Question: How long after your first flare did it take to get to remission?

I agree that surgery isn't for everyone, but it is the true cure for UC. I cannot believe how many people I've met with UC are afraid of the surgery...even people in my local town and at work. There's a lot of them out there believe it or not.

Taking those drugs for 30 to 40 years isn't any safer either and it damages your otherwise healthy organs/systems. Especially the immune system...I like mine to be intact and not suppressed. Asacol has only been studied for 8 weeks, and after that they say it is safe to take forever. I find that ludicrous.

If the j-pouch fails for me down the road, I know very well now that I could live the rest of my life with a permanent ileostomy. I currently have a temporary one and it only took 3 weeks for me to get use to it. If I'm one of the 5 to 10% who has total j-pouch failure, then I could say well I at least I gave it a try. I'm still rid of my defective colon either way and off the drugs. My ET nurse had UC and her j-pouch failed, and she had the same opinion.

It was funny, I'm 8 weeks post op today and today was my first day back to work. Everyone said I looked like I did 2 years ago before getting UC. No more moon face from Prednisone. I feel like my life is back to normal and only spent two times in the restroom today to empty the bag. Even the 15 minute drive to and from work was fun again. Before that, I was in constant fear of having an accident...and I don't mean hitting another car.

It's almost like someone flipped a switch and I'm back to normal again. No more medicines, no restricted diet, can have an occasional beer and travel and do my job again. I just have a funny bag hanging off my belly and a 10" incision scar. Other than that, I'm perfectly fine.

Good luck. If your considering surgery...get it...don't wait. How many people on here who had it ever said they have regretted it...not too many...and they are glad the UC is gone? Your only at your current age once, and once it's gone, you cannot get it back. I didn't want to lose anymore of my life to this disease.

judilyn said...
(This group is for information and support, not for telling others what to do. )

Judy, with all due respect, I think you are doing just that.... Maybe it's just me, but I didn't get the impression that GI Guy was pushing anyone into surgery, or disrespecting anyone's choices. The stuff he says is pretty accurate, medically, & it's presented in a non-judgemental manner. Furthermore, when you imply that you "know a lot more about it" than others, it smacks of condescension. I think you misjudge your role as co-moderator- it's not to set the record straight, so to speak, but to make sure people aren't slamming other people. That's about it. You've got a lot of of good info to share, as a fellow UC sufferer.

Eva Lou...If you have a problem w/ a moderator or a comment another moderator has left you can hit the admin alert button (in the upper right hand corner w/ the exclamation point) and send Peter a message. Here's the rule....

13. Do not disrespect moderators. Be respectful in both the forums and any private communications with moderators. Moderators are volunteers that donate many, many hours of their own time to help in the forums and chat rooms. Violations of this rule will not be tolerated.

I think Judy is fairly well versed in what her responsibilities as a mod are.

Thanks again for all the responses to this topic. At this point, since I am only a year into my life with UC, surgery is not even on my radar. I feel like I need to exhaust all my options first. However, hearing from people who have had it, especially these positive stories, makes the prospect of settling for surgery less scary.