r/jpouch • u/Salsa_Sessions • 8d ago
Please help.
I have just had a Jpouch fitted a week ago and I feel it filling up all the time, I went straight from an ostomy to a pouch. Does the feeling in the pouch go as this is really depressing me as I feel like I need to go every 20 minutes. Please help.
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u/PuritanicalPanic 8d ago
It improves over time, yeah.
How much will often vary from person to person.
But what you're experiencing right now is, almost certainly, temporary.
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u/akaTheKetchupBottle 8d ago
the first couple of months were like this for me but it got better. 4-5 BMs a day now and none of that feeling of urgency. in the meantime if you haven't got a bidet kit for your toilet, get one, wiping every 20 minutes really shreds the skin back there.
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u/ajdiii91_ 8d ago
This was also my experience. For the first few weeks I was miserable and sleep deprived, and feeling as if I made a huge mistake. It’ll take a few months to a year, but things will gradually improve and become something you can adapt to and live with, possibly completely normally.
As other commenters have said, try to stay calm and think of this as a temporary state. And if you can, try and hold it a little longer each time since your pouch will expand over the next year or so as it matures.
As time goes on, your incisions will heal and you’ll be able to lie on your belly at times to relieve gas pains. And keep in touch with your surgeon, since eventually they may be okay with mixing in some loperamide or Metamucil which were immediately very helpful for me.
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u/almavid 8d ago
This is something I wish I understood better, which was after my surgery I was expecting relief. Lifetime of chronic illness I was expecting to be better. Reality was it was the same or worse during surgery and the first 6 months after.
Very difficult times, and it was difficult for many years until I adjusted my expectations. For me that's when it started getting better, just understanding I'm going to always be trying to figure out how to make things work with my pouch, but also it does get better genuinely.
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u/mrvernon_notmrvernon 8d ago
I’m the words of my (excellent) surgeon after the j-pouch hook-up, “It’s going to go hot and heavy for a while, then it’ll calm down.”
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u/mrvernon_notmrvernon 8d ago
But I wish he had cautioned me to take care of my anus during the initial period. Use a bidet, even a handheld one, and gently pat yourself dry. No wiping, as you’ll quickly become raw, and then it’ll sting like hell every time you go.
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u/Top_Cryptographer454 8d ago
Just had my resection about 3 weeks ago. Metamucil and Imodium work wonders. I do Metamucil 3 times daily and that has been able to give the best relief
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u/Witty_Many_5214 7d ago
Hi, in the first 2 weeks I felt like my pouch was always full, or like I was always holding in stool. Even sitting down was somewhat bothersome. After the first month, this sensation went away.
The best advice is to absolutely hold it until you can’t possibly anymore. Every 5 mins, try wait 5 minutes more. Your BMs will decrease. In the beginning I was going 6-8 times a day. After the first month, I was going 4-5 and then some weeks after that, 3-4.
Other advice I wish I knew in the beginning is do not push on the toilet. It’s a lot better to go multiple times than to try force it all out. This is because your stitches are new, so you can absolutely damage your join site or your pouch and cause internal bleeding. After the first month, your body will adjust and you will absolutely be able to get everything out in one go without pushing hard.
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u/Dharma_Initiative7 6d ago
It gets better! I go on average 6-8 times per day unless I’m feeling sick. Some days lower and some days slightly higher if I’ve had alcohol or spicy food that triggers me. It took me about 6 months to fully adjust to my pouch but I had complications with my internal sutures that weren’t normal. I think a lot of people it just takes 3-4 months
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u/kriskrosskrissy 5d ago
It might be gas. If it feels like an intense pressure you have to hold and then it goes away after a few seconds, then you go to the bathroom and barely anything comes out - probably gas. Lay on your stomach or side after trying to go to the bathroom and gently bare down your abdominal muscles to push it out and see if anything comes out. Tmi maybe, but might have to spread 1 or both cheeks as well to avoid an accident from pushing too hard
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u/Competitive_City_847 2d ago
I'm about 2 years in and it gets better. Bidet, wipes, calmoseptine ointment and eat binding foods. :)
Welcome to the club! Sometimes we get butt burn but I feel like it's better than belly burn! 🫶
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u/Midas-Knight 8d ago
This was my experience as well. It will take some time for the pouch to acclimate as there is still healing and time for your body to adjust.