Sonny, I remember feeling so upset early on, too. A one month old jpouch is young and still adjusting. How's your diet been? Are you introducing foods slowly? Eating smaller amounts? If you're just going a lot right now without pain, don't be afraid to try Immodium. It certainly can't hurt.

Lambiepie  thank you for reaching out I appreciate it unfortunately I don't eat much . one time a day like I have been for some time now for the last for five days I ate one sandwich which is a grill chicken and rice a day for some reason today was just a bad I don't eat 5/6 small meals because I'm barely eating one  i'm scared to introduce new foods yesterday I had Lactaid milk with plain Crispix cereal  and I paid for it dearly like I am today for some reason for eating the same thing I have been eating for 5/6 days straight a grilled chicken sandwich and rice not really sure what's going on I don't know if I should take Imodium to slow things down or Metamucil wafers bars I'm just at my wits end

Hi Sonny, I am 3 years post j-pouch and still take 10 Gastro Stop tablets every day.  If I don't take 2 of these tablets before eating I have BM the consistency of water.  
Even when doing this, and 3 years on I am still finding there's certain foods I can't eat because of the re-action/watery BMs or burning BMs..... some that come to mind are onions, apples, berries, red wine.... there are many more but they're just some I can think of.

Don't be scared to eat, you just may be one of those people who need to have something to slow down the BMs.

One important piece of advice though, is given you're only 1 month post j-pouch, the scarring around the surgical sites are still healing, they may be swollen, so you really must be cautious what you eat and that it can break down easily.  2 weeks after my final surgery, I ate chick peas, thinking I was being healthy.  The swell up inside and because blocked, hence spent the next 3 weeks in hospital again - blockage turned into infection & it just got worse.

The take home message is eat, eat carefully and supplement with Gastro Stop (or similar)

So sorry - I know this is just such an awful feeling and you think "it won't get better"....I have had pouch 30 years - been through what you experienced and more -but it's been many more good times than bad with it.  I know the panic - if that continues, consider getting help from a counselor....to help deal with anxiety.  Not saying you must take a pill - but talk therapy and cognitive therapy can help...I myself take meds for anxiety/depression - but that came later and they do help me.  Hang in there...we are thinking of you out here.

I second what Angie said. My therapist helped me through my UC/jpouch years and my fears, anxiety and feelings of lack of control. She helped me to stay in the moment and work with what I had rather than go to the worst case scenario. Sonny, it's certainly something to consider. 

SonnyJ215---My recommendation is Patience. When I was out 1 month of having my new Jpouch, I was having 16-33 BM's a day. I took benefiber in daily coffee for about a month and was taking immodium here and there. I stopped taking these because I did not notice it making a difference. I remember being very frustrated as well as in pain from BB. I would stop eating things that I thought was the culprit, but if it was food I really liked, I ended up trying again and would not have an issue. I did give up fried foods....for now and I plan to try eating raw vegetables after a year. My 1 year anniversary will be 4.28.16. At this point, I now have approximately 4 BM's a day...and have some days it's been 2-3. I do not frequent this site since I am doing so good, however this site was very helpful to be especially right after my surgery. I wish you luck in your recovery.  

try Metamucil - although i would suggest the powder as its already broken down vs the wafers. and also try the Immodium, but try them separately so you can try to figure out the impact.

it gets better. the early days are often the most difficult. that is until something else fun like pouchitis happens....just kidding, seriously the early days of adjustment are an um er adjustment.

also i find not eating does nothing, my bowels and peristalsis will not be stalled regardless of input. in fact i would almost believe that having an empty stomach will lead to more bowel movements, but i wonder if that has become more so because we also yanked a faulty gallbladder so maybe i have a bile issue... who knows. but i do know it will get better than it is now.

hang in there, try a few different things, most especially binding type foods. think creamy peanut butter, bananas, rice, marshmallows, yes marshmallows, potatoes. i think if you reference the dietary guidelines found here underthe information tab you might find further ideas. avoid highly fibrous foods, especially INSOLUBLE fiber, ironically soluble fiber might help.

Thank you DeweyJ I really appreciate the supporting words of wisdom and to everyone that left me a comment means a lot to me 

Angie Wilson posted:

So sorry - I know this is just such an awful feeling and you think "it won't get better"....I have had pouch 30 years - been through what you experienced and more -but it's been many more good times than bad with it.  I know the panic - if that continues, consider getting help from a counselor....to help deal with anxiety.  Not saying you must take a pill - but talk therapy and cognitive therapy can help...I myself take meds for anxiety/depression - but that came later and they do help me.  Hang in there...we are thinking of you out here.

I too have a long term J pouch.  Mine was in 1984.I had Ulcerative Coliis for 10 years prior and was told I was at risk for colon cancer.  I would not be without mine.

