The topic is about someone seeking advice for a friend who has been using an external ileostomy pouch for 15 years and is now thinking about switching to a Barnett Continent Intestinal Reservoir (BCIR). This is an internal pouch that allows for controlled elimination without needing an external appliance. They are looking for honest feedback from people who have undergone this procedure.

Here are some helpful insights and advice:

1. Suitability & Anatomy
- It's important to have enough small bowel length for the procedure. Some individuals may not be eligible if they have too little intestine remaining.

2. Surgical Details & Recovery
- The typical hospital stay after the surgery is around 21 days.
- The early recovery period can be challenging, but pain is usually well-managed with a patient-controlled analgesia pump.
- A restricted diet is necessary for the first three months, with a gradual reintroduction of foods afterward.
- One person reported feeling well enough to return to work six weeks after the surgery.

3. Quality of Life
- Many find that not having an external appliance significantly improves their lifestyle, with one recent patient expressing great satisfaction.

4. Provider & Facility
- The procedure is performed at Palms of Pasadena Hospital in Florida by Dr. Ernest Rehnke. The staff there is described as knowledgeable, kind, and professional.

5. Ongoing Support
- A BCIR patient has updated their forum profile and is open to answering more questions, although direct contact details cannot be shared publicly.