Help! 2 weeks post op/30+ BMs a day

AylaganzMember

I had the final (3rd) part of my J pouch surgery on 11/9/15 for UC. My symptoms only started this year, but came on very quickly and were very severe. My entire colon was removed, and they left part of my rectum. I'm two weeks out, and am having at least 30 BMs during the day, pretty much all water and nothing solid. That's just during the day. My surgery was on a Monday. My diarrhea started that Wednesday night, and up to 6 times a day a least by Friday. I was discharged on Saturday. That night I was going 1x/hr overnight. Completely incontinent during the day on Sunday, and no sleep that night. It has just gotten worse as the week went on. I'm completely incontinent, and have resorted to wearing a diaper. There are times when I'm going every 15 minutes. I spoke with my surgeon and I've been taking 2 Imodium with every meal as well as Metamucil 2x/day for the last 6 days. I haven't noticed any change. I'm eating rice, oatmeal, breads, sometimes with cream cheese. I also have pain in what I think is my rectum, the area just below my coccyx none. No blood and no fever. I know there is an adjustment period, but can this be normal? Could the pain be from my rectum, from my pouch or could it just be painful because I'm going so frequently. Or could I have pouchitis this soon after my surgery? Please help. I'm so scared and feel so sick again. Nobody prepared me for this and I feel like I did when I was "sick". I feel like I'm not absorbing any nutrients at all. I maintaining my discharge weight but haven't gained anything, which I'm hoping to do. I appreciate your advice and support.

11/24/1511:11 PM

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MysticobraMember

I don't know what to say.
No one has answered but I do hope things get better.
My surgery was over two years ago but it basically went bad from the get go and they hooked me right up to my pouch after less than a month with a bag.
It seems it took forever to calm down. It was so slow and painful.
My situation was different. I had surgery the same day you did but it was to remove my pouch. I am still recovering from that. My pouch never did work right
Now I am not saying yours will not work. Only time will tell.
It is miserable I know. Hang in there and look for any small tiny improvements day to day week to week.
I wish you all the best. I really do. I was sick as a dog like you for months and thought what I have done had made it worse.
I am now resigned to having an appliance and for me it is the best thing I did. The Pouch was not for me. I fought for over two years and it was enough in my situation. It had to go if I wanted my body back.
Hang in there.
Just trying to send you positive vibes.
Richard.

11/25/1511:04 AM

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Jan DollarModerator, RN, retired

This early, it is impossible to say if you have pouchitis. It happens, but not often. The fact that you are incontinent would lead me to think you are one of the rare cases of early pouchitis. You can try switching from Metamucil to Citrucel to see if you get a better result. I am one who did not do well with Metamucil, as it made things worse by increasing gas and urgency. You might get better results with Lomotil than Imodium.

If the switch makes no difference within a few days, call your surgeon and ask for a trial of Flagyl or Cipro. You can have bacterial overgrowth without the inflammation of pouchitis. Antibiotics is the treatment for both.

That said, some people have an absolutely miserable time for the first 2-3 months.

Hope things improve soon.

Jan

11/25/152:06 PM

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SoHappyMember

Hang in there. It is not uncommon to have to go frequently in the beginning. Visit with your gastroenterologist if you can about a trial of antibiotics. You can have pouchitis, hemorrhoid, irritation from wiping so much. Try to minimize wiping, using a wet flushable wipe if needed, follow up wiping with a calming cream like desitin or calmoseptine.

Stay hydrated. Avoid fresh fruits and vegetables for a while along with high fiber foods. Keep it simple. Simple meats, simple cooked vegetables. Slowly increase your food choices. I am 10 years out and still have some difficulty with fresh fruits and vegetables and have to pace myself or know I will be going to the bathroom a few more times.

Most importantly, keep in touch with your gastroenterologist!

I still have several trips a day to the bathroom but it is nothing like it was before the surgery...

12/12/1512:00 AM

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SolomonSealMember

I remember being in your position. It seems now that I have had chronic pouchitis from the start.

My first 3 weeks were absolute hell. Worse than UC. I could not function physically or mentally and the complete sleep deprivation started cracking me mentally.

My suggestions are this: make sure you are using a bidet and *patting* *completely* *dry* (with a handtowel) every time. If you do not stick to this regimen, the anal irritation will be terrible. If you can keep your perianal skin both dry and clean, it will heal and stay healthy, despite the large number of BM's. Do not wipe with toilet paper, it will not remove all of the stool and bile, and it will also abrade your skin, letting that stuff irritate the skin all the more. Wet wipes will leave your tushie wet, causing irritation and possible fungal infections.

Lastly, over time, I am convinced that the perianal skin "toughens." Nowadays I feel like it can withstand more abuse with less need for bidet, resting, calmoseptine, etc.

I wish you well, I'm sorry things are so rough.

12/12/157:26 AM