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total colectomy.. whats next

Thu, June 04, 2009 8:50 PM

hello i am a new poster.. I was told that i had crohns in aug 08, i had my entire colon removed but rectum was spared.. the hope is or was is that i could be hooked back up.. since then i been to the gi doc alot but being re connected is never the topic.. I dont want to kid myself and think that i can reverse everything, however i was told that being re hooked was a good possibility.. i dont know where to go from here.. most of the info that i read talks about living with ibd or crohns etc.. i almost never hear or read about the next step.. i am a 45 yr old male and have always enjoyed good health until this.. im very self consicous about my pouch and i feel like the doctor told me about being re connected was a line.. please someone give me your thoughts...

ranger22
Joined May 31, 2009

Tue, June 16, 2009 12:00 AM

Reply posted for RANGER22.

I am a 44 year old woman waiting on the reconnect. I goofed. I let my surgeon (and it is my surgeon's decision) out of the door on the last appointment without asking. My next appt. is at the end of July. My Crohn's markers look good. I am tempted to be the impatient person that I am and call him! The bag is bothersome. I am adjusting, I am, I am, I am. Talk with your GI and your surgeon. ASK questions. I, too, think they wait for us to bring up the reconnect. Have faith and be happy.

Wendy

breezy
Joined Jan 5, 2009

Wed, June 10, 2009 12:00 AM

Reply posted for RANGER22.

The frustrating thing about doctors is that they each have there specialty. Your GI doctor is good at prescribing medication, not surgery. You probably need to talk to the surgeon. I am in the same boat, I had my ileostomy done in May with the possiblity of reconecting. I am 45 too, but I have had Crohn's for twenty-five years. I think doctors leave this decision up to you. From what I have read at first you will have many bowel movements, 15 a day , then gradually reduce to 6-8 a day. I have been getting along fine with the bag so far and my wife does not want me to get the second surgery.

ronkrson
Joined Aug 4, 2008

Sun, June 07, 2009 4:45 PM

Reply posted for JE.

Well Said JE. I would have to agree. I am currently between my two surgeries waiting to be reconnected. It has been a struggle , but I am finally starting to see progress. The bag is very hard to deal with and I can't wait for the reconnect. You need to tell your GI Doc that you want these questions answered and that is why you are paying him. Good Luck, I really know how you feel . Hang on there!

rifles96
Joined May 7, 2009

Sat, June 06, 2009 12:00 AM

Reply posted for RANGER22.

If "being reconnected is never the topic" maybe YOU need to bring it up! You should never leave your physician's office without having all your questions addressed. Be aggressive and pro-active--it's your health, your bowel, and your potential J-pouch. Tell him/her you want all the facts and all the pros and cons--be extremely plain and direct. Take a note pad and write stuff down--this will show your physician that you're serious about getting this information. It will help to have your specific questions written down before your appointment.

je
Joined Dec 3, 2008

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