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6 months and doing fantastic

runner4449runner4449Member
Today marks 6 months since I had my take-down surgery. I'm doing very well, and would go through everything all over again to be where I'm at today.

I only take fiber capsules in the morning, and pepto at night (if need be)...sometimes midday as well. I can't remember the last time I took Immodium or needed cream for my hiney.

I've found that a higher protein/lower carb diet works really well for my jpouch. I also keep junk food and dairy to a minimum.

I honestly don't keep track of how often I use the restroom, but would guess about 4-6 times a day which is at least as often as I'm in there anyhow just to urinate. I almost never have to use the bathroom at night, and if I do it's just to urinate.

My running mileage is in the 30+ miles per week range, and I'll be running the Virginia Wine Country Half Marathon on 6/1 if any of you will be there. I haven't had any bathroom emergencies out on runs like I used to with UC!

I also work about 20-25 hours a week at a speciality running store, and am back to coaching. And last, but not least, I keep up with my husband, kids, dogs, cats, and chickens!! Life is very good, and I don't find living with my jpouch disruptive at all.

It's great to check in with this forum from time to time to see how folks are doing. I celebrate the ones who are having successes, and pray for those who are struggling. Take care!
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F FrustratedButFightingMember
So glad to hear this! I think with all the horror stories one can read about this take down surgery, it is important to share success stories such as yours! Luckily, I too am about in the same boat as you. I am about 5 weeks out from my take down, and things are pretty "normal", I am able to eat pretty much what I like, not living in the bathroom, and was able to get out and about in Washington D.C. for a few days. Hope the good news just keeps on coming your way! God bless.
H hfcMember
Glad to hear you are doing well. Keep running. I am now nine years after j-pouch, fifty three, running 3 marathons a year and hope to do an ironman next year. We are headed to New Zealand this fall for a marathon. I hope to get a marathon on every continent by the time I am 60. We have done North America, Tromso Norway, Great Wall of China so far. We are on the list for Antarctica in 2015.
runner4449runner4449Member
jodiloveslife - Thank you! Also, you really didn't know you had UC? What a shocker that must of been. I knew I had UC, but had no idea the reason I was so sick was because of it. I was pretty shocked, too, when I was hospitalized and told I needed surgery because I was on "death's door".

frustratedbutfighting - Good to hear you are doing well, too. I agree that people should not be shy about sharing their successes. People need to know that the vast majority of people have great success with their pouches.

kathy smith - My mom used to say that normal was just a setting on the dryer, but I'll take it compared to life with UC. Smiler

hfc - I remember you filling me in on how running was/is for you back when I first joined this group, and was very anxious about the take-down. I thank you again for chiming in here. I had someone ask me just today if I was able to run without using the restroom. My response is that I actually am better than my non-jpouching friends that run. I ran 10 miles this morning with three of them, and all of them hit the port-a-john except for me. I plan on doing IM Wisconsin in 2014. Keep me posted if that's the one you end up doing. And a marathon on each continent is a great bucket list. What a feat it will be to have them all done.

Good night all!
P PlankrunMember
Hi

This is really interesting to hear. I am currently with ileostomy since Jan, and considering j-pouch surgery. I am based in the UK and a very keen runner, and was manageing a couple of marathons a year with UC although by the time of my ileostomy running was getting a bit challenging, and ther ewere a number of leaping in to bushes incidents! One of the things that I have enjoyed about having the ielostomy is the control that I have when running. I am really concerned that if I had J-pouch surgerey that I would lose some of that control again when running...
So it is really interesting to hear about your experiences. Do you really not get any urgency when running?
H hfcMember
Getting into running after a J-Pouch/colectomy involves going slow, and figuring out what works for you. I had my surgery in 2004. I did not start running till 2009 when I was rising 50 and decided I wanted to run a marathon. I signed with a trainer; did about 70% of what she told me, had one of her friends pace me in the Philly 2009 marathon, and got a qualifying time for Boston. I used a back back hydration system with one of the excelerade type protein repletion solutions. I have since found that these foam, make me burp and need to have a bm. Now, I stick to getting hydration on the course, have gel packets every 30 mins.

You need to start to run, experiment with what works for you.

I always carry baby wipes in a ziploc, have a fanny pack (you don't need a big one), and try to keep hydrated/salt repleted. I ran Boston last year (course temperature > 95 F), was sensible, and did ok. I did Great Wall of China (dry and hot and smoggy) a month after, and survived. I did most things right, but I like my beer, and sometimes don't listen to my trainer.

Start slow, make sure you have a plan for energy, salt, and water, and make sure you try things in training before the big day.
runner4449runner4449Member
I really don't have the urge to go anymore. I go before I head out for my run, and then I'm good to go. My longest run has been 10 miles, so time will tell if this success will continue as I head out on longer and longer runs.

I use Hammer Nutrition products...gel, sports drink, and recovery drink. Have found them to be gentle on my GI system, and I like the taste, too. As the weather warms up I'm going to experiment with salt capsules. I already can tell heat will be an issue, so we'll see how I navigate that this summer.

I agree with hfc...always train/practice with nutrition and hydration so you know what will work on race day.
J JGMember
I'm about 1.5 years since my one stage J pouch surgery. I ran my first marathon in January 2013 in Miami. I've found that if I do not eat before running, I don't feel sick (probably nothing to do with the J pouch) and I don't need to stop to use the bathroom more than 1-2 times in a really long run..like 20+ miles. I did at least 12-14 miles on a reg basis without having to stop using this method...and apparently I had pouchitis during this time and didn't realize it. I got on antibiotics just before the marathon (about 3-4 weeks before) and I could tell a major difference.

So...kudos to you all as well...running again and doing my first marathon was important to me and a big deal since I wasn't sure what impact the pouch would have on my life. I didn't train with more than one water break...and drank small amounts the day of the race throughout the course..and did fine. Drinking or eating the gels mostly made me feel sick, sluggish and have to use the bathroom..lol. Everyone is different I am sure, but I was super concerned about getting dehydrated as I ran more and more miles, but it didn't end up being an issue at all! I do recommend carrying a few baby wipes though!
runner4449runner4449Member
Great job! No need for me to use the bathroom out on my runs at this point, so hoping I never find the need to go, but have wipes just in case. I think most distance athletes (even those with their colon) have a wipe or two on hand. A lot can happen out on those long runs and rides no matter who you are! Anyhow, I'm fine with gels, and was before my jpouch, too. As long as I can stay hydrated as it heats up this summer (which I think I'll be okay with), it'll be just like before I had a jpouch...UC even.

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