Help from j-pouchers?

Hi all,

It's been a while since I posted here... Today, I am 4 weeks post 2nd step of 2-step surgery. I had a very easy surgery, and for the first week thought I was a miracle. I spent one night in hospital, was out the next day and felt great. After probably a week, I started getting terrible gas that is making my frequency sky rocket. Sometimes 20+ times in 24 hours. I am able to hold it though, which is great, although uncomfortable. If it were not for the gas, especially at night, I think I would be very happy with where I'm at.

Anyone else have something similar? I wonder if it's pouchitis, although no fever, no blood, no urgency (to the point of accidents anyway). I'm having some night leakage due to the gas expelling some out.

Should I be concerned about pouchitis, or is this just normal? Anything I can try to help with gas other than Gas-x and activated charcoal? I took a little fiber for a couple of days, but was afraid it was making things worse. Should I try taking fiber again?

Thanks for the help!

What you're describing sounds similar to what I went through immediately following my take-down. It goes on like that for a while, I'd say 8 weeks until I could pass gas without worrying so much. Of course, after 8 weeks of not doing it, I was really scared to pass gas for a long time. Now, I can do it with the best of them - no odor though, which is weird. You need to be patient. I had nights where I'd seriously have to get up to go fart on the toilet, that or I'd try to let it slip out without pushing because a few times I pushed and it yielded the worst. It's a tough transition, but it gets better with time. I never took anything to try to stop it, I just figured I needed to give it some time.

Thanks, NSSG. I knew and read going into this that I'd be dealing with the issues. What has been hard for me is that I felt so great immediately that I thought I was some kind of exception! If it would have been like this since day 1, I think I'd be more okay with it.

I'm guessing it was the fasting before surgery, no solids the day of the surgery, and the narcos that helped keep all symptoms at bay. Now that all of that is done, I guess I'm just dealing with normal side effects.

I second the stricture possibility. I dealt with it as well and had similar issues as you're describing. The initial dilation is done with the surgeons finger, it's not pleasant but it's quick. I had to get mine done twice.

jacket fan said...
Thanks guys. about strictures... would they cause your stool to be completely soft and watery? I do have stools that look exactly like what I assume my small intestine looks like. Small, thin, worm like. From reading on strictures, it makes me think there wouldn't be any formation at all. Is that correct?

when I was dealing with the stricture my stools ranged from watery to formed and in between. It's hard to say....everyone is different. I know you said your surgeon is away. Is there anyone else there in his practice that you could go see? You don't want just anyone poking and prodding around in there though. Maybe give his office a call. No sense being uncomfortable if you don't have to be. Good luck!

ByeByeUC said...

jacket fan said...
Thanks guys. about strictures... would they cause your stool to be completely soft and watery? I do have stools that look exactly like what I assume my small intestine looks like. Small, thin, worm like. From reading on strictures, it makes me think there wouldn't be any formation at all. Is that correct?

when I was dealing with the stricture my stools ranged from watery to formed and in between. It's hard to say....everyone is different. I know you said your surgeon is away. Is there anyone else there in his practice that you could go see? You don't want just anyone poking and prodding around in there though. Maybe give his office a call. No sense being uncomfortable if you don't have to be. Good luck!

Not really at the moment. The hospital I had surgery at is 5 hours away. I called last Monday and explained symptoms to an on-call doctor. He was aware of pouchitis and did say that my symptoms could be indicative of it, but without bleeding, fever, nausea it was too early to say. Things got a little better since then, so I haven't been pushing it. My surgeon and his PA is out until 1st of year and my appointment is on the 19th.
I did a fleet enema and drank magnesium citrate last night to kind of clean me out and see how I felt. Although I know that's not a solution or safe to do often, I feel much better today and haven't felt nearly as crampy/gassy/bloated as I have been. Also haven't felt the pressure of having to go.

ks1905 said...
My pouchitis is basically just noisy and uncomfortable. I normally do not get fevers from it and have not had bleeding.

I'm definitely gassy, bloated and uncomfortable when my pouchitis is acting up.

My pouchitis started up the day of my reversal (take-down). I also had strictures that needed to be dilated a few times.

Pepto has been a game changer for me, I think it actually works better than the antibiotics for my chronic pouchitis.

Thanks. Will try this today!

I have chronic pouchitis and it's not as bad as I thought it would be as long as I treat it.

It could be an issue with a stricture or just your pouch adjusting. The antibiotics kills off a lot of the bacteria in your stool which takes up a lot of the mass of the stool so you won't have to empty as often. With less bacteria in your stool you'll also have less gas and pressure.

When I am on antibiotics I only have to empty my pouch 1-3 times a day.

You have to rotate antibiotics or go on an "antibiotic vacation" for 10-14 days so you don't build up a resistance to the antibiotics. That's what I use the pepto for, it almost acts like an antibiotic.

After being on antibiotics for 18 months I asked to move to a biological.