Living with a J Pouch
What is a J pouch?
Put simply, a J pouch is a J shaped internal pouch made from the end of the small intestine. This acts as a kind of holding chamber for poo in the absence of the large intestine to do the job!
The medical name for it is an ileal pouch anal-anastomosis (IPAA).
When the colon (large intestine) has to be removed due to ulcerative colitis that does not respond to medication (or for other reasons) if the anus and rectum are still intact, there is often an option to have J pouch surgery to reconnect the intestines so the patient does not have to continue living with an ileostomy bag and can poo normally again!
What is it like living with a J pouch?
This is a question I am asked a lot. There are so many questions people have and seemingly very little information out there to help answer them so Sinead Mullen, fellow J-poucher, and I, decided to do an Instagram live to answer all your questions about living with a J-pouch.
We covered everything from our experiences, surgery prep, lots of poo chat and even burning bums!
You can watch the replay below!
I have written a free e-book to help you find a way forward for your everyday life with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Whether you are right at the beginning of your journey with IBD or have been living with your condition for years and feel like you have tried almost everything, there are things you can do everyday, beyond the medication you are taking, to help you take back control.
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We are all wonderfully unique and what works for one person may not work for another so please seek help and advice before changing your diet to work out the right way forward for you.