J pouch and athletics

@CSSunshine wrote “Currently the plan is for him to have one surgery in March, then the second surgery in May and begin sports again in September.”

It might be better not to make plans on recovery timeline beforehand, in order to avoid disappointment or the risk of exerting himself too early. I am currently 9 months post reversal, although I exercise everyday, I am no athlete. I believe he should not be put in a social context that would put peer pressure on him to perform athletically, such as team training or a game, before one year. The j-pouch surgery is a major abdominal surgery.

Has anyone heard of abdominal colectomy where they attach the small intestine to the rectum after a a colectomy?  We are approaching my sons surgery date soon and I want to make sure I’ve challenged all of the options. Thanks

@CSSunshine posted:

Has anyone heard of abdominal colectomy where they attach the small intestine to the rectum after a a colectomy?  We are approaching my sons surgery date soon and I want to make sure I’ve challenged all of the options. Thanks

That’s called an ileo-rectal anastomosis. The folks who talk about it here don’t seem too happy with it (but on a support forum there will be mostly folks with problems to solve). Since the rectum is part of the large intestine, there may be good reasons to remove most of it in some situations.

@CSSunshine posted:

Has anyone heard of abdominal colectomy where they attach the small intestine to the rectum after a a colectomy?  We are approaching my sons surgery date soon and I want to make sure I’ve challenged all of the options. Thanks

Would definitely recommend a J-pouch over an IRA.

Isn't the IRA typically recommended to those who can't get J pouches due to Crohn's?

@CSSunshine In the original post you wrote that your son has already had a colectomy. It’s not clear from your post how much of the rectum is still intact. You didn’t indicate what the underlying reason for the colectomy was, which would influence any decision about trying to preserve the rectum versus trying to remove most (or all) of it. In the most common (stapled)  J-pouch technique a small (1-2 cm) rectal cuff is left behind as an attachment point for the J-pouch.

@CTBarrister posted:

Isn't the IRA typically recommended to those who can't get J pouches due to Crohn's?

I have heard of people getting IRAS in just about every case when it comes to IBD. Usually if the rectum is healthy, that is when some surgeons will recommend IRAS, but a lot of people have problems down the road with it. That is why I do not like to recommend it.

And some women may like to get IRAS because it has less of a infertility rate than a pouch and no pouchitis I believe. I personally think a J-pouch is better based on what I have read and heard. Just depends on the person and surgeon.

Thank you all for your help!   We opted for the J-pouch procedure and he is doing well, he is 2 days post op following the first surgery.  He will have 8 weeks or so and then they will do the second portion.  Any tips would be appreciated. Thanks.  

Does anyone know any blogs or websites that would be helpful as we move forward with his recovery, thanks!

@CSSunshine posted:

Thank you all for your help!   We opted for the J-pouch procedure and he is doing well, he is 2 days post op following the first surgery.  He will have 8 weeks or so and then they will do the second portion.  Any tips would be appreciated. Thanks.  

So happy he is doing great!!! Take it easy and feel better

I played baseball from ages 60-64 w/ a j-pouch ---- no problem at all

Chris Gedney played for the AZ Cardinals with a j-pouch.  He is now deceased but not from J-pouch issues. 

I rode horses for years and if you ride you need to be able to fall off too.  When I asked my surgeon if it was ok to ride (and fall off-not that I'm trying but sometimes it happens) he saw zero issues with it.  I did fall off a couple of times with velocity and was 100% fine.  Just like pre pouch life.

More than anything, I think for many, contact sports is a bone density issue as years with UC and the like and steroids does a number on your bones. 

Your son's body will tell him what he can or can't do.  If he in healthy times of remission can play the sport, my surgeon didn't have any issues with going back to those sports post surgery.

Thank you, it’s comforting to know and hear others success stories.  He is now four weeks postop from the first surgery and is recovering well!  He will have his final procedure in May and he is hoping to be on the soccer field playing varsity soccer in August.  Any good recovery tips are welcomed!

@CSSunshine posted:

Thank you, it’s comforting to know and hear others success stories.  He is now four weeks postop from the first surgery and is recovering well!  He will have his final procedure in May and he is hoping to be on the soccer field playing varsity soccer in August.  Any good recovery tips are welcomed!

Just definitely be careful and drink plenty of water and hydration drinks

@CSSunshine posted:

Thank you, it’s comforting to know and hear others success stories.  He is now four weeks postop from the first surgery and is recovering well!  He will have his final procedure in May and he is hoping to be on the soccer field playing varsity soccer in August.  Any good recovery tips are welcomed!

He'll be good. I was back in the gym about 3 months after takedown surgery.

@Jaydog posted:

He'll be good. I was back in the gym about 3 months after takedown surgery.

Everything still going okay at the gym Jaydog?

@Lauren Of Emerald City posted:

Everything still going okay at the gym Jaydog?

Yes going pretty good. I sleep through the night every night. I'm in the gym 5 to 6 days a week. I feel really healthy. Best I've felt in years

I say a j pouch will have almost no effect on any sport of activity one does

@vince66 posted:

I say a j pouch will have almost no effect on any sport of activity one does

I cannot agree with that, espeically people here sharing their personal sories with me. We are more fragile/delicate, we need to be extremely careful! I know its not fair but that is life.

@Jaydog posted:

Yes going pretty good. I sleep through the night every night. I'm in the gym 5 to 6 days a week. I feel really healthy. Best I've felt in years

You sleep through the night?! You are extremely lucky!!!! I am happy you are doing good I bet you are happy you are not a 9%er lol! How many bms  per day do you have now?