A typical day for me is once when I get up (~7am), once in the afternoon (~1pm), once before I workout (~5pm), once after dinner (~8pm), and once right before bed (~11pm). I get up in the middle of the night about 2/3 of the time, so my normal is 5-6 times/day.

Looking at that I suppose I do go more in the afternoon and evening than in the morning. I'm about 10 months post takedown.

Yes, I think most of us have more activity in the late afternoon/evening hours. Now that I think about it, it was that way too when I still had UC.

My j pouch is very quiet between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm. After that it gets much more active. I'm going on four years now with my j pouch and average 4-6x a day.

Yes, very similar to you. Typical day would be when I wake up, at lunch, late afternoon, then probably 3 times from 5-10 pm. If I'm treating my pouchitis, I don't go at night. If I'm not on antibiotics, then I go much more often and a couple times at night.

I really hope I get down to 5-6 times a day! Thanks for sharing.
Katie

I am 4+ years post takedown. I typically go once in the morning (usually soon after I wake up)and then I don't feel the need to empty again until later in the afternoon (after 4PM) or if I have a light lunch/no lunch, I may not go again until after dinner (7PM) but I do typically go once after dinner and at least one more time before bed. I typically go 3-4 times a day. It all depends on how much I eat. If I eat a big breakfast & lunch, I probably would feel the need to empty in the early afternoon but I tend to have a light breakfast (if any) & a light lunch. My biggest meal is dinner.

I'm over 6 years post takedown. My frequency can vary day to day. Though I don't specifically count my BMs, I'm usually in the 4-8 range.

On an average day (weekday), my pattern would be pretty much as follows: once upon awakening at 7 am (though sometimes I may have a second, smaller BM within an hour likely because I'm up and walking around and getting the gut moving). I then sometimes go once mid-moring (10-11 am), once around 4:30pm (I try to empty before I hit the gym), usually once after dinner (8-9 pm), and then before bed (11-11:30 pm). Overnight, I might be up once (typically between 3-4 am if I do get up), or not at all. It's 50/50 these days.

Some days I might go a couple of times in the evening after dinner, depending on what and when I've eaten. There are also days where I won't go at all between getting up in the morning and about 4 pm. On weekends, the schedule might also vary because I tend to eat a different times.

Varies. At 23 years post... About 1-2 morning times, once around lunch, one around dinner, once in evening... I always empty before bed (even without a major urge), then I sleep thru the night, unless I ate or drank something indiscriminately in the late evening, then I MIGHT go around 1-3am, but that's rare. So low average of about 5-6x a day.

Several times upon awakening between 5 and 7 AM,(it seems like my gut is slow to get moving so I go a couple of times getting ready for the day) then once after breakfast with coffee, 7:30, once early afternoon, 1PM, once later afternoon 5PM, and then right before I go to bed 9 or 10 PM. I typically get up and go once or twice during the night. But, for me, it's kind of unpredictable lately as I think I have pouchitis or SIBO or both, and thus have been going more frequently. Also, I just have more bathroom trips if I am pushing fluids. I lose count it's so often.

I, too, go several times after arising. Then no more action for several hours. I don't really keep track of the # of times I empty anymore (after 12 years, or so). If I am heading out to somewhere which will involve driving some distance, I make sure to empty my pouch before taking off. I do the same thing if I know I am going to be "stuck" in a lecture, etc. I really like the J-pouch's ability to cooperate with me in this way! Once or twice in the afternoon and a couple of times during the night.....depending upon what I have eaten. I try to remember to empty before bed. Sometimes I forget and pay the price for it later. Once I'm in bed I am too lazy to get up and empty if I have forgotten to do so. Guess I'd rather be awakened from a deep sleep!

Bebekspor,

I'm similar to you. I go once or twice in the morning, once around lunch, once or twice in the afternoon, and once or twice in the evening. I'm lucky in that I rarely go during the night. I'm 4 1/2 months post takedown, and am still heavily affected by gas, though it's getting better. My frequency is higher when I'm at work, which is usually out of caution to go when I know I'll have time. Honestly, on weekends, I go far less frequently as I'm on my own schedule and just hold it.... Unless I eat something that doesn't work well, then anything can happen. The only other thing that still upsets my frequency is if/when I aggravate a hemorrhoid. That leads to a feeling of urgency and more frequent trips.

