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
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