These posts might also help out:

• January 4, 2009 -- Mark’s 15 Month Jpouch Update (16)
• April 5, 2010 -- Home from Surgery #1 (1)
• November 10, 2009 -- 6 Months Later: Jaypouchirifical (22)
• June 20, 2008 -- Excellent Video: UC to J-pouch (1)

Worst Toilet in Scotland

It has been a while since I was on a good fiber schedule due to the unrest in our life with selling the house, moving, and being insanely busy. But now that we’ve settled back down in our new town and into our new home, I’ve been able to get back into a routine. And I’ve started taking fiber again.

I prefer to take Metamucil powder and drink it once a day in the night (not sure why at night but that is when I seem to remember). I like taking fiber because it makes my BMs way less watery, which is helpful for making me feel more normal due my more solid movements. However, there is a down side and that is the gas that I do experience and am having to get used to having. Fiber makes me gassy. During the day this means that often I think I need to have a BM but when I go the bathroom it is just gas and sometimes “splatter butt” (you don’t need me to explain splatter butt do you – if you had/have UC you know splatter butt). The gas doesn’t hurt but it can be a bit annoying to have such loud gas and then the light splatter. But again, a far cry from being sick with UC or anything else. I guess the point of my post is that fiber is my friend.

In honor of the bad UC days, here is the classic scene from Trainspotting: The worst toilet in Scotland.

These posts might also help out:

• June 14, 2009 -- Fibre Supplements (8)
• March 31, 2009 -- Gas after 1 step surgery (3)
• January 28, 2009 -- Meet My Hernia (2)
• January 26, 2009 -- Just a quick note about pills (1)

Here is his PSA below:

Interview with David Garrard discusses his battle with Crohn’s and his desire to bring disease awareness:

These posts might also help out:

• December 29, 2011 -- Loss & Gain (2)
• August 26, 2010 -- “My Hole” (4)
• August 5, 2010 -- Crohn’s…Again? (7)
• March 15, 2010 -- “You’re Fired.” (15)

These posts might also help out:

• January 28, 2009 -- Meet My Hernia (2)
• January 9, 2009 -- My Friend Fiber (1)
• December 25, 2008 -- David Garrard-IBD PSA (1)
• June 23, 2008 -- Video: What is UC? (1)

Excellent Resource:  10 Key Questions about UC

Also, here is a good link to read more about what is UC:  Online Book about UC.

Image via: Lifespan.org

These posts might also help out:

• February 25, 2010 -- Commenter with Questions (13)
• July 20, 2011 -- 2 Years Post TakeDown (6)
• February 11, 2011 -- Belladonna Wars? (7)
• December 8, 2010 -- Cleveland Clinic, Day 1 (6)

8 Days after surgery showing Ileostomy Bag

Video: UC to J-Pouch (well done & realistic)

I highly recommend this really done video (7 mins) about Video IBD Surgery:  ”People with inflammatory bowel disease often face surgery. New techniques can speed recovery and reduce post-operative discomfort. Meet an 18-year-old woman with ulcerative colitis, and follow along as she makes the decision to undergo laproscopic surgery.”

I just felt this video really covered a lot of what I was going through trying to make the surgery decision and the surgery itself.

My update: Almost 1 year has past, living healthy and well with my J-pouch (no longer have the temporary ileostomy).

These posts might also help out:

• January 28, 2009 -- Meet My Hernia (2)
• June 19, 2008 -- Most FAQs: Elective Surgery? (0)
• July 20, 2011 -- 2 Years Post TakeDown (6)
• September 2, 2010 -- My Foster Bag Wants to be Adopted (6)

Yes, Mark’s surgery was technically “optional.” He could have lived non-functionally sick with his colon forever or he could have had the “optional” surgery.  A common question and one we asked is When did you know time for surgery? There are many posts out there like this one Jpouch vs Ileostomy and these help you feel not so alone in this journey.  Mark tells his story in this post: For those not forced into surgery, and Stories of surgery decision making . And although we get this question a lot, just because we sorta answer it here, you can feel free to write us at any time to talk about your decision process. For us making the decision took 3 years and was really, extremely difficult.   We have lots of experience offering our experience on making the decision, so use us as a resource if you need.  You don’t have to go through this decision alone, that was our mistake!

Here is a Video that is really well done that talks about making the decision for surgery, and her two step surgery is shown and discussed.  Technical and emotional are both addressed.  Really Recommend to Watch!

These posts might also help out:

• January 28, 2009 -- Meet My Hernia (2)
• June 20, 2008 -- Excellent Video: UC to J-pouch (1)
• June 20, 2008 -- Most FAQS: Two-Step Surgery (6)
• July 20, 2011 -- 2 Years Post TakeDown (6)