@Winterberry posted:Hi, Bent Arne.
I had the same experience you are having now. Your new j pouch is now learning how to work for you. It has never performed the way you and your surgeon expect it to for the rest of your life, so it's a learning curve for you and your j pouch. Remember it used to be a simple small intestine, but now it has to be your colon. My experience in the first few weeks after reversal (or takedown, same thing) was urgency, frequency, a feeling of incomplete emptying, fullness in the anus, the need to use the bathroom but very little comes out. So you get up, wash, and within two minutes you think you need the toilet again. When that happens, just go and sit on the toilet. Don't be frustrated by it. It's a very new and specific thing to learn, and you will. Some bit of stool might come out, or not. Sometimes, for me, it felt like a golf ball rolling around trying to get out. That's the pressure, or gas, or spasms in your pouch. I did whatever my j pouch wanted (sometimes I had no choice). If I felt spasms, I headed for the toilet, just to be safe and not have accidents, which will happen so do not feel bad about that. You and your pouch are learning.
I tried to hold it as long as possible because that is supposed to stretch the size of your pouch. I tried that for a very brief time, then decided I would not follow that policy. To me, it felt like I was holding all the gas, bacteria, stool, liquid, etc., that my j pouch was telling me (screaming at me) it wanted to be rid of. So I did, whenever I had the urge. I didn't want my pouch to hold bacteria for longer than necessary because bacteria is related to inflammation /pouchitis. I had two bouts of pouchitis around this time and took cipro from my doctor and got over the inflammation very, very quickly. After that, I didn't hold on, I just used the toilet whenever I felt the urge. Whatever your condition, drink lots of water and keep your fluids up every single day. I drink water from a 32 ounce Mason jar and straw through the lid. Two bottles per day.
When you get fire bum from the frequent toilet trips, use barrier creams. I used Calmoseptine in the beginning, then preferred Zincofax, a baby cream. You could also try a plastic bidet bottle, or get a bidet that attaches to your toilet. I found that the bidet attachment saved my sanity and my bum. When I'm away from home, I miss my bidet! I have no pouch issues now, four years later, except when I eat something raw such as salad, or vegetables not fully cooked, or insoluble foods. My pouch can be quiet and calm for five hours with no issues. Give yourself and your j pouch time, maybe a year, to settle in and work for you. Unless you are feverish, dehydrated, malnourished, bleeding profusely, or have severe diarrhea, your frequency and spasms are normal at this early stage. Try not to be afraid or worry. If you have more issues or questions, post them! Someone will help you.
Thank you so much 