Long time Crohnny! I was diagnosed in 1976 with ulcerative colitis and received my ileostomy in 1981. In 1989 I had an internal BCIR pouch created and moved on thru life, pausing along the way for multiple bouts with pouchitis. I had a fistula repair and 2 valve repairs done & after 20 years with my BCIR I finally let it go and went back to my Brook 'outie'. That was 2010 and my Crohn's disease was confirmed-I had it along and it was never diagnosed properly. Now I have short bowel and am very prone to dehydration anytime that I have a flare or get a 'bug'. Of course, I've been through every drug therapy out there for symptoms over these last almost 40 yrs. I'm an avid practitioner of yoga and Tai Chi and a financial analyst for Energizer Holdings, so my days are very busy! I don't have the time or the patience to be sick so when I do I get pretty 'pissy'! :devil: I'm always interested in the latest Crohn's related research and being involved and helping anyone New to the 'family' of crohnnies. I've been very involved in bringing IBD, Crohn's & Colitis and related surgeries/people out of the closet-we need to be heard.