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life after take down?

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Posted 3/8/2012 11:04 PM (GMT -5)
So my take down surgery is scheduled for April 25th and I cannot WAIT! to get this bag off of my stomach and have a free belly once again! Oh and also to, you know, poop like normal people and be in no pain and all of that tongue

However I'm wondering... What is life exactly like after this final surgery? How long does it take so that I'm normally pooping again? Will I ever poop only once a day? WHat is it like for everyone else?
Posted 3/8/2012 11:14 PM (GMT -5)
Good luck - I'm sure someone will give you some advice who have had a reversal.

Most of us here are dealing with the inability to poop like normal people and unable to get rid of their bags and cope and be grateful that their lives are indeed better having had their surgery.
Posted 3/9/2012 9:46 AM (GMT -5)
I can only speak from my experience, but I doubt you'll ever get down to one BM a day. I'm guessing the average is probably between 4-7 times? I have no idea how many times I go, I've never counted. When you go it's different though because most of the time you go to pee, you'll also empty your pouch. Your BMs may be formed or more liquidy but I personally never have anything that looks like a "normal" person's poop, i.e. large logs. Just be prepared for some rough times in the beginning - like possible leakage, gas, spasms and irritation from wiping so many times a day. I highly recommend a bidet seat attachment. The adjustment period may take weeks or even months. It probably took me 4-5 months before I felt like everything was really working the way it should be again. I'm very happy with everything now although I know if I had to go back to an ileo I could. Good luck.

 

Posted 3/9/2012 10:03 AM (GMT -5)
I hope everything goes as well as possible for you, but I really think you need to dial your expectations down a notch or two or you are going to be really disappointed and have a rough time adjusting to life with a pouch.

I have had a wonderful recovery and adjustment period, yet I wouldn't describe my day to day as pooping like a "normal" person at all. I'm not sure exactly how many times I go as I've stopped keeping track. I know it doesnt interfere with anything I want or need to do, and that's all that matters to me. If I had to guess, I would say I'm in the neighborhood of 6-8 times/24 hours. Consistency ranges from liquid to more formed, but it isn't (and never will be) like "regular" poop from the days before UC. That's just how it is.

Best of luck to you. :-)
Posted 3/9/2012 11:09 AM (GMT -5)
Once per day? You are going to be very disappointed if you were led to believe that you are going to empty your pouch once per day. There are no surgical options that will get you back to once per day.

Sue
Posted 3/9/2012 11:25 AM (GMT -5)
Your days of pooping once a day like a "normal person" are over my friend. But not to worry, you will have a new normal now and going to the bathroom several times a day really isn't a big deal. And of course there will be no pain. I go about 4-6x a day. My sister has a j pouch too and she says she goes 2-3x a day which is almost unheard of. But she's had her j pouch for 20 years so who knows what one can accomplish! Best wishes! :)

PS- My hubby has a healthy colon and he goes 3x a day! Don't let the numbers scare you!
Posted 3/9/2012 1:48 PM (GMT -5)
If I ever wanted to go hiking for long periods of time or go backpacking or anything outdoors, simple living, could I do it? It sounds as if to me that 4-6 times a day is a lot! :( I am not complaining, because I'm hearing how happy everyone is so I still am looking forward to it, but I feel as though I went 4-6 times a day before all of my surgeries... However, I was in a lot of pain then... So I guess the pain will be gone and that is good to look forward to. I sincerely hope I will never ever have to constantly be wondering where the bathroom is the second I go somewhere new.
Posted 3/9/2012 1:57 PM (GMT -5)
I do day hikes, I backpack, I do long distance (100-200 mile) thru hikes abroad with my jpouch. Since surgery I have done the John Muir trail in the Sierras, hiked in and out of the Grand Canyon, and hiked and traveled through Patagonia, Turkey, the Middle East, Europe and Southeast Asia. My frequency is about 8X per day. Sometimes higher with all that activity. It's not an issue. I wouldn't be doing any of these activities if I had my colon.

Sue
Posted 3/9/2012 2:11 PM (GMT -5)
Crosby99-
Honestly 4-6x a day in not a big deal. Yeah it sounds like a lot but you will see that there is no urgency or cramps...you just go when it's convenient for you. I don't have to keep track of where the restrooms are anymore. That was in the UC days. You will be fine, don't worry!
Posted 3/12/2012 10:18 PM (GMT -5)
my takedown was in jan. and i have been doing very well ...i have been able to eat anything ..i have heard to slowly eat meat again but i was fine but i do go to the bathroom ALOT it doesnt bother me to much i take imodium when it gets annoying or if im going out . I dont know if you love to sleep on your stomach but i do and when i had my ostomy bag i couldnt after the reversal surgery it takes about 2 weeks to sleep on your stomach again because of the scaring and heaing and be prepared to laugh at yourself for thinking you still have that bag when it's gone!
Posted 3/13/2012 11:11 AM (GMT -5)
Thank you SO MUCH for everyone's honesty, I really needed to hear all of this. My mind is definitely more grounded now about life after these surgeries.

I have been hearing different recovery periods from a lot of people, but if I wanted to go to a concert this summer, how long should I wait after the take down surgery to go? There is one specifically June 6th that I WOULD LOVE to go to (it's Radiohead in Cincinnati, if anyone is a fan). Do you think if my take down is April 25th that I would have a problem going to this?

Also, this might be cutting it short, but what if I wanted to go to a concert that was 2 weeks after post op... would that be cutting it way too close???
Posted 3/13/2012 11:56 AM (GMT -5)
Maybe a month at most? Seems the average time go get back to doing normal things after takedown is 3-6 weeks. I'm hoping my recovery time will be short as I'm getting married in August and I want to ride the roller coasters in Dollywood, lol.
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