Alternative to a stoma

What is the medical term for a J pouch or internal pouch surgical operation?
Can a permanent colostomy be reversed to a J pouch?
Can anyone, with a colon cancer do a J pouch, instead of a stoma?
Should I have been asked which of the operation I wanted?

Comments

  • Buckwirth
    Buckwirth Member Posts: 1,258 Member
    Lots of questions
    What is the medical term for a J pouch or internal pouch surgical operation?

    I have only heard it referred to as J-Pouch.

    Can a permanent colostomy be reversed to a J pouch?

    Depends. How much Colon was removed? Did they preserve the sphincter? Your age and overall health?

    Can anyone, with a colon cancer do a J pouch, instead of a stoma?

    No. With a full APR and the removal of the sphincter the only option is a colostomy.

    Should I have been asked which of the operation I wanted?

    Not knowing your situation, I cannot answer this. I know that I had no other options so I was not offered a choice.

    You are in a good place for answers. Many of us have had either a permanent or a temporary ostomy, and there may be some here with the J-Pouch.


    Blake
  • John23
    John23 Member Posts: 2,122 Member
    ostomymalta -

    There are problems with J-pouches, and other types of interior
    holding systems that you might want to weigh, before making
    any rash decisions.

    The UOAA board is dedicated to all ostomy concerns, and
    can provide you with answers you can't find elsewhere. The
    board is similar to this one; comprised of folks like us that
    welcome anyone seeking help or wishing to provide help.
    Link: United Ostomy Association of America

    Standard procedure for a temporary ostomy, is a stoma and
    pouching system. The interior holding systems are complicated
    to design, and can produce problems to the patient. If the patient
    is being treated with chemotherapy or radiation, or trying to
    heal from intensive abdominal surgery, the added problems of
    an interior "holding tank" can complicate other problems that
    may arise.

    Having an ostomy is initially a shock, and can be dismaying.
    Eventually an ostomate overcomes the initial problems and
    adjusts to the "new me". It's really not as bad as you might
    think it is, and can actually be beneficial in many cases where
    the intestines have been resected with large sections removed.

    Prior to having a stoma placed, time should be taken well ahead
    of the operation, to insure the stoma is placed in the most perfect
    spot for -you-. Doing that will make your future life with a stoma
    much, much easier.

    If I had a choice between a J-Pouch or ostomy, I would go with
    the ostomy.

    Best wishes to you,

    John