hello All,
in case any newbies are interested and want to know what to possibly expect after takedown, here is where i am at 4.5 weeks after.
i am still going 8-10 times per 24 hour period (including 2-3 times at night). the night time bathroom trips are the most discouraging because i am up regulary at 12:30am and then again at 3:00am. hard to get a good nights rest with that. so most nights i make sure to get to bed early enough to make up for that.
i also have some minor leaking issues (only at night in my sleep) due to the passing of gas. that is a bummer. but, nothing an adult diaper can't handle. i find this to be very annoying, but what can i do. from the posts i read, for most people, the number of trips and even the leaking issues diminish over time (hopefully by 3-6 months out i can say that i am only getting up once a night and i no longer need to wear diapers!). any long timers want to ease my mind and say that this will most likely be the case, please feel free to comment! i am always open to encouragement!!! :O) it is very difficult for me to be patient, but i need to remember i am only 1 month out from takedown. i have a ways to go yet before things really begin to settle.
i also get urges to go that remind me of my time with UC. i am told that these to will pass with time. i hope so, because these urges are annoying. it seems to happen when i have gas in the pouch with the stool. i'll get the urge and then i will stand still, clench my muscles and then 10-15 seconds later, the feeling passes. when the feeling passes, i feel the gas move in the pouch. so maybe it is just gas putting pressure on the rectum making me feel i have to go? not sure. either way, it is annoying. is having a lot of gas in the beginning normal right after takedown? i am now experimenting with digestive enzymes, taking them with my dinner. my system does seem calmer at night since i started this. plus, i stopped taking metamucil at night. this can cause gas too. i also take 2 imodiums in the AM and 2 before bed.
i usually go from 6AM to 2 or even 3 pm w/o a BM. that is my favorite time of the day!! :O) then my system gets active and i'll have 3-4 BMs every hour/2 hours until 7 or 8pm. that is when i get most of the annoying urges i mentioned above.
i have never had butt burn but i have had a couple instances of CRAZY, CRAZY, MADDENING butt itching! if i was to torture someone, this would be what i would do to them! LOL. calmoseptine is my savior in these instances. i also use wet ones wipes that have aloe, vitamin e and witch hazel. i really haven't had the itch in a couple of weeks, so i am thankful for that.
otherwise i feel great! i have good energy and i can't wait to start riding my stationary bike again! i should be cleared to do that and lift heavy objects in another week and a half. my ostomy wound is fully closed and only a small scab remains. i returned to work this past thursday and just look forward to getting into a routine and continuing my life.
hopefully, like i mentioned above, over time my feelings of urgency, trips to the bathroom, and leaking issues will subside. until then, i just need to try and remain patient and be happy with the fact that i am done with these surgeries and well on the road to a new normal. from what i have read on this site, i seem to be in a good space for only 1 month out. i just need to remember this when i am up in the middle of the night :O)
anyway, i hope all is doing well and will touch base again soon.
peace,
mark
in case any newbies are interested and want to know what to possibly expect after takedown, here is where i am at 4.5 weeks after.
i am still going 8-10 times per 24 hour period (including 2-3 times at night). the night time bathroom trips are the most discouraging because i am up regulary at 12:30am and then again at 3:00am. hard to get a good nights rest with that. so most nights i make sure to get to bed early enough to make up for that.
i also have some minor leaking issues (only at night in my sleep) due to the passing of gas. that is a bummer. but, nothing an adult diaper can't handle. i find this to be very annoying, but what can i do. from the posts i read, for most people, the number of trips and even the leaking issues diminish over time (hopefully by 3-6 months out i can say that i am only getting up once a night and i no longer need to wear diapers!). any long timers want to ease my mind and say that this will most likely be the case, please feel free to comment! i am always open to encouragement!!! :O) it is very difficult for me to be patient, but i need to remember i am only 1 month out from takedown. i have a ways to go yet before things really begin to settle.
i also get urges to go that remind me of my time with UC. i am told that these to will pass with time. i hope so, because these urges are annoying. it seems to happen when i have gas in the pouch with the stool. i'll get the urge and then i will stand still, clench my muscles and then 10-15 seconds later, the feeling passes. when the feeling passes, i feel the gas move in the pouch. so maybe it is just gas putting pressure on the rectum making me feel i have to go? not sure. either way, it is annoying. is having a lot of gas in the beginning normal right after takedown? i am now experimenting with digestive enzymes, taking them with my dinner. my system does seem calmer at night since i started this. plus, i stopped taking metamucil at night. this can cause gas too. i also take 2 imodiums in the AM and 2 before bed.
i usually go from 6AM to 2 or even 3 pm w/o a BM. that is my favorite time of the day!! :O) then my system gets active and i'll have 3-4 BMs every hour/2 hours until 7 or 8pm. that is when i get most of the annoying urges i mentioned above.
i have never had butt burn but i have had a couple instances of CRAZY, CRAZY, MADDENING butt itching! if i was to torture someone, this would be what i would do to them! LOL. calmoseptine is my savior in these instances. i also use wet ones wipes that have aloe, vitamin e and witch hazel. i really haven't had the itch in a couple of weeks, so i am thankful for that.
otherwise i feel great! i have good energy and i can't wait to start riding my stationary bike again! i should be cleared to do that and lift heavy objects in another week and a half. my ostomy wound is fully closed and only a small scab remains. i returned to work this past thursday and just look forward to getting into a routine and continuing my life.
hopefully, like i mentioned above, over time my feelings of urgency, trips to the bathroom, and leaking issues will subside. until then, i just need to try and remain patient and be happy with the fact that i am done with these surgeries and well on the road to a new normal. from what i have read on this site, i seem to be in a good space for only 1 month out. i just need to remember this when i am up in the middle of the night :O)
anyway, i hope all is doing well and will touch base again soon.
peace,
mark