How many bowel movements per day are "normal"

Was your frequency ever lower or are you just going through a rough patch. My jpouch isnt even a week old and im only going around 12 times in a 24 hr period with 2 at night. It seems really odd your going so much which makes me think you have pouchitis, I would see your doctor. Also try taking immodium or get a prescription for lomotil. Normal amount for a jpouch that has had time to adapt and stretch is 5-8 times a day.

I've had times that they were slower but those were mostly when I was on pain medicine or anti-biotics. I've had a ton of surgeries since I had the J-pouch surgery - several adhesion removals, 5 surgeries on my wrist, 2 surgeries on my knee, a hernia operation that ended up being infected with MRSA causing 2 more surgeries, 2 rounds of chemo therapy and 7 months on a wound vacuum. I made an appointment with a GI doc recommended by my colo-rectal surgeon today. I'm hoping to get some answers!!

Yes, I hope you do! That is way too much. Could be a drug issue or pouchitis or a variety of other things. Let's hope they can give you some relief!

Gin

Have you tried any type of fiber supplements to bulk up your stool. I would advice to take with a minimum amount of water. Having your pouch for 5+ years and having that many movements still doesn't seem right. Are there any other meds you could be taking that would cause increase in bowel movements? What have you been eating? Hope things get better seems you've had a rough go so far. Good Luck.

I would try Imodium too. Us pouchers can take up to 6 a day (from what my dr. tells me). Keifer yogurt has good probiotics in it that help, and the VSL is a great thing. Metamucil in powder form can bulk things up. I am blessed with 5 bathroom trips a day, and that's what I'm doing. Metamucil, vsl, Imodium and keifer. When pouchitis flares, flagyl and cipro. I know there is something stronger than Imodium ( I want to say lomotil) that may be an option as well.

I have mostly 0 nighttime trips, sometimes 1, and it just varies in the day... 5 might be average? Hard to say, I don't usually count.

Have you tried Pepto Bismol? I use 3 tablets up to 3 times a day. And boy has that changed my life!!!! I am doing awesome. I take it with the first few bites of food. It has helped regulate me and slow me down. Matter of fact it has changed my life for the better. Walmart has the cheapest brand. I hardly go at night at all. Mostly have to get up and pee because of all the water I am drinking.

Are you taking my other medicine that could effect in increase in bowel movements? I suggest you to use cold water. You may also try fiber supplements.

Frequency varies considerably between pouchers (and even in individual pouchers, from day to day), though ideally most surgeons/GIs will want you in the 4-8 bm per day range. That being said, 20+ is definitely excessive and you certainly need to get that down. The first thing to rule out is pouchitis, though your prior diagnosis of MRSA should be looked into as well (my understanding is that this can be chronic). You can also try imodium--my surgeon has ok'd up to 8 a day--or pepto bismol (long term use of the latter, however, hasn't been well studied). Probiotics may also be helpful. I've been taking Align since October and I'm generally happy with the results.

Hope your recent appointment gave you some answers!

If you are having that many BMs plus a lot of nighttime issues, and you mentioned that your frequency was lower in the past while you were on antibiotics, it leads me to suspect pouchitis. Within 1-2 days on the antibiotics, you would see improvement if it is pouchitis.

I was going about 20+ times a day and miserable. I was ready for a permanent ostomy but we tried one more thing and it has changed my life! I take a packet of Questran every day (it's a powder that you dissolve in non carbonated liquid). It binds everything together and slows things down. Without this powder I would be miserable. Now I go probably 12 times a day but things are firmer and I don't have butt burn. I feel like the poops are more "normal" consistency on this powder. Check it out. You can get a script for it and it's pretty cheap.

Hello DB8MOM and everyone, I have been struggling for years with BM consistency issues and have had severe Pouchitis treated with Cipro and Flagyl etc... I have also been religiously taking Metamucil 2 to 3 times a day since my GI Surgeon recommended it after my colectomy in 2006. This has seemed to slow things down over the years and make trips to the bathroom less frequent. I have been able to maintain my pouch health for more than three years now and have not needed any antibiotics at all!

I have been using Chia seeds for approximately the past 10 months when a friend introduced me to them, the result has been better than the Metamucil and better than I could have ever hoped for...! Specifically I have been taking a brand called Mila from GenesisPURE after finding out that not all Chia is the same.

Mila is a blend of different crops of chia seed in an effort to maximize nutritional density. It is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, which may support the cardiovascular system. Mila is a good source of naturally-occurring fiber, which may better support your digestive health. One serving of Mila provides a good source of niacin, which is vitamin B3, magnesium, manganese, and phosphorous to support overall health and well-being.

Chia seeds have been part of the Incan, Mayan, Aztec, and Native American cultures for many years -- chia is actually the Mayan word for strength. It is gluten-free, trans fat-free, and sugar-free, and can be combined with your favorite healthy foods, including oatmeal, smoothies, and yogurt.

I take one tablespoon in a glass of water in the morning before breakfast, and then one in the evening before dinner. Some people may have to take more than this and may have to experiment to find the correct amount needed.

I have also been taking a few other other products from GenesisPURE, Daily Build for my daily dose of PURE organic vitamins and minerals, Mangosteen a Super-fruit that helps reduce inflammation and pain as well as Go-Yin another Super-fruit that provides warm and cool fruits that give your body the best overall balance and support for major organs that most of us are lacking in our daily diet and nutrition.

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I hope this helps, I know this is a huge post but I feel very strongly that everyone with or without our issues could use better nutrition health overall. If anyone would like to know more about these life changing products please send me an email, there is an opportunity for everyone to feel better and you could also earn some extra income for referring people to them.

A bunch...quit counting long time ago.
As long as it's working I'm fine with it.

DB8MOM,SOUNDS TO ME LIKE IT COULD POSSIBLY BE IRRITABLE POUCH SYNDROME,I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH IT BY DR SHEN AT THE CLEVELAND CLINIC,I HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING EVEN TINCTURE OF OPIUM,AND ARE AT ABOUT 22 B/M'S DAILY.I AM IN CONTEMPLATING PERMANENT OSTOMY.HOPE YOU FEEL BETTER AND THAT YOUR PROBLEM WILL BE SOLVED.

tend to go more when I am at work due to standing all day and using my breaks to empty...once I eat something the bathroom trips start and most days ends up 8-10 with one during the night....

I am going to be in the minority here but my typical is 0-3 a day. I however have chronic intestinal pseudo obstruction and gastroparesis on top of my Crohn's disease which is the reason for the infrequent trips to the bathroom. I've been known to not use it for over 2 weeks. :/

However your average j-poucher visits the bathroom around 4-8 times per day. 20 is way too much! Talk to your doctor!

To the person who recommended chia seeds...just be careful. Remember that everyone is different. I was eating chia seeds regularly last year and it caused me a lot of issues.