Normal post takedown?

PluotMember

Hi all!

Well, I had my takedown last week and am happy to report all went well and I was discharged from the hospital after four days. I'm resting comfortably at home with my family and my bidet, which is now a beloved member of said family.

I thought I knew it all but now I'm questioning everything, guess I just need some reassurance, so here are a couple of questions...

- Is a DRE typically performed during takedown? Sometimes I know I need to get more stuff out of my pouch but it takes a long time and I start worrying I might have a stricture. I had a DRE check for stricture a few weeks after Step 2 but not since then (to my knowledge, unless they do it during the operation).

- I'm on Day 3 of solid foods and my output is still yellow liquid with some solid "flakes" in it. No "refried bean" consistency yet, not remotely. Is this normal? How long will it take to get ANY thickness? My output was VERY thick (like soft formed stool) from my end ileostomy so I'm sort of expecting the pouch output to get there eventually too. In the meantime I am using all of the "dietary tricks" I know to thicken things up.

- It isn't hard for me to hold in a BM while I'm sitting or lying down, but when I stand up it becomes more urgent. Normal?

- I feel like I am "holding it in" a little bit pretty much all the time, even immediately after emptying my pouch (and I usually sit on the toilet, move around, stand up, etc for a few minutes to try to get everything out). Is this normal? Does the feeling go away?

Thanks!!

8/5/139:24 AM

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CatinthehatMember

I think what is normal is that there is no "normal". Some recover quickly and others (like me) slowly. I have a friend with a j-pouch who has had very few problems. I had an abscess, hernia, major butt burn, infection, and leakage almost every night for 5 years.
It sounds like you are doing pretty well for one week. I use imodium and metamucil to firm things up and keep more regular. But check with your Dr. It may be too soon to start those.
Good luck!

8/5/1310:35 AM

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suebearMember

It's normal to have urgency. It's normal to not feel as if you have emptied entirely. Consistency will vary with what you are eating. Yes, it will all improve; but don't expect improvement in days, expect it in 4-6 week increments.

Sue

8/5/1311:16 AM

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liz11Member

liz. probably the surgeon would have opened up any stricture that was found during your takedown surgery. Mine did.

Try toilet gymnastics and when you think you are done. Stand up, hang out in the bathroom, and sit back down on the toilet.

Sounds like you have a lot of "normal" stuff going on for so soon out of surgery. Next best suggestion I have for you, is try to turn your brain off when you are sitting on the potty. Try to relax and not worry about what is happening. Your pelvic floor muscles are probably all whacked out right now, so if you can just relax your mind, it will help relax your body.

when you are not in the bathroom, try to get your mind onto other things, anyway/anyhow you can.

hang in there. it should get better. And as sue said.. whatever you do.. look at progress in weeks.

8/5/135:03 PM

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playin hookyMember

I am 10 weeks in and now understand the "progress is measured in weeks". All I can say is you will not really notice the improvements until ou think back to how you were a cople weeks ago and hen you realize you are making progress. At 6 weeks I struggled to get thru the days and had terrible but burn and leakage. At week 9 I was snorkeling with My kids on vacation. It did seem to take longer for things to thicken up and still doesn't work the same as end ileo. Some foods I ate with ostomy now seem to bother me, with. That said I agree there is no normal.

8/5/1310:37 PM

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