I just had another finger dilation at my GIs office. He said I was fully dilated but I still couldn't pass gas even right after the procedure! Secondly, I was still having the frequent, small volume stools. This has become incredibly frustrating.

I never thought that after having my pouch constructed, I would feel this way. I would choose an ileostomy any idea over a bloated pouch.

I am still awaiting for my surgeon to come back and dilate me under anesthetic. But could that make that much of a difference?

grrrrrrr.........

Blowe,

I've never had dilation, but so many days of bloating and small volume, painful poops, no gas, rumbling, unable to empty for hours. So sorry you're dealing with this. Hang in there for your surgeon's sedated dilation. When you have a lot of discomfort and frustration, an ileostomy looks good. But...you're pretty new to this, and your pouch hasn't really had a chance to show you what it's capable of. I found that the cell changes that allow more absorption made a big difference after about a year, year and a half. Hard to hear "wait" when you're in pain.

Hey,

Hang in there! Things will eventually get better. Things always do.

I guess the only option now is to A) wait until your surgeon to do a surgical dilation. Hopefully that will do the trick. OR B) Have your GI run some tests to see if something else is up.

Did he say your were strictured before he dilated you? Like I have said in the past an office dilation does absolutely nothing for me.

Also, did you speak with the other surgeon you were familiar and comfortable with? What did he/she say?

Keith

Blowe, I think you need to wait for your own surgeon to come back or try to see one of his associates. The stricture may be higher up, and they may need to do it under anesthesia, or it may be something else. Either way, I think your surgeon or another qualified surgeon should be taking a look at you.

janna

My GI did a scope and told me the pouch looked fine but the anastomosis is the cause of all my troubles. He didn't find a kink or anything of that nature.

He did dilate me again this time but said it was easier to dilate this time and would require more work. My GI put me on these hydrocortisone suppositories called "Cortiment" . They require a compound pharmacy to be made.

This is sad and frustrating.

The other surgeon hasn't called me back and it's probably due to the fact I didn't give him a referral- which is what he needs.

Sometimes you need to move around a bit to get rid of the gas. When you're on the toilet, try doing a forward bend for about 10 seconds (your backside up and hands on your feet), then sit down but lean backwards (until you're tailbone is nearly horizontal). Also, try moving your hips around. You might need to repeat these movements a few times to get rid of all the gas.

When you're in bed, try rolling from the left side to the right. Also, try lying on your back, your knees to your chest and hands under your pelvis. Shoulder stands are also a good way to release gas without accidents.

Probiotics and digestive enzymes may help to reduce gas and bloating.

Is the gas actually getting into the pouch or is it hung up before it gets to the pouch? I wonder if you have some adhesions somewhere that are making some unnatural bends, trapping the gas.

That said, I do recall the early days with my pouch and having to bend this way and that to effect decent emptying after the initial gush of stool.

Jan

hey Jan

I can't really say if it's before the pouch but I would say it just doesn't come out so it might be hung up in the pouch. After my scope yesterday I had a terrible amount of gas. I was very uncomfortable. No matter how many times I went to the can it wouldn't come out! It eventually came out while I was lying down on my side

thanks a lot. Would these adhesions and unnatural bends be seen with a scope?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Blowe,

Not necessarily. When you are inflated with gas from below, everything gets expanded for better visualization and may not show how things are when you are bearing down from above. For this you need a defagram. Can you use your imagination on how this special barium enema is filmed?

Jan

quote:

defagram

my doctor did mention he was interested in doing a pouchogram. Maybe I should suggest a defagram instead?

You probably can do both in the same day.

Jan

defagram and pouchagram almost same thing only difference is you have to drink some barium for the defagram and once they put the tube and the other dye in your butt they put a seat at the end of a special xray table and flip it on its side, so your sitting on a makeshift toilet and have you try to evacuate your pouch.