Debbie, I have had all the surgeries associated with the pouch and can say from experience it can be a "god send" compaired to other possibilities. I have had pouchitis ever since and have had some good days and not so good days. I look beyond the pouchitis and say, technology for the pouch is awesome. If you are one of the lucky ones, with no after affects or managable after affects it is the way. Remember, it is a complicated thing to undertaking, if you go with the pouch, give it time and there will not be much difference than with the whole bowel, other than storage space for stool. This in turn will require more frequent trips the to restroom, along with the more fluid state of the stool.
As for myself, if it weren't for the pouchitis I would be more than happy with the outcome.