My husband has suffered from colitis for 5 + years. He had a total colectomy, then j pouch creation surgery. He is having the final takedown surgery next week. He's been living with a temporary ostomy so we anticipate things to change with the jpouch. Any advice on what to expect days/ weeks after this surgery? He's been off work since June so he is anxious to get back to work as soon as possible. Any advice or helpful tips would be much appreciated. Thank you!
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One of the biggest challenges for me was dealing with butt burn once the j-pouch opened for business. Soon after my reversal I purchased a bidet - one of the best investments I have ever made. It makes life a whole lot easier in those first few weeks/months in which butt burn is an issue. I still find it invaluable to this day.
Your husband will likely need a good ointment like Desitin to help with the tenderness down there. In addition, baby wipes may be of benefit, especially when away from home. I find them much easier on the bum than toilet paper - even the softest kind of TP.
Personally, I would recommend probiotic supplementation right away (something like VSL#3). This may help establish a good gut community and mitigate against some of the gas and bloating that usually occurs right after reversal.
Hope everything goes smoothly for your husband.
Your husband will likely need a good ointment like Desitin to help with the tenderness down there. In addition, baby wipes may be of benefit, especially when away from home. I find them much easier on the bum than toilet paper - even the softest kind of TP.
Personally, I would recommend probiotic supplementation right away (something like VSL#3). This may help establish a good gut community and mitigate against some of the gas and bloating that usually occurs right after reversal.
Hope everything goes smoothly for your husband.
I second everything Tincan said. I had a bidet waiting for me when I got home, best investment ever. Even have a handheld one for when I am at work or out and about. Our output with a j-pouch can be acidy due to the loss of colon and can burn the tush pretty badly even if you don't eat foods that are acidy like tomato sauce etc.....
My recovery was fairly quick. I was up and about the day after the surgery and two weeks later I was back to pretty much a normal diet.
Gas pains. They will feel a lot like the cramps he had during a flare up. They will last just a few seconds and then it will go away.
Butt burn is also something that I had during the beginning. Calmoseptine is a must as well as a bidet. For a bidet I bought Joy Bidet for $50.
Another thing is leaks. I never have any during the day but they do happen sometimes at night. Make sure he does Kegal exercises daily. I take imodium at night to prevent leaks and help me not wake up constantly (just make sure he gets his surgeon's ok; he allowed me to take imodium after two weeks). He might want to have some of those Mens depends pads just in case for the first month to wear at night.
Gas pains. They will feel a lot like the cramps he had during a flare up. They will last just a few seconds and then it will go away.
Butt burn is also something that I had during the beginning. Calmoseptine is a must as well as a bidet. For a bidet I bought Joy Bidet for $50.
Another thing is leaks. I never have any during the day but they do happen sometimes at night. Make sure he does Kegal exercises daily. I take imodium at night to prevent leaks and help me not wake up constantly (just make sure he gets his surgeon's ok; he allowed me to take imodium after two weeks). He might want to have some of those Mens depends pads just in case for the first month to wear at night.
Calmoseptine, baby wipes, slow transition to foods, and lots and lots of patience...
I agree with everything! I would recommend that you buy the cream before the surgery and bring the cream/baby wipes to the hospital (hospital TP sucks). Tell him to use the cream before the butt burn ever starts and be generous.
Laying in hospital right now typing this after my takedown. Surgery went excellent. Did the op at 830am, was walking at 200pm. Next day surgeon said I was good enough to go home if i want but have decided to stay around just a bit more.
Can tell you the butt burn already kicked in. I was using baby wipes and calmoseptine. Told my surgeon and he said toilet paper, and baby wipes are no good, as they only spread the microorganisms across the bottom, so after every BM instead of wiping to strip my shorts off and run the shower head and have a quick rinse. Kind annoying as I was up 6 times last night so 6 showers but the but burn has almost disappeared already so I guess its worth it.
He said to me that for the rest of my days toilet paper and baby wipes should be avoided as much as possible and bidets and showers are much more beneficial. Didn't see that coming! But if thats the worst thing I face I'm cool with that.
Good Luck with the takedown. Almost everyone says its torture for the first 2 months so just expect that but it WILL GET BETTER!
Can tell you the butt burn already kicked in. I was using baby wipes and calmoseptine. Told my surgeon and he said toilet paper, and baby wipes are no good, as they only spread the microorganisms across the bottom, so after every BM instead of wiping to strip my shorts off and run the shower head and have a quick rinse. Kind annoying as I was up 6 times last night so 6 showers but the but burn has almost disappeared already so I guess its worth it.
He said to me that for the rest of my days toilet paper and baby wipes should be avoided as much as possible and bidets and showers are much more beneficial. Didn't see that coming! But if thats the worst thing I face I'm cool with that.
Good Luck with the takedown. Almost everyone says its torture for the first 2 months so just expect that but it WILL GET BETTER!