Congratulations on your take down surgery! I found the recovery of my second surgery a breeze compared to the first.

I had an overactive stoma and i was afraid this might mean I would have more bathroom trips than average after takedown. Fortunately, output normalized after takedown and my body quickly settled to about 7 times a day within a month.

Congratulations.

while the extra small bowel now connected should give you somewhat more solid stool, expect about 6-8 BMs/day. If the output is of an applesauce type consistency, you will be doing well.

the keyword here is time.  It can take many weeks/months for things to settle down and for you to fully understand how your pouch works with your body.

As far a leak (and I had one), you would be in horrible pain and a high fever as your body would go into septic shock. So don’t worry about that. You will know it, if it happens,

Be well, and I hope your experience works out for you.

Thanks for your response.

@New577 did you have more solid stool or the frequency reduced when you had a leakage issue?

I don’t have any pain or fever as such after 7 days of take down but from last 3 days (since I was advised to start soft diet), the frequency has been very less, hardly 1-2 solid BM which gives a lot of irritation and burning sensation. I’m keeping myself fully hydrated throughout the day so hoping things will fall in place soon.

it was two years ago, and 10 days after takedown at the stoma site from a undiagnosed fistula. I was leaking stool from my abdomen after the surgical staples were removed. That’s how I knew I was in big trouble.

Remember, solid BMs should not be your goal. Loose applesauce type consistency should. It takes time for you and your pouch to figure out what to eat, when to eat and out much you can eat.

another member described the early days as being terrifying, as our bodies and our brains are very confused. This process takes time.  Stick to a GI soft/white diet and you should be ok.

Also, try not to measure success from one day to the next. Rather you will see improvements over several weeks or several months.

I can assure you that what you are experiencing is something we all have endured.

time is your friend!

Thank you @New577 this is all super helpful.

My BMs still remain less during the day. While I’m still figuring out my diet, whenever I feel heaviness in the abdomen area, I take Duphalac which helps in passing applesauce type consistency BM.  Hoping this to get sorted soon.