J pouch & bathrooms

@sofi posted:

Hello,
I am writing to see if maybe talking I can get rid of a source of anxiety.

Not a silly question at all.

I’ve had my J pouch nearly 6 years and I use the toilet like everyone else; no special diet, don’t need to stop eating before visiting the beach, no butt burn, sensitive skin issues or special cleansing routine either and I use regular toilet paper.

Just after Takedown, my BM were in region of 5, 6 maybe 7 per day and within maybe a week, this had reduced to 4 or 5.

On average, I have 3 to 4 BMs per day, not every day, it varies and its remained pretty much the same ever since, never less than 2 and rarely more than 5.

There’s hours between BMs, more often than not, 2-3 and on occasions up to 7; should I feel the need to go, I can easily hold off the sensation without thinking about it or making me feel uncomfortable and it playing on mind, I can normally use the toilet in my own time but unfortunately, there is the odd accident and leakage.

I’ve never experienced urgency, night-time toilet visits or the need to evacuate behind a bush on the beach.

@Former Member you are a breath of fresh air!!! between all the awful things you read can happen is good to see a different POV.
I was very lucky on my surgeries and output experience also (for now) ; and I only hope it continues like this so I have an experience like yours, thanks for the encouraging words, its good to see not everyone has the problems I am dreading.
Hopefully in a few months when things have settled from surgery ill share my story and it will be good. 
Happy for you that in an unlucky situation, you are lucky.  

To add to that, I am 4 years out.  Just went on a 20 mile bike ride.  No bathrooms due to Covid. I emptied pouch before leaving home around 9:15,  took 2 Lomotil, and it is almost 3:00 and I only had to use the bathroom to pee.  So things typically work out for most pouchers.

The key is the lack of urgency. Unlike a plastic bag a healthy J-pouch enables you to choose when to use the toilet. As CTB23 points out, you may need some preparation for an extended trip without convenient bathrooms. Before I get on a boat to go scuba diving, for example, I also empty my pouch and take some Lomotil. Even if the boat has a marine head I’ve always been able to avoid using it.

So I made it to about 5:00 and then had to get off the highway and head into Costco.  We needed gas anyway!  I was able to eat during the bike ride, half a banana and peanut butter crackers.  We stopped for lunch and I had salmon with noodles.  Good day!

Amazing, as @Scott F I also enjoy boating and snorkeling and im used to being in nature and not worry about bathrooms, so this has been an issue, being a girl when the pouch gets filled up I feel self conscious (especially on a swimsuit) so I needed to empty what I think it was more often than it would be with a healthy pouch.. Also a loop ileostomy tends to be more runny. 

Thank you also @CTB23 for that input, sounds like a great day indeed, I also enjoy riding bikes, im happy for you.

@sofi posted:

@Former Member you are a breath of fresh air!!! between all the awful things you read can happen is good to see a different POV.
I was very lucky on my surgeries and output experience also (for now) ; and I only hope it continues like this so I have an experience like yours, thanks for the encouraging words, its good to see not everyone has the problems I am dreading.
Hopefully in a few months when things have settled from surgery ill share my story and it will be good.
Happy for you that in an unlucky situation, you are lucky. 

Also, as a precaution, get yourself a tube of ilex paste; it can be applied around the stoma to prevent and treat skin erosion due to leakage and can also be applied to the other end, so to speak, to prevent and treat butt burn.

“It’s preferable to always have a tube of ilex and not need it; than need it and not have it.“

It can also be applied internally to treat anal fissures; although it states on the packaging for External Use Only.

Products of a similar nature are also available and during many years with a stoma; I’ve used most, if not all; and the ilex paste provided the best results.

@strange Thanks for the advice! I am not in the states so I will see what i can find in latin america. I've used the stomadhesive as protector for the skin of the loop ileostomy that keeps insisting on dripping under the flange on my skin, and works perfect, this ilex may be better but unavailable. Will talk to my Dr. Thank you!

I've had a similarly good surgical outcome. I usually empty my pouch in the morning, then don't need to until 5:00 or 6:00 at night, and sometimes longer, and then before bed. I do overnight backpacking trips in the Sierras, with no bathrooms at all, and have had no problems (I dig holes). I carry a portable bidet (Brondell brand) on my hiking trips, and it keeps me fresh and clean! 

Good luck with your takedown! 

wow thank you @Elisa W! I will get a bidet like that when I can for sure. Sounds great, I guess I don't have to overthink this so much. Excited about takedown on monday. Thanks for all the advice !!

The bidet is available on Amazon, the Bondell Go Spa. Good luck on Monday!