I used 180 Medical when I had my temp loop ileostomy and they were great. But I think they only deal with Convatec supplies (not all the others)....
I didn't do well with my loop either...pretty much constant skin irritation for the 3 months I had it. I used Convatec products & non-alcohol based removers. I would try to remove most of the...
Oct 14th was a good day for me! Had step 1 of 2 on that date last year and am happily living life with my j-pouch (after way too many years of UC!). Good luck! Vicki...
Wiskers...see my reply in your other thread about takedown....
My takedown experience was pretty routine based on what I've read here and at J-Pouch.org. My surgery was Friday afternoon...maybe an hour or so in OR. There was a bit more pain at the old stoma site...
I agree with NSSG...MRE was a miserable test! The Gastro Graffen Enema was a piece of cake as Wiskers stated. Just messy. My ileostomy bag did fill up with the liquid but not enough to cause a leak....
I have a great suggestion for anyone with problems clicking the 2-piece bag together (that I got from my ostomy nurse)...just put a tiny bit of liquid soap along the edge and then it clicks on very...
For the year before my J-pouch surgery the only thing that would give me relief was 60 mg pred (and I am 5'8" female weighing 115 at the time!). Every time I tapered though, symptoms returned...I had...
Wait till after takedown when you get to put all those extra ostomy supplies in a box and donate them back to the hospital! For me that was way more exciting...meant the end of the journey had...
I did that for several years. Would smoke 4 regular cigarettes spread out thru the day and used e-cigs the rest of the time (I was never one who could only smoke a "few" cigs per day). I wouldn't say...
I'd skip the Imodium if your movements are dry...it helps firm things up as most have trouble because things are too liquidy. Also I would increase my water intake. I know 2 months seems like forever...
Wow...this is an interesting thread. Marinmom...can't believe you were told you were not a J-Pouch candidate because you were over 50!!! I am closer to 60 than 50 and just had my J-Pouch created in...
I had a similar history to yours but no cancer (although my surgeon told me it was only a matter of time when he removed my colon). We are close to the same age. I had UC for over 10 years (started...
When I had my temporary ostomy I also had a hard time attaching the bag to the wafer (used Convatec 2 piece). Trick my ostomy nurse taught me was to put a little bit of liquid soap around the...
40mg was always my starting point & it worked great for many flares over a 10 year period. Last one 40 did nothing...upped to 60 and that helped almost immediately. However, after tapering within a...
NCOT...the bottles work fine (got one on Amazon for under $10 and used that when traveling). I got a sprayer attachment (looks like the kind on a kitchen sink) for the toilet at HomeDepot for $35. It...
I had my J-Pouch surgery this past Oct and takedown in Jan (4 months ago). My surgeon would not schedule takedown until 3 months had passed...he felt that was the time needed to heal. I can honestly...
I agree with everything said already. One month is nothing. I am at almost 4 months and things have gotten MUCH better than they were at 1 month. My old ostomy site hurt a lot at 1 month and so did...
I had my takedown surgery on a Friday afternoon and got to my room about 8pm Friday evening. Left hospital Monday around 3pm. Didn't get up much on Sat (just 2 quick walks) but Sun I actually felt...
Hi GSC. I am slightly older than you (58). Had 2-step J-Pouch surgery and am very happy with it. I think most people get hung up on the number of times you empty it per day (I'd say I'm around 8)....
I had my surgery in October and my takedown 3 months ago tomorrow. I had UC for over 10 years (got it when I quit smoking). I no longer responded to any meds except prednisone and at increasingly...
Hey Mattee. I had the J-Pouch surgery in Oct and takedown in Jan. My experiences were a lot like yours...kept telling myself for 10-15 years that I really didn't have a problem. Just dealt with each...
For me surgery was finally the victory! By making that decision, I regained control of my life instead of the diseased colon controlling it! My J-Pouch is relatively new (11 weeks since takedown) but...
I live in Florida and never go outside without it. You can get regular moisturizing lotions with 15 spf in them (Eucerin, Vaseline Int. Care, etc). I use that after every shower which works for just...
I also installed a hand-held nozzle but I use it since my takedown. In the US you can buy them at Home Depot (right near the toilet seats). It reminds me of the sprayer on a kitchen sink. Works great...
