The best trick I can suggest would be a small, fatty “meal” at bedtime (e.g. a spoonful of peanut butter). The fat signals the gut to slow down. It can also hard to get the hang of distinguishing whether you really need to get up or can safely go back to sleep. Even after almost 20 years I’m not always certain, but unless I have active pouchitis I really won’t have an accident, so the stakes aren’t all that high.

Thanks Scott

You could try peppermint tea an hour before bed to empty you out.

I am a few weeks from my 1 year post takedown anniversary and I go 2 times a night like clock work….some days I get tired at work and other days I don’t. They say you get used to it but I still struggle with it….

I'm usually up.once or twice a night. It is exhausting. But I do better when I sleep on my back and I can hold it if I'm pretty tired. I bought a U shaped pregnancy pillow which helps too as I can shift myself up a bit and get more comfortable since I don't sleep on my side or stomach.

I go like 2-3x a night. I am almost 7 years out, do not worry, you will get use to things. As pouchers and ostomates we are resilient! We can adapt to anything. I know its rough but you will get through this, I have faith in you. Try naps during the day if you can and rest up on days off.

Thanks folks.  Good advice.  Kinda scary to know that so many J Pouchers go 2x a night.  Kinda funny that surgeons tell you that “you may need to go once per night”.  I imagine it’s pretty hard to get good rest waking up two times per night to stool - but we need to work with what we have.  Maybe it will go down to one.  Does anybody stop eating and drinking early in the evening?  I hear some folks cut everything out after 7pm.  Any thoughts?

I stop eating at 6 but I have to drink all night or I get dehydrated.  This is my first summer at work and I now am drinking well over a gallon per day. I work out side and temps are over 100 here.  Keeping hydrated is my main focus as of now.  

Does drinking in the evening make you go at night?

For me I go 2 times a night if I drink or not….it’s frustrating but I need the fluids or I have a hard day.   Over all I stay positive and I am happy I have the pouch over the bad of DOOM….

Lots of us sleep through the night, but it takes a combination of luck and finding your rhythm. I generally take Lomotil at bedtime only, but that’s not an option for Doug.

You are a good guy to respond to me.  Thanks.  Staying positive is key.  It will take some getting used to.  My problem is I go back to sleep after the first bowel movement - but the second one at 4:00am I can’t fall back to sleep.  Over time I am sure I will get in a better routine of falling back to sleep.

Thanks Doug

@Doug K posted:

Thanks folks.  Good advice.  Kinda scary to know that so many J Pouchers go 2x a night.  Kinda funny that surgeons tell you that “you may need to go once per night”.  I imagine it’s pretty hard to get good rest waking up two times per night to stool - but we need to work with what we have.  Maybe it will go down to one.  Does anybody stop eating and drinking early in the evening?  I hear some folks cut everything out after 7pm.  Any thoughts?

Your welcome Doug! It really does not matter what time I stop eating, I go 2-3X and even sometimes more. That is the part I hate because less sleep ages the brain. But I just keep positive like Ryan

I would say count your blessings. I love how the J-pouch wakes me up, the bag never woke me up. And plus my J-pouch is a free alarm clock lol.

@Ryan138 posted:

I stop eating at 6 but I have to drink all night or I get dehydrated.  This is my first summer at work and I now am drinking well over a gallon per day. I work out side and temps are over 100 here.  Keeping hydrated is my main focus as of now.  

Totally agree Ryan! You always stay ahead of the game!

Also Doug, I have spoken to quite a few people on here that go as much as Ryan and I, a lot of people that go as much as us never get pouchitis, my belief is because were emptying bacteria constantly, just a theory though. Maybe us going that much is a blessing