j pouch army

hey guys I have had ulcerative colitis for 4 years now im 19 years old and going in for surgery to get the j pouch I have always wanted to join the army every since I was a kid and I tried to many times but denied because of the colitis when I get the surgery and I recover I want to join but I might not bring it up if I feel good if anyone has any facts or is in the same situation as me let me know you can email me I would like to chat

Hicks9829@aol.com

Call an army recruiter and ask. You can say "a friend" wants to know!

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Left sided dx. 2011
Current med: Apriso and cortenema
Supplements: vit d, l-glutamine, multi, fish oil, turmeric, probiotic
Past meds: colizal, Melamine
Diet: no lactose, low fat, low sugar, lean protein, no uncooked veggies or fruit, no soy or fake sugar, no alcohol

Unfortunately you still have to go to the bathroom several times per day (at least 6) with a pouch. I know how much you want to do this but you are going to have to live with the fact that the services are not for you. There are complications with the pouch from time to time so it is only a matter of time before they would find out the truth. You would be better off using your time to find something you can do instead of going down a path which will probably sooner rather than later, be a dead end. I really don't see how it could possibly work out being in the service and having to go 6-9 times per day. You wouldn't even be able to get through boot camp.

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Asacol 800mgs 1 pillsX3; VSL#3 112.5mgs 1 pillX2; Prescrip Assist Probiotic 1 pill X 2;Vitamin D3 5000 ius 1 pillX2;Bentyl;DAO;Folic acid;CCHerbal 1 pillX2

Discontinued: Robinul; Natural - peppermint oil, Inflaguard (Boswellia), Pepto Bismol, Omega 3 fish oil, Imodium, Beano, Lactaid;Zymactive, Renew Life Probiotic 80 billion, Florastor, DGL, Monolaurin, slippery elm;black cherry concentrate

Hey Bud,

I did 6 years in the Marine Corps and did 4 deployments overseas. I got out of active duty in 2010, it was during my last DET in Afghanistan when I was diagnosed with UC. I still have been able to do the reserves but unfortunately I will not be able to re-enlist due to UC and injuries I sustained in a motorcycle accident this year.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news and I hope I am wrong in this instance (if the army is a dream if yours) but, if you've already been diagnosed with UC and opt for the surgery usually you can try to persuade (with the backing of your command) to let you stay in (depending on how bad you suffer from the disease). They might switch to something like admin and put you on a non-deployable status. I've also read that if diagnosed with UC and if you have not had any symptoms in over a year you can go in. Usually though anything involving major life-altering surgery of any kind is a disqualifier. Not because you cannot handle any of the training but because the military does not want to be held liable if anything happens, also the disability compensation that follows. I have also heard of people signing waivers on certain medical conditions relieving the military of any future responsibility.

My point is, while I do know UC is a disqualifier the j-pouch is an interesting thing. I still think that's a disqualifier but you never know. Also, keep in mind 99% of people don't know what UC is let alone surgeries that are undergone to get rid of it. Things are on a case by case basis depending on the recruiter.

A close buddy of mine just finished a tour of recruiting duty out of Tallahassee, Florida so I'll ask him and check back in for you. Either way talk to a recruiter over the phone. Good luck.

Post Edited (Rabbit81586) : 9/16/2013 12:49:35 AM (GMT-6)

"Unfortunately you still have to go to the bathroom several times per day (at least 6) with a pouch. I know how much you want to do this but you are going to have to live with the fact that the services are not for you. There are complications with the pouch from time to time so it is only a matter of time before they would find out the truth. You would be better off using your time to find something you can do instead of going down a path which will probably sooner rather than later, be a dead end. I really don't see how it could possibly work out being in the service and having to go 6-9 times per day. You wouldn't even be able to get through boot camp."

I just love it when some forum members feel it's their duty to state facts and absolutes that they have no experience with, especially when there are very few absolutes in this world -

idiot -

yeah... soystud I wouldn't use such strong words but I agree... My pouch is six weeks old and I only go 5-6 times per day. Some people only go 2-3 times. There are no guarantees that you'll end up with such a nicely behaving pouch but it's certainly possible. It seems to me that since there are women in the army then they have to be given bathroom breaks to actually use a toilet and that's all you would need.

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Liz, 26
itslikethisuc.blogspot.com

dx'ed UC pancolitis 5/12

past meds: asacol hd, VSL#3, apriso, rowasa, xifaxan, 6mp, cortifoam, pentasa, cimzia, canasa, butyrate, flagyl, cipro, prednisone, remicade, methotrexate, cholestyramine, cortenema

current meds: none!

step one: colectomy, end ileo 1/16/13
step two: j-pouch construction, loop ileo 5/1/13
step three: takedown 7/31/13

It's like this.

The Army wants a perfectly healthy specimen so that they can make you run over a mine so you lose a limb and have to take meds for the rest of your life.

If you're healthy, but have a pouch, well you're not qualified to run over the mine.


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In 1944 Stalingrad, you'd be on the front lines even if you were missing an eye or an arm.

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DX Ulcerative Colitis (pancolitis) - May 2011. (Humira 40mg/2 wks, SCD, vitam.)

Past treatments: Remicade, FT, 1 mth (Absorb Plus shakes), Asacol, Imuran, etc)

"Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you' gonna get. " by Forrest Gump