Working after J-pouch surgery

After my takedown in May 1991, I started full time nursing school, and was working 24 hours part time as a college student... that was 4 months post takedown. I had a normal college experience, graduated in December 1994, and have worked as a registered nurse since. The past 17 years I've worked in adult critical care. 

Took me 9 months to get back to work.  Been back almost a year and it is still physically demanding.  But I put my 40 in. 
I have good and bad days.  Just the way it is.  And diarrhea is the norm for us unless you bulk it up some.  Me I would rather have it cause it comes out easier.  I can hold it too. 
It was tough the first few months back but I had alot of support from my fellow workers.

I've worked at least full-time since about six weeks after my surgery 13 years ago. I don't have a very physical job, but I think I could have done that, too.

I would not say "diarrhea" is the norm for us; however, a looser stool is. Diarrhea is stools such as when you're sick with a GI bug. Like when you have to rush in and go multiple times a day with urgency.  I don't think that's true for all of us, post pouch. I went more in the beginning (right after, 14 a day for a bit), but I could defer going. I only go 4-6x a day now, rarely at night. At times now, my stool can be too thick. I've never needed Imodium or Lomotil or Psyllium fiber; however, sometimes I take mag sulfate by tab to pull in more water and loosen things up. 

I was fired by certified letter while still hospitalized for my third operation.  At that time, I was working in upper management for a different hospital. Unfortunately, this was before the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed and during a horrible job market.  I quickly found out how difficult it is to start a job search after just being discharged from the hospital.  In order to keep food on the table and the bank from foreclosing on my house, I had to take whatever consulting engagements I could find and do a lot of manual labor.  After a year, I finally got a job and had no problems with working full time and kept that job for 27 years until I retired.

Well... That's true.  But compared to what it was and is now it's diarrhea without being sick.  Loose stools.  I could bulk it up but it's more difficult to evacuate than if I don't bulk it up. 
I have had it look like alot of things.  Marbles.... Pudding... Which was like trying to poop cement.. Did not like that.  But that is what the Dr was striving for.  Me... I want it as loose as possible.  Easier to go.  I found that no matter what I eat if I eat a half an apple with my meal everything just slides right out.
But... What works for one may not for another.
As for working with a pouch.  I do heavy labor.... I find that most times I do ok but I do have days that are not that good.  I lost and still have not gained the weight back.  I don't think I ever will.  But that being said I think that has alot to do with being so exhausted at or towards the end of the shift.  I do not have the strength and stamina I used to have before. 
But it has gotten better over the 11 months I have been back to work.  You just have to push yourself no matter what.  It's the only way... Along with a good diet and possibly some more weight gain I will get my stamina back.
I am not a young man... I did this when I was 58... Now I am a month away from 59. But being this age I think I am pulling through it fairly well.
Had I done it younger I know it would have been better.  I waited too long. But I don't regret it. 
As of now I will take loose stool (diarrhea to me)  over trying to get formed stool to come out.  Just way too much straining involved.
P. S.  I drink alot of water.  6-8 bottles a day.  Plus coffee and juice.  And even though I have very loose stool I can hold it.

I do a manual, shift type job in a pharma plant. I would class it as fairly physical demanding. In the five years since my J pouch, I guess I have averaged 10-12 days off work with diarrhoea/fatigue/pouchitis. I do err on the side of caution. But to hell with it. I feel brilliant 85% of the time.

Yeah. Apples are not my friends at all!  You're totally right in what works for one doesn't work for all. I, too, like a looser stool... A magnesium sulfate tablet, in the morning (which pulls fluid into the bowel; it's an osmotic) works for me theses days. 

I have not tried much.  But I may try that.  I tried apple sauce and that was not good.  So it's weird that apples even work.  I may try those tabs.  At first I was trying to thicken things up and things like mash potatoes were just too much.  I just found it easier to avoid thickening foods.  I had a grilled cheese sandwich yesterday and swear I could feel it when it hit a certain point.  It was painful.  I was all cramped up. 
Can you get the tabs at a grocery store.  Or would it be available at a drug store like cvs?
One of the preps I used when I had a colon was called osmoprep.  So I know what you mean.  As soon as you put the tabs in your mouth it would water like crazy.
I had to take 32 tabs in a short period of time but boy they would clean you out.

Yes, a grocery or pharmacy will have them.  They're OTC. 

I spent 12 weeks recovering from the surgery and then gradually returned to work as a critical care RN.  I am extremely careful with what I eat at work as I know the things that will send me running to the loo (not something easily accomplished in the middle of a resuscitation).  I'm also very aware of my hydration.  I love working full time in a busy ER.

As you are feeling so wretched I might suggest that you track what you eat and pay careful attention to your fluid intake.  Perhaps you should have some basic bloodwork to check your electrolytes and iron.

I went back after about a month casually and full time at four months, I use to work on the railway as a conductor and had to resign from that position due to the fact that I did suffer increased fatigue that I didn't really notice until I went back and tried to do the 8-10 hour night shifts and I could barely make it half way through the shift before I was wishing I was in bed even with energy drinks! I use to make it through these farily well back before UC and my Jpouch surgeries, that mixed with the fact that the washrooms were few and far between in the yard made it hard.

 

Anyways now I work for a mechanic shop and all is well though I do notice that too many early mornings can wear me out but I really believe if you set your mind to something you can do it, perhaps you just have to find something you're passionate about, maybe you have to go back to school to learn a new trade or skill, I dunno but I know there's something you have to be interested in.

 

Does anyone else notice that their pouch behaves better when theyre in situations where there is no bathroom? I've always noticed as soon as I drive down my block after a day at work it's like BAM! gotta go to the washroom.

 

Once you're out and about you could even end up having less bowel movements as I think our brain is a lot stronger than we think and can in some ways control the pouch/bowels if we give it the chance. I think we learn at a young age that we have to hold it until there's a bathroom around and in some respect that has carried over to our pouch days!

I went back to work (office job) 4 weeks post takedown. Eased back in at first but full time after a week.

I also prefer looser output. I find a coffee or two a day helps to flush the pouch out. I think I read on here this can also help prevent pouchitis

I'm miserable with it.  It's embarrassing making all those trips to the restroom.  I try to starve myself to death but that that doesn't always work.  Especially when fellow employees are chowing down on pizza, laughing and having a good time.  That's enough to make this dog scream.