Hello Everyone. I hope I am finding you all well!!

I am 12 weeks from takedown tomorrow Hey Hey!

I have a few questions. I am experiencing gas and pains after 3:00pm and feel like I have to go to the bathroom all the time. It is miserable. If I do have a bm it doesn't help. I still feel the same. I can't yet determine if my pouch is empty or not.

I been eating all the right foods. I take immodium and lomotil before each meal and bedtime. I am also on paregoric if I have the runs. I have had several accidents during the night so my Dr told me to take Paregoric before bed (I am not convinced it helps) because I relax settle in for the night I will have an accident. Any thoughts why I am having gas and pain? I also have gas and pain when I am driving in a car as soon as the car stops Iam much better. Has anyone else experienced this?

I don't like to sit on the toliet because then I get a hemorroid -- I want to empty the pouch but I can't determine when it is.

I appreciate any suggestions.

Thank you all Helen

Hi Helen,
Have your tried varying your diet a bit? If the pain always starts at about the same time then maybe your breakfast or lunch is exiting at that time and is not agreeing with you.
I think it's important to make sure that you're emptying as much as you can when you're on the toilet, Does your hemorroid bother you if you're just sitting there and not straining? Maybe bring a book into the bathroom and just try to relax and wait a bit to see if more will come out. For me, I know that if I'm repeatedly going to the toilet and trying to go even when nothing comes out, it starts hurting more which makes me feel like I have to empty again....Vicious cycle.

There are lots of different posts here about gas and different techniques that work for people. Do a search and I am sure you'll get more listings than you know what to do with

For me, if I just sit and relax like Pixie said it will usually come out. Plus I find that if I lean way over while sitting on the toilet the gas will rise and pass!

Could also be food related. I finally figured out that my gas problems were related to diary products. I stopped dairy and some of the problems went away. Perhaps try keeping a food journal and if you notice patterns with gas and pain, cut those foods out for a while.

Hope you feel better soon.

Hi Pixie and Jpoucher. Thank You I will try your suggestions -- I agree Pixie I feel like it is vicious circle and I want to get off... : ) I have been keeping a diary of my food. It hasn't changed much because I am scared to eat. I am trying foods very slowly. I eat mostly PB, Potatoes, salmon, Pretzel, rice, bagels and drinking tons of water. Some steak and shrimp which has been good. Plus, ensure..

Last night I woke up about 4 times to empty my pouch and then after the alarm clock 2 more times -- I don't think I eat that much food.

Thank you,

Helen

it might be the things you are taking to slow you down......i used to not have to take anything but then after a really bad bout of pouchitis i was told to take immodium. i tried varying different doses and i would get really bad pains and/or cramping even right after i made a bowel movement.. i found that taking the immodium was making me kind of like constipated and gassy. i now take just metamucil wafers.

and recently i was having urgency issues and really small movements. well i got hooked on mountain dew and was drinking a few sodas a day. it has been day 2 since drinking any carbonated beverages and things seem back to normal or atleast close... so maybe i have to give up soda (no big deal i guess as long as i still drink beer once in a while ;o) )

Gerard Thank You something for me to think about..

Helen

Hi Helen,

I have had my pouch for 7 years or so. There is no question that for me Lomotil causes some gas buildup. However, I am an avid Pepsid taker and that does eleviate some of that problem. Anything carbonated also creates gas buildup, so I try to stick with gatorade but when I really need a Dr. Pepper, I just take a Pepsid along with it. I also have stricture issues which occur when scar tissue builds up at the rectum and narrows the opening. I have always had that problem (within the first several months of takedown). My Doc instructed me long ago on this but initially I would go in and have when open it back up. Now, once a month I get surgical gloves and I use my pinky to slowly open that area up (sounds gross but it works for me). I know when the scar tissue has built up because I can not get gas out without some real effort.

Also, even now, some night are great and I get up once and some nights it is three or four. It depends on what I eat and how late I eat.

All that being said, my j-pouch surgery was very successful. It is not a perfect system, but it did give me back my life.

It will improve.
Take care!
Lucy

Lucy,

Thank You I enjoy hearing success stories. How many years did you have UC. I think you are right about Lomotil. I am taking less and the gas has subsided. I am still learning what works for me.

Helen