J-pouch Life

I don’t want to steal thunder from Lizz’s post below. Nay, instead she actually inspired me to post my update. I would just do this as comment for her post but I don’t know how to add pictures as a comment. November 11th will be my 6 month anniversary of the first surgery and well, [...]

There’s that great line in the bible (or the Byrds song, whichever you prefer), “a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.” Prior to my diagnosis of UC and, subsequently, Crohn’s, I was a devoted and passionate dancer.  It was my “thing.”  It was also [...]

So, at every previous job since I’ve had IBD I’ve been very vocal about my disease.  It was practical because I was sick at the time, and when people asked me questions, the advocate in me burst forth!  Since I’ve been in remission and managed to get a job in Portland, OR in this crazy [...]

Hey Readers, We just got this email from Tom, and he is new to seeking online support to figure out the complication he is dealing with.  Could you all take a peak at his concern and see if you have any insight.  Also, we encourage our readers to post their questions/concerns at jpouch.org because that [...]

After I had Step Two of my three surgeries, I was expelling waste rather quickly. Too quickly, it seemed. I was afraid I couldn’t adsorb anything so my surgeon recommended chewable vitamins. Although they seem childish, you can absorb them better because you’ve chewed them first! Even now, after takedown, I still take 2 chewable [...]

I just wanted to make a quick note about Prednisone, as many people with UC (and many other diseases) end up taking it. Back when UC was a very minor part of my life, my biggest fear (because surgery didn’t even seem like a possibility) was having to take Prednisone. I try to talk to [...]

Prescription medication is a fact of life if you have any of the diseases this site deals with. How can you be sure to keep your pills straight? Easy, take a black permanent marker and write on the caps of the medication what the drug is in an abbreviation that works for you. When you’re [...]