Posted 9/22/2018 1:36 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all,
I rarely drop by here anymore, but wanted to do so today as it's my two year j-pouch anniversary. The last two years have been great. My j-pouch functions as well as I could have hoped (4-5 movements each day, no difficulties with holding on, and I almost never get up in the night with it). So far I haven't been affected by pouchitis. I eat a normal diet, and find that psyllium husk helps bulk up my stool. The only thing I find annoying is the noise level when using the bathroom (after you pass stool, there's sometimes gas that can make a fair amount of noise as it passes). Apart from that, I regard myself as living a normal life, and I think my quality of life is basically the same as in my pre-colitis days. I'm very thankful for that!
I have loved rediscovering the freedom to be an active parent and spouse, and also to do my job without feeling like my hands were tied behind my back (one hand by colitis, the other by prednisolone!)
With hindsight, I sometimes think that my main UC-regret is spending four years flaring, trying (and failing) so many meds, in an effort to stave off surgery (largely because I had read some online stuff by people saying stoma and j-pouch life is horrendous...) But anyway, I'm glad to be where I am now - and with hindsight I can see that I learned many important lessons through the experience of illness.
Best wishes to all battling UC, and those who end up facing a colectomy,
Albannach