J-Pouch?

I've seen the word come and go many times on this forum and others, but what exactly is it?

Do ALL reversal candidates who are getting their small bowel connected to the rectum get a j-pouch? I'm pretty confused what the options and differences are.

I was kind of wondering about that myself. Thanks for that explanation :) I'm fairly sure thats what they're going to do for me. Sue, I'm wondering about the adaptation and times per day you have to poop and how long it takes to get to a steady number per day. <---With a J-pouch, I mean.

Sue,
I like reading your posts b/c you seem to have adapted so well to the j-pouch. I had my colon and rectum removed in October and my surgeon created the j-pouch at that time. He said the surgery went great and he was able to create a "high capacity" pouch. I'm currently living with a loop ileostomy while everything is healing, but now I've gotten the go-ahead to schedule the takedown and reverse the ileostomy and start using my j-pouch. As much as I hate my temporary ileo, I'm also eternally grateful not to have painful, explosive, uncontollable diarrhea anymore and be scared to leave the house all the time. I'm worried about how everything will feel and function once I reverse and use the j-pouch. I understand there's still a high frequency, but how contollable is it? Diarrhea? Pain? Sorry for all the questions!

Ash83 - do I remember seeing that you're in the Atlanta area? That's where I am and my surgeon is awesome and does the j-pouch surgeries a LOT. He came highly recommended from several different sources.

Takedown can be frustrating, especially since you are feeling really well.  Number 1 is you have to be paitent with your recovery after your second surgery.  It might take your new jpouch up to a year to adapt.  Just remember you are asking your small intestine to take over the role of rectum/colon and it needs time to learn its new job.  You might have to adjust your diet for a while.  For me I had to cut out fresh fruits and vegetables for about the first 6 months as they sped through me.  It wasn't painful, just uncomfortable.  Everyone reacts differently so you may or may not have to restrict your diet.  The good news is that it is temporary.  Having a pouch is not painful nor do I live with diarrhea.  My stools are well formed.  Be sure to take a variety of skin salves (diaper rash ointment) to the hospital with you.  There is a condition called butt burn (I have never had it) that some pouchers experience and the salves help reduce the discomfort.  Also every poucher should have a tube of calmoseptine ointment on hand.  You can buy it independent drugstores (the type that sell ostomy supplies) or you can order it online at www.calmoseptineointment.com

Be sure to visit www.j-pouch.org  Lots of support from over 6,000 pouchers on that site.

Sue