What I learned demo my first week after ileostomy reversal

Hmm, I don't see why you would be able to eat wheat with an ostomy but not with a J pouch. They are, at the core, the same thing. Both are your small intestine.

You sound like you are doing very well for one week out! As time goes on, things will get even better. I kept a food journal the first couple of weeks, but now, 6 weeks out, I have learned what my "safe" foods are and just mentally keep track of anything new or different I add.

Congratulation on your takedown!!

Thank you to everyone for the great posts and information. I am very sorry about the strange post title. I have a new computer that edits what I write. It is incredibly irritating! Reading that many of you were able to tolerate foods later that you could not at the beginning really made me feel better about the few downs I have been experiencing. B'Dereh, a big thanks goes out to you. I learned a lot from your posts especially about exercising pelvic floor and rectal muscles. I worked hard with a physical therapist on those muscles before the surgery and I think it made a huge difference. When I began both sets of muscles were very weak. A few women at j-pouch.org have reported pelvic floor problems developing 10 to 12 years after this surgery. I suspect keeping these exercises as a regular part of my routine may be a great preventative measure.

I am very happy that you are doing so much better. I am writing a brochure for my surgeon on the reality of prepping for both j-pouch surgeries. The majority of his patients who need j-pouches have pretty severe colon cancer. I could not believe the amount of surgeries he does each week. He operates twice a week from 7 am to 7 pm on an average of five patients each day. What I went through is nothing compared to many of these patients. It makes me feel very lucky.
I agree wholeheartedly that doctors should tell patients about the necessity of doing rectal and pelvic floor exercises before the first surgery. No matter how much pain you are in these exercises can be done. My doctor did tell me and had me try them with his hands in appropriate places to make sure I was using the right muscles. I was very upset at the indignity of this but now I am very grateful. I did get carried away with doing them. I aimed at 100 a day. I am doing the immodium 4 times a day too. It makes such a difference!! I might even go swimming later today.
I hope you are able to go to England. I have heard both good and bad things about the apt. exchanges. One friend had a wonderful time in Greece only to arrive home in Salzburg to find her apt. completely emptied out. On the other hand, my nephew returned to Munich to find his apt. absolutely spotless with fresh flower arrangements to welcome him home. My nephew used a very reputable property exchange company. My friend just used the internet. My nephew is manager of an alternative rock band but currently lives in London. He is on tour but I can try and find out the name of the property exchange company, if it would help.
Our trip to Europe has been put off for a year. In a way this is very good because I really need to bring my French back up to speed.
I hope you are having a great week-end!
Szm

Immodium is over the counter in the uk too!

My nephew is happy to spread the word for you. Can you send specific info about your apt. and what you are looking for to my e-mail? His friends are all actors, musicians, and artists so the properties would be interesting but not elegant apt.s. He is trying to remember the company's name. It was a few years ago.