I thought a K-pouch needed to be emptied every 3 hours while awake?
No, definitely not. Immediately after surgery the doctor will give you a schedule and instructions for the post op period. During this time, the pouch will settle in and expand. So immediately after surgery you will be emptying frequently. After a while you will be emptying on as needed basis. For me, it depends on what I eat. If I eat sensible and cook at home, I empty 3 times a day. If I eat like a heavy dinner restaurant meal like something spicy or greasy, then it will probably be an an extra emptying that night. Sometimes with foods that cause gas, there might be an extra time or if I have a couple of glasses of wine or a couple margaritas. If you have the stomach flu, you will empty extra times.
But my normal day is 3 times, sometimes 4.
I posted above and anyone with a K-pouch can empty as infrequently or frequently as needed, I would hate to think that people who empty much more frequently are doing it 'wrong' or something is not right with their pouch or stoma. After 47 years and a few revisions in between and not wanting to go through a potential revision, I empty often. Every body is so different, what works for one person may not work for another. I wish there was a perfect answer for your concerns, but like life, it's trial and error.
DGS- totally agree. Not everyone has the same experience. There isn’t a right or wrong. I didn’t mean it that way.
@dgs posted:I posted above and anyone with a K-pouch can empty as infrequently or frequently as needed, I would hate to think that people who empty much more frequently are doing it 'wrong' or something is not right with their pouch or stoma. After 47 years and a few revisions in between and not wanting to go through a potential revision, I empty often. Every body is so different, what works for one person may not work for another. I wish there was a perfect answer for your concerns, but like life, it's trial and error.
How often do you empty?
It sounds like most of you with k-pouches are glad you have it and wouldn't switch to an ileostomy even if the k-pouch requires occasional revision surgeries. Is that an accurate inference? The need for extra surgeries, dietary restrictions, and paucity of surgeons with expertise in the field feels a bit daunting to me but so does and ileostomy. Thank you so much everyone!