It is refreshing to hear that your GI is on the same page with you. Sometimes GI's will push for the biological drugs thus prolonging the inevitable for many of us with Crohn's Colitis. My old GI told me that he would support me 100% no matter which way I went, but I really got the feeling he would rather have seen me on Remicade. My surgeon made it clear that this surgery was permanent and that he never tells a patient that they should have surgery and leaves it up to them. After my surgery, he told me I made the right choice as Remicade would never have helped my diseased colon and rectum.
My surgery consisted of the removal of my colon, rectum and anus along with construction of my permanent end ileostomy. My butt wound was not completely stitched up. The last 1/2 inch or so along the entire length of the incision was left open to heal from the inside out. My surgeon felt there is less chance of infection doing it that way, but still no guarantees. I am diabetic and while it did take me longer-than-normal to heal, I never got infected, or had to be re-opened. Some surgeons do stitch it up all the way.
Regarding the removal of everything [colon, rectum and anus]. My personal feeling was that since I had Crohn's Colitis and it absolutely loved attacking that part of my anatomy, I would never even consider leaving anything down there for it to wreak it's havoc on ever again. I hear alot about a rectal stump, and am not exactly sure what that is, but with Crohn's I would not have wanted it left. Others can confirm or correct me on this, but I also think if certain things are left intact, there can be drainage and mucus issues. I wanted rid of everything causing anything to come out of that part of me--forever !!!
Like you, my Crohn's has always been confined to the colon and in my case also the rectum. I read that for those of us with our Crohn's never being in the small intestine, we have an 80% chance that surgery will take care of it. I believe Blueglass said she was told 85% chance of non-recurrance. Both my new GI and my surgeon confirmed the 80%-ish statistic, but I had to ask. I have also heard others, like you, say they were told in cases like ours, the chances were very slim for it to return once the colon was removed. However, we Crohnies are fully aware there is no cure for us and it is possible.
No experience here with a loop, but from everything I have read, they are more difficult to manage than an end ileostomy. I remember your positive attitude from your posts and have no doubt you will do just fine 