Why not just take this stupid colon OUT?

I don't miss my rotten colon one bit! Good riddance

"It is especially unhelpful to suggest on a support forum that people caused their UC."


not sure where exactly I mentioned anyone else in my assessment of my current situation or my previous decisions -

I am thankful surgery is an option but i am so scared that I would have a bad result that it makes surgery an undesirable choice. I know most people are very happy, but the few who aren't, tend to be REALLY unhappy, like life altering unhappy, unable to eat, uncomfortable... I just worry, what if that happened to me and I was worse off? That would drive me to not want to live :(

Surgery comes with specific risks and each procedures is traumatic in itself. But when the time comes for me, it's adios old friend.

So, I'm of the same mind as Tunnelvisonary, "I wouldn't hesitate to remove my colon if it came down to all the drugs not working well enough for me however. I'd rather have some sort of stability in my life than live in cycles of feeling great and feeling absolutely terrible. But I do want to see if I can live feeling mostly healthy with my colon if possible."

I've had UC for 22 years and several years ago I came VERY VERY close to having mine removed. My GI is anti-surgery - his thinking: well only a portion of your colon is affected, why removed the healthy too and risk possible complications from surgery? Yeah, I was pretty close to getting a second opinion and I think my GI noticed it. He could tell that I was ready to throw in the towel. So even tho I wasn't really that bad at the time, he offered to put me on Remicade.

Remicade finally has put me into remission. But I think for me, the reason I hung into my dysfunctional organ is fear of the unknown. But if Remicade ever fails me, I'm done playing around. Out goes the colon. Or unless I get something else that pops up like dysplasia.

Not Happy Yet! said...
ks1905, any regrets?

This is the most my weight has been up and I have been healthier lately. Just thinking it might be better to have any surgery while I am less pitiful.

I don't have any regrets in having surgery but it's been difficult. I tried most meds and in the end they did not work. I like having a j-pouch.

I've had almost constant pouchitis since I had surgery but I didn't know what to expect so I thought it was just my pouch adjusting (like people say the 1st 6-12 months) but it wasn't. I've had a hard time getting the pouchitis under-control which is uncommon for pouchitis, it's usually fixed with a course of antibiotics in a week or two.

I think that I am getting really close to getting the pouchitis stomped out, things are getting much better recently.

It's hard to explain but having a j-pouch with pouchitis is SO MUCH better than having UC with a flare. The pouchitis is more discomfort than anything else and difficulty emptying.

You don't have to be healthy going into surgery but the healthier you are the easier the surgery will be for you.

Be careful,for what you wish for! This is a huge and dangerous surgery. Extremely painful and doesn't solve all your issues and creates even more. And make sure you go to a surgeon who does a lot of these surgeries. The best is Cleveland clinic if you are able. Good luck