Gargamel said...
Is the J-Pouch Surgery very painful?
I've recently seen the graphic pictures on Marks excellent blog (http://ucstory.wordpress.com/) and all the pipes and tubes coming out of his abdomen doesn't look like fun.
G
Hey man. I had my one step J-pouch in 1997 and the surgery itself was PAINLESS. I had to tubes. I did have many post op complications unrelated to the surgery itself, but compared to my life with U.C., it’s improved. I do get a lot of pouchitis which puts me back on short-terms meds, but through the use of PROBIOTICS (a life saver in my experience) and antibiotics to keep things “in check,” and although a JPOUCH presents a change in lifestyle, it is a good surgery and again, painless in my experience.
Of course there is post op pain in the incision area. I don’t know if they’re doing it via laparoscopically now, but to hook everything up they must go in through the anus. No problems with that at all. My only true pain was soreness in the muscles they had to cut through in the abdomen.
Glad to answer any questions from anyone if I can help.