BCIRostomy.com - Testimonials (main)

We are always happy to share stories from our patients. Hopefully, they will help you gain more insight regarding how life might be with a Barnett Continent Intestinal Reservoir.

The stories and photos below are from actual patients. However, since we cannot assure you that your outcome will match the portrayals of these patients - we suggest you visit the Clinical Studies page where you will see data that reflects our outcomes that have been published in medical journals.

If you'd like to receive more information or a list of past patients with a BCIR, please e-mail Susan Kay or call her at 1-866-438-7330. Don't forget to ask her to send you a free video or CD about the BCIR procedure.

“It was not until 1992 that I could really say that I was living again. That was the year that I flew down to St. Petersburg, Florida and converted from the J-Pouch to the BCIR. Until then I was careful not to venture too far from the comforts of home. I never knew when I would need a bathroom. This was unfortunate because one of my favorite activities is traveling and I had already been teased by earlier trips around the country and to Mexico.

In 1992 the BCIR gave me back the quality of life that I knew before my colitis. I began traveling again to remote places where I could fish, snorkel and explore. I've had the time of my life but only because I was comfortable. I would never have considered doing this prior to the BCIR! Now the sky's the limit and I am back to traveling to remote regions both in my area and around the world. Doing it comfortably, happily. I am very, very thankful for the quality of life the BCIR has returned to me!”

Debbie C. - Gloversville, New York. Surgery - May, 1992

“At the age of 30 I had a conventional ileostomy performed. I was happy that I was no longer sick, but I just didn't feel like I had much of a life. My main problem was I could not get the appliances to stick. I tried all the different appliances available, worked with ET nurses and even resorted to cosmetic surgery to reduce some of my scars - hoping this would aid the situation.

During this process, someone mentioned the BCIR as a possible alternative. I responded that there weren't any options since I had already had my colon and rectum removed. To my surprise, was I ever so wrong!

After some research, I decided to have the BCIR procedure. For me, this has been the best decision I have ever made. I live in Colorado and I now enjoy hiking, biking and just playing with my son. Hiking and biking are things I would not have attempted before the BCIR due to my appliance vulnerabilities. I know that there are a lot of people that have had the ileostomy and do fine with activities and do not experience the problems I had. I'm very glad for those individuals, truly I am. For me I'm just glad there was an alternative in the BCIR. My quality of life had changed 10 fold, I enjoy being me and I count each day as a blessing.”

Mike O. - Lakewood, Colorado. Surgery - March, 2001

“I was first diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 1982, I was 11 years old, and I was put on all kinds of drugs to see if they would help. I ended up on high doses of Prednisone for a long time. When I was 27, I decided that 16 years was enough and looked into surgery. I found the BCIR and wouldn't settle for less. From the first person that I talked to on the phone, to the nurse that walked me out the door leaving the hospital, they were all very personable and professional. I never met a more wonderful bunch of people in my whole life.

The BCIR has given me more freedom than I have ever known. I was always sick! My four year old was so used to mommy being sick on the couch or in the bathroom all the time. She hardly ever had her mom to play with. Since my BCIR surgery I have done so much with her. We have enjoyed a wonderful spring of planting and playing on the swings, a summer of swimming in the pool, basketball with dad in the driveway, biking, roller-skating and walking the dog all around the neighborhood! We had a wonderful fall and holiday season. All without worry of where the nearest bathroom was!! We all are looking forward to playing in the snow and building snowmen and making snow angels this winter! All because of the BCIR! I have no restrictions and have just started working out with the Tae Bo tapes!! What a workout! I would do this again in a minute!”

Dawn K. - Fremont, New Hampshire. Surgery - February, 1999.

“My husband John started out with what we thought was Irritable Bowel Syndrome but we soon found out that we were wrong. His symptoms quickly progressed and local doctors told us he had Ulcerative Colitis. He was started on numerous medications that finally led to massive dosages of steroids. Things escalated out of control to the point were we sought additional medical advice and it was determined that his colon was beyond saving. We were told that the j-pouch surgery was our answer.

After the j-pouch surgery, John endured a long string of surgeries and hospital stays that just never seemed to stop. He suffered with incontinence and a continued burning sensation in his rectal area. He tried local remedies but they only afforded him a temporary reprieve. John never found peace with the j-pouch. After several trips back to the operating room for blockages and dilation of his sphincter muscle, he still had not made significant progress. John went from a 185 pound robust male to 135 pound skeleton and felt that life just wasn't worth living to the point were my family and I started a suicide watch and would never leave him alone.

