Sleeping through the night?

It does take time and there are many variables. Diet is a big component and you'll find many posts about it here. Some simple starts.....avoid eating late, stay well hydrated (takes more effort without a colon). Maybe also consider sleeping with an overnight pad and on a towel; sometimes sleep loss is partly due to fear of accidents.

Thank you!

Hello, Kalyn. I was like that after my reversal. Every half hour I was up. It helped to eat dinner early, and include rice cooked soft to help thicken things inside. I avoided salads at dinner, having my cooked vegetables at lunch instead. Blueflame is right: the anxiety over soiling the bed can make you wake up. I slept on several old towels (or fold a big towel in half and sleep in that) and a wore a panty liner. After a few months I was fine. Now no problems except once in a very long while, depending what I ate that day, so not the fault of my pouch. Maybe take an Imodium at bedtime.

Encouraging to hear that getting up frequently passed! Thank you!

How much Imodium do you take? I almost never take it now, but I've taken 2-3 every 4 hours as a normal course. Also Gas X in the same quantity as gas often is the reason you need to empty the pouch. My GI said you can't take too much of these two meds.

Again, diet affects things a lot and varies from person to person. Some people find rice helps......I can't touch carbs or I get terrible bloat, urgency and incontinence. I'm in the group that goes low/no carb, paleo, etc. which also helps control pouchitis.

Also many have said they feel the need to go right after laying down and sleeping on your back often causes fewer bathroom trips. It's like a bag shifting around in there. 

This is really helpful! I have only been taking two Imodium before bed and that's it. I have an appointment Tuesday and was actually planning to ask about how much I could take. I think I'll try GasX in addition to that tonight in the hopes that I get as much uninterrupted sleep as I can with classes in mind tomorrow! I'm a side sleeper, but I've been finding that sleeping on my back is pretty comfortable since surgery. I know it'll change over time, too, which is good to keep in mind. Trying to be patient and do what I can in the meantime! 

Hi Kalyn, first off, Congratulations on going through with your J-Pouch! It's a life changing event for the better, big time! You'll, I'm sure now have a complete different outlook on life and enjoying well deserved normalcy in your daily activities. My J-Pouch procedure was performed April 2004, with the reconnect procedure 14 weeks later do to an unexpected infection. Going on 19 years this April since "my life changing event" having J-Pouch surgery. I Thank God everyday for going through with my surgery, absolutely no regrets, even though have had issues with Pouchitis, bowl obstructions a few times do to scar tissue. Having said all that, I do have an issue with nite-time incontinence as I'm a sound sleeper now, vs prior to the J-Pouch surgery when I was up all the time having to run, literally to the bathroom. Here's some additional pointers that may help you get better more restful sleep. Fiber, fiber,fiber is key. What works best for me is Metamucil, it will help somewhat in preventing an accident while I sleep. Experiment with the dosage intake daily, but I'm positive this will help during the night in preventing incontinence, not 100% cure-all but diffenatly helps! Some folks responding have mentioned not eating a meal late prior to retiring for the evening, yes this will help as well! Purchase some washable liners, thicker the better as a barrier between ones self (body) and the bedding. Lastly, and some folks get embarrassed discussing or wearing an Adult liner under pajamas, sweats etc. You know what, SO WHAT! You Kalyn, as many others, including myself (Jim) have had a life changing event for the better, have dealt with tremendous pain, perhaps depression at times and everything else that comes with having Crohns Disease, IBS, Colitis, which is neither your fault, something you haven't or should have done differently in life, so putting on an [extra set of armor] I call it before you retire at nite is no big deal! I look at it this way, sooner or later as we get really really old, everyone most likely will be 'sport'n an Adult liner because that's just the way it goes, so in the end, no pun intended, it's no big deal having to wear something like Depends etc. Prior to my Colonectomy, I was so sick in having Crohns Diesease, I didn't care if I had to wear an Ostomy the rest of my life if it came to that, which I was able to have a J-Pouch instead, so wearing an under garment at night is really no big deal! In fact, I sleep so sound these days, at times I have what I call [ an Industrial Accident ] during the night, that's just the way it is sometimes, so what I've done as a counter-measure so to speak, is put on (2) liners (Depends) with the addition of a pad (barrier) between my body and bedding, to prevent messing up the bedding. All is well! Hope this info helps Kalyn! Everyday you'll find that things just keep getting better and better for you! Cheers and Happy New Year! All the Best to you and your Family!

Kalyn, I’ve found that Lomotil works better for me than Imodium. I only take it at bedtime, figuring that that’s when I care most about slowing my gut. I agree with the suggestion to try soluble fiber - I take Metamucil with breakfast and dinner. One thing that helps some folks, and others haven’t mentioned yet, is a *small* fatty meal at bedtime (like a spoonful of peanut butter) can sometimes be very effective.

