So I'm a year post op and I still go to the bathroom constantly. I would safely say I go at least 10 times a day including waking up a couple of times during the night. The thing I hate the most and I'm wondering if anyone has experienced this in the past and has been successful in remedying this particular situation.... When I go to the bathroom, I'm never completely finished going. I can usually count on going back to the toilet around 10 minutes later to finish what I didn't complete the last trip. I go to the bathroom every hour to two hours. I've used all of the anti-diarrheal meds, vsl#3,tylenol/codeine at night. I experiment with different diets, etc. None if these things have helped dramatically. Anyone have good solid advice? I wish I could figure out how to go 6 times a day.

Eric,

The only other thing I can think of is adding fiber consistently with your meals, and talking to your do about taking antibiotics after checking for pouchitis. There was another thread discussing the inability to pass gas and there are a lot of complaints about not emptying completely. My experience with both of these has been:

1. Fiber makes a difference. It seems to make things firmer, and I get more out at a time since it all forms together instead of runnning out in little bits (gross, I know)

2. There are times when it doesn't make any difference what I try - I have issues with emptying and going more often. I am convinced this is due to some bacterial imbalance / problem my system is fighting

I have finally balanced things pretty well with VSL#3 DS 2x / day, 1/2 immodium 2x / day, and 1 metamucil wafer with each meal. Makes things tolerable the majority of the time.

Eric,
It took me well over a year to get my visits to the bathroom down. The only way I was successful was taking lomotil 4 times a day (16 total)...breakfast, lunch, dinner and before bed. Then around 1 1/2 years post op, my visits started to dwindle down and I started taking less and less. Now I'm down to 4 lomotil and on average go about 4 times a day and maybe once at night.
Sometimes you just need to take more time when using the bathroom. I too feel like I could go right back in (and do!). But, if I sit long enough, maybe stand up like I am done, then sit back down, I can finish.
Good luck - sometimes it just takes some of us a little longer.
DeAnna

Ten times per day may be the best you'll get. But things do change for years. I've had my j-pouch for 18 years and things are still adjusting. That would probably happen whether you have a j-pouch or not - age just changes things.

I agree about trying fiber. I found that Metamucil wafers really, REALLY made/make a difference. Have you tried them yet? If you have, have you tried them in the evening before you go to bed?

kathy

While it probably is more diet related have you had a scope recently? Maybe you have some narrowing going on? You could also try a bile binder like Welchol. Talk to your GI guy..
I also go about 10 times a day, sometimes more, but I don't have a problem at night(for the most part). I am 6 yrs post op and still have changes going on. I still have bad days but not near as many as back in the "old days". I also seem to have a pattern where I get mildly obstructed about every 2 weeks or less due to adhesions and what not..
just some thoughts...
Julie

after much experimenting my recipe is:

powdered metamucil in am, one in p.m before bed
1 lomitil in a.m, one in pm
2 vsl pills in a.m, 2 in pm

the combo works well for me for complete emptying and keeping gas at minimum. Also, I recommend trying to stay on the toilet longer. I bring in books, laptop, blackberry, whatever and get stuff done while waiting for it to move down and empty. Getting fully empty really does make a huge difference.

Have you been checked for stricture/narrowing? I had dilation done, it didn't help much but sometimes i feel i have the same issue, not all of the time, but many times, i feel the pressure and sometimes pain nearly minutes after using the bathroom. Occasionally i am treated for what i think is pouchitis. Seems to help but only for a couple of days while on Cipro for a week, not a long term thing.

I agree with Ian - get yourself checked out for a stricture. It sounds like your issues may be more related to inability to fully empty your pouch rather than frequency per se. As Ian indicates, a stricture is a common cause of this. Also, if you do have problems emptying the pouch then you may find anti-diahorreal drugs like loperamide and lomotil make it worse.

I have the same problem and I find fibre tends to exacerbate the problem rather than help but by all means you should give it a try anyway.

Everyone, thanks so much for all of your advice. I tried the metamucil wafer with every meal... So far it's already working like a charm. I can't believe I never thought to try it. I even went out last night with friends and everyone noticed how I wasn't running to the bathroom every two seconds. Pretty amazing stuff.

Isn't it? Who'd have thought that a "laxative" could work so well for us.

kathy

Eric, It amazes me that Dr's or nutritionists don't tell pouchers about metamucil in the beginning. I think that with the prescription for immodium we should all get a bottle of matamucil fiber pills with it. When I first joined here metamucil was a newer subject matter and over the years it has shown to be a lifeaver for a lot of people, myself included. My advice is don't overdue it, I find more than 10 pills or 3 packs of wafers makes me go too much, though it's always solid at least. Good Luck, Scott Mc

Eric,

My daughter had her operations 4 years ago and she is only now beginning to have nighttime continence. Sometimes things take a few years to change. The probiotic Culturelle seems to help if she takes it regularly. If she is really motivated to cut down on the number of bathroom visits (and hers are only 4-5 times a day now) she makes herself a s'more (chocolate and marshmallow sandwiched between two graham crackers.)

Nina

You know what I wish colo-rectal docs would do when patients are dealing with UC, FAP, cancer? I wish after the initial consult involving surgeries such as the j-pouch procedure they should have a pamplet listing various locations, ie: library, internet, support groups and whatever else is out there to help people make informed decisions. If someone is facing j-pouch surgery this site should be at the forefront. If they are going to have a perm. ileostomy then they should be referred here as well as Shaz's site, which covers all ostsomies....Somebody tell me what's wrong with these idiots???? They seem to have no real answer when buttburn knocks on the door...
URRGGG
Julie