What to expect from Step 3 of j-pouch surgery

I have read quite a bit about people’s experiences with j-pouch surgery, but now I am focusing on step 3 surgery and trying to remember what to expect. Could those of you who have gone through it share what it was like for you? Some of my questions:
Is anesthesia recovery easier because it’s a shorter surgery?
Does the recovery time feel shorter than steps 1 and 2?
How long did you take off of work?
Did you need constant bathroom access afterward, and if so, for how long?

I know after steps 1 and 2 dealing with anesthesia recovery for the first couple of weeks and then fatigue for the first 6 weeks have been my major issues. I’m curious what the biggest issues were for you after step 3.

Thanks!

Oh, I’m just talking about after step 3, so emptying your j-pouch. I’ve heard some people describe recovery as weeks of nearly constant diarrhea. I’m so in the routine of emptying my ostomy that I’m having a hard time visualizing going to the bathroom like a “normal” person.

I was very fortunate and takedown recovery was pretty easy for me. I was only in the OR for 30 minutes and I had very minimal pain when I woke up. The soreness was mainly from the stoma sutures. I had some nausea but I always do after anesthesia so I wasn’t surprised about that. My bowels woke up a little less than 24 hours later. It was liquid but there was no pain or cramping. Just sitting on the potty and going. I went quite often but it wasn’t anything bad. I went home on the third day. It took about 2 weeks and my stool then started to thicken up. Three weeks after takedown was Halloween and I was out taking my kids trick or treating.

Just go slow with food in the beginning. Don’t eat anything too heavy. Small frequent meals are better than big ones. Now 7 years later I don’t think much about my j pouch. I go to the bathroom an average of 4x a day. It’s semi formed stool. There is no pain, cramping or straining. It’s as simple as urinating. It’s a new normal. I also eat everything. There is nothing I stay away from which is such a blessing after dealing with UC for so long and not being able to eat. But again, fresh out of surgery....go very slow with food at first.

Best of luck!

Kanva,

I didn't realize that you had surgery because your signature wasn't in your original post.

It really depends on what you eat, that has the largest effect on the type of output that you'll get. Ideally, you'll get a mushy somewhat formed stool. Most people go 3-8 times a day, depending on the amount and TYPE of food that they eat.

I have chronic pouchitis, it is not nearly as bad as UC. I have no urgency or discomfort. I just get more of a liquid output and I need to treat it from becoming worse. My pouchitis responds much better to medication than my UC ever did. When I take antibiotics to treat the pouchitis then I go once or twice a day; the reason that happens is because a large amount of your stool consists of bacteria. The antibiotics kill off the bacteria which lessens the amount of bacteria in your stool, meaning less output/bulk.

I think my experience is a little different than most peoples because I have chronic pouchitis but some of the other differences is that I have never had to wake up at night to empty my pouch and I've never had butt burn.

Even with the problems with my jpouch I still really like it. I take a biological to treat it.