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7 replies

Reversal issues

WBrooksWBrooksMember
Hello All!

I am a very recent j-poucher, having just had my takedown on March 20, 2013 (surgery 1 was in Nov. 2012). I am still having a lot of bowel movements that are very liquid and the dreaded butt burn has begun to rear it's ugly head. The other thing that bothers me are some intense, sudden urges to use the restroom. It almost feels like a gas bubble has made it's way to the pouch and I have a very intense need to use the restroom. However, if I wait, the feeling usually passes within 10-20 seconds. Has anyone ever had this same feeling? Also, how long after surgery did it take for stool to become a more formed consistency? I had pretty good success with Immodium while I had my ileostomy, so I'm assuming that this will thicken up significantly (more intesnsine means more absorption, right!?). My surgeon doesn't want me on Immodium yet since it can slow things down too much, so they have me trying pepto first. Just took one a few hours ago, so I'll see how that goes.

Any help or reassurance would be awesome! Thanks!

Wesley
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mgmt10mgmt10Member
This is all totally normal. It takes a while for most people for it to all calm down. I remember the urges you are describing...I had the same thing. I would try and resist the urge to run to the bathroom at every little spasm and they would pass pretty quickly. As I recall, it took a few months before I noticed a big change in consistency. And even now 2 years later, that's unpredictable. It seems it just depends on what I eat on a given day. The urgency you are feeling subsides over time...hopefully sooner than later. I only had that feeling for a couple of weeks.

If you don't have any, get some Calmoseptine for the butt burn. Walgreens carries it as does amazon.com. Eat smaller meals more often rather than 3 big ones.

My surgeon said no Imodium for a few weeks too. They worry about slowing it down too much while everything is healing and that isn't good because it could cause a blockage. So make sure you get the okay first before taking anything to slow the gut.

It tries your patience but you are on your way.....hang in there!
TE MarieTE MarieMember
Congratulations! The surgeries are over. As Marianne said what you are experiencing sounds "normal" for this time in your recovery. I remember being in Walgreens and having those spells. I would just stop and look at what ever was next to me in the aisle until the feeling went away, just as you described for 10-15 seconds. I had them for a few months.

Calmoseptine, butt wipes with no alcohol, Charmin Ultra Soft or Ultra Strong TP and some kind of Bidet/sprayer at your specific toilet at home. I didn't believe the TP difference until we stayed a week with our daughter who uses it. I was converted to Charmin Ultra Soft.
WBrooksWBrooksMember
Thanks for all the reassurance! As you all mentioned, things have gotten better day by day. The intense urges to use the restroom have gotten less frequent and less intense. I also have slowed down to about 6-8 BMs a day with 1 (or sometimes NONE!) at night. I saw my surgeon last Friday and he removed the staples (thank God!) and has allowed me to try immodium to slow things down. The immodium has worked pretty well, although there are sometimes that I feel like I am a little stopped up, so I've cut down to 1 immodium first thing in the morning. This seems to have helped!

One more question as well... I seem to be having little streaks of blood in my stool on occasion. I figured blood was normal at first, but I'm almost 2 weeks post-op and thought this would be finished by now. Anyone have recollection if this is normal? I'll probably call the Dr. just to make sure, but would love to hear from people who may have experienced this. Thanks!
K ktaMember
Immodium constipated me and I felt like the moisture had been sucked out of my entire body. I told my doc and he immediately switched me to Tincture of Opium. For me, it is much gentler. It slows me down, but does not dry me out.

Also, a bidet is a lifesaver. I don't know what I'd do without mine. I have a portable one for when I travel.

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