Thanks for all the kind words. The implications of the surgery have been made pretty clear. All of the usual stuff with J pouches, like pouchitis and possibilities of it not healing or not responding properly in the days after surgery. This is my surgeon’s #1 surgery that he does and he’s done them for 15 year or so.
In regards to your point, V.J., I did ask the awkward questions, mainly about nerve damage regarding both continence and sexual function. Whilst incontinence is a risk, my surgeon, like apparently 95% of all surgeons, leave about 1-2cm of the rectum to attach the pouch to. This is to avoid going too close to any nerves and such a small amount of infected rectum apparently won’t cause any major problems. Sexual function is, of course, a risk as well, though my surgeon told me that in all of his years of doing this surgery he has never caused sexual nerve damage on any of his male patients. Overall, I’m hoping it goes well. I have age and weight on my side, or so the surgeon says, so hopefully I might be in good health for once. We’ll see what happens. I’ll keep you all updated in the coming weeks.
Thanks,
Hamish
