level of physical activity before with UC and after laparoscopically j pouch surgery

fightUC

Regular Member

Joined : Jun 2011

Posts : 497

Posted 3/1/2015 5:35 PM (GMT 0)

hello all, I was wondering for those with ulcerative colitis and have had successful jpouch surgery done laparoscopically, did their daily physical activity increase or decrease or stay the same? I have heard of many stories of people with j pouches traveling the world on a few days notice and hiking thousands of miles and exercising everyday with no problems, no meds, no pain. Is this true?

ByeByeUC

Veteran Member

Joined : Feb 2011

Posts : 4592

Posted 3/1/2015 7:08 PM (GMT 0)

I go about my daily life with my j pouch just as I did before I was dx'ed with UC. I work, I exercise, go on vacation, run my kids around, ect. The only issue I have held onto post surgery is is iron deficiency anemia. I don't absorb iron so every three or four months I go to my hematologist for iron infusions. It's just going to be a maintanence thing with me. I'm off all drugs and have been since my surgeries. As for my j pouch...I don't give it a second thought when making any kind of plans. Just booked a cruise for June!

Pluot

Veteran Member

Joined : May 2012

Posts : 2500

Posted 3/1/2015 8:05 PM (GMT 0)

I was a competitive powerlifter before I was diagnosed with UC, and I compete again now with my j-pouch. If anything I would say I'm stronger and more active now -- I think my body was suffering the effects of an untreated/undiagnosed autoimmune disorder for much longer than I realized.

ladygolfer1119

Regular Member

Joined : Dec 2009

Posts : 65

Posted 3/1/2015 9:28 PM (GMT 0)

I'm a competitive amateur golfer and also exercise regularly with Zumba & weights. My j-pouch takedown was only 5 weeks ago but I am already back at Zumba and the gym and have my first tee-time on Weds (I live in Florida :)). The only reason I haven't golfed yet is the 6 week requirement by the surgeon. I feel better than I have in years and I agree with Liz...already feel stronger than I did for the better part of the last 5 years...I don't think I realized how much of a toll the UC was taking on my body...it was just my "normal". And my new normal is way better! Although I will say that I did basically nothing for the 3 months I had the temp loop ostomy...I was exhausted all the time with that!

Vicki

Burli

Veteran Member

Joined : May 2003

Posts : 1267

Posted 3/5/2015 5:15 AM (GMT 0)

I'm also considering this.
This is rather intriguing; so I read that the J-pouch gives one several (5-7) loose bm's/day plus some accidents. Is that not true? Maybe the surgery has gotten a lot better.
Thanks for this question and the answers. I asked this same thing on the ostomies forum years ago and seemed to offend folks. The candor is very helpful.

Is it costly? (my insurance pays 100% after $7K so I assume I'm looking at $7K if it could all be done in one year; right?)
some get 3 while others 2 steps- I guess I need to read up on it
Do you have to protect against accidents, be on special diets or if not do you have 'slip-ups'.

now that the kids are about to both be in college I'm more able to take time in an extended hospital surgical procedure and recovery and home recovery; plus am tired of taking the meds and if I could really be active (we're talking about snow skiing/boarding double blacks and mountains, white water kayaks/canoes, mountain trail runs/bikes, intense water sports (skiing, jumping, deep scuba) - better to ask anything you could imagine me not doing?

Thanks!

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