Hi everyone...
just wanted to share my good news. I just had my first annual checkup this past Thursday with Dr. Wexner at the Cleveland Clinic Florida and he said that my progression is perfect and my j-pouch looks great! He gave me a clean bill of health.
He did a rectal exam and then a scope. Not very fun, but bearable. He said things looked so good that he changed my follow-ups from being annually to every two years (although I was looking forward to going to Florida once a year)!
Here are some of my progress notes for new J-pouchers...I am 10 months post ileostomy closure:
~ I go 5-6 times during the day: With one in the morning and the next not until 2-4pm and then about every two hours after that until I go to bed. I then do not need to wake up at night;
~ I take two 2 mg of Imodium in the morning and two 2 mg of Imodium before bed;
~ At night time, I may leak a very tiny amount (like a drop), but it has caused irritation in the past, so I use a pantyliner and some calmoseptine to protect the area...I'm sure I can stop this soon;
~ I went through physical therapy for two months after my 8 week post op checkup, so that I could strengthen my stomach muscles and improve elasticity;
~ I saw a nutritionist for the two months after my 8 week post op checkup to help with finding the foods that are good for my J-pouch and to help with some weight gain that I had with eating crap while on the ileostomy bag. I now see her once every two months as a check in, but have figured out what is good or not;
~ I installed a bidet on my toilet (the kind that warms water by an electric outlet) and use that while I am at home. While at work, I use the Wet Ones single pack flushable wipes. These are very inconspicuous and allow me to completely clean the area while at work (PS, I am an Accounting Director at a large public company and work many hours...I have been fine at work even with these stresses);
~ I now work out 3-5 times a week with every increasing weight. As I work out, I "feel" like I can evacuate better becuase things move along;
~ I also sit on the toilet for what seems like a long amount of time...most times around 10-15 minutes. I just catch up on facebook or something else now...and actually enjoy my alone time;
~ I continue to have problems with gas, it causes a significant pain in y groin area. Most of it is my own fault and diet related. But when I feel the pain, I review what I have eaten and then I adjust accordingly; and
~ I have been seeing a therapist every few weeks for the entire time and just recently have been able to reduce the timing to every three months.
I hope some of my development updates above help anyone who is a new J-Poucher and looking for how things may be in the future. The hardest part is staying positive. Luckily I have had a wonderful wife and three beautiful daughters (4, 6, & 8) to help me get through this. I will be walking them down the aisle someday and wanted to make sure that I am strong enough and still here to do that. I can say that I have never been healthier in my life.
I would also like to thank everyone on this board. I check this board everynight and have been since this mess started. Each of your discussions and responses have aided me in so many ways possible. However I can help others on this board, I would be happy to give my perspective.
Take Care,
John
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