It will get better. Are you guys taking sitz baths? I lived in sitz baths the first few months after takedown. Also I used heating pads for the spasms and the aches in the but. Like everyone else is saying it does get better, the beginning is the worst. I also used Calmoseptine cream (not sure if this is available in the UK) and Ilex w/vaseline (can buy from the banner ad at the top of this site) which severely helped with the butt burn. Also I used aloe vesta perianal cleanser in the beginning after each BM (recommended from someone on this wonderful site) and it helped enormously. I remember feeling like I was living in the bathroom and the urgency was terrible but it does get better. Also your pouch stretches and is able to hold more over time so you don't have just a little bit coming out each time making extra trips to empty. If you don't have a sitz bath (it is like a big bowl you put on the toilet and fill with hot water and then sit in it for 15 or 20 min a few times a day). Take hot baths, or use a shower head to clean the area real good. I could not have survived recovery without the sitz baths.

I hope some of this helped. Good Luck and it does get better.

Thanks.

Kim

not much to say that others have not but be glad your wound stayed cosed mine did not as you can see in pic but I need a better pic so you can see it better I also had them drains plus one right in the buttdocks boy did that one hurt.

Hi Manchester,
Just saw the stuff you wrote in bold in your original posting - the itching sounds exactly like what happens to me when I react to meds, ie: allergic reaction. I'd hold off the codeine and see if the itching subsides. Check with your doc if you should try the codeine again or just stay off it. When I had the same reaction to penicillin (never having been allergic to it before) I was told never to take penicillin again. Allergies can turn up very suddenly...and disappear suddenly too, according to the allergy specialist I spoke to. I seem to react to everything under the sun these days...

I agree, sounds like an allergic reaction. I'd ask for Lomotil to add to your regime and forget about the codeine. Allergic reactions tend to get worse, so consider the intense itching episode as your first warning. You do not want to wind up in the emergency room.

Jan

I agree with Jan and Soph. The itching is deffinitely an allergic reaction. Morphine does that to me. I was sweating buckets, scratching my skin off and fidgeting like nuts. I felt like a crack addict, and looked like one.

Thanks again all

Jerry - Totally with you, lets just hope time does help us. I feel for you having to be stood up, I am not sure I could cope with that, I am a web designer so am sat all day.

The codeine reaction was gone within 10 minutes but it was pretty severe. Shame cos it has slowed me down loads again.

I take loads of baths, they are the only thing that relieves itching and burning. Is lomotil not just loperamide. Sorry i'm new to all this ill business.

Hey Manchester, have you tried Germolene cream? I take lots of it back from the UK since we can't get it in Norway. I use the stuff that has a local anaesthetic in it, and it really helps take away the burn/stinging if it has got really bad. It doesn't work as a barrier cream but you can alternate with barrier cream (have you tried Sudocrem? That's pretty good...). I sometimes get small cuts that sting like hades, and the Germolene helps a lot. Use the cream, not the ointment - unless of course they've started putting local anaesthetic in the ointment too. Last time I checked it was only in the cream.

Soph

Was thinking of Sudocrem as it goes but was a little unsure if it would be good. I will pick up some germolene tomorrow. Thanks

Imodium is a brand name for loperamide.

Lomotil is a brand name for Diphenoxylate & Atropine.

They are two distintly different drugs, but work in a similar way. They are both chemically similar to morphine, but do not have the analgesic or "high." Some people have better luck with one over the other. Other people sometimes have to take both.

Jan

BTW, don't be spooked if the Germolene stings when you first put it on. It can do...but the numbing effect kicks in fast.

Hi Manchester!

My husband had the same incision line as yours (however his got infected so they reopened half of it in hospital and sent him home with it open! I had to clean and pack it twice daily - fun!) But he always says jokingly, "You know, some chicks dig scars."

Regarding the itching with codeine... That can be an allergic reaction but may not be. You just need to watch it. Many people are allergic to narcotics, codeine especially, and itching is one symptom (watch for other symptoms like hives, dizziness, trouble breathing/throat closing, etc. and get to hospital right away if you think you're have a bad allergic reaction). However I know that I get itchy with many narcotics but an NOT allergic, therefore I just take a Benadryl with it (as long as I'm not going out driving or anything!) It can also depend on the manufacturer as different ones will use different inert ingredients - the fillers. For example, I have found I am fine with brand name Percocet but get terribly itchy with some of the generics. And to answer your question, Percocet is a strong painkiller here in the states (don't believe it's available in it's exact form in UK) - it is oxycodone and acetaminophen (like paracetamol).

Many say the Metamucil wafers work great and again, as you will see on these boards so many things are individual. (It's all trial and error unfortunately!) Our doc suggests Citrucel (brand name, ingredient is methyl cellulose) instead as he says this produces less gas than some of the other fibers. Best to just try each and see what works best for you, but the important thing is to not make more than one change at a time (so you know what is/what isn't working) and write it all down! Best of luck!

Hi again Manchester,

I reread your post and realized I hadn't read it closely enough. Althouh itching can occur with narcotics as a 'side effect' I didn't read how severe your itching was and that does indeed sound like an allergic reaction. Best to speak with your doc before taking any more (as one should with any side effects) just to be on the safe side. I would hate for anything bad to happen to you, especially after all you have been through!

I just wanted to add one thing. I thought about the last time I was on painkillers, and I realized something. Codeine does make me sick, I get very queasy. I only took that for about a day then was switched to vicodin. I was taking minimum doses, then I started to get addicted and when I upped my doses day after day, I started to have little reactions. I don't think they were allergic reactions, but overdoses. I was itchy, sweating and high out of my mind. I think maybe you just have a very low tolerance for painkillers. Your dose might be too high. With the morphine, one dose made me hallucinate. I too, am very very sensitive to any kind of painkillers, which got me horribly addicted to them for a few months. If you must take the codeine, try cutting the pill in half and see how you feel.

G'day Manchester
I thought i was the only person to get the itching and tickling that you described and as you said it can get awfull uncomfortable.The thing that drove me nuts was walking anywhere then getting the tickling and then walking like you were in a John Cleese movie.(may look funny but its not) But i may have an answer for the tickling and butt burn its a cream called Proctosedyl.If you can try and put some on before your bm and again immediatly afterwards it may save your sanity.
Good luck
Rob

Hey Manchester -

I hope all the great posts above have helped.

Re:

quote:

Add to that the itching and tickling feeling that is so violent its painful and I am at the end of my tether.

I am assuming you are refering to your bum. You mentioned the codeine made you itch all over so I'm not sure. If you were referring to your bum, I noticed similar feelings after surgery.

I used Tucks medicated pads from the pharmacy to clean the area good since it seems everything comes out more acidic and hurts the skin. I've noticed keeping things very clean stops the pain and itch. Plain wet tissues like Cottenelle seemed to dry the skin. Through trial and error I noticed the witch hazel in the Tucks does wonders.

Also, if I've been out without it and use rough toilet paper, I used the Tucks when I get home and then use Desitin (for babies diaper rash) to calm things down.

I'm a little over a year after take down and I've noticed my skin has toughened up a bit. If I eat spicy foods or am out using rough tp I may still occasionally used the Tucks/Desitin combo.

Good luck and hope you are doing better.

P.S. Codeine definately makes you itch all over. If you don't need it, I'd stay away from it- not worth side effects or possible addiction.