Hello,
I had my takedown two weeks ago. I was put on Cipro for an infection in my wound/incision. Bathroom trips were low and formed. I went off the Cipro on Monday and now I'm going to the bathroom more and it's mostly water. I feel discouraged as I feel like I've had a setback.

I went to the bathroom 9 times yesterday so I guess I should feel lucky. THe thing is, I'm having some cramping in my abdomen. Is that something considered to be normal?

When do things start to firm up? I feel really bummed that things have gone liquid again....don't want to start Metamucil and stuff just yet so I can determine what is going on.

I go to the doctor today for my follow up visit. Hope he has some insight for me.

I knew it was going too well too early!!
Thanks for any insight,
Les

For my son (and I think most people) stool is never formed. It varies between oatmeal-like consistency and more liquid, depending on diet and overall health. Some cramping in the first few weeks is pretty typical, I think.

This is normal. The antibiotics reduced your frequency and gave you a false picture of recovery. It will get better but if it's a problem for you either take the metamucil or eat bulking foods.

Sue

I had my t/d three weeks ago and I'm in a similar situation. If it's only been 2 weeks I wouldn't be too disheartened, my surgeon said it can take upto 3 months for the pouch to reach it's maximum potential. I'm easily enough going 9 times a day, I feel that it could be a lot less only each day between about 8 and midnight things get a little over active, but hopefully things will improve. Are you taking any imodium or similar meds?

Thanks for the replies! Your words make me feel a bit better. I guess I thought I was having great success, but knew in the back of my head that the Cipro could be responsible.

Cotsy - I'm not taking any immodium, etc...but will be asking the doctor today what his opinion is.

I also worry bc the cramping feels similar to when this whole thing started and I was soooooo sick with food poisioning and then the c diff infection that caused the toxic megacolon. But I am pretty sure the feeling I'm having is gas....

Hanging in,
Les

I am also two weeks since my takedown. I see my surgeon on Wednesday for my post-op visit. I didn't have any cramping except for gas. I had allot of gas the first week or so but I wasn't allowed out of the hospital until I let it out. I walked allot! and in 2 day's time, all of it came out. Phew! I go to the bathroom about 10-12 times a day and like Cotsy, it seems between 8 and midnight, I go allot. I am going to ask my surgeon if there is something I should do to. I am not taking any medications yet. I have what looks like formed stool coming out periodically throughout the day so I don't want to block myself up- that happened to me while I was in the hospital- I ate a sandwich and it got stuck in the small intestines where the stoma used to be. Bread and I don't seem to get along right now. It is very uncomfortable when you are blocked up right now. You have not way of pushing it out so it can be painful. All in all, I would say I am a success story. I don't feel like I can't make it to the bathroom, am not on pain meds anymore, and can go shopping for hours at a time.

Hope you feel better soon. My surgeon said it can take up to a year for the pouch to enlarge, and upt to 3 months for the swelling in your abdomin to go down- so things will flow more smoothly.

Hang in there, things will change and be likely up and down for a while. We just did a 9 month update on Mark and though he is living excellent now you'll see he is on metamucil and imodium, and his BMs are about 7-9 per day.

http://ucstory.wordpress.com/2008/08/08/mark-9-month-jpouch-update/

Why don't surgeons tell us that the results of our surgery will yield different types of bowel movements but not the kind that are debilitating after things settle in. For us to expect to have the kind of bowel movement we had when our colons were perfect is so unrealistic. Perfection for us J-pouchers does exist. It just doesn't compare to what used to be and, for me, it is far better! I call the shots....when or when not to have a B.M.! I could never do this when I had a so called "normal" colon! Need I say, "I love my J-pouch!"

3 week after takedown and after a lot of intolerable pain and >15 BM ad day in the first week I suddenly improved. I was prescribed Cipro like you.

BM's went down to 6 in 24 hrs and they are semi formed, all due it seems to the Cipro. I am dreading comming off it. In fact I should have stopped taking Cipro two ago but I kept taking it at a lower dose. I will gradefully ween myself off it and hope the pain and the frequency doesn't return.