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There are other medications to try but if you're tired of meds already you prolly wouldn't want to do them. If your GI thinks it's a good idea, go ahead and go in for the consult. You can always think about it more. It won't be written in stone. Good luck, just try to step back and look at the situation.

It's your life, your gut, no one else will be living your life. Not your sister, not us.
Yes, talk to people, many people, who had the surgery. My understanding is that the overwhelming majority are very happy and wish they had it done years ago.

The more you know about it the more secure you will be with your decision whatever it is.
Visualize yourself in 2 years time: with surgery and without surgery. Which life path draws you toward it?
Write down all your fears then try to find someone to answer them objectively.
If it were me I'd ask my family doctor who I trust. Mine sees a lot of people, knows their history and has no vested interest in either surgery or medication like a GI or surgeon does. They just want you to be healthy.

If you don't know the answer yet then you don't know the answer.

Best wishes.

I have been in remission but it was mainly due to prednisone.  Of the 8 years, 1 1/2 was in remission...

It just seems like the majority of people on this forum who get the procedure have positive results and say they wish they would have done this years ago.  My major fear is regret post surgery.  I realize what I am considering putting myself through but I am thinking about my life a year-2 years down the road.  I also feel like I am getting worse each year and that this is the inevitable.  With that being the case, I feel like now is a good time.

Do the majority of people who do the surgery have similar reasons as myself?  Or is the reason due to being in the hospital with no choice due to extreme bad health?

i_love_coffee said...
what are your symptoms now while in a flare?

Right now, I'm having 5-12 bm's a day.  I have blood usually at least once every week.  I also have pretty bad urgency.  I eat and go to the bathroom until everything is out of my system.

Are you able to work?  Do you get out and do fun things?

I work a normal job.  I do work in the office so I have the comfort of a nearby restroom.  I am active.  I play golf about twice a month and we hang out with friends.  I take measures to protect myself before activities and hanging out.  If I'm in a bad flare, I will eat minimally before golf and before going out with friends.  If it's a situation where it's going out to eat then out to a bar, I will take imodium, but even that doesn't always work.  I've have to go in awkward places many times.

out of 8 years, only feeling well for a year and a half is pretty discouraging.  nobody but YOU knows what it is like to feel that crappy all the time.  Just seeing a surgoen for a consult does not commit you to anything.  Get all the information you can, then you can make up your mind.

If you feel there is one or two more things that you want to try before commiting to surgery then it seems to me as if its worth a shot.

have you ever kept a food and symptom diary?

No, not really.  After 8 years, I know what sets me off.  Sometimes, I say screw it and eat ribs or pizza knowing the consequences.  However, even following a low residue diet doesn't put me in remission as i've tried that as well.

i have to say, the urgency and fear of accidents is by far for me the worst symptom.  I could live with having to go the bathroom 10x a day

samlc25 said...

pam222 said...

My reason for surgery was that I never went into remission in over 2 years. Sure, I could have tried more meds but my GI didn't seem to think they would help. The UC was just spreading and not getting any better. I was sick of the accidents. That was the biggest thing for me. I was sick all the time, but having accidents in public was just not acceptable. Most of the time it happened in my car, but the thought that I could be in the store and not able to get to a bathroom in time was too much


Read your history, bless your heart. I hope it all works out for you...

Thank you! I'm really hoping the Humira will do something for me and I can get on with my life

Good luck to you!