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BR
Hi guys I am new to the site. I have been cruising around the internet trying to find people to talk to about pouch surgery and how people have had to adjust their lives. I think I may have found that spot lol.

A little about myself. My name is Brian Rideout. I am 28 years old. I have my total colectomy Nov 2011 and my take down Feb 2012. I had the procedure done because of severe UC that could not be managed. I was diagnosed in 2010 when I because sick during a deployment to Iraq. After having the frequent BM and losing control at times I went to the medical center. I was told I ate something bad to take imodium and go to my room. Three months later I was medevaced from country due to the illness and severe de-hydration. I was also diagnosed with PSC at this time. I am still active duty military and trying my hardest not to be medically retired due to the illness and now the jpouch.

The reason I am posting here today is I feel like I cannot understand what this pouch wants to say the least. I am experiencing very loose BM and very frequent BM. I am also experiencing severe cramping and loss of control here and there. I have noticed mostly at night of if I have ate something that does not agree with me. I know I have only had my buddy for a few months but honestly I think I would have rather at times kept the ileostomy bag. I have been to numerous psychiatrists to deal with the mental side of things. The whole process of being sick in Iraq and being medevaced home cause some PTSD. If I take too much imodium I am constipated if I eat psyllium I used the restroom more. I can't seem to find a happy medium.

Thats enough of me ranting! lol I look forward to the responses I get here!

Replies sorted oldest to newest

DD Dog Day (Guest)
What about the rest of your diet? Have you tried following dietary guidlines such as this JPOUCH DIET I've learned the hard way many a times how important it is to restrict your diet to safe foods. For the most part green leafy veggies and fruits such as apples, grapes and perhaps others, come back to haunt me. The safest foods seem to be soft breads, pasta, rice, bananas, peanut butter, etc.
DD
LG little greenyMember
I agree, the J pouch diet is a good place to start. I have also learned the hard way about what foods to eat and not to eat (I was stubborn and didn't want to follow the diet). Also, limiting your food intake to several smaller meals per day (I know that may not always be possible) and not drinking while you eat (try to drink water an hour or so before you eat so you won't be thirsty when you eat). The cramping could be because you have eaten something that disagrees with you or because you are dehydrated. Drink water with electrolytes (like gatorade) if you can. Also, make sure that you aren't swallowing lots of air (so chewing with your mouth open , drinking soda, chewing gum, drinking out of a straw) this can cause gas which leads to cramping and more trips to the bathroom. Finally, remember to take care of your mental health. If you are stressing about cramping and bathroom breaks it makes it worse. Try taking a deep breath and visualize yourself relaxing, often anxiety manifests itself in more severe somatic complaints. Unfortunately everyone is different so you have to pay attention to your body. Hopefully some of these tricks will work. The good news is that it gets better and that you will learn to love your new buddy.
LG
TE MarieTE MarieMember
Brian,

I just wanted to add that I've been diagnosed with PTSD and I never served in the military. I know what severe untreated UC feels like and can only imagine how much worse it was in Iraq.

I had my take down 12/29/10 and hardly ever use psyllium or imodium anymore. I have good control and find that looser stools do not bother me like more formed ones do. I take imodium sometimes before bed or for a special occasion, like our son's wedding.

I've figured out how to eat bread, bagels, pasta etc. and what the effect will be on my BM's plus I'm still taking pain medication because of IPS, adhesions and cuffitis. It slows the system down as well.

Have you had a pouch scope yet? I waited too long to get one as I thought things were going to be that bad for a year. I scheduled one in January of this year and discovered I had cuffitis and a few months later found out I had C-diff along with my cuffitis. Both cause increased frequency, pain, and cuffitis bleeding and C-Diff causes fevers. SO I was pretty miserable dealing with both at the same time.

I'm in weekly therapy too and it is helping. I have a long way to go but it is helping.

My Internist told me the fiber was more important than the imodium so I backed off of imodium first then the fiber.

Take care and welcome to the board. Without the wonderful people here I don't know what I would have done the last 19 months!
TE Marie

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