understanding surgery

LenoraMember

I am at a loss. In 1989, I was 19 and had emergency surgery. They removed my colon, part of my small intestine and rectum. The doctor explained that they were going to create a pouch out of my small intestine. I was 6 months pregnant at the time of the first surgery. I wore an iliostomy for a year and had a few surgeries....anyways that was 25 years ago and I never went for follow up or I am not asked about it when I go to a regular doctor. I have never heard of all these medicines and inflamed pouches and obstructions. I have always just had runny bowls and a lot of gas and went on my merry way....is there a way to have less bowls and less gas? I haven't finished reading the posts, so I might learn these things later. But I'm not sure if I am lucky for not having these problems or if I am ignorant to the fact that I have had them unknowingly.

5/30/159:50 PM

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Scott FMember

Lenora, most people don't have problems with their J-pouches. You're reading posts mostly from folks who do have problems. If you are uncomfortable enough that it's worth trying to change things, that's a reasonable step. A key question is whether you have any urgency to get to the bathroom quickly - that can be very difficult to live with. Someone with a well-functioning J-pouch should expect to use the toilet 4-6 times per day, with no urgency. The stool will generally be runny, and there will be some gas. Is that how your pouch is working?

5/31/1512:47 AM

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LenoraMember

I have a lot of gas and I probably go 6 times in the day and 2 at night. I'm used to that though and it has not stopped me from doing anything I want to do. I was surprised to hear about so much about the after care. But i went online and found that I had the surgery when it was pretty new. I remember a doctor flew in to do it. I was also pregnant and after the surgery i went straight to the maternity section of the hospital and the attention changed to my child surviving (he is 25 now) So i think I missed a lot of information. I am very late on this, but I think I will try some of the diet suggestions. I was interested in the Metamucil....does that work in the bulking up?

5/31/1511:49 AM

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Scott FMember

You might find any of the soluble fibers (Metamucil, Konsyl, Citrucel, Benefiber) useful for bulking up your stool. It's certainly worth a try, to see if you find it preferable. Some people get gas with one or another of these, or don't care about bulking up the stool. Why not experiment a bit?

I use Beano with gassy vegetables to keep gas down. I use Lomotil at bedtime so I don't have to get up to use the toilet (other folks prefer Imodium).

5/31/157:23 PM

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LenoraMember

I tried the beano when I went on a week long trip and had to share a hotel room. It cut it down a bit. But I went from a nuclear bomb to perhaps a smaller bomb, so not sure it was worth it. I did get the fiber pills today. I am going to try them, thanks.

5/31/159:18 PM

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Scott FMember

I found the fiber capsules didn't mix with stool as well as the powders, so I gave up on them.

6/1/1512:01 AM

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