticket was even upgraded to First Class by Virgin Rail and all meals & drinks served during my 3 hours journey back home were free. 

Even when I arrived at my home town Station, a golf buggy was also waiting, which took me to the Taxi rank.

The UK’s NHS and Virgin Rail at their best, such an enjoyable experience.

However, I have no immediate plans to visit the US, although I guess sometime in the future I will, although I’d much prefer to explore California than Disney, always I do enjoy Theme parks 

Dang you are soooo lucky!! My stoma supplies was over $200 every 1-3 months, we could afford it but it was a pain lol. One of the things I love about having a J-pouch is that its free except for buying wipes and pouchoscopy check-ups lol. Still cheaper that having an ostomy in the States lol. And dang!! Free travel and free food??!!? That is my kind of country lol. The UK and Canada healthcare system gets a bad rep because a lot of people complain about the waiting lists times to get surgeries. I heard in the past they have extremely long waiting lists for surgeries and just long wait periods for getting healthcare in general. I guess it was all propaganda.

And yeah we have two states that has amusement parks and lots of fun- California and FLorida, both would be enjoyable, I have been to both. I see they have amusements parks in Paris, that looks amazing!!! 

 

Dang you are soooo lucky!! My stoma supplies was over $200 every 1-3 months, we could afford it but it was a pain lol. One of the things I love about having a J-pouch is that its free except for buying wipes and pouchoscopy check-ups lol. Still cheaper that having an ostomy in the States lol. And dang!! Free travel and free food??!!? That is my kind of country lol. The UK and Canada healthcare system gets a bad rep because a lot of people complain about the waiting lists times to get surgeries. I heard in the past they have extremely long waiting lists for surgeries and just long wait periods for getting healthcare in general. I guess it was all propaganda.

And yeah we have two states that has amusement parks and lots of fun- California and FLorida, both would be enjoyable, I have been to both. I see they have amusements parks in Paris, that looks amazing!!! 

 

I didn’t qualify to reclaim my travel expenses, so I had to pay all my train journeys and Taxi fares myself but the Ambulance to Euston Station was provided by St Marks at no direct cost to myself.

The upgrade to First Class was courtesty of Virgin Rail.

I don’t know whether I’m oblivious to NHS waiting times but from my own experience and that of family and friends, I don’t know of anyone who has had to wait an exceptionally long time for appointments to come through or felt it necessary to complain.

My very first enquiry into J pouch Surgery; the appointment came through within a couple of months; my request to be referred to St Marks, also came through within a couple of months.

Once under the care of St.Marks and during November 2013; I was offered a date for J pouch surgery in February 2014 but as I was still uncertain, my Surgeon suggested a date in June, to give me time to focus my mind, which I accepted.

If I’d accepted the February appointment, my pouch would have been created within 3 months from my first appointment at St.Marks and Takedown probably 6 months later.

How does this compare to the US ?

Last edited by Former Member
@Former Member posted:

I didn’t qualify to reclaim my travel expenses, so I had to pay all my train journeys and Taxi fares myself but the Ambulance to Euston Station was provided by St Marks at no direct cost to myself.

The upgrade to First Class was courtesty of Virgin Rail.

I don’t know whether I’m oblivious to NHS waiting times but from my own experience and that of family and friends, I don’t know of anyone who has had to wait an exceptionally long time for appointments to come through or felt it necessary to complain.

My very first enquiry into J pouch Surgery; the appointment came through within a couple of months; my request to be referred to St Marks, also came through within a couple of months.

Once under the care of St.Marks and during November 2013; I was offered a date for J pouch surgery in February 2014 but as I was still uncertain, my Surgeon suggested a date in June, to give me time to focus my mind, which I accepted.

If I’d accepted the February appointment, my pouch would have been created within 3 months from my first appointment at St.Marks and Takedown probably 6 months later.

How does this compare to the US ?

That does not sound too bad at all.  In the U.S we pay for everything either with insurance or without it, some people get discounts. Most people that are age 65 or retired/disabled get things done for free- like my dad for example. Usually everything has copays. And as far as surgerys, its case by case. For an example, almost 6 years ago, my UC was soo bad my doctor admitted me to the hospital. Within two weeks of being in the hospital, I got my J-pouch Surgery, it never took months. I am not sure if your situation was as bad as mine. 

That does not sound too bad at all.  In the U.S we pay for everything either with insurance or without it, some people get discounts. Most people that are age 65 or retired/disabled get things done for free- like my dad for example. Usually everything has copays. And as far as surgerys, its case by case. For an example, almost 6 years ago, my UC was soo bad my doctor admitted me to the hospital. Within two weeks of being in the hospital, I got my J-pouch Surgery, it never took months. I am not sure if your situation was as bad as mine. 

There’s no waiting for emergency surgery in the UK; there maybe occasions when a patients condition is stabilised prior to surgery but if that’s not possible, then surgery will be performed immediately.

During my third UC flare up, which resulted in the removal of my bowel; I was admitted to Hospital at the end of February and by the middle of March, I had responded well to steroids and was preparing to go home; however, for some reason, I was moved to a different ward and over the Easter weekend (which in 2005 was at the end of March) the steroids, although prescribed, weren’t administered and, by the 27th of March, my condition had deteriorated.

X rays revealed my bowel was dilating at an alarming rate and I had to have emergency surgery; which was performed on the 1st April, otherwise my bowel could  have burst at any time.
  Once my condition was confirmed, surgery was performed within days.

I don think the NHS would perform J pouch surgery so soon like your hospital did ; it’s my belief and due to my own experience, that NHS Hospital, other than St.Marks, rely on patients recovering from their ileostomy surgery and not pursuing the J pouch.

