I had my j-pouch done at the age of 16 (first surgery December 2006, reversal in March 2007) and I am now 28. I've thankfully never had any issues with my pouch until now, except for the occasional discomfort/gas issues because of something I ate.
I also stupidly never went for a colonoscopy (or "pouchoscopy") or follow up visit until 2015, 8 years after surgery. I was told everything was fine though. I went again this past September, again, everything was fine.
However, the past week or so I've had terrible constipation. The feeling like I have to go, but I have to push extremely hard and very little stool passes through. I've been pushing and wiping so much, that there is blood on the toilet paper. I've been using a lot of A&D ointment too. Not to be TMI, but I've slathered q-tips in A&D ointment and shoved them "up there" to relieve the irritation and have noticed a little blood on the q-tips too.
Last week, I took Linzess that my doctor prescribed me. That usually makes me go anytime I feel constipated and cleans me right out. Well the Linzess worked a little, but not like it normally does. I still feel like something is not coming out. Almost as if I have a blockage...my stomach is very bloated and I'm extremely uncomfortable, and I am now having a pressure-like pain around my anus too.
I've also felt a bit tired/weak the last few weeks, though not sure if that is related. Not to mention I was taking the weight loss drug Saxenda, which caused constipation as a side effect while I was on it, but it was never this severe and I stopped taking that over 2 weeks ago.
I am going to my doctor tomorrow, but just wanted to see if anyone here had any thoughts on what this could be.