It got better pretty quickly for me. Certain foods can make it worse (acidic or extra grainy for me; granola was the worst!) It's also worth trying other barrier creams besides Vaseline. I like A&D, but it's kind of like Vaseline. Also like Bag Balm. Some here like Calmoseptine, but I don't like the menthol part of that one. Get a Sitz Bath and soak from time to time.

I hardly ever get issues, though. It did get much better for me after the first 2-3 months.

2 months post takedown, I still have some problems, but they seem more hemorrhoid related than anything else.

The biggest thing I've done for this was buy a bidet. I was having a terrible time the first 3-4 weeks, and this changed everything overnight.

I'm also on an exceptionally bland diet (bagels, cheddar, chicken, dumplings, bananas). I'm hoping this will change soon, but so far, not a lot of luck.

I soak in the tub every day at some point, and use calmoseptine, which also helps.

Good luck!

I've tried other creams with zinc oxide and those always stung. It's good to know that it can get better.
Thought about getting a bidet, but for now I just use a perineal spray bottle.
Maybe you guys will think this is gross, but I usually only shower every other day. Always been like this, my skin gets too dry. Maybe I need to at least do a rinse and only soap every other day....
Thanks
Katie

I don't think it's strange at all to shower every two days, but with what you are currently up against, you definitely want something more than the tp can handle to keep your nethers clean.

Though I'm sure the spray bottle helps, the bidet is incredible. It's much more thorough than I expected it to be. Though they are a little pricey, they are really easy to install. Mine was in in 20 minutes, and I did it not long after surgery when I didn't want to do much. It's basically connecting a few hoses.

That's why I like my Sitz. I use it for my perianal fistula. Fill it up with the hottest water I can stand and soak my butt when it's bugging me. Cheaper than a bidet, and works just as well.

It does get better. I am two years post surgery and check in on the site from time to time. It really sucks for the first few months. I find the perianal region especially takes a beating in the winter. It got so much better for me, I stopped using my trusted calmoseptine and wet wipes entirely this past summer. Then the cold hit, and it got pretty bad, pretty fast.

If you live in a cold region, this can also add to the issues. But the burn has gone away, now its more dealing with the dry skin of winter and the constant wiping the region takes. I just stay away from all things spicy and I don't experience burn anymore.

This means no tomatoes, no bbq sauce, understand what alcohol will do, understand what high fat foods will do. I have found the I can eat higher fat foods and not experience a bad result now, but not at first. Also alcohol was out of the question until about a year after surgery. And then in extreme moderation because of hydration issues.

I'm gonna suggest you try Desitin to protect your skin and a teaspoon of powdered fiber to absorb some of your bile acids--Metamucil & Benefiber are two widely available brands. I took the former daily and never worried about the acidity of anything I ate. After a few days I even stopped needing the Desitin.

Good luck!

The very best investment I ever made in home improvement was to install a bidet in my bathroom. Sitz baths work but are so much more time consuming than pushing a button and getting a wonderful spray of warm/hot water in just the right place on my body! My TOTO Washlet Bidet has lasted over 10 years and works as well as it did the first day I used it.

Maybe I will break down and get a bidet, my husband has always wanted one.
So.....if I love tomatoes and fatty foods, do you think that as I recover I can still eat them and my body will get used to it and not have butt burn?
Thanks!
Katie

Most of us adapt, and don't restrict our diet on the basis of butt burn. I was just about immune to butt burn after a year or so.

Calmoseptine!

DEFINITELY get the bidet. I don't strictly need it now (it's just nice to have), but I really really needed it during first couple of months.

I have no problems with fatty, acidic, or spicy foods now. I do 'feel' spicy foods on their way out, but that's a trade off everyone (j-pouch or not) has to make, and it's no worse now than when I had a colon.