Mgmt, I suspect we have quiet mornings and busy afternoons because we haven't eaten all night. Our morning BMs are emptying us out almost completely, and have had a little more time in the pouch to have the liquid absorbed. After we go in the morning, it's going to take a few hours for new material to move through (the quiet time), and since during the day we won't sleep through some of the feelings that the new content creates, we go a little more frequently. That's how it seems to be with me, at least. Sorry if that's stating the obvious, but none of this seems obvious to me!

just curious since I havent had take down yet. what is emptying like. How long do you feel something is in the pouch for before you decide to empty it, and then do you just give a push and everything comes out. is there times when you feel nothing down there. Is the sensation of a full pouch felt really low. Sorry to be a pain and deviate from the thread.

I can't really explain the sensation, but you definitely know when you need to empty. I feel it low down, a bit of pressure, though if I'm not near a bathroom, I can defer it. It's not really that different to what you might feel with a normal BM, but then again, I haven't had my colon going on 9 years now, so I've kind of forgotten what a normal BM feels like so I might be a tad off *LOL*. But you use the same muscles to empty as you did when you had your colon. You shouldn't need to strain, and in fact that is not recommended. Gas can occasionally be a little reluctant to want to pass, especially shortly after your takedown when you might have more of it, but I find that drawing my knees up or rocking a bit back and forth on the toilet does help.

In the early days, having a BM or emptying might be associated with spasms of the rectal muscles, but for me, those passed after the first 6-8 weeks. Those can be uncomfortable, but pretty normal as your body adjusts. If they are really bad, you can be prescribed antispasmodics.

thanks

Dear allswell,
My pouch has been acting up of late so going to the bathroom has not been my usual pouch emptying experience, but when functioning well the sensation "to go" feels much like when I had a colon......a bit of pressure, and a signal to find a toilet for movement. I do not have urgency and can hold it a long time but still, I am aware of needing to go to the bathroom. The actual "going" is a little different as I'm likely to pee as well as pass stool together, so less separation between the two evacuations then I had with a colon. Also, I cannot "go" and "complete going" as quickly. It was hard to learn this fact as I tend to be impatient and wanted to pee and poop in a whoosh as before and with a j-pouch it takes me a few minutes longer. For some reason I need to relax a little more and the passage of stool (sometimes with gas)is just a bit slower. I hope this helps. I don't think you will find the signal to empty surprising and hopefully all will go smoothly for you as you learn more about living with a j pouch.

For me, the J pouch when functioning properly, "usually" allows me to be in and out much faster than when I had a colon, or faster than other members of my family when they are using the toilet.

I dislike the feeling of having to go. For a long time, it felt like I was actually having a bowel movement. Well, it still does, only not as strong. Not pleasant when you are sitting at the dinner table feeling like you are pooping! Lol.
If I went every time I felt that, I'd be in the bathroom 25 times a day. It's not a constant feeling for me, it starts, lasts about 10 seconds then subsides. It comes back at intervals, like contractions. I can usually hold it from 30-40 minutes once I get the feeling, although sometimes I misjudge and don't make it to the bathroom on time :/
Still having off and on control issues 5 months post takedown.
I do push a bit when I go, not really straining though, is that normal?
Thanks

Ugh, I go at least 10 times a day within a 24 hour period. That includes once or twice during the night.

I wake up at about 7 and I go. I have breakfast and I go again. Before lunch I go a 3rd time. Sometime after lunch I go again and before I leave work I go again. So that is 5 times.

Then when I get home I have to go again. Have dinner and I go again. That is 7 times. Typically, I go again about 2 more times before I go to bed. That is 9 times. Then once or twice during the night. So that is 10 or 11 times.

I really should invest all my money in toilet paper companies cause I make them WEALTHY!
Rocket.

Interesting question.

An "Average" day (Work Day) is the following

1) 6:30am (Immediately after waking up)
2) 6:50am (Right before shower - to ensure I am empty for the day)
3) 2:00pm
4) 6:30pm
5) 8:30pm (sometimes)
6) 10:30pm (always make sure I have an urge to empty before falling asleep)
7) Middle of night (50% of the time)