I can pass gas, but I'm always a bit scared to do it as you never know for sure. At home I don't worry too much, but when out and about I prefer to go to the restroom or hold it just in case. I think in eight years of having a j-pouch, I've had accidents when passing gas a total of three times, but even that is enough to make me wary.

kta,

I had my J Pouch since 1994 and I learned a long time ago never to pass gas unless I am on the toilet. I have to as I have no other choice, otherwise, I will have an accident.

Rocket

Gas is one of the most annoying parts of having a J Pouch, and one of the many reasons I regret getting a pouch. Sometimes I can pass gas when I'm lying down. That doesn't really help me though when I'm sleeping and gas wakes me up. In that case since I can't tell the difference if it's just gas or a BM, I get up and go to the bathroom

I can pass little ones, but never do when away from home. It doesn't bother me as I usually went to the loo to pass gas when away from home anyway.

One of the first things my husband said about my surgeries was "Are you going to be able to fart", LOL.

I can pass gas but I usually will not attempt to do so if I'm standing....although I have done it successfully. Sitting or lying down seems to work better. Knock wood in two years I haven't had a mis-hap. Of course now that I've said that....... Lol

For me and for now at least it seem like gas sits on the top of the excrement in my pouch. I never get the feeling to fart, but after I empty my pouch of a good deal, I can fart on the toilet, sometimes releasing discomfort.

Maybe this will change over time, but I like the system right now, never feeling like you have to fart means never having to guess on it.

I've been experiencing that too. Passing a lot of gas after
having a BM not beforehand.

I as well only pass gas after a BM. The exception has been when I have an obstruction my obstructions are always at the inlet to the pouch then I will pass gas but only while lying down on my side this happens when the cramping trys to pass stool of course I only pass gas it releves some of the pain but not all for sure.

im five months out and wouldnt consider myself experienced, but i can rather easily pass gas while laying down...occasionally i can while standing...

oh all together, i definitely have to "push" harder to get gas out than before the surgeries...

I consider gas my "duct cleaner". It is usually the finale after having had a b.m. On the toilet. I can pass gas while lying down because somehow in that position it has risen above any effluent ready to come out. But, I'm not usually willing to take the chance on just passing the gas. Time to head to the toilet.

I never try to pass gas unless at the toilet but strangely I do not feel as though I need to. Perhaps it is the diet I follow- few vegs/fruit because it causes pain and increased visits to the toilet.I am slowly introducing veg/fruit.Will see what happens then.

My stoma team post-takedown were adamant that I should never take the risk of trying to fart - they said it just wasn't worth the bother. Means when I do go the loo it is quite gassy. Also means when I'm full up, it gets quite rumbly, and everyone assumes I'm very hungry when in fact the opposite is true...

CDub you need to give it a try after so many years I bet you can fart. Just do it while laying down, gravity and all, at home. It makes me feel better to get rid of the gas.

Okay, thanks, maybe I will! It's never bothered me, really. I tried once not long after takedown, which obviously wasn't a very good idea at that stage ...

I've had my j-pouch for about 15 years and it took me about 4 years before I "learned to fart" again... For years I thought I just would never fart again, but now I can... When I'm laying down it is definitely easier than standing or sitting... I agree with the other posters who said it can be a little risky, but I generally can tell when its "just a fart" or it could be messy... lol... I too generally only do it at home, as I'm not usually laying down out and about...

One of my few regrets of a jpouch is the loss of the ability to fart on demand and/or having the fear that something else will come out if I do.

My wife like it though, but says that sometimes I will fart in my sleep, I guess as my muscles relax in a deep sleep.

every nighyt when i go to bed i lay on my stomach and let er rip "no pun intended" seriosly it makes me feel great

I agree...I need to know this answer as well..lol

It is interesting to find so many who can only fart lying down. I had sepsis and ileus after my first sugery and ileus after takedown. Both times the only way I could get any gas/fluid out was lying down. Sitting on the toilet or walking produced absolutely nothing. I ended up wearing nappies and just had to let rip lying down. Bright green fluids out of both ends like something out of Alien!! The worst thing was some of the nurses attitues, clearly did not believe me. At my lowest point I was so distended I couldn't even roll over let alone change myself, which I had been doing. Surgeon and Dr's were brilliant they said "great, you have to get it out and if that's working keep going!!"
So lesson is, better out than in.....4 months on and happly lying down farting!

I've been belching a lot. Much more than before the surgeries. I think that's an excellent way to get the gas out!

My former boss, Vern, told me that his wife was mad at him. Their 5 year old son was farting during breakfast, again, and his frustrated wife said "Vern can't you do something about him, it's not funny", so Vern told his son it wasn't polite to fart in public. The little boy said "But dad, I have all of this gas. What am I supposed to do?" Vern said, "Let out a big burp." They got divorced around 10 years after that.

Ive tried it carefully a few times but can't relieve enough to make a difference. I think what wakes me up at night is mostly from gas pressure, if only I could relieve that. I've thought about a small tube that could somehow vent gas while I'm sleeping :-/

I might have the oddest jpouch. I can pass gas safely laying on my side. I only do it if I am sure there is nothing else. I can generally tell by the nature of the pressure.

Same as others here.....only if I'm on the toilet. I told my husband....they took my "fahtah" out when they put the j-pouch in!

When I had UC it took a couple years to learn to differentiate between the subtle sensations of whether it was just gas or whether something other than gas might come out. I wonder if going through this process once already with UC will help me to already have some of this skill down for after I have my take-down? Or is it all just completely different since the plumbing down there is different equipment? Can anyone else make this comparison??

Bootstrap....yes it is very similar to when you have loads of UC mucus, you have to try and will know just before the abort option is no longer available!!! The difference for me is that since I have had my J-Pouch there have been no instances when there is absolutely no abort option once the process has started.....full control....YAY!!!

Haha! Thanks, Kiwi, that is good to know!!