My bidet was cheap. (Blue Bidet Model: BB-1000) It only does water. No heater or bells and whistles. I also love a heating pad. I got sick of getting into a tub all the time and went to the heating pad. That was awesome. I would use my Desitin (Target brand is the cheapest) and the heat. Works awesome. I have had my bidet way before my surgery. I got it when all this **** (literally) started. I use it everyday. My hubby is going to run warm water to it instead of the cold water. But I don't mind the cold either. It is not freezing just colder. Also have you thought of buying a hand held shower head? You could get into the shower and just wash that area and use the shower head to rinse off. I feel so much better when I was down there and let the warm water rinse in that direction. I only use ivory soap also. I love the heat spraying on my bottom. Things do get better!!! I am exactly two years from my take down.......

I had terrible butt burn when I first got my pouch. A friend who also had a pouch recommeded Critic Aid and it was a godsend. This was over 20 years ago. I have since discovered Balmex. It is what mom's use for the babies with diaper rash and I like that even better. It is creamier. I don't go anywhere without it.

If I had to be on a deserted island and could only have one thing it would probably be Balmex.

I have to agree with deathstalker..Calmoseptine has been a life saver since day one.

BIDET changed my life-$200 for the toilet seat kind on ebay. It has WAY more than paid foritself in less $ spent on wipes, desatin, etc. not to mention eliminated what was chronic pain almost entirely.

I love to travel, but I hate to be away from my bidet Getting home to it is the best part of any vacation being over. I have various travel bidets and sitz, but nothing beats my BioBidet i3000!

home bidet, travel bidet and after bath coconut oil on perianal area. I promise that will make it 100 percent better.

The butt wipes killed me. Have you looked into dubicaine?? I know CVS carries there own brand. But they were out and I had to buy it on line. I also mix it with 40% zinc oxide from Target (I use there brand Up & Up) that is all I use and I hardly need it now unless I eat something I shouldn't but so far I am eating way to go. God has finally heard my prayers after 2 years of not eating and losing a lot of weight. Now I am gaining weight. YUH. Can't win, but sure is nice to eat. I am still taking pills but finally finding some happiness with food. Now I want to start tapering off my meds. God is great and heard my prayers. I am also grateful for this site. Many wonderful ideas and lots of understanding people. How luck we are to have this site!!! Good Luck. Dubicaine is not that much money. Go and buy that and zinc oxide 40% only and get yourself some relief......

My GI doc had to have the pharmacy make me up a special compound cream. It contains lidocaine and a anti inflammatory. It helps within minutes. I was to the point where I couldn't stand and would almost pass out fron the pain. And I'm 9 years post takedown. So its different for everybody.

I am 1 month post takedown and still working with my nurse to figure out how to reduce number of outputs. I know I'm not always emptying completely and get extreme butt burn when I have clusters- 3-4 modems in 30-40 minutes. Ouch! But, mostly I am getting better! I think wipes hurt but my leftover ostomy wipes are great. I wipe every time with Vaseline, then after drying use various products- Calmoseptine, even though it hurts, Balmex, AD, but mostly generous with Vaseline. My butt burn improved when she suggested these little butterfly pads to tuck up there. That means small amount output is wicked away fast, and it keeps ointment on the spot for longer. I know they sell pads at a Target, tho not so absorbent as hers. Was gonna look online, but actually the larger oval cosmetic pads at Target almost same size, very absorbent and truly I am hugely better since tucking after every BM. Good luck! I am happy to hear from experienced pouchers that this will get better!!

It has been a few weeks since I posted, and I'm happy to say that my butt burn is almost gone. We have a handheld shower head in our guest bathroom, so I've been popping in there for a quick rinse every day.
Still have butt burn on heavy output days, but it's nothing like it was 3 weeks ago!
Almost 3 months out of takedown here!
Katie

Hey ljz,

What's the name of the oval pads you're using? I saw an ad for the butterfly pads in a magazine (looking at continence ads in my 20s, yay!) but they looked EXPENSIVE.

I find that applying a thick layer of Vaseline or A& D ointment right before a movement helps protect the tissue.
I use Balmex afterwards. When I feel spasms and/or pain I sit on my heating pad.