Need encouragement from jpouchers

I was fortunate to have a quick recovery from takedown but my surgeon did warn me that it could be crazy for a year maybe longer before it all calms down. Im curious why your doctor told you two months...that may be for some people but they should always give you the worst case scenario. I went in with a prepared for the worst mentality. My uncle had j pouch surgery 15 years ago and he told me the first year for him was really hard. Now you would never know he ever had any problems and he was a truck driver many of those years with his j pouch. I am sure there are many people out there that had a long recovery too and now are totally fine. I hope they come along and share their stories. Hang in there!

It took me a good 3 months before I felt secure in my j-pouch. Even longer than that to feel a sense of normal.

Have you tried going out of the house on trips to see how you do? I know for me in the early days, when I was home everything seemed worse. But when I was out & about I had longer periods between bathroom trips and the gas & pouch fullness didn't seem as bad. Sometimes it just helps to do something to get your mind off of it.

I also went back to work after 3 weeks. I didn't have much of a choice. I struggled at first with a lot of bathroom trips, but things slowly improved.

hello christine,

sorry to hear you are still feeling this way. as you know im in this with you as far as our recovery period. i know we've talked, so i personally probably cant tell you anything new, but am just here to offer support.

i think we are in a similar boat, but maybe with differing problems....i feel like ive been going a lil backwards the past two weeks and still cant figure stuff out it seems...i have the feeling of needing to go a lot too, and have basically determined that i simply cannot eat more than 1000 calories, bland food at that, without having irritation or going a billion times a day, uncomfortably at that....

im very interested in people responses also...

some things ive gathered is that it seems people average 4 months before feeling human again.......

strange, because my surgeon said i should be able to go back to work at two or three weeks....and there was no way that was going to happen. i did it anyway, but it has been hell.

in an attempt to be positive, i just try and remember the days, and weeks at a time where i had to sleep sitting up, in the corner of a room, and not move an inch in an attempt to avoid passing blood every 3 minutes, only to have my sleeping strategy bless me with an extra 2-5 minutes!!!! i also try and remember the day i left the hospital after takedown adn how miserable i was....and realizing i am better than that, even if only slightly..

that doesnt change whats happening to us now though, so i completely understand. its been ruining quite a few days for me lately...

i look forward to peoples responses.

Hi there I am so sorry you are having a hard time I am 2 1/2 months post takedown, and am just now feeling good. I am leaving the house more, sleeping through the night, and have hardly any rectal pain. For me, the turnaround started after my surgeon prescribed opium drops. It had done wonders for me. It allows me, to go 3 to 4 hrs between bathroom trips, and sleep through the night I am not going to the bathroom as much, & the pain is almost gone.

It's been 12 years since my takedown so I don't remember how long things took or many of the details.
But as time goes by you will adjust and your body will adapt. You're jouch will find it's balance and you'll figure out your routine.
Everyone is different, so it may come quick or take some time. But it will get better.
Hang in there.

Christine, sorry to hear you're going through a rough spot. I hope & pray you're feeling better soon. If it's any help, me & my pouch have been plugging along for 23 years now; I'm one happy (& fortunate) customer. I was lucky post-takedown that my body seemed to adapt fairly quickly; the advantage of youth! Lol. But it wasn't all a bed of proverbial roses; there were plenty of bumps along the way (discomfort, accidents, etc.). Not to scare anyone, but I believe the adjustment is a life-long process. My system functions differently today than it did 5-10 yrs ago, and far differently than that first year. Hang in there, keep the faith and enjoy the ride. You're taking the first steps into what will hopefully be a bright, new world. :-) Best Wishes, Steve

I am so sorry that things are not progressing as you would like. I would recommend kegals and large pads for night time leaks. It does get better. We all heal and work at different rates.

One thing that helped me after takedown was asking the surgeon for an antispasmotic. The gas pains and spasms would take my breath away and after they calmed down a bit I was able to go back to work around 3 1/2 weeks after surgery.

i was recovered in 1 month after take down.
but u have to started with simple food, avoid spicy, milk/milk product and deep fried product.
if u have increased bowel movement u can also go with natural fibre suppliment after concerned with ur GI.