Hi everyone. This site has been so helpful to me for the last few months....so much good info...i haven't posted before, but now i have a question that i'm hoping i can get some help with. My significant other, Christopher, has been on a wild ride for the last 4 months. He is 55 and has never had any symptoms of uc, but in november last year he ended up in the er, and after a week in the hospital on steroids, was told he had uc and the steroids weren't helping. So they took out his colon and gave him a temporary ileostomy on december 6. Then on march 3, his surgeon gave him a j-pouch and removed the ileostomy (yes, all in one surgery). I've read much on this site about number of bowel movements and continence, and i understand what the norm is....but how about pain? His takedown was 5 weeks ago, and he has constant pain which he calls sphincter pain. He says it's just comstant pressure, but what i'm concerned with is that he's taking 2 darvocet every 4 hours to help with the pain. Is this normal? I'm afraid he's going to become addicted.

If his doctor knows about how much he us using, he isn't increasing his dose of narcotics, and he is truly taking it for pain management then I don't think he will have a problem.

If he's still having THAT much pain after this long, he should really contact his doctor. My butt hurt a lot after my surgery and I brought a pillow with me everywhere. I recovered much faster from takedown than the first surgery but everyone is different.. Still, needing the pain meds every 4 hours makes me think something is wrong and it couldn't hurt to just ask the doctor.

If he's just taking it to control bowel movements or get rid of the feeling of pressure, there are other medications to try, like lomotil and imodium.

I understand what he means by the 'pressure'. When I haven't had enough fiber, it feels like I have to go all the time, like the poop is just sitting there and it keeps coming no matter how often I go. Is he taking some sort of fiber supplement to help regulate his bowel movements?

Best of luck to both of you!!!

- Sarah

I was on doctor prescribed long-release MORPHINE sulphate tablet for six months after my two-in-one surgery (same as your partner). I had a great deal of pain even though there was no pouchitis or cuffitis at the time. I tend to be a very slow healer.

One day I woke up, felt better and quit taking the pills. For me, no issues whatsoever. I was thrilled not to be on the pills anymore. That being said, it took about a month or two before my body returned to normal. I felt tingly and uncomfortable in what I now take was withdrawl symptoms. But NOTHING like the tv shows - a walk in the park after j-pouch surgeries.

alana