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Robotic J-pouch surgery

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 1/29/2015 4:16 PM (GMT 0)
That's great to hear Todd. 3-4x/day is totally fine with me. I've wondered about how controllable the frequency is with caloric intake. I am, or at least hope to be again, a weightlifter (not competitive, just because I enjoy it) and I'm really hoping I can get the calories in through the week when I'll be lifting, and not so concerned with the # of BM's, then back off on the food during the weekend when I'll be out, and not wanting to worry about BM's so much.
Posted 1/29/2015 4:47 PM (GMT 0)
I think calories are fine in bulk. Certain foods bother those with ostomie/jpouches and end up producing greater output. So, if you avoid problem foods and just take in the extra calories with safe foods, then you'd be fine, I think. A great question for the ostomies board or j-pouch.org, as there's greater readership from those. Who have them.
Posted 1/29/2015 5:06 PM (GMT 0)

SwollenColon said...
then back off on the food during the weekend when I'll be out, and not wanting to worry about BM's so much.

If you have a good functioning pouch then you don't "have to worry" about it. I go to the bathroom when I want to and when it is convenient for me.
Posted 1/29/2015 5:28 PM (GMT 0)

SwollenColon said...
That's great to hear Todd. 3-4x/day is totally fine with me. I've wondered about how controllable the frequency is with caloric intake. I am, or at least hope to be again, a weightlifter (not competitive, just because I enjoy it) and I'm really hoping I can get the calories in through the week when I'll be lifting, and not so concerned with the # of BM's, then back off on the food during the weekend when I'll be out, and not wanting to worry about BM's so much.

I don't really lift much, can't help ya there (I keep in shape through kiteboarding). Although, I can tell you that I usually eat (6) times a day. Since food is going so much quicker through you, you will have an empty stomach more often than before.
Posted 1/29/2015 10:05 PM (GMT 0)
I lift competitively. The only issue I have is that I currently don't use a lifting belt, so I lose about 5-10% on my lifts compared to if I would. Belts slightly increase the risk of hernia and frankly I'm not setting a world record any time soon so I'd rather avoid the risk even if I take a slight hit on performance. I have not had any problems with getting the protein/food I need to support my training.
Posted 1/31/2015 2:31 AM (GMT 0)
I am 6 months post take down, sorry I haven't been back. I wish I could say its because I've done so great.....the surgerys weren't bad. I didn't even have to take pain meds at home at all. I did get really weak after the first step though - until I started immodium. I guess I was dehydrated. Immediately though, I was in alot of pain from going, like the anal canal - excruciating. Ithink im finally improving, but it hasn't been easy. Not sleeping through the night uet either. I can pass tons of gas though - too much. just havent figured this thing out yet. I tell you though - i loved the bag! I think I would recommend doing that in and of itself., Ill write more later - gotta go get my daughter. way less urgency though - not worried to get in the car which is nice,
Posted 1/31/2015 4:01 AM (GMT 0)
Allswell,

Have you had your pouch scoped yet? I had similar horrible gas issues which were caused by pouchitis and a stricture. The antibiotics for the pouchitis caused me to get Yeast infections which caused me even worse gas. I think it was probably all caused by the scar tissue/stricture which I recently had dialated; the dialation really helped my symptoms....I'm hoping to be off all meds soon but we wouldn't have found it unless I had the flex-sig.

It was still so much better then flaring with UC, it was just really uncomfortable.
Posted 1/31/2015 2:59 PM (GMT 0)
i did in beginning, pouch and cuff were fine. my gas isnt painful unless it burns. think im getting better though. ill start another thread.
Posted 1/31/2015 6:46 PM (GMT 0)
allswell - excruciating pain in the anal canal sounds like a fissure to me. I had one about five months after takedown because I had gotten cocky and wasn't being as delicate as I should have been when cleaning myself after a BM (lots of rough institutional toilet paper, etc). It's pretty common and the pain is terrible! The good news is that they heal up nicely -- definitely make sure you are cleaning yourself very gently, ideally with a bidet or squeeze bottle, and try doing Sitz baths as much as possible. Also cut back on anything fibrous/acidic/spicy until the fissure resolves. I hope this helps, please post if you have more questions!
Posted 1/31/2015 7:51 PM (GMT 0)
sorry if this was mentioned but where are you having surgery? i didn't know robotic colectomies were being performed!! pretty cool.
Posted 1/31/2015 8:10 PM (GMT 0)
They offer it here in southern california. I think it depends on the surgeon and the hospital.
Posted 1/31/2015 10:32 PM (GMT 0)
I'm having mine at UAB, Birmingham, Al.
Posted 3/20/2015 5:56 PM (GMT 0)
As of today, so far so good. Surgery was originally scheduled for 2/19, but the weekend prior, the surgeon was in an accident, so I was rescheduled for 3/12 (discharged on 3/18). As far as I can tell everything went well. I had a total of 6 cuts, the stoma site being the largest. All the others are tiny, and have pretty much already healed. I've had some pretty major pain issues, but that was from me trying to be a tough guy and not take the pain meds as scheduled......lesson learned.
Posted 3/20/2015 6:10 PM (GMT 0)
Glad it went well. Playing the tough guy with no pain medication after surgery, huh? Yeah lesson learned :-)

Here's a cheer to a speedy recovery, and a life free of uc. I'm sure many of us here are a bit envious.
Posted 3/20/2015 6:13 PM (GMT 0)
Yo Swollen! Thanks for posting about your experience, I can't wait to get my surgery April 3rd!

