Before you invest in the Squatty potty that is supposed to put the body into a more anatomically correct position similar to that that our ansestors used (squatting behind a bush) or more recently the French with their Turkish toilets (you are standing on a raised footprint on either side of a stink-hole and risk your life and dignity while popping and aiming into the hole and not on your shoes) you can use to very cheap child step-stools (the kind they use to reach the toilet or sink).
just place them in front of the toilet and he puts his feet up on them facilitating the 'push'.
Sharon

I wonder if using a catheter and/or a tap water enema before bed would help him evacuate more completely and get more rest. I am not an expert on the subject but others have posted here in the past saying that for various structural reasons (e.g. recurrent stricture) they felt much better using those methods. Obviously check with the GI first.

I agree, before buying a squatty potty try something a little cheaper/lower tech. Remember the squatty potty "position" is what is considered natural for a regular rectum/sigmoid/colon, which is no longer present in your husband's body. I'm not sure it's true that that position is any better for people with j-pouches.

If you were going to invest in a new toilet, my recommendation would be a bidet toilet with an enema function, like a Coco Bidet or Toto Washlet. If this is going to be a long term issue, I think he would be very happy with it, compared something that might be uncomfortable. The older I get, the harder it is for me to get up from "low boy" toilets, so a squatty potty would never be on my purchase list.

In the long run, he may need surgical repair of this twist if he cannot figure out a way to empty, as it will not fix itself. Straining will make it worse.

Jan

Thanks so much for your responses. A web site that rated the product actually addressed the no colon factor and mentioned it had helped them. I had no idea there were toilets that had an enema type function but will investigate. The stool to simulate it is also a good idea.
A new surgery is not a very attractive idea as he already had several obstructions; this would complicate his adhesions. He does not have the same problem during the day. He plays golf every day and he does not have the urge. A mystery...

Yes, the Coco and Toto have models with an enema function. And, these are toilet seats, not the whole toilet, so if your porcelain is fairly new, this would be an upgrade.

A number of people here have gotten them and wonder how they ever lived without them! I am jealous, as I don't have one but I guess I am fine without it.

By the way, I was just looking at Squatty Potty, and it looks like it is just a stool, not a whole toilet. It is pretty cheap, so if you wanted to try it first, at least it is not much out of pocket. However, understand that increasing pressure this way may not help, and could even make things worse. Be sure to ask the doctor about it.

Jan

I will second that the coco bidet is amazing! Mine has the enema function but I've never used it, I'm scarred from using mesalamine enemas so much from when I was sick with UC, ha ha. I would absolutely recommend the coco!
Katie