AngieB…I also seem to do much better at home.  I bring my lunch everyday at work and eat in my work truck.  I have to search for a restroom every day before I start my lunch..  I have been doing this now for 1 year and I guess I just got used to it….. I don’t have any advice for you but just wanted you to know you are not alone, the frustration is real.  Maybe Imodium will work for you during the day.  For me it makes my pouch hard to empty so I only can use it once every few days to try and get a full night of sleep.   Good luck to you and hope you find a great solution…….👍🏼✨🌺💪

Thank you Ryan ❤️

AngieB I feel your frustration. I don’t eat much when I’m out either. I never know when my pouch will “act up” and I’m searching for a bathroom. I eat very little at work for lunch, and stick with “safe foods” for me.

I have found that I do better eating small meals more often. Eating a large meal does me in every time.

Good luck to you,

Mrs. P

Hey Mrs P thanks for your response. I think I will try eating small meals as well to see how I do. Appreciate the tip!♥️

Hi Angie! I've had my pouch since 1991 and I've learned to live with it... it gets easier once your know your trigger points . Any exercising, sports, shopping or walking or certain foods, like chocolate, I look for a John so I have a plan. Try taking only half an Imodium, at bedtime  or when shopping or use a treadmill.  Find your happy balance. I wear a LONG, thin ALWAYS pad (thinner than DEPENDS products) for incontinence in case I have leakage and carry an extra pad AND either triple antibiotic creme or Calmoseptine in my make up bag. After a while this becomes your NEW NORMAL.  No one know what you are going through and it is private. But when I compare  this management to my life BEFORE  my surgery, I realize that as difficult as this is in the beginning, this is a blessing. I promise, you will find what works for you to manage all of this. Ps. I carry Imodium in my purse too alone with Phazyne. I pray you find your comfort zone soon. Take care  🙏🥰

Thank you so much Drbev603. I am trying and get so frustrated. It doesn’t even matter how little I eat. Do you suggest I take Imodium before I go out as I have tried that as well

Angie,  I find that exercise,  including walking, mobilizes my j-pouch.  Now,  as a runner,  skier,  golfer, hiker I've had to make some adaptations.  I do best if my active time occurs in the morning,  or at least 6/7 hours after eating so I can go before I start.  Then if I need a snack while I'm out I usually have a protein bar that seems to digest slowly. 

@Angieb posted:

Hello all I have a Jpouch

Ive noticed after eating when I’m home I do not have to go to the bathroom right away. But if Im out  let’s say at mall and I eat before I shop . Once I start walking around for approximately 10-15 mins I get the urgency to go and can’t hold it and have to use the bathroom right away. Is it because I’m walking right after eating. I don’t understand why that happens its so frustrating. It seems like I can’t eat anything if I’m not at home . Does this happen to anyone else. I’m thinking not to eat out if not going home straight away. Should I take Imodium before I leave the house and before I eat? If I take it right after I eat I don’t see it working because it wouldn’t have time to digest. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I want to be able to enjoy eating out and walking around a mall or any where for that matter after eating.

HI Angie. I've had my pouch for 27 years and find that when I am most anxious about having to use the bathroom (malls, long meetings at work, airplanes, at a friend's house for dinner) is exactly when I get this feeling like I NEED to use the bathroom. I believe that it's a bit of a Pavlovian response for me because, like you, I'm never rushed about it in the comfort of my own home. Even working from home during Covid has been telling because I hardly use the bathroom at all during the work day now whereas at the office I'd be in and out of the can several times a day.

Would you be comfortable wearing a pad and finding a place to sit, near the bathroom at the mall, but not in it. Just to wait out the feeling for few minutes to see if it's your mind doing all the instigating?

Yes! I agree with all 3 responses! I don't leave the house in the morning or get on the PHONE  until I go. If I must leave the house early, I don't eat b4 I leave and take A 20g protein bar with me and eat after the meeting or shopping, etc.I usually try to go before I go to bed so I don't have an accident. If I feel I might  need to go during the night, I take half an Imodium. But I always wear a LONG  thin ALWAYS pad JUST in case. If I go out to eat dinner, I hate it but, I frequently end up going b4 we leave. I haven't tried Imodium BEFORE  I eat. Keep up your strength and health with 1 or 2 Premier Pr/day. I mix VANILLA  with my coffee and carry a COLD cup everywhere all day. Make sure you take a good multivitamin  so while you are figuring your path out you stay strong and healthy. And lots of liquid replacement so you don't get dehydrated which affects EVERYTHING ! Chocolate gives me diarrhea. Good luck....it just takes time and patience. To your health!🙏☺