Just checking in

So it's been about 5 weeks since my takedown and for the most part things are pretty good. I can fart and hold my poop all I want. However, I certainly can NOT eat anything I want at this point. I still eat pretty bland. I introduce things and reward myself every now and then.

The only real downside I still have is that in the evening I get a lot more frequency and a lot of rectal pain and still can't figure out why. I go to the doctors on Monday and I think they'll probably dialate me.

Overall I'm happy I had the surgery. I sleep better than I have in years. I poop once at lik 5am then again when I get up and that's it until after I eat lunch (around noon-1). Then I go one more time before dinner. So usually 2-4 during the day and once at night. However the evenings (about 6-10pm) I got about 4 times in that time period alone. It's insane, no matter what I eat or what I do I go and it's painful and have tons of butt burn. The rest of the day/night is a piece of cake. Hopefully it's just a phase and I'll be able to eat more stuff.

Well hope everyone is doing well!

I do try to eat different things. Even though I have that frequency/pain nightly anyways, if I eat something that doesn't agree with me yet it makes that whole episode that much worse. So I will roll the dice every couple of days and see how it goes or I just can't resist a certain food or something lol.

Yea I'm dreading the dilation, I'm sure it won't be that bad but after years of misery associated with my butthole, anything that has to do with that area leaves me anxious and very apprehensive.

My preference is the jpouch right now. Grant it, the healing process and adjustment is a lot longer/tougher than my end ileo surgery was. It's not just a vanity thing, although that does play a role for me being as in 28 and am not emotionally prepared to have that for the rest of my life. A bigger reason is the activity level, I've always been very active and I do travel a lot for work so yes you can do everything with an ileo that you can with a colon/jpouch but it takes a bit more preparation to make sure you have all of your supplies as well as backups and a change of clothes but also conscious thought during that activity so you don't puncture or pull the bag off. When I would pick up my daughter she'd always manage to kick the bag or accidentally wiggle against it. Not the mention the changing every couple of days and the adhesive issues and I emptied my bag about as often as I go to the bathroom and I don't have a bag of poop distended on my stomach. Now instead of supplies I have some butt cream and maybe some baby wipes.

Don't get me wrong my ileo gave me my life back and if I had to go back to that I would not be depressed or disgruntled, id be thankful that I still have that option. Just for now this is the route I wanted to go and it fits my lifestyle. I just have to be patient with the process and it can be hard and sometimes when pooping it reminds me of the days when I had UC and I have to actively tell myself that I'm okay now it's just part of the healing.

Glad things are gradually working out, rabbit, and hanks for the update. Reading your description of your ileo life i can understand how you wanted to try for the jpouch. My experience with the ileo is much more trouble free-- I travel like crazy, am extremely active (tennis etc), change only every 4-6 days (takes all lf 2 minutes), and have none if the issues you mention like activity causing the pouch to get dislodged. I had made a mental note that if the ileo ever caused me issues I'd consider a pouch but have had none-- but am glad I had the option at the time. And no vanity issues at all. I think the 3-step however makes so much sense for anyone fearful of not knowing what would truly work best for them-- allows options, and delighted that things are gradually working out the best for you.

Pluot - yea, come to think of it dinner is my biggest meal and the whole spastic pouch things seems like a good assessment, everytime I eat within 20 minues I start feeling like I need to go. I also get all gassy and what not. When I go on Monday I'll talk to her about anti-spasmodic meds. Thanks for the suggestion.

ArPar - I absolutely need to use creams I get pretty terrible butt burn at this point and I have a bidet seat which I love. Hopefully things calm down and it's reassuring that you went through the same stuff. I go back to work on the 20th and hope that normal days and an occupied mind help the healing process. I'm certainly going to give those baths a try, thanks for the tip.

Thanks again everyone for the support. I post an update at some point next week. Have a great weekend!