Calmospetine doesn't help either. It does pass in about 30 mins, but it's agonizing when it's happening.

Ilex all the way...have used it for 7 years. Check it out here.. Haven't been without it since takedown.

You might want to try irrigating with a gentle tap water enema after a BM and see if that helps at all -- could definitely be itching from a small amount of caustic output stuck in the anal canal.

In my experience, when this isn't from incomplete emptying (often due to fibrous foods), it's cuffitis.

Yeast issues can sometimes be the culprit. Could try an OTC antifungal cream, just to see if it helps.

Thanks y'all.

A&D ointment seems to be helping a bit. Not sure if this is cuffitis related, because it's not every time, and it might be fiber related, as I just had my first salads since my colon removal last Feb.

Scratch that. Bad choice of words, but this itch is relentless. I'm away from home for the holiday, so have to rely on what I can find OTC at the local Rite Aid.

What anti fungal is worth looking at?

ATXGuy,

I totally agree with Rachel. This sounds like a yeast infection and if that's the case, barrier creams, while providing temporary relief of itch, can actually make it worse, so it would be best to quit using it ASAP.

As for antifungals, can get a prescription for diflucan, which is an oral anti-fungal pill, but considering it's the holidays in the US and you might not be able to reach a doctor, there are several OTC antifungal creams you could try, such as Canestan or Monistat. These usually sold with the feminine care products. Basically, if the cream is approved for treatment of vaginal yeast infections, you can use it for that entire area. Good luck!

Yes, and even the ones for jock itch and athlete's foot are OK. Just make sure they are the creams, not the sprays or liquids.

Jan

No idea what's going on.

The itch seems to have vanished, but I'm having urgency/frequency issues now, with loads of gas/cramping and rectal pressure, but minimal output and straining needed to pass the gas.

Of course I'm 2500 miles from home & don't get back until Monday night.

Jan - good to know for future reference. I assumed that the cream treatments for athlete's foot would be too harsh for that region of the body.

ATXguy - You can get internal yeast overgrowth as well, so perhaps the oral antifungal is what you need. That being said, your current symptoms may be unrelated to the itch. You describe a broad range of symptoms that could be indicative of pouchitis, stricture, partial obstruction, or gastrointestinal illness (though since they came on suddenly, obstruction or virus would be my first guesses). If you were eating different foods for Thanksgiving, that might also be contributing.

Since you are away from home, if the symptoms persist, my advice would be to try to contact your GI or surgeon by phone or email if possible.

I used miconazole cream even on my kiddo when she was a baby and had a run of yeasty diaper rash. My PCP has called me in a prescription vaginal cream for similar issues in the past.

I ate anything for years (I have edited my diet to exclude nuts, mushrooms, etc. r/t some outlet stricturing; just don't take chances anymore), but back when I ate them, things like granola would pass like sandpaper, and cause itching. Acidic foods sometimes caused irritation. Granola also wouldn't always pass well, and would be a struggle.

When I need a dilation, your symptoms of straining are what I go through.

I have had much more success with Ilex than Calmoseptine. Good advice here! Wish you success!

Anti fungal cream seems to be helping some, so will stick with it for now.

Imodium also seems to have leveled out the rest, so fingers crossed.

Thanks all.

I have been having this problem and especially during night! When I am half asleep I itch and it has become raw and oozing around my bottom area now...My nurse practioner said to try aquaphor after the area is dry and it somewhat helped. I also found A&D to help because I do not like those chalky creams like calmoseptine.

Completely understood! Have you tried Ilex? A little outside and just inside the rectal area works great for me. Also cool soaking baths. Seems like we all have to find our own combination!
Best wishes!