How to reduce frequent BMs with Jpouch?
by Mark on Friday, June 26, 2009 0:05Hey Readers,
We just got this email from Tom, and he is new to seeking online support to figure out the complication he is dealing with. Could you all take a peak at his concern and see if you have any insight. Also, we encourage our readers to post their questions/concerns at jpouch.org because that is a thriving discussion board that can offer great insight as well.
My J Pouch has been in place since 9/2005. I immediately started having problems with the number of bowel movements I experienced on a daily basis – sometime numbering 20 – 25. My Dr. tried a number of drugs to “slow down” my system but nothing helped. I have seen a nutritionist only to be told after two contacts that she couldn’t help me. To this day I continue to have 12 – 18 bowel movements a day. I am currently undergoing a physical exam to see whether or not there are any other contributing factors to my frequency problem. Needless to say, I am suffering from this problem.
Has someone who “had” a similar problem and beat it or severely reduced the daily number of movements.
Mark says:
June 26th, 2009 at 12:17 am
Hi Tom, I average around 10 BMs a day myself and use immodium and fiber, when I don’t use the combo of those 2 my BMs definately increase to 12 and more a day. Are you on a steady routine of immodium and fiber? And have you tried changing your routine, etc…trial and error helped me figure out what works best for me. And here is a great post where Jan explains in the 3-4th post down How imodium works explained because understanding how the medicine works helps Mark use it better.
http://j-pouch.org/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/9151071921/m/5601080242?r=5601080242#5601080242
My diet does affect me too, the poorer I eat the more I go, and alcohol and caffeine make it worse for me. Here is a good link for some diet info http://www.j-pouch.org/diet.html .
Some questions for you: 1) what is your immodium and fiber routine? 2) Have you been treated you for pouchitis? 3) Do you still have your rectal cuff? If so, could you have UC in the cuff?
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Olina says:
June 26th, 2009 at 7:06 am
I am on Cipro 250 2X daily. This has finally helped settle me down. I still have 6-7 BM’s per day, but I don’t relapse into Pouchitis every time I stopped these meds, because I will not stop them with my Doc’s permission. I also take Align which is the best probiotic I have taken yet, and I’ve taken pretty much all of them. I also take Metamucil twice a day. Hope this helps. Olina
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Elizabeth says:
July 20th, 2009 at 8:16 pm
I have had a J-pouch for 23 years now…I still go to the bathroom 8-10 times each day.
I happen to know where every bathroom in Cincinnati is… The best advice I can give is to eat meat – it is a natural constipator. Steak usually works best. I don’t take any extra fiber, metamucil, NOTHING. Also, always go to the bathroom before you eat a meal. That helps you make it through the whole meal without having to excuse yourself. I would love to say that I sleep through the night, but I’ve learned to sleep walk to the bathroom…
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Hans Honegger Reply:
August 25th, 2009 at 11:50 am
Hello Mark
I have had my J pouch for 12 years. I currently have about 6 bowel movements per day. Average 3 during the night. I take no meds nor do I watch what I eat other than pretzels. For the first 2 weeks of my new configuration I barely got off the toilet. My doctor made some interior adjustments by hand. Apparently the pouch required to be persuaded (streached open) to a grander size.
I went from 45times per day to 6 same day.
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Mark Reply:
August 26th, 2009 at 2:33 am
Hi Hans, Yes, I have seen my BMs lower as my jpouch gets older. In the beginning I was less able to hold much waste, but now I’ve increased to holding more and more. It has been a great thing to have the pouch get better with time and use. If only everything in life would get better with time!
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brian says:
November 30th, 2009 at 8:34 am
Hi, Tom i have had a jpouch since 2004. The only thing that i know for sure is that just when you think you have it figured out it changes…. Taking fiber after every meal eating only three times a day has often times been good …other times not so good…sometimes im ok eating alot of junk food sometimes not….However one thing i have never done good with and it has always caused me lots of problems with frequency is lots of sugar. I avoid heavy amounts of sugar ….lots of sugar for me is like a garunteed bad day….hope you get things under control. God Bless
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