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J Pouch accidents

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Posted 11/15/2011 9:15 PM (GMT 0)
Hello I am Dawn and new to this forum, I have a J Pouch for about 7 years now, I am 40 years old, to this day I wish not to even have one. I get so frustrated on the frequent bathroom runs, making sure I am trying to not eat the wrong things. For the past 7 days I have been having accidents at night waking up saturated, its not a pleasant feeling at all, all I wanted to do is cry myself back to sleep. Me and my husband just purchased a new bed and this had to happen to me. Then one night I woke up around 3am and oh goodness I was so embaresed on what happened and I ran in the bathroom to wash up, and here comes my husband after me yelling at me from the hallway when the kids were sleeping in the room next to us..why me I thing why do I have to live like this. its been 7 years and I still cant handle it well. What I am gonna try is not eating after 6pm which is gonna be a struggle for me. I don't know about any one else but it seems like the more I go to the bathroom the hungrier I am, like I am emptying out my whole stomach..I know I am not a lone in this but I would like to talk with someone about this maybe if that is possible that's going through some trouble or can help me..There are other issues arising on having the j pouch too, in the bedroom issues..Also I would like to hear from the males point of view that are dealing with this..If you have any questions about what I did not cover in this post please feel free to email me or how ever you get a hold of someone on this. [email protected]
Posted 11/15/2011 9:18 PM (GMT 0)
If this is a new phenomena, nightly accidents, and it's only when you sleep, it's fixable. Your sphincter needs toning. Do kegels 3X per day. Hold for 20 seconds, release for 40, hold for 20....do that 5 times... called a set. Do 3 sets of those spread out during the day. You should notice improvement within a week if you follow this.

Sue
Posted 11/15/2011 9:33 PM (GMT 0)
Yes it is new just started happening to me this past week. I will do kegels as you said, thank you so much.
Posted 11/15/2011 10:41 PM (GMT 0)
I'm so sorry for your problems you are having! I would say this is reversable, especially if it is just starting to happen now! Maybe call your surgeon/doctor and see what he/she says to what you can do and why it's happening.... Don't lose hope!
Posted 11/16/2011 1:05 AM (GMT 0)
ChevyPower1930, I wasn't sure how to message just to you...
I noticed in your signature you had a J pouch, and leading an active life. I am suppose to have my reversal surgery for my ileostomy after New years. I am very nervous about my J pouch. I've heard that many people have trouble with accidents & frequent bathroom breaks. My surgeon suggested having a permanent ileostomy, but I chose the J pouch. How is it working for you? Any troubles? Regrets? Diet restrictions?
Posted 11/16/2011 9:50 PM (GMT 0)
I just had the j pouch put in a month ago and am due for the takedown in a month. I have heard of the bad side of having a j pouch but have also heard of the good.

I have heard that not eating after 6pm can have a big impact on the night issues. It seems kind of weird though that you had the j pouch for so long and this just started to happen.

It's unfortunate that your husband yelled at you like he did. He doesn't seem to understand what you're going through.

Maybe after my takedown in december i'll be able to give better advice. :(

P.S. This may help, but after my takedown I plan on wearing depends for the short term since I know things will be a little "unpredictable".

P.S.S. Try to stop eating sugar for a while and see if it helps. For me I have discovered that sugar prevents some water absorption and thus can create loose stool or diarrhea. You have to be diligent if you try this because sugar is in almost everything we eat.
Posted 11/17/2011 4:42 AM (GMT 0)
Jellybean sorry for the late response, didn't get the notice that you responded....

For ME, this was the best decision of my life. I am young though, I'm 21, and was very healthy other then my UC... So I guess I was a perfect candidate, also with a very prestigious surgeon. I will usually go 1-2 times during a full 7-8 hour work day and can do absolutely EVERYTHING I could do pre UC, and I am a very active person. I do go to the bathroom usually once during the night, but I've just grow used to it and it doesn't bother me one bit, and I am also eating late at night which probably doesn't help. My surgeon told me to take immodium before bed, and wow does that work, I sleep all the way through the night on 2 immodiums.

This is your life, and IF you are staying with the J pouch route, I would say make sure you have a surgeon that has many of these surgeries under his/her belt. Anymore questions feel free!

Just to show you my life with a j pouch here is a video of me just 2 weekends ago... 10 months post surgery
www.facebook.com/v/10150460006233689
Posted 11/17/2011 4:50 AM (GMT 0)
You might have pouchitis. I've had it once since I got my j-pouch about a year ago and my main symptom was nighttime accidents. For several days I had more than one a night. I finally put one and one together and my surgeon's office called in an antibiotic for me and it cleared up within 2-3 days. I hope things turn around for you.
Posted 11/18/2011 1:03 AM (GMT 0)
Wow, thank you all for you replies to my post, I had a stool test done with my GI doctor and things came back negative I am relieved for that. Well the doctor had said that I do have an infection in the pouch that's why I was like that, he put me on Lomotil every 4 to 6 hours for the diarrhea, and Metronidazole for the infection for 10 days. I am already feeling a little better. Other then that problem everything else has been pretty good with the pouch and I don't regret having it instead of the ostomy my mom has the ostomy and I don't know how she deals with it for 20+ years already.

Oh BTW the reason for my JPouch is I have Familiar Polyposis My intestine was fully loaded with them..

The other problem that might of caused it is that for about a year I was on painkillers and muscle relaxers and that causes your intestine to tighten up, cause if my sister takes pills like that she would be constipated for a very long time cause she has a very small built body, and when I came off of the pain meds I think that's what caused me to loose my bowels so easily, I was in a major car accident back in October 2010. four ruptured disc in my back, but I am recovering pretty well so far..
Posted 11/18/2011 7:05 AM (GMT 0)
I don't have a j pouch but can attest to not eating past 6 or 7 pm, drastically cuts down on bm's overnight.

Also, I still purchase and wear frequently Stayfree Ultra Thin Overnight Maxi Pads, they go way up in the back of your underwear, just where you need it most, in case you can't make it to the bathroom in time.

All these years I've avoided wearing depends, but I always have the Stayfree pads in my purse and wear them on all car trips, while at work, etc. Perhaps just wearing one at bedtime would give you piece of mind.
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