Greetings all,

Let me say thank you to all of you here for sharing all that you have accomplished in the search to "get your s*!t straight!" I know, first hand, how hard it is to just try to talk to someone about what you're going through. Here is a link to a blog where I speak about that difficulty, titled " You don't LOOK sick

I am recovering from a successful j-pouch surgery. I am learning how to walk all over again and would appreciate any advice on eating, bm's, health supplements, anal care, etc.

Thank you all for being here. It is a comfort to speak with others who understand my language!

Welcome to the neighborhood!

The best advice is to take things slow and measure improvements in months. It takes times and there will be ups and downs.

For me: I like to eat small, frequent meals. I find that going to long between meals makes me gassy and eating too big of a meal causes a lot of discomfort and bloating. I take digestive enzymes after each meal to help with gas. For butt burn/itch I take sitz baths and use Calmoseptine. With time you will find what will work for you.

I like your post. UC is such a vile disease.

Welcome!

Welcome Hemingway

I'm now following your blog as well as the ladies that have posted above. I admire you and love all of your blogs. I find I have a lot of opinions but think I would freeze if I were to write a blog.

Thanks!

Great blog. My surgery is scheduled Feb. 13th. Did you have the one step, two or 3 step? Good luck on your recovery.

Holly M,

I had the two step. I was fortunate (in my opinion) that I only had to go two months between operations. For myself, I was overjoyed once I was detoxed of all meds, especially the steroids. After being on them for 5 years, I had no idea of the effect that were having to both my physical & mental health. I truly feel like a brand new person. I pray that you will feel as wonderful as I do after your surgery.

Thanks Hemingway. I have had UC for 25 years without too many flares, then last 2 colonoscopies showed Low grade dysplasia (precancer) so surgery was suggested, guess all the worrying about what to do brought me out of remission so for the last two months I have been reminded of this horrible disease. I am ready to feel like a brand new person. thanks for the encouragement. Have a great Sunday.

It took me a long time to be able to eat normally and I pretty much lived on sourdough bread for 4 - 6 months. The first "produce" I could eat was Naked or Odwalla juices and I still swear by them because I was beginning to have a lot of nutrition type issues and those juices saved my bacon.

For butt burn, I got so I had to jump in the shower after each potty trip and, until that soap and water did its job, I was literally grimacing and hurting bad. My doc finally prescribed Questran. It binds the acids so they don't burn. I wish I had gotten it earlier.

Calmoseptine irritated me. I used, and still do occasionally, a product called Proshield Plus. It is pretty much a special order item and the last time I ordered it, the cheapest price was at Medco.com. It is clear, easy to spread (Calmoseptine wasn't, in my opinion) and cleans up easily with soap and water.

Everyone said it takes a year to recover and they were right. It was a long year, but I'm now 7 years out and pleased with my pouch.

Happy healing!