Hello!

So I had my takedown on Feb 7th, and things have gone pretty smoothly....except for the last 4 days i've been having this constant gas pain.

I had some friends over 5 days ago and I was pretty gassy that night and I held most of it in, and It now seems to feel like its all stuck inside of me for the last 4 days. I'm passing stool fine (semi formed) about 10 times day, and i'm passing some gas....but the pressure-sore feeling in my tummy is just not going away!

I've tried gas-x and beano....i'm taking natural probiotics...and I have not tried any fiberous foods yet (i eat yogurt, pasta, chicken...etc)...so i don't know what to do!!

Please give me any suggestions or advice!!

Thanks!!

I have not had my first surgery yet, but was reading your post.

Can you tell me the name of your surgeon, was it Dr.Seal? If so, did he do a really good job? (considering it was an emergency surgery)

Thank you.

HI Nicole

Keep a food diary. You are in the early stages do 6 very small meals. I couldn't do Yogurt -- I am five months from J pouch surgery. Peanut butter and mashed potatoes are staples for me. I do oatmeal am with metamucal, probiotic and immudium at 10:00 am lomotil at 1:00 pm before lunch metamucal and probiotic. lomotil before bed. Slow process for awhile. Please if you have more questions let me know.

Sending Smiles Helen

Nicole,

This is a common problem, especially within the first month or two of takedown.
The good news is that it usually resolves itself after a while.
Search this site for "gas pain", for example, and you will find numerous
strategies different people use, including positions in which to pass gas, Pepto,
charcoal, Metamucil (or not), eating frequent small meals, antibiotics for
pouchitis/cuffitis, etc.

Since that gas seems to have been stuck for days, you might try to flush
your system out with a mostly liquid diet. Since your stool is semi-formed,
you could be getting dehydrated. Slow passage could be leading to more gas.
If you are taking anti-diarrheal medications, you might try decreasing the
dosage gradually.

Nicole,

My takedown was Feb. 5, and I'm having the exact same problem! I find that this usually happens when I've eaten too much. So, I'm trying to stick to small meals, and I'm taking Metamucil twice a day. This seems to help, but I'm monitoring the Metamucil to make sure it doesn't firm things up too much. I keep passing stool, too, (semi-formed as well) when I have the gas pains. I'm finding that with the Metamucil I have to strain slightly to empty the pouch, but not too much.

The one thing that has worked twice now for me to moved the gas is two tacos from Taco Bell! I tried them because I was really craving Taco Bell, and low and behold an hour after I ate, I moved the gas and no more pain! So, I guess it's just all trial and error with everything; Metamucil, food, etc.!

After my TD I had horrible gas pains and when I finally cut dairy out of my diet things got much better, not perfect but better.

Perhaps you should start elimating things from your diet to see if anything makes a difference. Trying a liquid diet for a day or two might help as well.

sometimes I have to sit on the toilet and basically fold myself in half to help the gas rise. Others find that laying on the stomach helps, while others still have to resort to almost standing on their heads (ever try some yoga positions?).

I hope things get better soon, I know how miserable things can be when that gas just won't pass.

Thank you for all the great advice...I'll keep better track of what foods i'm eating...because now that I think about it, i'm eating a lot of dairy...milk, cheese, & yogurt everyday. I'll also try a liquid diet for a day and see if that helps. I haven't tried any bowel slowers yet. I already feel it getting better, but my abs hurt pretty bad when i move, especially if I try to move my legs close to me...so i'll try to take it easy.
Jay-P my doctor name is Dr. Carl Brown and he works out of St. Pauls, and he's done a wonderful job (he's done hundreds of j-pouch surgeries).

Thanks again!

I have had my pouch since 1999, and I have always had gas pain. The only way I can get rid of the gas is to lie on my stomach. Sometimes I put a pillow under my stomach as well. It makes the gas come out pretty quickly, and then once the gas is gone I find it much easier to empty my bowel.
All the best.
Veronique