but also...i am under the understanding that you're never really "empty"?

maybe emptier than you were prior to the cath going in, but a clean empty pouch?

I think the term you folks are searching for is fecal retention. This would be similar to urinary retention, which is when there is significant retained urine after voiding.

With fecal retention, there would be significant retained stool in the pouch after draining/irrigation. This can lead to inflammation, infection, and bezoar formation (clumps of fibrous material or concretions of pills).

Does that help?

Jan

Thanks as always Jan. Now that we understand what can be done to prevent this?

You guys know better than me. Other than doing what you can to prevent a clogged catheter, not much. I guess if you know the lay of your pouch, you might be better equipped as to which direction to put your catheter, so that it drains the dependent portion of the pouch, instead of just "skimming off the top" so to speak, when draining.

Obviously, if you irrigate and the irrigant does not return in a like quanity, your catheter is not sitting in the dependent portion of the pouch. Maybe changing positions while draining would help. This is sort of out of my league and I can only visualize it, not speak from experience.

Jan

sometimes i stand over the toilet pointing the cath into the toilet and bend over, or forward. hoping stuff will move around and all come out.

I sit on the toilet when I drain the pouch.

But, I will stand and then sit, or bend over slightly just to move things around.

Sometimes it turns out to be a good workout for my quads

as far as totally emptying...when I did the bowel prep for surgery from end ileo to Kock ,I thought my insides were as empty as could be..the bag wasn't filling at all by the time I left for the hospital. But when I arrived at pre-op the bag had stool in it. I didn't understand how that could be. The nurse said "there will always be stool"

I do what you do too Becca often at work, sometimes I find if I press on my belly below my stoma that can get some moving out. I irrigate REALLY well in the morning and at night pretty much until my return is fairly clear then I know I've got just about everything out I can. I just like the feeling!

Chris is getting a clear return once the tube is in. The other night stuff was coming out around the tube.
He usually kneels. I don't think it's the same for men to sit on the toilet. He was never able to do that when he has an ostomy bag to unravel and roll up.
too much in the way.
anyway, he's been sleeping with a tube in. he seems to be fine all day and at night has problems.

seems that chris has pouchitis. the nurse at the hospital looked at the stoma and said it is inflamed. he will start azulfadine or cipro tomorrow for 2 weeks befor a scope is scheduled.
he thinks it's clearing up on it's own
is that possible?

I am not sure that an inflamed stoma is the same thing as pouchitis, particularly if he has been leaving the tube in for prolonged periods. Could just be a traumatized stoma from difficult intubations.

If it was pouchitis, I don't think it would resolve on its own unless it was due to irritation from fecal retention or dietary indiscretions. The pouchitis I am thinking of that would respond to Cipro would not resolve on its own.

Jan

I need to mention a virus can also inflame your pouch. Becca there is one in my area with headaches along with intestinal upset. Pouchers will notice inflamed pouches with virus's, as a colon intact person wouldn't. It can make it so the catheter hits the side of the pouch; I know that I have virus's longer than a person with a colon too. This is getting the time for virus's to start up in the midwest with our weather. Also, when my pouch is inflamed or I have a virus my back hurts too, just below the waist. Becca you could have a virus, I don't live all that far from the Illinois border. Just want to ease your mind.

Good point Jasmine- the noroviruses can be pretty debilitating. They run their course in 2-3 days in "normal" people, but in folks like us, it can linger longer.

Jan

hm. Well, I suppose that could be.
a couple weeks ago (I think it was in august sometime) i experienced where i was nauseas and had a horrible horrible headache. the horrible headache lasted for days. i though it was a bad sinus headache. finally went away.
thing is, there isn't really anything too outstanding going on right now. i mean, i've been fine lately.

well, tomorrow i have to go in and have an upper endoscopy done. it's too bad i can't just ask em to scope the pouch too.