J-pouch emptying

Any suggestions on fully emptying the j-pouch? It takes me about 10 minutes to go and then sometimes it doesn't feel like I'm done. Is this normal and will this improve. I also have a problem distingushing whether it is gas or if I need to go--will that change?

Also, any suggestions for gas? I was a bit uncomfortable with gas yesterday. I think I remember people saying gas is worse the first few weeks, right?

Other than that, things are going really well. I think if I want to I could go back to work in a few weeks

It will get better but you need to understand that there is an adaption period. Your jpouch needs to learn how to function like a colon. Time will be your friend. Don't be surprised if you go and then 5 minutes later you realize you need to go again. This is normal. The gas is normal too and will get better. Measure improvement in WEEKS, not days. It's common for new pouchers to get frustrated at this point of recovery because things aren't perfect. Keep a food journal, see what foods have a longer transit time, skip bothersome foods for some time in the future, and continue to walk, walk, walk.

Sue

Glad to hear you are doing well and almost ready to return to work already. I found that if I want to hurry things along I can stand up, bend at the waist like I'm picking something up. A few seconds in that position really speeds things up for me and I can empty right then. I can usually be done with everything, including my bidet rinse, in about two minutes. I think it's a gravity thing. I'm sure you'll learn a little trick in time too. Some people cough. Everyone is different. I think this is why they don't send you home with a lot of information from the hospital because everyone's body responds differently. I've only called my surgeon's office once since my surgery because I feel like it's really hard to explain these kinds of things to anyone who hasn't gone through it personally.

Have you ever looked at Dennis' j-pouch videos on you tube? They are pretty helpful. I've only seen a few but he has a whole series of them. Just watched his one last week on j-pouch spasms. He did a great job of explaining the feelings I get from time to time. He calls them spasms but I don't think a name has been coined for these yet. Mine are never painful but they last about four seconds and can be annoying. But people talk about pressure, urgency, spasms, gas and it's hard to figure out if we are all talking about the same feeling or different things? This is kind of the confusing part. Whatever they are they have gotten better over time and I think they will continue to improve. Also, I have found that time of the month changes things a bit for me - more watery stools and spasms. It really is "a curse."

The gas should impove too. I drink 3-4 soft drinks a day and I rarely ever feel gas pains anymore. Sometimes I will hear the gas rumbling around but I can hit the restroom and it normally comes right out. Once in a blue moon I will feel gas around my shoulder area. Releasing gas is also part of the learning process. Some people have to do it on the toilet while others can do it sitting or lying down and some even standing up. But it can take a while to figure out how to do it without anything besides gas coming out. Don't know if you've mastered that yet

Another thing to be aware of is a stricture. Sometimes it's hard for me to empty all the way and it's because I have an anal stricture that needs to be dialated in my surgeons office. Thank goodness it's getting better now. When you go for your follow up visit I believe it's pretty routine for you to be checked for that.

I would rule out stricture and kinks at this point. You are so new in recovery that you need to give the adaption time. It's sometimes best if you don't hear of these other problems. I really believe your current problems are normal recovery. However, should you experience new pain then by all means go see your surgeon.

Sue

@Scrap Girl
Are you the one with the really cool sounding rinsing bidet? If so i was wondering if you could tell me more about it, like what brand it is and is it part of the toilet or an extra thing you sit on the toilet and the like.

Betsaronie, I bought the Coco 6035R and it's just a seat that you install on the toilet - very easy to do. First you take off the regular toilet seat. Mine came with a remote but I rarely use it because on the side of the seat there's a button you can push too. I love the heated seat and the warm water. It also has a dryer, which I never use anymore. All it takes is about 20-30 seconds of rinsing, a quick wipe and I'm good to go. If you want warm water you need an outlet nearby. I had one installed by an electrician. I think you can use an extension cord - as long as it is the right kind - if you don't want to pay to have an outlet installed. But I never have to use creams anymore. Over spring break I went out of town to visit my parents but I really missed my Coco. Can't say enough good things about bidet seats.

I remember post surgery #3 when I was adapting to my new plumbing I would lean forward and back and also side to side to make sure that I got everything out in one trip while my pouch was growing. 1 yr later and I sometimes lean forward and back - but I think that's just a habit now. Just be aware when using automatic flush toilets...when you stand up or lean sometimes they think you are done and flush. I'm also short so this may be a bigger issue for me than for taller people.