Good evening everyone,
I am 3 weeks post takedown (yahoo!!). I am having some problems and need advice. I am having incredible butt burn and pain that actually wakes me up at night. I have tried all the creams you can imagine, using water, using wipes soaking in a tub etc.. The only thing left that I can think of is hemoriods?? I have never had them but I can tell you that during the day everything is okay. As the day wears on so does the pain. I have been eating metamucil wafers and imodium. At first I thought it was just the numerous trips to the bathroom causing irritation. Now who knows?? I have no symptoms of pouchitis, no cramps or anything. Can eating irritating foods really cause this much discomfort?? Any advice is great!!! Thanks

Hi Sheryl,

I've had my J-Pouch for close to a 15 1/2 years and I still have to watch my diet, but I think its better than UC. Everyone is different but I work better with a low residue diet. My GI says food is our worst enemy and I agree. You'll see overtime what works for you. Just remember this surgery isn't a cure its to mantain a better quality of life. As for your butt numerous trips to the bathroom can make you raw. Have you tried Nupricanal it has a numbing agent to help with the pain. Just remember your surgery is very new and the consistancy will change with time but be patient. I felt like I was a baby introducing food to my system all over again and still do . Best of luck

Hi Sheryl,
I used some baby stuff with zinc in it. It worked! It has been 14 years with the pouch and sometimes I use the baby stuff during a flare. I remember in those days there was no site support. Gee, I feel old, but everyday is a new day and you and your pouch, go through it together. I call mine "Big C" a nickname given to me. Good Luck! Arthur

I'm 5 months post takedown and still get butt burn - I use A&D Ointment and it works wonders.

Sheryl,

I'm 2 months post TD and things are pretty much cleared up for me. I had bad BB and pain also at first but it was really short lived. After that I had the itching which was actually worse for me. That's pretty much cleared up too. When I was really bad my doc examined it and said it wasn't bad but that it was basically skin irritation.

Calmoseptine was my saving grace. It works wonders for me and I have bad hemmoroids also. I still will get mild itching sometimes but if I remember to apply calmoseptine a couple times a day (even if its not itching or burning) it keeps things under control.

Also, it seemed like my body adjusted "all of the sudden" it was weird the frequency of my BM's literally went from about 25 times a day to 12 overnight, and now gradual improvement from there. And I'd say that came after about 4 weeks, so I hope you have the same experience.

I thought I had the BB under control. Over the weekend I orange juice mixed half and half with water, did I pay for that. Burned for 3 days.

Hi Sheryl:
Good to hear you had the TD. Things (other than diet) to try:
Sulcrate cream - Dr Lees will prescribe///
Reduce irritation by using a squirt bottle///
jim

Thanks for all the advice and kind words everyone!! I saw my Doc today and was told to increase my metimucil and Immodium. (I was afraid to go from one extreme to another!!) I started this afternoon and it has improved already. I am returning to work next week and I'm really looking forward to having a "normal life again"!! Thanks again