The doctors all agreed that John was anemic, mal-nourished and just plain miserable. They offered us the option of removing his j-pouch and going to an ileostomy with an external appliance. Although this probably would have given John back his physical health it was felt not to be the answer for his mental health. John refused to consider this as an alternative and we soon learned about the BCIR. Our local doctors were unhappy that we checked into this and initially would not support us with this endeavor.

After three years from being diagnosed with UC we were hopeful once again. John's 9 hour surgery was on Monday, July 28 1997 and his j-pouch was described to us as resembling 'raw hamburger meat'.

John's recuperation was amazing. I was able to sleep in the hospital room with him and watch him experience a gift of a new life.”

John C. - Melrose Park, Illinois. Surgery - July, 1997.

“Thanks to the BCIR procedure, my life style has greatly improved. Prior to this procedure, I had a Kock pouch. I was very limited in what I could do. My Kock pouch was unreliable and I would experience incontinence.

The surgeons in St. Petersburg, converted my internal pouch to a BCIR by adding a new valve and collar. This proved to be very successful and has given me back control of my life again. I do what I want to do, when I want to do it, without thinking about my reservoir. I definitely give the BCIR two thumbs up!”

Vinnie M. - Tewksbury, Massachusetts. Surgery - March, 1996.

“My story really begins in my twenties when I was out on my own and enjoying all of the comforts of life. Slowly I began to notice a problem with diarrhea, a problem that wasn't constant but frequent. However in time, my problem worsened and the diarrhea was a constant. I began to handle the situation by dropping out of all of the events that surrounded my life; no more skiing as it was too difficult to get to a restroom and get out of my ski clothing in time, and no more softball as I may have an accident in the middle of the winning play at short stop. My life, my game had changed. Physically, I was exhausted; emotionally, the drugs were winning.

I traveled to Florida in search of relief. My BCIR surgery occurred on June 12, 1997 and my life was forever changed. I am so involved again! Rather than watching ball games from the Port-A-John, a year after surgery, I coached my son's little league team. And, the second year, we won the league championship! I also play softball and endure tournaments in which my team may play three to four games in one day. I enter every game with such a thankful heart. I never enter the field without first thinking of Susan Kay, Dr. Pollack, and all of the nurses and staff who encouraged me. These are the true heroes in this story. These are the ones who put me back in the game.”

Renay J. - Scott Depot, West Virginia. Surgery - June, 1997.

“After twenty years of cycles of remission and severe distress, a routine colonoscopy revealed signs of a precancerous condition. At that time, I underwent a traditional ileostomy. This surgery gave me back control of my life. I was no longer a prisoner of the disease. I could come and go at will and did not have to extensively plan my itineraries around the bathroom. What a relief!

Alas, nothing is perfect. Moving wrong while sleeping tended to result in an uncomfortable warm feeling spreading across my abdomen. Putting on a seat belt often was accompanied with the snap of the appliance coming unhooked. Skin irritation was a constant concern.

Then I heard about the BCIR. Not only was I interested, I decided that I was ready to try this as soon as possible. So, in June of 1992 I went to St. Petersburg for my surgery.

Since my recovery, I am a new person with a new life. I still eat everything I want, come and go when I please, never worry about accidents or the need to rush to a bathroom. I empty my BCIR pouch when I feel it is full with no urgency involved. I can shower in a men's locker room without feeling self-conscious. I travel all over the country, commit to a demanding schedule and never give a thought to physical needs. I've never experienced a leak or had an embarrassing situation.

The BCIR has all the benefits of the ileostomy without most of the restrictions!”

Bill M. - Staten Island, New York. Surgery - June, 1992.

“I am a mother of twins and I want everyone to know that having a baby with a BCIR can be a wonderful experience. My quality of my life improved greatly after having BCIR surgery, but now that I've created, carried and cared for two babies, my quality of life has reached a new high I never imagined possible.

At the age of 21, I finally understood the reason for my constant stomach aches that had always plagued me. After seven years of bleeding, discomfort, living in the bathroom, steroids and other powerful drugs, and endless colonoscopy procedures, I decided to have a Barnett Continent Intestinal Reservoir (BCIR). This was an option that would cure my disease and leave me with no future risks for cancer. The surgery was a success! No more doctors visits, no more cancer concerns and best of all - no more pain!

Doctors assured me when I had my BCIR surgery, that I would be able to have a normal pregnancy and delivery. I'll never forget when we turned our test stick purple. My first words were, “I can't believe there is a baby inside me!” “Or babies!” said my husband, who is a twin. How he knew at that moment that we were carrying twins is beyond me. It must be a twin thing. I laughed and said, “There's only room for one baby in there.” ( I was wrong! )

In February of 2000, I was blessed once again. I had two beautiful babies and a perfectly functioning BCIR.”

Jennifer M. - Bradenton, Florida.