Do you feel any urgency or and UC pain/symptoms now? Do you feel like you were mutilated or that the doctors took advantage of you while you were under?

How is your appetite?

How is the pain meds? Is it one of those machines they hook you up to and you can push a button and it injects if for you?

Hope you heal really really fast!! How are you walking now? I heard walking a lot is REALLy good for you after surgery.
Posted 3/20/2015 6:37 PM (GMT 0)

SwollenColon said...
As of today, so far so good. Surgery was originally scheduled for 2/19, but the weekend prior, the surgeon was in an accident, so I was rescheduled for 3/12 (discharged on 3/18). As far as I can tell everything went well. I had a total of 6 cuts, the stoma site being the largest. All the others are tiny, and have pretty much already healed. I've had some pretty major pain issues, but that was from me trying to be a tough guy and not take the pain meds as scheduled......lesson learned.

Glad you made it through and you're on the mend. Please don't be brave and skip the pain meds. I took them for a month after surgery. I had some complications so I really needed them. They are a God send! Happy healing....
Posted 3/22/2015 5:25 PM (GMT 0)
I've had a couple of rough patches since getting home, but I feel like I'm out of the woods now. Pain meds are absolutely mandatory.....I don't think recuperation would be possible without them. Movement, especially walking is/was key for me. The more I move around and walk the better I feel. As of this morning I think my appetite has returned. Dry mouth made it very hard to eat anything, so I was basically force-feeding myself for a few days. There aren't any residual UC related pains or symptoms at all. Using Immodium and Gas-X as needed, and that's it (aside from the Oxy). I'm eating a fair amount of calories now, and only emptying the bag 5-6 times/day, so I'm hoping that all translates to the pouch after the drop surgery. If you're anywhere near UAB, I highly recommend considering the facility if you've made your mind up to have the surgery.
Posted 3/22/2015 5:37 PM (GMT 0)
Awesome news man, at this rate you should be one of those extremely successful j pouchers! Cheers to that!
Posted 3/22/2015 6:34 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for keeping us updated on your progress. I can't wait to see how you're feeling after takedown. I will be watching for more updates.
Posted 4/2/2015 1:12 AM (GMT 0)
3 weeks post surgery and I'm doing whatever....except lifting. Feel great, and I love being able to eat anything and everything again. Had fish n chips at Bonefish Grill today and it was fantastic. That dish would have destroyed me for days with UC. But the best thing is being able to tell myself I'm not sick anymore......it's something I say out loud to myself fairly often LOL. Seeing the surgeon Monday, and hopefully scheduling the 2nd surgery for the 3rd week of April. I'm ready to get rid of this bag and put this pouch to work :-)
Posted 4/2/2015 1:48 AM (GMT 0)
Wow, you had a speedy recovery....that's awesome! Three weeks after my first surgery I still felt like road kill. Keep it up and best of luck with your next surgery!
Posted 4/2/2015 3:06 AM (GMT 0)
get to see you out, eating whatever you want and feeling good :) I can' tbelieve how quickly everything is happening. Best of luck.
Posted 4/2/2015 2:08 PM (GMT 0)
I've actually been out and doing stuff for a few days. My wife carried me out to dinner last Fri. & Sat. afternoon, which was just over 2 weeks after surgery. I attribute it completely to the robotic surgery....there just really wasn't any muscular trauma to recover from.
Posted 4/8/2015 2:57 PM (GMT 0)
Had my follow up appt. with the surgeon Monday. She was pleased with my progress, and we went ahead and scheduled the takedown surgery for the 4/24, 6 weeks and 1 day between surgeries. The gastrograph will be done 2 days prior to surgery, and I guess as long as the anastomosis is leak-free, I'm good to go. Pathology came back clear......no cancer, no Chron's. She did mention that I had a pretty sick colon, though. I'm almost done.......this is almost behind me for good :-)
Posted 4/8/2015 4:00 PM (GMT 0)
You're lucky....I had to wait four months for my takedown. I had an infection/abscess so that held me up a bit. Since you've healed so fast I have no doubt that you'll pass the "pouch o graph" with flying colors. Keep up the good work!
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