I have seen a surgeon here in Melbourne who is willing to perform K Pouch surgery on me.

What I wanted to know is -

What sensation do you get to tell you when it is time to empty?

How difficult/painful is it to insert the tube?

How long does it take to empty?

What is the range in number of "pit stops" each day?

I have previously had a conventional ileostomy, so I know what that was like!!

I have had a Kock pouch since 1979. The sensation I have when I know I should empty it is that my abdomen simply feels full, with a sensation of some pressure, similar to how your stomach might feel when you eat a lot until it is very full. It is never an "emergency" to empty it; it always can wait another hour or longer if necessary (actually in that regard, there is more control over it than any "normal" person has), although the sensation of fullness and pressure will get stronger and more uncomfortable and waiting too long is not good for the valve. I need to empty it between 2 to 6 times per day (typically 3 or 4 times), depending on how much I eat and the type of food I have eaten on each day. It is very easy for me to insert the tube; it slides right in, it doesn't hurt and is not uncomfortable in any way (there's very little sensation when inserting it), and normally it takes me around 5 minutes to totally empty the pouch (but it can be faster if my output is very thin, and it can be much slower if my output is very thick or if the tube clogs with fibrous or unchewed food that causes me to have to keep taking the tube out to unclog it and then having to resume by re-inserting it over and over again). One thing I would advise is, if it is possible, try to have a surgeon who is available to you that has the most experience doing the Kock pouches and the best record of successful longterm outcomes with them; I believe that there are vast differences in the odds of a successful longterm outcome between surgeons who have done the most Kock pouches and surgeons who have done comparatively very few of them.

I will ditto the above!

Well I'm a new k-poucher, had it just less than 4 months, but already I only empty 4 times a day (sometimes more if I've eaten something weird or have gas) I do not have to get up at night. It does take me longer to empty my pouch though, I'm typically in the bathroom 10-15 minutes. Though it doesn't hurt to get the tube in sometimes it takes me a while and I think its a sensation that takes some getting used to Also, my output is pretty thick most of the time but thats my own fault because I don't like drinking grape juice. I always irrigate the pouch with water when I empty because I like to feel empty. There's certainly nothing to compare it to though and I'm very thankful to have this forum to come to and ask questions!

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katie

Hi
I am a new K poucher myself(2 1/2 months). I had a colostomy for 6 yrs(colon cancer) and by far this is much better. I am a little vain about the way my body looks so I refused to get an illeostomy because of new growths. I sometimes have trouble inserting the tube if my pouch is too full with gas or matter. I empty about every 4 or 5 hrs during the day but never at night depending on how much I eat. Sometimes I get cramping at the top of my stomach if I don't empy for a long while but other wise a very full feeling. The beauty of this is no skin irritation from the appliance adhesives, sweat during the summer and stool leaking. Research your doctor and make sure he is very experienced, very important. I am really happy to have this option!
Good Luck
Karmen