I know it has been asked before and that I could probably find it easily with a quick search but, you know what, I'm special. Okay quit rolling your eyes.

I had my 2nd dye enema/test thing done last week and apparently I am healed up now and ready for takedown. The first test in November showed some leakage so I opted to wait til after the holidays.

Soooo... my questions are...what should I pick up at the store to have at home when I get back? I am currently only taking Lomotil (only it's not Lomotil, it's the generic over the counter stuff that you can get at Walmart and I can never remember the name of it.) to slow me down. Not sure if it's even doing anything but I only take a few a day.

I also remember reading about some fiber disc thing, would you recommend that to slow things down?

Now for butt burn. I have no idea on this one. I have no immediate plans to get a bidet but I remember reading about some sort of wipes with witch hazel or something. What about diaper rash stuff? I recall seeing something on that also.

Anything else I am forgetting please feel free to chime in. Basically I am scared and somewhat excited to get this done. My bag gave me my life back so I am apprehensive to get rid of it but If I do have to go back to it, at least I know that I tried.

Thanks

Get yourself a tube of calmoseptine ointment. You can buy it at stores that sell ostomy supplies. Some chain pharmacies have it but it would be behind their pharmacy counter, not on the customer shelves. Also get small samples of other creams like; balmex, desitin, etc. You can try them all to see what you prefer. The wafers you are referring to are Metamucil. The early weeks can be rough with high frequency; it will get better but it takes time. You may need to make some temporary adjustments to your diet to slow things down and firm things up. It might help to keep a log of what you are eating. Rule of thumb, anything with sugar, including juices, will loosen things up. I find that protein generally slows things down. However, diet is very individual hence the reason to note how it affects you. Don't be scared, this surgery is a breeze compared to the last but the adaption period can be longer. At least you'll be healthy enough to deal with it! Good luck.

Sue

I think that OTC med you're taking is loperamide (generic imodium). Lomotil isn't sold OTC.

While you're in the hospital, try to get up and walk as much as possible - this helps wake things up. If things are slow to awaken, chewing gum can help. Ask the doctor if it's okay before chewing though.

Some people bring their own (soft) toilet paper to the hospital with them.

The butt burn ointment that I really like is Nupercainal. It's located close to the Preparation H. Regarding wipes - make sure to look at the ingredients. Some wipes have alcohol in them. Not the good drinkable kind. The kind that will have you clinging to the ceiling once it touches the raw butt burn area. A member here once tried Tucks wipes. In her words: "Tucks are F**ked."

As Sue said, some of the things that work best for some have the exact opposite effect on others.

If you find you're getting dehydrated, drink products that have electrolyte replacement. Gatorade isn't good - too much sugar/too sweet/garish colors/gross.

Most people do just fine and hopefully you'll be in that exalted group.

kathy

Immodium! That's it. For the life of me I can never remember that. And Metamucil wafers, got it (for now at least). Thanks.

The sugar I am going to have a problem with. I have a sweet tooth so I'll have to see how that goes.

I had urgency with mucous after I got home from the first surgery but it went away after a month or so. I am hoping it is similar after the second one.

I know it is different for everyone but how long before I can leave the house? I am assuming it will feel like I have UC all over again and then slowly get better.

I was back at work 2 hours a day 2 weeks after surgery. For whatever reason, my initial bathroom issues always occurred in the evenings. Once I got back to work, and on a more normal schedule, so did my bowels.

My surgeon prescribed Culterelle for 30 days after surgery, and I still do a Metumucil capsule with each meal, and everything seems to be working normally.

The tip about the toilet tissue is true - try Charmin Sensitive - and the only thing I really used for butt burn was cold water on a tissue, and then vaseline. And no matter how itchy you may be, never, never scratcb!

I imagine it varies for each person, but I found the most amazing thing about the takedown was the immediate re-gaining of control again. I don't know if this is normal or not, but after having no control previously during the UC years, I regained it instantly. Hope the same is true for you too, and if not, I hope it will be very soon. Good luck!

Charmin Ultra Soft or Strong. TP really makes a difference and I found out the hard way. Just remember you've got three things working against you, #1 you have not used your butt in a while and it's gotten soft, #2 you will be going more than before so dab don't wipe, #3 we get 30$ more bile in our BM's than before our colons were removed. This all adds up to a big case of butt burn.

Besides the TP, good baby wipes.

Keep a change of underware and wipes with you at all times you leave the house.

In the beginning when you experience a spasm, like in Walgreens, where you can buy calmoseptine off the shelf, stop. Stop until it's over, around 10 seconds, you will be able to hold it.

Digestive enzimes, think beano and gasX - I take a different one but started out witnh beano. Take them before each meal that might be stinging or gas causing.

Probiotics, I take VSL#3DS as my insurance company pays for it. It is highly recommended to keep pouchitis at bay. There are a lot of good ones, if you do a search on here you can find some other brands that are working for pepole other than VSL.

Immodium and instead of the metamucil wafers I like to take it in caplet form, no calories like in the waters.

Also take pepto bismol chewables and forget exactly what they are for but notice everything burns more on the way out if I forget to take them. I do 2 at 2 times a day.

If you can get a bidet/bidet seat/ or hand held bidet sprayer it is the best for keeping clean. We ordered a bidet sprayer kit on-line that my husband installed in 10 minutes. The water comes from the water leading into the tank of the toilet, so need for wiring etc.. It's a simple sprayer, think kitchen sink, and works great, not having warm water hasn't bothered me at all. I wish I'd had it when I first came home. The kit, postage and all, cost $50 and I ordered it from Dibeties and more.com.

Please let us know how you are doing when you can and may your surgery and recovery be uneventful.

Thanks for the recommendations! I am making a list and will go shopping shortly.

I talked to a guy that I work with who has had a bag (that was reassuring in itself) for diverticulitis and he compared each stage of this journey to having a new baby. He said when I had UC, my first baby, I was used to it and did not want to give the baby away because I did not know what my next baby (the bag) would be like. The same for my second baby. He said I am feeling better and this baby has kind of grown on me and there will probably be some feelings of remorse when this one is gone. But the last baby is no different than the first two and I will learn how to take care of it just like I did the first two.

It made sense to me for some reason. Just for the record I don't give my children away (there are times though....)

Hopefully you won't need everything but you will eventually use it all. I sent my husband to Walgreens and had him drop me off when I felt safe to go out. We were spending so much $$ there we contemplated buying some of their stock! I hardly use anything anymore.

Eat healthy and get as much excercise as you can (preferably walking) before surgery. I went into step 2 strong, positive and healthy and have had a pretty smooth ride since my takedown a couple of months ago. All will be well and you will be so glad you did it! My best medicine so far has been diet and excercise. Nutritious, easy to digest foods (broths, rice and healthy pureed veggies) save me from butt burn and excessive gas.
I'm sending you good positive energy!

Many blessings, it will all be fine!
Rich