HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Post take down- HELP

Support Forums
>
Ostomies
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 2/13/2016 10:15 PM (GMT 0)
Decided to make a new post all together.
I've recently had my ostomy take down. The first few days after my surgery, once I started going again, I had to go multiple times a day but I don't think I had much pain/urgency.
The past few days however, (10 days post-op) I've had the painful urge to go 10+ times a day, not counting nights. Has anyone else felt a painful pressure when getting the urge to have a bowel movement?
Last night I went to bed at 8 and got up every hour, maybe more. Every time I go, if not experiencing constipation, I go only a little bit at a time. Usually it's runny/slightly soft. It's hard to tell because I go so little.
I've been using calmoseptine as well as Vaseline and cortisone 10 (only when severely needed) for intense butt burn :/
I'm aware it takes time to get used to, and I knew I would be going a lot at first but the constant pains and urges are reminding me too much of my time with UC... I don't know how much longer I can put up with this. The UC has scarred me for life...
Also, what types of food should I be eating? I thought I've been eating pretty bland lately, not too crazy but maybe not.

Post Edited (Niks) : 2/13/2016 4:18:32 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 2/13/2016 11:38 PM (GMT 0)
My first month of so was pretty rough. I didn't know how to pass wind and I thought every urge was a BM. Often I would go to the toilet with gas pain and think it was BM. Over the first few weeks, I learned to pass gas and things were so much easier after that point. I don't recommend you, as new from surgery as you are, go crazy trying to push out gas because you will get more than you bargained for. It happened to me a lot of times, you just arent going to be that familiar with what you're feeling at this point. I was getting really frustrated in the beginning with going often. I would be walking my dog and have to get to the bathroom. I guess my pouch didn't have much capacity at that time. The output was mostly liquid to top it off. I was up a lot of night, sometimes 4 or 5x... Now I am so much better. I am probably just over 3 months out and things are great. I can go many hours without even thinking about the toilet. Usually when I go, it's to pee. I can also fart without worry. Sure, I've had a few times I miscalculated wind, but it gets less likely to happen over time :) You need to be patient. Avoid peppers...
Posted 2/14/2016 12:50 AM (GMT 0)
Unfortunately as crappy as you feel, you just have to wait it out. For most people the first month is pretty crazy.

Do you have a post op appointment coming up with your surgeon? Shortly after my reversal I developed an anal stricture (scar tissue). It caused me a lot of grief (a lot of what you're describing) until I went to my surgeon to see what was up. He dilated the stricture and I felt a million times better. It's a fairly common occurrence after reversal.
Posted 2/14/2016 5:16 PM (GMT 0)
My next appointment with my surgeon is in a little less than a month... I feel like that's a very long ways away..
The pains awful. It's sort of a painful pressure in my anus that feels like I'm about to have a bowel movement. It only lasts a few seconds, but causes me to freeze up with fear I'll end up going all over the place.
It's usually followed by a trip to the bathroom out of fear.
I'm also scared to eat most foods, worried it'll mess up my stomach/make the bowel movements more urgent.
This is really messing with my head.
Posted 2/14/2016 5:20 PM (GMT 0)
Yup, that's exactly how I felt. Since your follow up appointment is pretty far off, I would call them and get it moved up. It it's a stricture like I had, it's an easy fix and you'll feel so much better.
Posted 2/14/2016 6:31 PM (GMT 0)
Hopefully it will pass for you, I lived like that for a year before going back to an ostomy.
Posted 2/14/2016 9:32 PM (GMT 0)
I've heard a lot about people who have gone back to the ostomy because they just couldn't take it... I hated the ostomy but it sure was nice not worrying about stomach aches and pooping 24/7...
Hopefully I'll get ahold of my surgeon about the pain tomorrow.. Any suggestions as to what foods I should be eating? I've been trying to eat light/bland but, of course, I have trouble following strict diets and have given in to some chocolate/sweets (believe me I regret it). Who knows, maybe eating light won't do anything anyways..



Tired.

Post Edited (Niks) : 2/14/2016 2:44:31 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 2/14/2016 9:48 PM (GMT 0)
Unfortunately, I'm over 10 months out and while things are better, there is pain every day and many BM's. Honestly, I think that this is just the way it is with many people. Most don't complain because they hated the stoma or can just say "this is better than UC."

I'm not saying things will be great, but you will certainly see improvements. I don't know what to tell you other than hold out. Find some emotional support.
Posted 2/14/2016 10:54 PM (GMT 0)

Niks said...
I've heard a lot about people who have gone back to the ostomy because they just couldn't take it... I hated the ostomy but it sure was nice not worrying about stomach aches and pooping 24/7...
Hopefully I'll get ahold of my surgeon about the pain tomorrow.. Any suggestions as to what foods I should be eating? I've been trying to eat light/bland but, of course, I have trouble following strict diets and have given in to some chocolate/sweets (believe me I regret it). Who knows, maybe eating light won't do anything anyways..



Tired.

you're doing the right thing by keeping foods light and bland right now. Hopefully your surgeon will see you right away to give you a check up.

Please remember your only 10 days post op. Your body has been through a HUGE deal. It takes time to heal and adjust.
Posted 2/14/2016 11:22 PM (GMT 0)

Niks said...
My next appointment with my surgeon is in a little less than a month... I feel like that's a very long ways away..
The pains awful. It's sort of a painful pressure in my anus that feels like I'm about to have a bowel movement. It only lasts a few seconds, but causes me to freeze up with fear I'll end up going all over the place.
It's usually followed by a trip to the bathroom out of fear.
I'm also scared to eat most foods, worried it'll mess up my stomach/make the bowel movements more urgent.
This is really messing with my head.

I had those spasms in the beginning. If you're at home, try letting the feeling pass and NOT running to the bathroom. Wear a pad or adult diaper if you need the extra mental confidence. Going to the bathroom so often when you don't necessarily have to will exacerbate the normal skin issues post-takedown, and it can be a lot harder to have a BM when the pouch is nearly empty. For me, although the spasms were painful at first and felt like a really strong urge to go, as long as I rode out the feeling I didn't actually need to go to the bathroom and could often postpone for a few hours after the spasm. Remember the j-pouch is made out of small intestine which is used to pushing food forward indiscriminately -- it has to be trained to act as a reservoir instead of push-push-pushing all the time.

The spasms went away for me within the first few months. I only have them now if I hold a BM for a really long time (like 12 hours) for my own convenience.
Posted 2/14/2016 11:39 PM (GMT 0)
I just got home today from my takedown surgery last Wednesday. So far things are going well for me, I have maybe 8-10 BM's in a 24hr period. I do have some butt burn and my god it does burn. I got one of those hand held Bidet's and it's been a godsend.
Posted 2/15/2016 10:52 PM (GMT 0)
I second that hand held bidet. I got the one NSSG recommended and it has saved my butt lately!
Posted 2/15/2016 11:47 PM (GMT 0)

cupcakespinkgal said...
I second that hand held bidet. I got the one NSSG recommended and it has saved my butt lately!

Thats exactly who I got the recommendation from, that little thing is priceless to me lol. I did start a trick that I read from someone with a jpouch. I chew two Pepto Bismal tablets 3x a day and I have honestly not had any butt burn since. I don't know if it's a coincidence or not but I haven't had one bout of butt burn and I'm still emptying 5-10x a day at the moment. I just wash with the Bidet and use a baby wipe after and all is good.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply