Anti-anxiety meds......

Very interesting Lois,
I have never thought about it. I am taking Lyrica for periphiral pain and don't get the full feeling as often but I still get it.
You might have to put yourself on a schedule to keep this emptying out regulary...do you have as much cramping and gas as before do you feel that it has decreased?
I don't feel the cramps as much but I don't know if it is due to the lyrica or the probiotics.
Keep us posted.
By the way, are you still leaking? Is it getting any better or not?
Sharon

Sharon, I don't leak and never have. I don't leak gas or stool. The end of my valve works great. I have a stricture before the valve, that's why I can't get the catheter in.

No I don't get more gas on my anti-anxiety med. I just never put together that no feeling of my pouch needing to be emptied was from my anti-anxiety med. Anyone else on them, should take note, to make sure they are feeling the pressure. Or I was having bad spasms before, my pouch doesn't hurt or feel irritated anymore either. Before sometimes my pouch felt irritated....it's like my nerve endings are shut right off now.

Yes, I have to put myself on a schedule to empty. I empty a lot now, trying to shrink the size of my pouch.

Or I have something else going on.....which I hope not. I lost my "need to empty feeling", at the same time I started my anti-anxiety med. So it brings me to the conclusion, they are connected.

How are you doing Sharon? I hope you are doing well!

You could try a sort of self-made biofeedback...sort of giving yourself a sensation just before emptying (an elastic on the wrist being snapped or some such thing) and then you go empty...it teaches your brain to rewire the feeling through other sensations...
I have 2 problems that remain post op; when full I still cannot get the tube in until I empty my bladder and my direction is still not constant. So it is pee, try to intubate, if it doesn't work, change tubes (straiter, curved, narrow...) and try to aim a different way...not half as bad as it was pre-op, but still enough to send my heart into palpitations every time it doesn't want to work. (especially at work...far from home).
An old, new discovery too...one of those, 'I forgot' moments.
At certain schools, the heating in the winter does not extend to the washrooms (yikes!) and the tubes get very stiff when cold...difficult to intubate with...Add to that the layers of clothing and the juggling of tube, lube, syringe, water bottle, paper and you see how akward the moment becomes. (let's not forget the frozen seat!)
Every time that it happens I curse.
Other than that the pain is mostly gone, just the occasional sudden pain that scares me to death and then disappears just as quickly.
Post-anesthetic memory loss is killing me too. According to hubby I stop in mid sentence and cannot remember what I had started to say. Makes the students laugh too. I am the only one not laughing!
Losing all sorts of stuff too...not sure if it is just the anesthetic of the lyrica + age. Bummer.
Stay healthy, warm and safe
Sharon

Sharon....it's from the anesthesia, I have the same thing happen to me. The more times I put to sleep the longer it takes for me to recover. So, don't worry it will pass. It takes time to get it completely out of your system.

I'm glad you are doing better with the surgery you just had done. Hopefully, you will always be able to get the catheter in. With me, it's a stricture, a very tight small opening and the catheter just won't go in. They have trouble getting in a 20 Fr., if my 30 Fr catheter is out for too long. I think my valve is too long, so it bends with pressure or just has a bend from the stricture.

I new someone that had a slit in her waistband and always had a catheter with her at all times. I think in this world we live in today, that is a very good idea for all Kock Pouchers to think about doing. Always have your catheter with you, in case of an emergency.

I pray you continue to improve! Hugs and keep safe!

Thanks Lois,
When I was having serious pouch/valve problems (peristomal hernia with the pouch twisted up into it) and my valve was 'pull out and twisted' I wrote to all of the suppliers (thanks to everyone on this site notably Holly who no longer comes here) and got samples of other sorts of valves to try.
I got a very short, slightly wider tube that I could keep in (one was a short naso-airway tube the other was similar but had an inflatable baloon at the inside end to block it inside my valve/pouch)...they were easier to wear long-term.
The one meant to block inside required 2hrs for a nurse to get it in and inflate the baloon (horror of horrors for me) and eventually,due to the peristomal hernia, pulled out on its own that night but would be great for you...it even had a built in plug sort of thing at the end.
We need something soft and flexible to not hurt ourselves but effective and easy to wear over the longterm.
Hoping that you stay healthy.
Sharon