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Recovery is still rough


Fri, December 07, 2012 8:23 PM

My husband had the 3 part surgeries ending with the J-pouch. It has been 7 months and he is still having frequent bathroom trips, pain and burning. I know this is normal but is it still normal for this long? I have heard of recoveries being up to a year but mostly I've heard only 3-6 months. Is it possible to never get any better? It's beginning to feel like that. He also has trouble getting a good night's sleep.
Thanks for any feedback. I was really encouraged before when I wrote but now it is getting discouraging again..

FPO rainhue
Joined Jul 28, 2012

Fri, February 22, 2013 8:11 PM

 Reply posted for jenpen80.

Hi Jen, Good luck to you!
My husband is still having issues but he went to his gastroenterologist that sent him to the colorectal surgeon in the first place and he was very surprised that my husband was having issues. He said he never has anyone come back to him with problems. Anyway, he is trying some new medications and he actually has to have a colonoscopy! Apparently there is still enough left there for him to scope. He is wondering if there is some type of blockage or hemorrhoids that are getting in the way of adequate passage.. Anyway, take care and let me know how you are doing..
Lorraine

FPO rainhue
Joined Jul 28, 2012

Fri, February 22, 2013 6:21 PM

Hi! I know you posted this a few months back...hope things are much better for your husband (and you!) by now. I am having the 2 step JPouch surgery this coming tuesday. I'm SO ready!  Have you been on the Ostomy.org site,j-pouch.org and ihaveuc.com ? There are sections on there about JPouch and after surgery help. I remember reading about people using a combination of Gas x and metamucil on a regular basis. Hope you can find help with some of these sites.

Jen

FPO jenpen80
Joined Dec 31, 2008

Sun, January 27, 2013 6:26 PM

 Reply posted for StacieL.

Hi Staci,
Wow, you two sure are in the same boat as far as no travel or no sleep. And yes, it is very depressing. I hear that it can take up to a year so hang in there! I will keep you posted. Would you do the same for me? Like you, any good news would give us hope!
Thanks, Lorraine

FPO rainhue
Joined Jul 28, 2012

Sun, January 27, 2013 3:31 PM

 Reply posted for rainhue.

I've been living with my J pouch for just over 7 months now. I've not seen any improvement.  I go to the bathroom about 20 times a day, which means no travel and no sleep.  I'm having such a hard time.  I'm much worse off now than before the surgery.  It is really depressing.  Tell your husband he is not alone.  Please keep me updated.  I'd love to hear that he is doing better now!  Plus, that means there is still some hope for me!  Good luck!

FPO staciel
Joined Jan 22, 2013

Thu, December 27, 2012 6:10 PM

 Reply posted for RTL331.

Thank you so much for your reply. I sure hope it works that way for us. It is so hard to keep hanging in there but if I hear enough success stories,(which I pass on to my husband) it helps to keep having hope. I am so glad things are working out for you! Take care..

FPO rainhue
Joined Jul 28, 2012

Thu, December 27, 2012 3:56 PM

 Reply posted for rainhue.

I had the 3 part procedure w/ J pouch this past year.  It took me until month 6ish before I started coming around (sleeping through the night, no burning).  I'd make progress for a few weeks, and then there would be a month of no progress.  Then progress again...  Eventually, one day, out of the blue, it all just seemed to get better.  My body finally adapted.  As I slept through the night, I began to have more energy, and began to exercise again, and was able to really start eating and putting weight back on.  I can't pinpoint when this happened exactly, just one day I noticed things were a lot better.  My last surgery was in Feb ’12, and in Dec ’12 I completed a ½ marathon w/o stopping.  Hang in there.....the body WILL adapt.  I didn’t believe I’d ever get better when I was in the trenches of recovery, but now that I’m feeling better….I’m a believer!

FPO rtl331
Joined May 25, 2011

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