Indiana pouch servey?

[Carl W]

The diahrrea can be the result of the reduction in size of your colon, used to make the pouch. On the other hand, it can be the result of getting c-diff, which is the result of the massive amounts of antibiotics you were given during and after the surgery.

I'd ask your doctor to test for c-diff. It's extremely dangerous, and can lead to death (usually in the elderly) but it's particularly nasty to experience even if you're otherwise healthy. It's also easily cured. I've had it twice, once when my prostate was removed, and the second time when I got my IP. The second time was a much shorter duration (two-three days), since I knew what it was, and got the lab test before I left the hospital. The first time, it was a couple of weeks before it was caught. C-diff isn't something that comes to mind for the doctors. Once you've had it, it's easily identified by you, since the odor is extremely identifiable.

If it's not c-diff, I'm told the diahrrea will eventually go away, as your body gets tuned to the shorter colon.

Good luck!

Carl

[catriona]

This really all the people out there with Indiana Pouches? I don't believe it!

[Lynne]

catriona,

The number of folks participation on this discussion board is a VERY small sampling of how many ostomy and continent diversion folks are really out there !

[catriona]

I bet =)

I'm super excited to be here right now. Life is getting better with you guys.

[casinofun]

washington
had my in 3-06 recurring infections alot flushing daily using mucamist to thin mucus.

[rikki]

47 year old male in Louisiana and have had my pouch for seven years now. have a wonderful wife and life is pretty good.

[LGilpin]

I live in Woodbridge, Virginia. I have had my Indiana Pouch for 3 years...just realized that I just passed the anniversary date of it writing this post. I had the surgery on February 4, 2005 at Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii while my husband was stationed at Hickam Air Force Base.

I am very fortunate and have had very few problems, 2 to be exact. One was 8 months after the surgery. I was unable to get the cath into my stoma. I had to go to the ER and fortunately with a scope the urologist on call was able to get the cath in. I had to leave a Foley cath in for about a week. I haven't had any problems with that since.

The second problem was a kidney infection which was just this past October. My husband was away for training for a month for his deployment to Iraq and I developed a kidney infection and had to be hospitalized. I have 2 small boys (3 years and 4 years old) and fortunately our neighbors, who are also in the military, stepped in drove me to Bethesda Naval Hospital, an hour away, and took care of my kids while I was in the hospital.

My husband is deployed for 6 months to Iraq and I pray that I don't expereince any problems while he is gone.

At times I do experience leaking if I don't cath for more than 4 hours. I usually cath about every 3 hours. I used to irrigate but recently stopped. I still have a lot of mucus so I probably should irrigate. It's just a hassle to do it.

[casinofun]

i have an indiana pouch yakima washington. march 31 it will be two years old. having some trouble with infections. (really alot of trouble wih them) having alot of pain too. flushing three times daily.

[xcv461]

Took out for privacy OK,to easy to google.

[squid56]

I actually did the opposite. I went from an ileal conduit that I had for 6 years to the internal pouch, so yes they can switch you over. It may be that wearing an external will work out much better for you. I know for some people it does.

[Dave in IL]

I'm new to this board, and this is my first post. I have had my Indiana Pouch since Sept. '07. Everything has been going fine with this new "normal". Thanks be to God. Blessings to all.
Dave

[Ant]

I need help, I am trying for SS and i need to know all the problems and complications you have all had.

Thank you this will be very helpful.

[10french]

Hi all! I've had my Indiana Pouch since July 1994. Surgery was performed at Stanford. I live in Los Angeles now but born and lived most of my life in Santa Clara/San Jose, CA.

Barbara

[Lynda Kay]

HI Everyone! I'm new to the UOAA.org site. My name is Lynda and I live in Michigan. I've had my indiana pouch for almost 2 months and everything seems to be working well so far. Knock on wood...

BUT, I have some questions...

I'm hearing from a couple of sources (not here) that I should be doing exercises to help stretch my pouch and help it learn to hold more fluid btwn caths. (currently about every 2 hours). SO what exercises?

I'd like to get a medic alert tag, but wondering about verbage and there isn't much space on a charm.

I've been "lurking" and reading a variety of posts. I'm very happy and grateful to have fould this site. What a caring and supportive group.

Thanks in advance!

Lynda

[spunkylady]

I have had my Indiana pouch for 2 years at the end of September. I am really happy about it. I have had a couple of snags.
Currently I have stones in my pouch, which hopefully will be removed soon. My biggest hassle is that my surgeon is in Toronto and I am in Manitoba.
I have been having some difficulty getting after care at home as I do not think there are too many people with this type of diversion. so I have recently made a trip to him.

I found my pouch naturally increased its capacity over time. I try to stay at about every 4 hoursfor cathing. At night I can actually go about 5. Fortuantely I
have seldom had an infection. Prior to surgery I had one all the time.

I am a Fifty something lady, still working and enjoying my life with my hubby, 2 daughters and 3 randsons.

Here is my big question for you all out there. Why is this type of diversion not available to more people? If given the option do you not think more people would
prefer the internal pouch? Excuse me if I sound like a dummy, I am a little new to this, I do not know much about the reasons behind all this.