I just want to know why this is happening. Feeling really frustrated and wanting a life back.

Not to complicate things but could you maybe try a glass of prune juice or drink hot green tea?
That is what us the k pouchers do when the stuff in the pouch is too thick to come out through a tube...I wouldn't suggest it as a daily regime but 1xs or 2xs to dislodge the blockage may work.
Sharon

dgtracy, RE: the decompress, I was wondering if you've tried enemas before,or if it would work for you ? People think I'm crazy but I keep a bottle and use it all the time to irrigate the pouch.If it feels the pouch still has volume after going to the bathroom, using two to three enemas will fill the pouch and then it will completely empty on the second try.I've found that if there's anal irritation from some roughage that I ate,the enema will rinse the pouch clean and the irritation sensation goes away.

Something is ringing in my head about milk of magnesia... Can't remember exactly what, but I believe I was told not to use it as it would not act as a laxative for me due to the pouch... maybe that it would act in the opposite direction? In any case, if the stool is too thick to drain, then Sharon's suggestion is a good one; also white grape juice works well.

I hope this gets sorted out for you soon. Don't lose hope; you are still under a month post-op and the adjustment does take some time.

Gin

Skin, that's why I took the milk thinking it would do the same thing, there is a moment in the day when it's a lot coming out but it goes back to being the same.

Tech, my surgeon doesn't want me sticking anything up there do to the mucosectomy being so recent. I wouldn't be opposed to it but I would hope I wouldn't have to rely on doing that alot. I'm mostly worried I have a faulty pouch so to speak...

Thank you gin, maybe I will try some grape juice today, I would do white as I loved drinking that before but grape is what I have on hand. Same end result I believe. So hard to stay positive but you are right, the surgery is only a few weeks old. I have had my pouch for a little over a year though.

dgtracy -

I am so sorry to hear that you are having this trouble. I know how frustrating and emotional these things can be. I am just about 10 weeks from my takedown and have been having trouble as well. I have trouble with things (BM's or urine) coming out at all unless I really strain. The straining has caused some severe hemorrhoids (surgeon says will probably need surgery) and I get horrible excrutiating pains through my gastro tract and female areas. I know it is pouch related but don't know what it is. My last scope they noticed a "ridge" around one side of my pouch (where is is attached at the rectum) which is going to require surgery - but before doing surgery he wants to do one more scope under general anesthesia to really exam everything more thoroughly. I am very frustrated too and want my life back as well. I was really sick with UC for the last 2 years before surgery so I sometimes feel like I am never going to get my life back. It is very difficult to stay positive when all of this is happening.

I'm sorry that I cannot help with suggestions for you - other than avoiding solid food and drinking white grape juice until things clear. I had what I thought was a major blockage once and when I did that, it cleared.

I just wanted you to know that you are not alone and I am hoping and praying that your doctor figures this out for you with your exam tomorrow.

Good luck and try to stay positive. At least your doctor is getting you in for your exams right away. I had to wait 3 weeks for an exam when they know the severe problems I am having.

Take care,
Wendy

I'm one of the people who doesn't like Techwrench's strategy very much, but in this case I might ask the surgeon if an enema could be gently used to dislodge things, at least if the problem recurs.

Laxatives are tricky to manage; if you're going every two hours, it may be difficult or impossible to improve things with a laxative. Did you try Lomotil or Imodium? I think of those as first-line solutions for too-frequent bathroom trips.

Good luck!

I see what you mean; a bad idea so soon after surgey.Perhaps down the road it could be an option.

I think I'd also try something like Metamucil before I'd use a laxative. Not everyone likes it, but I think it gives the gut something of a reasonable consistency to "work with."

Wouldn't metamucil bulk things up and make it worse?

My GI doc says Metamucil is a stool regulator and not a laxative. If the stool is too thick, it thins it. If too thin, it thickens it. Seems to work for me.

A fleet enema could be too irritating to the pouch, even if you could use it. Dr always says to empty the fleet enema out of the bottle and refill with tap.

I was wondering if you are on any pain meds that could be slowing this down or even constipating you? Also drink water.

Sorry you are having this issue.

That would be interesting about metamucil...if it's a regulator I'll look that up.....for hydration each day I have been having 1 32oZ powerade, then I refill it at least 3 times, sometimes it's plain water sometimes I throw a flavor packet in.

Some people prefer Citrucel or Benefiber to Metamucil. It's worth a try, I think.

Yes, I agree with Scott. I have always been told -- and have always found! -- that Metamucil is a regulator, not a laxative. Since the pouch I find that if I drink it really watery it gets things flowing very easily.

Gin

Home from my scope. My surgeon dr.hammond who is pretty awesome , she went in, removed the stool that was too thick to come out, I have a mild case of pouchitis as well. There is also some inflammation as well at my cuff ( I thought a mucosectomy would prevent that? She calls it post surgery edema... she prescribed entocort to start taking now too. I still feel kinda sore across my belly but she did say I should improve and feel better throughout the day

Inflammation can happen for lots of reasons, not just because of autoimmunity. Tissue that has been recently operated on is always going to be inflamed, like your surgeon said it's post-operative edema aka swelling. It doesn't mean IBD inflammation.

I've had inflammation because of my perianal fistula. It caused things to get narrow, for me to pass the liquid stool, and the thicker stool to get left behind during the worst of it.

It was not because of returning UC symptoms for me.

I did use enemas during those hard times, before dilations. Now on Canasa every 2-3 nights just "to see" if we can prevent things from happening.

I know people are toting the benefits of fiber/Metamucil/Citrucel, etc., but MY experience was that they've ALWAYS made me too thick, so I caution you to be careful and go slow with that, if you do. I, however, have never needed thickeners, though.

I still occasionally take a Mag Ox in the morning if things seem thick to me, and it loosens things up without acting like a laxative. Also, stay on top of plenty of water. My diet is devoid of nuts and seeds and the like, because they "clump" inside me and are harder to push out... Just another thought.

I'm still going upwards of 15 times a day!! When will this calm down!