It has been a year and a half since takedown for me. I thought the gas and gas pains would never go away. But they have decreased with time and made j-pouch life more tolerable. I hope it gets better with time for you also. I know being a teacher it is prob. hard to take a break every time you feel gas approaching. I know with me if I don't get a chance to release it I get horrible gas pains so with my new job I take frequent bathroom breaks. Keeping my fingers crossed things will improve every day for you.