“I had a Brooke ileostomy when I was 28 years old. I learned about the BCIR when I was 36 and underwent surgery. The BCIR is a blessing! The Brooke appliance was inconvenient, messier than the BCIR and made me feel self-conscious. And the BCIR is cheaper to maintain than the Brooke. With the Brooke I had to replace the external appliance (pouch) regularly. With the BCIR, the catheters last many months and are inexpensive. I keep catheters at work, in the car and have several at home. I usually empty my BCIR first thing in the morning, twice at work and once or twice in the evening. Emptying is old hat and takes about five minutes. It is even possible to delay emptying until a convenient time.”
— Brenda A.
“I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis when I was 25 years old. I am a fireman and really could not see doing my job much longer because I was so sick. After two years of being very sick and trying the most potent drugs available I started investigating surgical options. I went to a seminar on BCIR in San Diego. After talking with Dr. Schiller the Program Director and surgeon, I underwent a total proctocolectomy and BCIR surgery all at once. Thirteen years later, I am still a fireman and the surgery has allowed me to do my job and to be promoted. I surf, ski, lift weights – do just about anything I want. The BCIR has made an incredible difference in my life.”
—Tim S.
“After being diagnosed with Familial Polyposis, I had surgery and the Brooke ileostomy was put in. It required a great deal of planning and I never knew when a problem, like leakage or torn bag, would arise. It was difficult to exercise. It was difficult to ride on an airplane ( I am a pilot) because I had no control over when the pouch needed emptying. I had the Brooke for 28 years before converting to the BCIR in 1992. The BCIR is like being born again. It is much easier to empty and feels like part of my own body. I can skate, ride bikes, play golf, swim and shower with my wife. I feel healthier and can really enjoy life.”
—Charles N.
“I had an ileoanal anastomosis (J Pouch) that failed. The pull through was a mistake I lived with for six years because I refused to have an external ileostomy bag. I was miserable beyond imagination. My life was limited to getting through it with as little pain as possible. Since the BCIR, my life has been remarkable. I can eat anything I want. I can exercise, travel, ride in a car or airplane, all with no pain and no concern about making it to a restroom. Having the BCIR has given me back my life and made it worth living again.”
—Sue Q.
“I LOVE Dr. Schiller. He did not do my KP (obviously as it’s a KP not a BCIR) but he was there for me when I needed an expert a few years back. He went above and beyond to help me and I will forever be grateful to him. He did scrub in to protect and preserved my KP during an oopherectomy and tumor excision. Plus he helped me appeal my insurance company by writing a letter … to get to go out of network. When the docs in my area wanted to remove the pouch, he was contacted and immediately went to bat for me to help save it. He came and saw me daily post op when I rarely saw the gyn oncology surgeon. He was/is a Godsend! Please give him my best at the upcoming conference. I would love to see him, but doubt I will be there. Tilly, his assistant, is a sweetheart, too!”
—J.D.
“Dr. Schiller is absolutely… I can’t say enough good things. He’s above and beyond, absolutely what a doctor should aspire to be. Everything was wonderful. The nursing staff at Olympia was incredible. I trusted them. They all worked as a team; everybody was attentive and compassionate. I found the BCIR by looking on the internet and reading. I had an ileostomy for 18 years. My health was fine, but the quality of life was poor. I had to wear a bag that would come loose. I was blessed to have come out (to LA). Dr. Schiller has been doing it (BCIR) for so long and he is so meticulous.”
—Nona K., North Dakota
“I’ve known about the BCIR for many years, about 20 years, but didn’t have it done until 2013. I had the conventional ileostomy for 40 years; it was starting to cause skin irritations and there were other problems with it. The main thing is I don’t have an external bag or the skin irritations. I was very active with the bag, but things are easier now, (The BCIR is) more convenient to be able to do things and be active. We were online, doing some online searches and found Dr. Schiller. Our first conversation was good. I would say we had nothing but good experiences. The hospital was nice. The nurses and staff were all very good, and best of all I liked Dr. Schiller. Dr. Schiller provides personal and patient care. He’s very hands-on and very good with the patients. He does everything personally. He doesn’t have a physician’s assistant. He comes by and takes care of everything. His follow up on the phone was excellent where he sets up regular phone calls (after surgery). It was all very helpful. I love Dr. Schiller; I’m very happy with him.”
—Terry M., Texas
“I found out about the BCIR on the internet, had the same procedure done in Florida twice, and it didn’t work, and I needed something else. I went to Florida two times and had bad experiences. My first experience with Dr. Schiller was great; he was hands on. Compared to the ileostomy, the BCIR was a whole better thing. I had the ileostomy for 25 years; my skin was starting to deteriorate among other things. With the BCIR I don’t have to go to the bathroom as much. It’s an emotional thing too. I don’t look down and see anything. Whenever the bag was halfway full, I would have to empty it. I had the bag for 25 years; I had to do what I had to do. All three of my visits have been good with Dr. Schiller. When I came to Dr. Schiller the first time, the doctor in Florida said I couldn’t do the surgery. I had a fistula. I got on a plane (to LA) with that and a tube in my side. The 2nd and 3rd times I had a hernia. Dr. Schiller is a hands-on Doctor. He does everything himself. With the other doctor, it was 3-4 hours before he’d come to see you. Dr. Schiller doesn’t wait for a nurse. He takes the time, that’s important to me.”
—Gary S., Mississippi