UOAA Discussion Board

Hi Everyone
I have had a colostomy for 6 yrs now due to colorectal cancer. The doctors are now suggesting for me to remove the whole colon. I keep having new polyps grow and have irregular cells present. I don't want an illieostomy and am looking into the Kock pouch or the BCIR. Which one is better? How good of a surgeon is Dr. Bauer? I live in NYC and don't want to travel to Cleveland if I don't have too. Everyone keeps talking about Dr. Fazio and how great he is. How is recovery from the surgery and how long does it take to only be able to empy 2 to 4 times a day? I very scared and would welcome some advice and answers.
I am sooo glad this message board and website is here!!!!
It is so helpful and comforting.
Karmen

Hi Karmen
I've recently had a kock pouch done (Jan '06).
Dr. Bauer is supposed to be very good. I've also heard that Jeffrey Milsom in NYC is very good so you may want to met with both og them. Milsom was at the Cleveland Clinic under Fazio for awhile. I had my Kock by Fazio, Living in Florida I had to travel somewhere for this surgery.
It took me awhile to feel like myself. Honestly speaking this surgery was the toughest to recover from for me but I am also getting older
It will take the pouch at least 6 months to mature to where you can empty 3-4 times a day. I empty 4-6and it depends on what I eat. A catheter is inserted for constant drainage out of surgery which will come out 3 weeks following (Fazio's schedule) and then you are on a schedule to empty at intervals that increase over a few weeks. This gradually stretches the pouch without putting the suture seams at risk.
It sounds time consuming and perhaps a pain in the a** but it is worth it in the long run if you do everything by the book.
keep asking questions..
www.jpouch.org is another good place to go. There is a section Kpouch Korner and you may get many answers from people who do not visit this site.

Thank you soo much for the info.
I looked Dr. Milson and I am going to see him.
I didn't think it was going to be easy but you are right it is worth keeping my freedom.
Thank you again
Karmen

Hi I I was wondering if you went to see Dr.Milson yet and do you like him?

Please let us know more about Dr. Milsen. Dr. Bauer is the only one I knew about in NYC.

Lynne

Hi Everyone
I went to see Doctor Milsom in NY and love him.
Great guy, very thorough, loved him. He has done about 40 surgeries the regular way and done about 5 laporscopic way. He said he has not had one problem with any of them. He worked at the Cleveland Clinic with Fazio for 9 yrs before coming to NY. He is know for laporscopic surgery and will be doing mine that way if I am a candidate for the surgery. I have to do a ct scan first to see if my small intestine is ok due to radiation from my first run with colon cancer.
I really like him but he does not take any insurance. Are all doctors that do this procedure not take insurance of any kind?????

I heard that about Dr. Bauer also. Cleveland Clinic accepts almost all insurances.

Wow, Dr. Fazio told me it isn't advisable to do a Kpouch surgery laproscopically b/c it's such an involved process.
Thats interesting

There is a clinic in Seattle that does j-pouches laparoscopically. It is the Institute for Laparoscopic Surgery. I met a Doctor David Lauter who is a certified colo-rectal surgeon there.
Go to www.laparoscopynw.com

Steve,

Do you have any idea how long he's been doing this and how many he has done ?

I met him at a CCFA function a year ago and was surprised these were done laproscopically. He has done quite a few, he said, and for maybe 10 years.
This is a well regarded clinic and he was very interesting to talk to.
They have three locations in the Greater Seattle area.