Mayo Clinic?

Hi everyone, as many of you know, my husband and I both have UC. However, my husband, who was diagnosed approx. 2 years ago, isn't responding to medication anymore and now we're heading to the Mayo Clinic for a 2nd opinion before surgery. I was wondering if any of you could give any insight to any of this as we are both a little scared and nervous. My husband and I are both 26 years old, and he's about to have his colon removed. Our gastro has recommended surgery as my husband's colon is severly diseased throughout, but gave us a referral to the Mayo Clinic so we could have access to some of the best physicians around. My husband did Remicade for about 2 months, but became immune to it. Then after that they tried him on Humira, but come to find out I'm severly allergic to it, (use your imaginiation) plus it wasn't relieving any of his symptoms, so now here we are. He's been on everything out there, well atleast what we know about here in Great Falls, MT. We both have referrals to the Mayo, him for his colon, and mine for urticarial vasculitis which was caused by the Humira, so I'm just a little nervous. I'm nervous that my husband is young and is about to have major surgery. We have two children, a 3 year old and a 1 year old, so I'm praying if and when he does have surgery everything will work out for the best and he'll be fine. So any assistance or support/info would be greatly appreciative. If he has his colon removed will he have a bag forever?, I know there are a lot of new procedures available, but I'm not educated on many of them. Is the J-pouch for people who have their whole colon removed? How long are you out of commission for? Does life return to normal? Is the bag hard to deal with? Can you still have a sex life? Is it easy to return to work and adjust? Just curious about all of these things. I love my husband with all my heart, I just need to know he'll be fine after he has this surgery. No more pain I hope and pray! Any stories would help. Thank you all!!!!

I had jpouch surgery 8 years ago. I have never regretted it, it gave me my life back. The Mayo is an excellent hospital and your husband will be in good hands. Surgery is hard but your husband will be IMMEDIATELY relieved of the disease after the colon and rectum are gone and will make his recovery easier. If he opts for a jpouch his surgery will be done in 2-3 steps depending upon how ill he is. It's designed that way so that he can regain his health and make the other steps of surgery easier. I encourage you both to visit www.j-pouch.org for more information. Lots of people there who have gone to the Mayo. Your husband is not that young for surgery, many UCers have had surgery in their adolescent and teens. Just think of all the years he will have being med free and healthy! In my situation I went back to work after 3 weeks but I was not as ill as your husband. Expect 6 weeks as an average. No problems with sex either.

Sue