"J" Pouch anyone??

Hi... I was just wondering if anyone out there has a "J" pouch? I have had one for years now and am trying my hardest to keep it, or I will have no choice but to go back to the bag. So if there is anyone out there with a "J" pouch, then I would love to hook up with you and chat....

I have had a J pouch since very late 2008. My experience is they are not without their own problems. Rick.....

I have had a connected and functional J-pouch for about 18 months. I agree with Rick in that they are not without their own problems. Personally, I feel more comfortable dealing with those issues than I did when I had a bag. -Rach

I managed nicely with a J-Pouch for 6 years but had to say goodbye to it when neighboring tissues turned precancerous. During that time, I fared a lot better than when I had to live with UC, but I always felt a little irritation telling me I needed to unload. On the whole, the J-Pouch worked very well. Now that I am a bona fide bagman with an ileostomy, things are really better consistently. My only problem is that I cannot get a job dancing at Chippendales. Maybe I will file a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights.

I had a J Pouch for a year and never had it closed and fully functioning. Getting rid of it was the best decision of my life so far. Even now, I'm stuck with the bag... I'm pain-free and living life to the max without worrying about anything!

Words of Encouragement from Ostomy Advocates I Hollister

G'day Disco, I had quite severe UC from 2000 through 2009 when a carcinoma was detected. My two surgeries were in mid-2009, so I'm now just a bit behind you. The cancer was a blessing in disguise - after 8 years of my life being on hold, I'm now a functional human being again. Anyway, with the J-Pouch, I've had my ups and downs, but on the whole, I'm quite satisfied. If you like, have a read through my (quite few) forum posts, and you might find something useful. Also, feel free to message me. Cheers, Tim.

Hi there, Disco. I had a J-pouch back in '92. It worked for only a few months, and I ended up with a loop ileostomy ever since. Too many problems, so no surgeon will do any more! However, my brother has had his J-pouch since '95 without many problems, except for the normal sore bum and noisy exit issues! Mine still partially works. If I could, I would still choose a fully working J-pouch for as long as possible. Feel free to message me. And good best wishes to you. TC

Thank you all for your input... I have had mine for 10 years now and have been back and forth getting it taken down, then having problems! I have been hooked up again for the 5th time now for 2.5 years and am having problems with it falling out... I had more repair surgery on Oct 5, 2011, but I am still having problems with a sore butt and leakage!!! I'm at my wit's end and ready to throw in the towel and go back to the bag... I really wanted it to work this time, but now I'm housebound because I'm in the bathroom all day long... So thank you all for your input. It really helps!!!! :-)

When I get pouchitis for a few days every few months, I find that a combination of Colifoam, Flagyl, and Ciproxin works. I think it's actually the Ciproxin that does the trick. Forty-eight hours and four pills later, things seem to firm up again. I've heard of people being on a long-term low dose of Flagyl for pouchitis—and Ciproxin as part of trials relating to UC—but never have I heard of a trial with long-term low-dose Ciproxin for pouchitis. I'd like to think I was on to something....

I have an ileo-anal pouch or 'j' pouch. How long will it last?

The first ones were constructed in, I think, the early '80s. I know of one fella with one of those who's still going strong.

I think the first pouch was in 1969? They weren't very successful then. Over the years, surgeons have given them a few tweaks here and there and made them what they are today. No one can say how long one will last, but I have a friend who has had theirs for almost 30 years and is still going strong.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ileo-anal_pouch There are some good early papers by Alan Parks if you can get access to them. Admittedly, the 1982 bloke I know has an S-pouch rather than a J- but anyway, yeah, if you look after the pouch, it seems as though it will serve you well.

Be very careful if you take Cipro long term. It causes tendon damage. Serious tendon damage.

Thanks Pete. I've had a really good six months and, despite repeated, stressful 60-hour work weeks and two kids aged less than 2, have survived on Metamucil alone.