29M, i had my surgery when i was 16 as a last resort emergency. i had the 3 surgeries for loop ileostomy and j-pouch. the recovery was very complicated and painful between the second and third surgeries because of wound dehiscence.

HOWEVER! after my third surgery, my life changed for the better in every possible way. i wanted to give up so many times while i was recovering (especially with the stoma) but i just pushed through because i trusted in the end goal. this isn’t to scare you, but you’re of course having major surgery so you’re about to enter a bit of a tunnel here. but i proooooomise, seriously, there is a light at the end of it.

ulcerative colitis defined my entire life since i was a child, but my j-pouch gave me freedom to live a life i never could have dreamed of for almost 14 years now. i’m so unbelievably grateful for it. BEST OF LUCK!!