J-Pouch Success – Shawn’s Story

J-POUCH TAKEDOWN ANNIVERSARY

Next month is my 5 year takedown anniversary for my j-pouch. I have stated many times that the j-pouch has a 94-96% success rate. But you don’t hear many success stories on the internet because most of them are out there living their lives and not boasting about it on the internet. Because you don’t hear a majority of the success stories out there, I feel compelled to keep sharing my own story of life with a j-pouch. 

SUCCESS & FAILURE STORIES

I have given a lot of thought to how I would address this year’s takedown anniversary. I thought it might be helpful for you to hear stories of other successful j-pouchers that you might be encouraged should you ever find yourself facing the prospect of surgery. Then I thought I’d be doing you a disservice if I only mentioned the successful stories. That’s when I thought it might be good to shed light on not only the good stories, but the not-so-good stories. You also need to hear about the j-pouch failure stories.

INTRODUCING SHAWN

Over the next few weeks I’ll be sharing several stories of those who have a successful j-pouch as well as stories of those who have lived with j-pouch failure. Please meet my beautiful friend, Shawn. Shawn Bethea was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2009 and is a blogger and health advocat. Shawn enjoys writing, eating and traveling the world.

Q&A WITH SHAWN

Q: When were you Diagnosed with IBD?
A: Although I’d been experiencing symptoms for many years prior, I was officially diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis around 17 years old.

Q: What medications did you try?
A: It’s hard to remember them all but Prednisone, Apriso, Lialda, Humira, Entyvio (to name a few).

Q: How did you get to the point of surgery?
A: I was really sick when I started noticing some negative reactions to Entyvio. My doctor and I decided to discontinue treatment and he highly suggested surgery as the next step. He referred me to a surgeon, but I didn’t feel quite ready. I continued to postpone my surgery consultation because I wanted to be well informed when I walked in. I wanted to know what questions to ask. I came in months after my originally scheduled appointment. I sat down with my surgeon with a pen and a notebook filled with 50 – 60 questions. We went through each one. By the end of that appointment I was confident in my surgeon’s abilities and this new chance at life.

Q: How many surgeries did you have?
A: I had my surgeries in 3 steps. First my colon was removed. (Dec 2014) This was when I lived with an Ostomy. Next my Jpouch was created. (April 2015) I still had an Ostomy, just using a different portion of my small intestine. Last I had my Ostomy reversed. (July 2015)

Q: When did you start feeling like you had your life back?
A: I’d say I felt like I had my life back after my very first surgery. Living with an Ostomy was different. It was a complete change from the life I once knew, but it was so worth it. I could do things I’d never done before. I wasn’t living in pain. I had freedom. For the first time in years I felt like I could live.

Q: Are you happy with your J-Pouch?
A: I’m so happy with my J-pouch. It’s give me a greater appreciation of life. If I hadn’t had surgery I’m not sure where I’d be right now. My  j-pouch saved my life! I’m forever grateful.

Q: If you had to do it all over again, would you?
A: Knowing what I know now and everything I went through, I wouldn’t be ecstatic to do it over again. Surgery is not easy. It takes a lot out of you and it does come with risks. However, I’d 100% do it over again. No questions asked.

Q: Were you told that surgery would “cure” you?
A: I was. I was told surgery was a cure and it did give me false expectations. Surgery isn’t a “cure.” I am still auto immune and I still have issues. I am still on medications and I still have things to worry about. Surgery shouldn’t be presented to patients as a cure; it’s simply a treatment option.

Q: Do you feel like you have a better quality of life living without your sick colon?
A: Yes! Before my surgeries I didn’t have a life. I was always worried about the next flare. I missed worked a lot because I was always sick. I isolated myself because I feared judgement from others. My Jpouch has given me life. It’s given me opportunities I would have never imagined otherwise.

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Thank you so much Shawn! Be sure to find her on social media! 

Check out the j-pouch stories below by clicking on the names and faces!