 

Last edited by Former Member
@Former Member posted:

There’s no waiting for emergency surgery in the UK; there maybe occasions when a patients condition is stabilised prior to surgery but if that’s not possible, then surgery will be performed immediately.

During my third UC flare up, which resulted in the removal of my bowel; I was admitted to Hospital at the end of February and by the middle of March, I had responded well to steroids and was preparing to go home; however, for some reason, I was moved to a different ward and over the Easter weekend (which in 2005 was at the end of March) the steroids, although prescribed, weren’t administered and, by the 27th of March, my condition had deteriorated.

X rays revealed my bowel was dilating at an alarming rate and I had to have emergency surgery; which was performed on the 1st April, otherwise my bowel could  have burst at any time.
  Once my condition was confirmed, surgery was performed within days.

I don think the NHS would perform J pouch surgery so soon like your hospital did ; it’s my belief and due to my own experience, that NHS Hospital, other than St.Marks, rely on patients recovering from their ileostomy surgery and not pursuing the J pouch.

 

So it seems like our countries are relatively the same except your country has a lot of free healthcare. And that last part you said about, "St.Marks, rely on patients recovering from their ileostomy surgery and not pursuing the J pouch." That part sounds right, because as we know, J-pouches have: a bad rep, the long surgery can be done wrong, and its more expensive surgery too. While ileostomy surgery can be more easier, they just require a lot more maintenance in the long run. Pros and cons to both. I had a 2 step surgery as well, I am not sure if NHS or if St Mark would have done it that way, they probably would have done a 3 step right??? Is it expensive to live in the UK???

So it seems like our countries are relatively the same except your country has a lot of free healthcare. And that last part you said about, "St.Marks, rely on patients recovering from their ileostomy surgery and not pursuing the J pouch." That part sounds right, because as we know, J-pouches have: a bad rep, the long surgery can be done wrong, and its more expensive surgery too. While ileostomy surgery can be more easier, they just require a lot more maintenance in the long run. Pros and cons to both. I had a 2 step surgery as well, I am not sure if NHS or if St Mark Lwould have done it that way, they probably would have done a 3 step right??? Is it expensive to live in the UK???

No, it’s the NHS in general, which appears to focus on removal of diseased colon, end ileostomy and recovery, without actively encouraging patients to pursue j pouch surgery.

Where as, at St.Marks; the patients I met, j pouch surgery was the natural progression.

Patients at St Marks were well informed, understood their condition and the surgical procedures available.

During my own care at my local Hospital; bowel removal and colostomy bag was mentioned often but even when my bowel was removed; not one Doctor, Consultant or Surgeon ever mentioned j Pouch Surgery; I only became aware of such a procedure during 2013; prior to this, it was always referred to, as reconnection and nothing more, which I drew my own conclusion to what this meant, without giving it much thought.

Yeah, whether St.Marks or elsewhere, in the Uk the 3 step procedure seems to be the method practiced.

 I wouldn’t say the UK is expensive, although I’ve got nothing to compare it too.

 Those who complain tend to have children they can’t afford and live beyond their means.

Renting property can be expensive though, especially in and around London.

In London, a room in a shared house can cost £300 to £400 per week Including bills, in the not so affluent areas.

Where as, in the North or England; to rent a 2 bed house, will cost £120 per week plus bills. 

@Former Member posted:

No, it’s the NHS in general, which appears to focus on removal of diseased colon, end ileostomy and recovery, without actively encouraging patients to pursue j pouch surgery.

Where as, at St.Marks; the patients I met, j pouch surgery was the natural progression.

Patients at St Marks were well informed, understood their condition and the surgical procedures available.

During my own care at my local Hospital; bowel removal and colostomy bag was mentioned often but even when my bowel was removed; not one Doctor, Consultant or Surgeon ever mentioned j Pouch Surgery; I only became aware of such a procedure during 2013; prior to this, it was always referred to, as reconnection and nothing more, which I drew my own conclusion to what this meant, without giving it much thought.

Yeah, whether St.Marks or elsewhere, in the Uk the 3 step procedure seems to be the method practiced.

 I wouldn’t say the UK is expensive, although I’ve got nothing to compare it too.

 Those who complain tend to have children they can’t afford and live beyond their means.

Renting property can be expensive though, especially in and around London.

In London, a room in a shared house can cost £300 to £400 per week Including bills, in the not so affluent areas.

Where as, in the North or England; to rent a 2 bed house, will cost £120 per week plus bills. 

That is pretty interesting. My situation was opposite. When I was in the hospital, I thought my only solution was to get a bag, I had already accepted that. And then a surgeon came and visited me in the hospital and offered me a J-pouch surgery instead of having a bag forever. He explained what it was and I was like, YES!!! I want that instead! He was the only one that offered that option to me. I am sorry that you were never offered that in the beginning, I wonder why NHS does not mention that to people there when a lot of times its beneficial??? I guess they have their own thing. 

Honestly, 3 step surgery sounds WAY LESS painful. Surgery 1: colon and rectum removal and J-pouch and stoma creation. In surgery 1: I was in pain from the colon and rectum being removed, J-pouch creation, and stoma creation. I had lots of pain all in one surgery, it was a lot of stress. Surgery 2 was the worst pain. 3 step surgery sounds a lot more peaceful. One person I talked to had a 1 step surgery!!! No way anyone should be put through that!!!

And wow that does not sound too bad at all! I wonder why the UK and Canada have a bad rep when it comes to being expensive?!?! Sounds similar to the U.S. That is proof not to believe in every rumor you hear lol. Do you guys have dental insurance plans??? That is another stereotype I hear about. 

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