Discomfort forever?

Hi Steph, I am four weeks out and all I can say is that I have the same feeling as you do but it is definitely lessening. Hopefully it will lessen over time for you as well. I grilled my GI as to whether this is a symptom of anything and she says it is just a symptom of pouch adaptation.

I feel a constant pressure (anal/rectal) area sometimes, and other times (especially at night) I have pressure that comes and goes like a spasm. I was prescribed Levsin, an anti-spasmodic, to help with that. Honestly I haven't noticed a big difference when I take the Levsin, but I know others here have (the other common one is called Bentyl) so you might want to ask about that as well.

6 weeks is way to early to be giving up on your pouch already. You are experiencing normal progression for this major operation. It is going to be uncomfortable for a little while enough to play mind games on you and question your decision. Does this last forever.....NO. As time goes on you will see these types of annoyances lessen. I'm almost 6 months post takedown and I still have some of the same experiences but it was definitely more constant in the beginning. This isn't a surgery to rush. It takes a while to feel "normal" and get used to how things are gonna be. I believe you will begin to get more comfortable over time. Its all a learning process and you're going to learn that there are certain things that you can do such as diet adjustments to make things easier on your pouch. You are way early in your recovery and you need to have some patience to help you through. I could tell you that most people at 6 weeks feel like you do so don't get discouraged.

The post-takedown experience is different for everyone so a lot of surgeons don't tell you there will likely be a period of "adjustment" (never did like that terminology). How long it lasts is up to your body - hard to tell. However, you might start trying to implement some of the pouchitis relief preventatives / remedies since they seem to help before anything else.

I'm not saying you have pouchitis because you likely don't. However, it takes time for your body to heal and get its intestinal flora back in line and things like probiotics and antacids may help speed that along (though ramp up slowly on any probiotics so you're not creating even more gas).

This will pass... we just can't guarantee how long it will take. For me it took months, and I was miserable. I empathize that hearing it will take time is not helpful, but it is true

Steve

i've had that uncomfortable feeling for quite a long time--it's much better than it was but i still experience it at night sometimes (my reversal was in nov of last year). it drives me crazy because there's not much i can do to make it go away. sometimes taking a warm bath and/or laying down seems to help a bit.

Thanks fr the advice guys! It's a very frustrating process and I know time heals but Jeese does it pass slowly when you feel rubbish! I can see its all starting to calm down slightly but when the sort of spasms arnt there I feel great! I almost feel normal for a short lived period of time!

Yeah a hot bath always helps me for sure! My wound has came open though so I have to have the shallowest bath ever and it gets cold really quick! Haha

Bring on the healing!!

Steph xoxo