I had a dilation on Friday and it helped tremendously. I don't have the same pain I once did. However, at the same time, the doctor tried to do a scope of my pouch and said there's just too much stool and he couldn't see anything. He told me to go on clear fluids for the night and start eating today to empty everything.

I started the clear fluids, and didn't go to the washroom at all. I drank a lot of caffeine, coke, and water. Nothing. I had not eaten since the day before and still had no appetite. I started eating small bites today and the gas came back a bit.

I am suspecting that my pouch isn't emptying properly. I don't know what the cause would be. should I take a laxative? i'm worried that the effects will be longer and worrisome than what i'm currently going through.

How about a fleet enema? will that help?

has anyone gone through something like this? how does it turn out? should I be concerned? or should I remain more patient and see if everything will come out at once?

I would certainly call your doctor for this one. It is very very rare that a j-poucher should use a laxative or an enema. Even on the weekends, there is always someone on-call to help you. I wouldn't recommend doing anything until you speak with your doctor. Good luck!

A fleet enema is perfectly safe. If it does not clean you out, just fill the container with warm tap water and repeat until clear. You can also use oral magnesium citrate or phosphosoda laxatives (these are the typical laxatives used in a sigmoidoscopy prep). Just make sure to drink plenty of liquids.

You could easily have been backed up due to your stricture. Once you are cleaned out well, give it a few days. If you still feel that you are not emptying properly, then call the doctor back.

Jan

I have never emptyed properly with my pouch. I have been taking 2 tsp epsom salts disolved in water daily to empty me out for years. If I dont I end up in hospital with severe pain. I had the same experience wih my dr trying to take a look during a sigmoidoscopy and not being able to see a thing as too much in the pouch.Micro Fleet enemas do not work for me, however the larger fleet enemas with about 100 ml help. Nothing works as well for me as the epsom salts.

thanks a lot. once you take the salts? are you running for the hills? or does your bowel just become normal? are these salts safe in the long term?

Once I take the salt it takes about an hour to go through me and then I go to the loo 2 or 3 times and am completelyy emptied and feel great. If I am working I get up an hour extra to have time for the salts and the loo. I always take the salts in the morning before I eat anything. I drink about 300ml of water straight after I take them and also drink a cup of tea. I have been taking the salts for nearly 5 years. Maybe 4 1/2 years. My surgeon and my GP have no problem with me taking them long term.

You can become dependent on laxatives when you use them regularly as the intestines can loose their tone from them. But this is primarily an issue with the colon and rectum, and less so with small bowel.

So, my only caution would be to make sure that your doctor is aware of your use and approves before using laxatives on a regular basis. For some of us, it is a necessity, particularly if there is a motility disorder. The problem of chronic laxative use without your doctor's knowledge is that there may be something that is otherwise treatable that is being ignored. Occasional use is not a problem (unless you think you have an obstruction, then it is contraindicated).

Jan

I while back I made a posting about ways to effectively empty the pouch. I found this very interesting and quite useful.

http://jpouch.org/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/9151071921/m/53910...391022412#5391022412

Try this link instead:

http://j-pouch.org/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/9151071921/m/5391...391022412#5391022412