confused about.xray results. please help

Hi Sara,

Sorry you are feeling poorly and that you are getting confusing results! It could be that you had pouchitis, though you may not have pouchitis now. It may have cleared up with antibiotics. I am just speculating, but based on the x-ray results and your GI's advice, it sounds like you are retaining stool. Antibiotics prescribed for pouchitis can thicken the stool, making it harder to pass, and the urgency and watery stools you were having before could have been signs of a partial blockage due to impacted stool (sometimes with a partial blockage can cause very watery stool as this can pass around the blockage). This is probably also the reason you are dehydrated. Magnesium citrate is a rather strong laxative and that is probably why your GI recommended it--to try to loosen whatever is sitting in your pouch. That being said, I would go easy on it. I was given milk of magnesia in the hosptial to try to "clear out my bowels" after my ileus resolved, and the results were quite messy. So try taking just a little bit at first, perhaps every hour or so, and see if that helps. It may also be worthwhile to call your GI's office with any further questions you may have - believe me, it's okay to tell your doctor when you don't understand something. Perhaps he can explain it to you differently. You may also want to ask about IV rehydration because it sounds like you may need it.

Thank you Spooky for taking The time to explain this all to me. I still feel very dehydrated so im a little hesitant to drink some magnesium citrate because it will dehydrate me even more by having all those loose stools. I better call my GI back and see what he recommends me to do. Ive been drinking tons of gatorade but i still do not feel better. Hopefully my Dr Will have more answers. of feeling like crap all The time.

If you are worried about taking a purgative laxative, how about just doing a Fleet enema? And if you are worried about the saline in that causing more dehydration, just pour it out and use plain, warm tap water, for a pouch rinse. You can repeat it until clear and your pouch is empty.

Jan