Scott, thank you! I'm glad you said that about Lomotil. I am going to ask my doctor about getting a prescription when I'm in on Tuesday. For some reason my nurse told me to wait on the Metamucil so I will ask about that as well and maybe try something like peanut butter, as you mentioned too. I appreciate it!

Jim, I really appreciate your response! It was so thoughtful! It is so, so nice to hear such a success story as I am recovering. I am going to try fiber for sure. You are so right--having to deal with some minor life changes is nothing compared to living with chronic IBD. I am very thankful I was able to have this surgery and it's already improved my quality of life. I look forward to more and more of that as I heal! Thank you for all the tips and the positivity! It means a lot. Happy New Year to you too!!

Almost 19 years for me and I still get up 1-2X a night and do not take anything.  A great night is 6 hours in a row. 

Kalyn, on the Metamucil I failed to mention one important piece of info. If your taking (any) meds and it doesn't matter for what, even an otc, we'll use Tylenol as an example. Taking Metamucil or similar, plan your dosing of meds 2.0 hours before or after taking a dose of Metamucil. Metamucil is not only a great supplement for additional fiber intake (it's a bonding agent) which is why it works wonders in the GI Tract! It  bonds/attaches itself to the Tylenol tablet we're using as example, thus making the Tylenol less effective. Many factors involved on 'how less effective' but just a good rule of thumb the 2.0hr window will suffice. With all that said, this only matters when taking your meds. (if any) by mouth. Injections ie Humera, Insulin etc. no worries And, Metamucil may not be as effective (for you) as some others, I'm simply using it as an example as it works wonders for me 👍. Lastly, be patient, which I'm sure you are, although there's times where one may just get frustrated (I certainly did back then, more than a couple of times) after a procedure as this, lots of questions, what's best, this or that, Metamucil lol! sometimes a brief minor set back, one for me was Pouchitis, an inflammation with-in the Pouch, it's common, can be very minor, non-existent or re-occurring, but, easily treated with Antibiotics, and, very treatable! Your on the right track Kalyn by searching out dialog as this forum, please remember that no question is too minor, silly, embarrassing, whatever. It's all about healing, feeling a Thousand Times better than before, reading folks life stories of their own journeys after surgery, gathering all the great information everyone here has to offer on that great road to recovery! Cheers!

Hi Kalyn! I know your thread is a little older, so hopefully you’ve found your groove. I’d love to share my suggestions anyway in case they can help! I’m happy to hear your surgery went well and you’re adjusting. I’ve had my pouch for about 7 years now and I don’t even remember what it was like before the surgery anymore. For about a year after my surgery, I was in the same boat: up many many times during the night. The Imodium only made it challenging to have a BM, but my saving grace was Metamucil. You will have to play around with the dose but it’s only fiber. Unfortunately taking too much with too little water will leave you with cramps and pain so finding the perfect balance between convenience and efficacy is key. I agree with other posters that watching how much you eat before bed will help too, as your body does most of its digesting at night! Finally, an additional tip: your colon was a HUGE component in water, nutrient, and vitamin absorption. Without it, you need to ensure you are getting enough of all of these areas and quality is still just as important as quantity. Take iron or vitamin D for instance, if you have a major GI bleed at some point (as I did) your body may have a very difficult time rebuilding your red blood cell supply due to the lack of iron absorption. This is not to scare you by any means, but all of us lacking major organs have to take our health seriously and stay on top of it. Avoid simple sugars (great for weight gaining/maintenance after surger but not healthy as it puts you at risk of diabetes) and eat smaller, well-balanced meals more frequently and you’ll be just fine. Please feel free to message me if you have any questions in the future, I’d love to help! Hope all is well!

I must also admit, as Jim said, I had a liner on my bed every night for the first few months. It avoided embarrassing accidents by allowing me to easily take care of it without anyone noticing. Just having that piece of mind is huge in relaxing enough to get the sleep you need. In fact, adult depends we’re in full force too just as a precaution. Accidents in the night are nothing rare for a while after the  surgery. I would imagine that most of the people on here have had them, so if you are experiencing that, I promise you’re not alone!

I believe it will get better and better!  After a few years I pretty much sleep through the night.  I think it takes a while for your body to heal up, get into a groove.  And yes, sugar and alcohol mean I will need to get up.  Diet is key for me.  But there is nothing like a good, full night's sleep!   I remember the first night I slept all night and it was exactly like the first time your baby/child sleeps through the night.  Glorious!  Stay optimistic.

Thank you guys! For those last posts, I mean. All very helpful and encouraging. And thank you so much for offering to answer questions, Dr. House! I'll definitely take you up on it if ever I need to.