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Its been two  weeks since the takedown operation and I have approx 25 bms per day but worst of all half at night therefore not sleeping.

 

im now feeling depressed and wondering how things will get better. Im doing everything that im told  by the doctors and regardless i see not even a slight improvement.

 

is this the life that im going to have ?

 

 

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I believe things will improve in time. Between 1-2 months things began to change for me.

 

It stinks and is boring, but you should stick to a very bland diet for the next week or 2. 

 

Are you taking immodium/lomotil?

 

Are you taking a fiber supplement to add bulk? Try adding only a very small amount of water (instead of the recommended fl. oz.) and experiment with the amount of fiber.

I clearly remember thinking I had made a huge mistake after the surgery. Although I didn't liket the 'bag' it seemed preferable to the ridiculous number of bathroom trips, the burn, the frustration. I know that there was a marked difference at four months and then another qualitative difference at six months. I never did get to the four to six bms that are supposedly average.I am more like 7 - 8 but it all feels quite comfortable now. I urge you to be patient, to use a 'thickening agent' (pysllium husks, metamucil), probiotic and Imodium to help you through this tough patch. Know that it will get better. (Although if 25 is really your average, you might want to talk to your doctor about pouchitis?)

I was there two weeks post takedown.  It. Was. Horrible. I actually started doing a BM tracker app, he'll why not I am in the bathroom anyway?!  It really did take weeks to see a trend. I have a menagerie of pastes. I think using an antispasmodic early on would have been helpful.  I take levsin.  I think earlier use of choleystiramine May have helped. I was treated for pouchitis around three weeks out.  But sadly, frustratingly....time is the big helper.  Now four months out....I have an idea of foods that are issues.  And I am still on cipro...but it is WAY better than 25+ BM and racking spasms those first three weeks. Six weeks was another improvement mark, like 12 a day but again for me the levsin helps a lot with the 'urge'.  Hang in there and try to do something 'normal'...I was scared to do that for a long time...and wish I would have done it sooner then 12 weeks.

Yes! It will get better. I didn't have the frequency issues you are having, but I did have severe rectal pain and pressure. I saw my surgeon about two weeks post-takedown, and he diagnosed cuffitis. Medications helped, and I'm also on a low dose of anti-depressant for irritable pouch syndrome. I'm six weeks out now and feeling really good. 

 

Do you try to hold it when you have the urge to go? I know with UC there was no chance of holding it, and I was so used to having to run to the bathroom at every slightest urge. But I find that even if I have the urge now, I can hold it, even right after the surgery. 

 

Have you had a post-op follow up appointment? Maybe there is something else going on that your surgeon can figure out. I was glad my surgeon was pretty aggressive and didn't let me suffer too long before diagnosing the cuffitis. 

 

Hang in there. It will get better. 

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