Nighttime accidents

That happened to me after take down and I know how aggravating it can be. I took loperamide before bed and it went away. Almost 4 years later, I still need to take loperamide before bed every night or I will have an accident.

How late do you eat? Have you considered fasting at night?

I've been taking some loperamide and I stop eating around 6pm and go to bed at midnight. It's usually just straight liquid still during the night.

If it’s pure liquid you might not be taking enough Metamucil.  How are you taking it?

I've been taking two tablespoons mixed with just enough water so that I can drink it, maybe 4 ounces? I try taking it an hour or two before bed with the loperamide and I'll have an accident with more pudding-like stool for the first one of the night, and then right back to watery.

At 7 weeks post-op you might just need time, unfortunately. Nighttime accidents are just miserable. There are some other things that sometimes help slow things down at night. The search function on this site can help you find some ideas that have been discussed over the years, in addition to:

1. A small, fatty meal at bedtime (e.g. a spoonful of peanut butter)
2. A higher dose of loperamide or Lomotil at bedtime (Lomotil works better for me)
3. Plenty of kegels, many times per day, to increase sphincter tone. Hopefully you started these before takedown, but better late than never.
4. Patience

It’s unusual, but possible, to develop pouchitis early. It sounds like your surgeon believes it isn’t worth looking before 12 weeks. If you’re desperate you could beg for a trial of Cipro just in case, but he will probably want you to give it some more time to settle down on its own. You could try Visbiome or VSL #3 as another possibility, but they are expensive and do a better job preventing pouchitis than treating it.

Thanks for the info, I'll try the peanut butter tonight and increase my kegel regimen! Yeah, he said he doesn't think it would be pouchitis and is hesitant about antibiotics. I'll try to be patient about this, just want to get life back on track.

What a coincidence!! I got my J-pouch at 22 too! I remember that age and time period lol, I am 28 now. During that stage at takedown, I always pooped on myself whenever I fell asleep, that was the case a lot during the first year. It still happened over the years and fast forward 6 years later, it rarely happens. As time goes on with your pouch, things will get better, I promise .

You will be me in 6 years at 28

Before J-pouch takedown, I got a lot sleep 8-10hours. After takedown, that is not my reality anymore, you will get use to it though

Ny first year was pretty miserable also. I rarely have a problem now. I take metamucil before breakfast and dinner and have applesauce ( thickener) after lunch. Rice, pasta, bananas, applesauce and nut butters are all thickeners. There are more. You can find a list on here or online.  I don't eat anything after 6:30 pm. and no drinks after 8:30 pm. It works for me. I know it's hard, but you may just have to be patient for a bit. Good luck. I hope you find something on here that will help you out.

Aimee

Oh, I forgot I do take a lopermide or a lomotil before bed. I used to take one of each and take another lopermide at about 2:30 am. I only take one now. Your pouch has to figure out that it is now a colon. Good luck.

Aimee

Thanks Lauren and Aimee! it's good to hear from some people who went through the same thing. I'm glad to know that it got better over time! I will keep being patient and trying the immodium and Metamucil!

@gwsmalle posted:

Thanks Lauren and Aimee! it's good to hear from some people who went through the same thing. I'm glad to know that it got better over time! I will keep being patient and trying the immodium and Metamucil!

You are welcome I was 22 right where you are now and now I am 28;  you will be me in 6 more years