I couldn't use the paste...just too hard to work with. Have you tried the seals? I had great success with the Eakin Slims. Put seal on first...tight around stoma. Then the barrier. Didn't have any...
I donated mine back to the ostomy clinic at the hospital where I had my surgery. The nurse had told me they only get the left-over supplies from the hospital...they can't order their own. Took a big...
I think she will do better at home!!! I was released on day 3 after takedown. Never had 20+ bms but definitely had the pain (which surprised me...pain was worse with takedown than with Step 1 for...
Can't add anything to the above but wanted to say I hope it resolves itself. I did find that exactly at 6 weeks post takedown my minor nighttime leaking accidents stopped completely. So maybe you...
Central Florida. Had my surgery at Shand's University of Fla in Gainesville (which is also a teaching hospital). Awesome facility and surgeon (Dr. Iqbal)...all colerectal patients have private rooms....
3 weeks after surgery I no longer needed naps. Probably 6-8 weeks before I felt "somewhat normal"...not winded during exercise, better energy level, etc. About 2 weeks before the takedown I can say I...
I was exhausted the entire time I had the loop. I couldn't tolerate Gatorade or any of the hydration drinks...just drank tons of water. Finally found an electrolyte replacement pill used by...
I'm a competitive amateur golfer and also exercise regularly with Zumba & weights. My j-pouch takedown was only 5 weeks ago but I am already back at Zumba and the gym and have my first tee-time on...
I had 5 staples...2 on left and 3 on right. One hurt a little (because it was healing already) but the rest were fine. And it took about 10 seconds total so no big deal :)! The nurse taught me to...
The pain I had from the takedown was worse than the initial surgery (which didn't seem possible but was!). Surgeon explained that their were adhesions which had to be forcibly separated and the...
Call each of the main companies...Convatec, Hollister, Coloplast. Just tell them you just had surgery and they will all send you "welcome" packages (the ones I got included wipes, seals, bags &...
I had some gas the first week or so but that went away. It was hard for me to figure out whether it was gas or general pain from the surgery (my ostomy closure site hurt quite a bit for about 3 weeks...
Good Luck Dan! My pouch is brand new and amazing! It does have it's "quirks" as Marianne put it but sooo much better than UC! Vicki...
That makes sense re: fertility (at my age that was no longer an issue!). And if you keep your rectum, you can always try the J-pouch later after child bearing years. But I'm guessing by then you will...
My surgery was on a Friday afternoon. They wouldn't even let me have water until Saturday! Then liquids only Sat. Had first movement Sat late afternoon. Didn't get OK'ed to eat solids until after the...
Just a question...is there any reason you are not a candidate for a J-Pouch? Seems like at your age and a UC diagnosis that would be a possibility. I know there are lots of people who opt not to go...
Nope Amanda...no pain or blood like UC. Only pain was butt burn which is pretty much gone now (sitz baths and corn starch powder worked for me...you'll have to experiment to see what works for you)....
Glad to hear it went smoothly! I know what you mean about being afraid to go "normally" but don't be! It's a bit of a strange feeling at first (emptying the pouch) but it is NOTHING like having UC...
The only thing I saw at my hospital (Univ of Fla Shands) was their nasty scratchy TP. I would definitely recommend bringing your own :)! Good luck Monday...it's really liberating to be rid of the...
I had my takedown on Friday 1/23. I started eating solids including meat on Sunday, 1/25 (chicken). My surgeon said once on solids I had no food restrictions but after reading a lot on this forum...
I had my takedown a little over 2 weeks ago (heading to the surgeon for my follow-up appt tomorrow). Apparently surgeons (even those in the same hospital) close the ostomy wound differently. Mine put...
Ditto what Keith said. The exhaustion after surgery was much different than the way I felt with UC. I no longer felt sick...my body was just recovering from a very difficult procedure (I too had both...
I can totally relate!!! Took me much longer to get my energy back than I thought it would. And I was eating a lot as well as drinking protein shakes (with ice cream) every night. I agree with Keith...
I'm in Florida (about 20 minutes SE of Ocala). My surgeon is at Shands Univ of FL in Gainesville (about an hour away but worth the trip!). Where are you? I'm a little nervous about afterwards as...
I'm having my pouchoscopy tomorrow as well! I'm eating a Subway sandwich as I type this. My prep is nothing to eat or drink after midnight tonight (and that's due to the anesthesia...my surgeon does...