The first year after surgery was a nightmare. I had dehydration, swollen legs and several problems. The main problem was that I had Compazine poisoning and after 5 different doctors telling me basically it was all in my head, a sweet nurse in the ER diagnosed me with Compazine poisoning (symptoms similar to Parkinsons and stroke). Four hours on Benadryl IV and no more problems. Only took about a year of "hell" to find out what was wrong - so always check side effects of any meds you are taking.  

Never take what a doctor tells you as "gospel". If something does not seem right, be your own advocate.  Get onto the Internet, research, research. However, don't let it take over your life. I had a "gurgly stomach" and we used to joke and say it was my "growly".  Embarrassing when in company but I just explained it that way and would laugh.

Remember your small intestilne is doing the job of your large intestine. I had not taken much Compazne for nausea but enough obviously to cause problems.  I was told to take Gatorade and Metamucil powder twice a day and take Lomotil for runny stools.  I had a bag for about three months.  I went back into  hospital with dehydration. Was told to eat several small meals per day and they gave me a suggested diet. Eventually J pouch settled down after I was "joined up".  I would get the occasional "blockage" - my own fault I was not being careful.  Had a blockage from eating a lot of grapes. Was told I had to "peel" grapes, so just do not eat them. Asked surgeon "Who peels grapes?"  He said "You do". I was told to drink water and walk. My husband and I have travelled to Europe several times as I am English, and I did fine.

I went along fine (with some hiccups) until 1994 and for the next 5 years my life was a nightmare. I had lots of problems and was sent to so many doctors with so many different ideas.  I felt I was very toxic and told my husband if they did not find out what was wrong, I would die. Finally in 1999 surgeon said "Mary, there is only one more test we can do". I said "Do it now". They put barium into my butt and bladder and had me eliminate and filmed the elimination. So I was toxic. Result:  Some staples had come loose and I was eliminating from two places.  Surgeon redid the J pouch and after the recovery time I did pretty good (as well as you can with a J pouch). I really watch what I eat and even after all this time I always take my Gatorade and Metamucil twice a day. Several doctors have told me to try new things, but they never work so i just stay with what I know works.  I never eat pepper as it burns my mouth (they told me not to eat it after initial surgery). They also told me I would get arthritis as I got older.  Having a family history of arthritis and being told after J pouch I would get arthritis, I have it all over my body now. I am 76.

I had a heart procedure in Jan and since then I have been "leaking feces and often I do not feel it slipping out.  I have always worn a sanitary pad every day. Soon after my J pouch op I was at a wedding and my husband came up behind me and said  "You have leaked".  I was so embarrassed so wearing the pad stops me from being anxious about "leaks".  I also use Calmoseptine ointment  after every BM (I buy the jar not the tube(hard to get it all out) on Amazon. I am having a pouchoscopy this week to see if I have pouchitis.  I think I have only had pouchitis a couple of times since 1984. Occasionally I do an enema if I start to swell up. 

Do not give up. A J pouch lets you swim and gives you so much freedom that an external bag could never do.  People often ask "Where is your pouch"  When I say inside they are amazed.  Hang in there.  You now have made a major change in your life. Relax as much as you can.  Sometimes a heating pad on the belly relaxes things in there.  I wish you well so just hang in there.

Wow - a kindred spirit - I had the Compazine thing too - ER and IV benydryl - twice.  Have had many of same problems - and yes, it's all been worth it.  I think I was about 30 when I had the Compazine issue- had a day surgery for ovary issue and this was for nausea...wow - that was fun!  Ovaries, uterus, etc. are long gone now - you gotta laugh at how much they can take out of you and yep - you still function. The toxic thing is something I will bring up to my GI person - something is off for me now.  You are so right - you have to push and push and push to get a diagnosis..hard to push when you feel so bad, but it is a must at certain times. Thanks for sharing your story and your excellent advice and attitude! Angie

Unfortunately I am getting my j-pouch removed in the morning.  I have had a permanent ileostomy the last 6 months and it is not horrible.  I was covering it up with press and seal wrap and expensive waterproof tape to shower. I read a comment by a gal that goes swimming in the ocean and gets wet whenever she takes showers and so on.  She has never had a problem with it leaking.  I started showering and bathing with nothing over it and she is right.  All I do is use a hair drier on low and air heat to dry it.  

MARYLOR has posted a lot of important information.  I just wanted to explain that there is no problem of wearing an ileostomy bag while swimming, bathing and at my house going in the hot tub. I bought a wide band that has a shelf like thing to put my stoma bag in and wear it under my swimming suit.  It keeps it from dangling around and I can't feel it after I get my swimming suit on.

I wish I had been able to keep my j-pouch but after trying for 5+ years I need to have it removed.  I don't want to try any other internal pouch as I am 60 and want to get on with my life.  I am so glad I trusted others who said that a permanent ileostomy was nothing like a temporary one.