Stoma and pregnant

Hiya - what you are doing is wonderful, remarkable and you have my complete admiration. Sorry you're struggling at the moment. Be strong.

Hi Rachelle, firstly congratulations - wow what amazing news!

Sorry you've been through a tough time and sorry I can't offer you any advice but stay strong.

You are not alone! We are always here to talk too.

X

Hi Rachelle, Have I mentioned the Crohn's and colitis charity Facebook page, there are lots of contributors? Hopefully some of them are pregnant! Good luck.

Hi everyone 

Just wanted to share my happy news with you I had a healthy baby girl Elbe Rose Hamblen born on the 17th August 09.26 weighing 6lbs x 

She has completed our family and we are so in love with her. 

Also wanted to say a big thank you to you all for your lovely support over the past few years it's sure been a rollercoaster and still not off it as of yet.. looking to have the j pouch down in the next 6 months then reversal after x 

How is everyone doing ? 

Take care Rachelle x 

My son had his reversal in  Feb and July 2015 and has never looked back. He has a few scars that he is confident to display but has continued to be sporty and fit and strong. We are so grateful that he was lucky enough to be treated by such excellent surgeons and specialists at John Radcliffe, Oxford. Good luck to you and your new family. Sheila.

Thanks for the kind words. This disease is so horrible and affects even the fittest.

He had the ileostomy as an emergency as was so ill that they advised a year of healing and weight gain etc before any further ops. He had the first j pouch op through the abdominal scar and then 4 months later the pouch was joined up by keyhole surgery through the stoma. They removed the fistula and sewed up the stoma hole and tidied up the original scar in the second op. His operations were quite short and recovery was quite easy and quite painless.  He had his rectal muscles left over when the colon was removed and he was given exercises to do so they could be used to control output. He has said he has no leaks or accidents and can delay going to the loo if necessary. After the final op he was going to the loo 6 times a day, none at night and was advised to delay as much as possible as holding back encourages the pouch to expand and hold more. Now he goes 3 times a day on average and not at night. He has been told his results are above average. He was checked  a few times soon after ops and then every 6 months and now annually by phone. There are several forms of pouch depending on the disease and the individual circumstances.

He loves sitting down to go to the loo, the lack of meds and side-effects, eating anything he wants, wearing jeans and have no odours to worry about. He says having a stoma saved his life but having a pouch is better. He was told that if the pouch didn't work for him that going back to a stoma was staightforward so it was an easy decision to go forward to reversal. 

As I may have said before, I certainly have to others, John Radcliffe Hosp Oxford was exceptional, the advice and treatment were excellent. They perform this surgery very often and people travel there from all over the world as their GI dept is first class. St Mark's London is meant to be just as good. 

I certainly hope your added complication in your small bowel doesn't cause difficulties. Luckily the small bowel is pretty long so fingers crossed for you.

Ask any further questions you like and I will try and help if I can. 

I originally came on here as I was keen to find info before making the decision about J pouch and to research results but found very little. There is some negative feedback around but mostly historic so we were keen to put our faith in current procedures and the best possible surgeons. So far so good. We are both very grateful. Long may it last. 

Good luck with your decisions and cherish your time with the baby. 

Regards sheila.

Hi

I was just wondering how you got on? Can I ask how is your pregnancy whith the stoma plz 😋😊 thank youxxx