How long after Jpouch surgery did you feel "normal'ish?"

I probably am not the best person to answer these questions, as I had a lot of complications (deep vein thrombosis, small bowel obstruction, wound infection, presacral abscess, and incisional hernia). But, here goes:

I got some of my energy back after about 6 weeks (I had a 1-step surgery). But, it took a full year to get back to my healthy baseline. I was very ill and weak by the time I had my surgery, so that was a factor.

I was pain free maybe two months post-op. I am talking about surgical pain. I still had crampy discomfort for perhaps another six months, while my pouch adapted.

Jan

I had no complications, but I was very sick for 2.5 years prior to surgery. It took about a year to recover from the fatigue, but I did all my regular activities in that year ( full time work, backpacking, participating in half marathon's, etc.). I napped every day for about a year.

The good news is that recovery, even with the fatigue, was not too difficult because I was no longer sick.

Sue

Thank you both. I'm impatient and sick of being sick if that makes sense.

From start to finish my surgery recovery was 4 months. I had a two step procedure. I started feeling like my old self again shortly after my takedown surgery. I had some complications after my first step so the months in between the surgeries were pretty rough for me. I had my takedown surgery on October 8th that year and by Halloween I was taking my kids out trick or treating like I never had surgery.

I bounced back pretty quickly from the first surgery... I had a week hospital stay and I'd say by week two I gained a good majority of my energy back... Reading the forums on this website were helpful in they taught me to measure my improvements in week/ month increments instead of days... You will feel a lot better with this method I do believe... Best of luck

I'd say for me, three months post takedown, I was feeling pretty alright. The loop ileostomy time let me get my strength back, so that I felt pretty good post takedown, and only had to deal with j pouch adjustments.

Great, thank you all!

I had it all done in one stage, and I was pretty close to normal six weeks later. I did a *lot* of walking to get my energy back, and I gradually increased the distance and the speed.

1 month after take down of my ostomy. The 6 weeks with the diverting ileostomy were not fun.

This is a tough one because we are all different with age, preexisting conditions other than UC, if you had it elective in better health or if the decision was made after a long bout of flare ups, laprascopic or open, or like Jan said if your surgery went as planned. I experienced multiple infecrions, toxic shock so bad I almost died, an open surgery which I elected laprascopic but due to the multiple infections had to be opened up, and 3 months of extreme anemia. My Takedown was March 23rd and I still don't feel normal and on long term disability. I'm hoping to get back to work Sept 23 with work arrangements and a reduced schedule. I'm blessed to have a job that is willing to work with me because when you hit Long Term Disability your job isn't guaranteed. I hope your work is understanding also it is important. My first surgery was Feb 13th so 7th months for me but I'm not 100%. Like I said though you're asking a question you will get multiple answer to that I doubt is going to help to much its all based on the things I've discussed. Good luck and hope you have a speedy recovery.

Thank you! I hope you feel better soon too!!

jjm

Best short answer is that it really takes most of us a year to feel close to being ourselves.

Lew

I agree with lew it isn't overnight but if you had a good surgeon each month you will see much improvement. My problem the first year was not trusting my pouch, like feeling safe when I was out of the house,I was scared I would be having a pooping accident like I did when I had the colitis flair. It never happened, thank goodness.