J-pouch Life

Last night some friends came into town and we went out for a great Italian dinner. We got to talking about how much things have changed, and how I weigh 140 pounds now 5’6″. Just saw my weight, my UC weight was around 120-125. They were saying how they felt bad that while I was [...]

This time Megan was preparing for a conference presentation at a yearly conference for her work.  At the same time, we were preparing to go and visit the GI, to make the final decision for surgery.  My last chance medicine had failed, Humira, and I was either to live unhealthy and predinsone dependent or agree [...]

Mark’s Step 1 surgery was a laproscopic total proctocolectomy with ileoanal reservoir reconstruction (a jpouch) with a temporary loop ileostomy until the jpouch heals (‘takedown’ is 2nd surgery).   Step 1 was done in early July 2007 and he was in the hospital for 5 days .  Thankfully, he experienced no complications from this major surgery.   [...]