Hello all, I'm new here. I just had my takedown surgery on 06.06.2017. I was able to go home the next day. However, as of yesterday I started feeling the constant urge to use the bathroom. Also a feeling of pressure right at the exit. Very frustrating and uncomfortable. I know it's early and will probably work itself out, but I'm just looking for some insight.
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Hello, Rzraz. You are so lucky to go home in one day. I was in hospital after reversal for five long days, starving. It will get better for you. I am just past my one year mark and I can't believe how far I've come since reversal. My only issues are occasional pouchitis, and changing consistency. I remember the first few days and weeks of intense gas movements in the pouch, urgency, frequency and burn. So what you are experiencing now is normal for these early days. I improved after a few weeks, and around the six month mark I greatly improved. Be careful what you eat in these early days. Soft foods, no nuts or seeds, peel your fruits and vegetables. Cook your vegetables really well. Fiber and raw vegetables can cause frequency. Frequency can lead to bum burning or fissures. Eat like a baby these first few weeks. Don't strain because that may lead to painful fissures. Watch out for symptoms of pouchitis, and call your doctor if you suspect pouchitis because a few doses of antibiotic will help you feel better. Try metamucil to firm up stools if you experience loose frequency. Good luck to you. You got through the surgeries!
Thanks for the input. I am fairly cautious with what I eat right now, though I have been since this whole process started a year ago. You said to watch for pouchitis symptoms... I thought I paid attention to the doctor very well, but I don't know that I know what those symptoms are?
Hello, Rzraz. For me, the symptoms of pouchitis are frequency (more than 12 times in 24 hours), constant urgency, feeling like you can't leave the house, constant gas, loose stool, burning at the exit, bubbling noises in the stomach or pouch.
Thank you so much for the info on those symptoms and of course, everything else. It's very nice to have people to be able to talk to about this that actually understand what I'm going through.
I spoke with one of the surgeons today that was on my team. He said almost the same thing you said, that all of this is typically normal and I should expect to see improvements after the second week.
Wow! A day! My husband spent 5 days in the hospital with both of his surgeries. I hope you start to see the improvements soon!