Since my surgery seven years ago, I’ve gotten to know my j-pouch and its quirkiness pretty well. I am also pretty outspoken about life with my j-pouch and often post updates about how things are going. Because of this I get a lot of questions and people messaging me asking for j-pouch tips and advice. But I’ve never actually sat down and blogged about it on my personal website before. I think it’s high time I fix that. So, without further ado, here are my top j-pouch tips that I hope can really help other people navigate the fickleness of this artificially constructed colon “substitute.”
DISCLAIMER:
Before I begin with my tips, PLEASE read my DISCLAIMER and know that I am not a physician of any kind. I cannot treat or diagnose any diseases. What I share with you is simply some things that I have found helpful in living a more “normal” life with a j-pouch. You should always consult your physician or medical professional before trying any of these products. I do not claim to have any kind of cures for any conditions. What works for me may not work for you. What I share is simply personal experience and if you find help reading this, GREAT! If not, keep searching for something that works for you. Again, PLEASE read my DISCLAIMER.
1) Calmoseptine is your BEST FRIEND.
Go through my Instagram page and you’ll find post after post about that minty-fresh feeling cream that (I’m convinced) was concocted by the angels in Heaven themselves! Whenever I get messages from new (or soon-to-be) j-pouchers, I tell them to invest in several tubes of Calmoseptine. You will thank me when your j-pouch has decided to rebel against you and the butt burn just won’t seem to stop. A quick application of that messy pink goop to the derrière and you will be sitting pretty and going about your day feeling a bit fresher. Some people don’t like the “minty” feeling on your butt. But I actually find it soothing. Also, you may not want to use it with your favorite pair of underpants. It isn’t easy to clean out of fabric. You can find this butt cream in the adult diaper section of most pharmacies. (PS: Calmoseptine isn’t just for people with a j-pouch, any IBD patient can benefit from this wonder cream!)
2) Get yourself a Bidet… or two… or three…
You may be thinking, “What the heck is a bidet!?” Well, I’ll tell you. A bidet is a device (either attached to the toilet or in the form of a squeeze bottle) that sprays water on your nether regions, cleansing you after a bowel movement. Anyone with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis knows the frequent bathroom trips are rather hard on our butts. The frequent wiping and the acidic stools are extremely irritating. Well, using a bidet to wash things off helps improve the irritation and discomfort. After rinsing your bottom, simply pat yourself dry with some toilet paper. I’m telling you, this stuff has made a huge difference in my life… especially after acquiring my stupid fistula! I have two LuxeBidets in my home, in addition I own THREE handheld bidets for when I’m traveling. LuxeBidet also tells me that they’re running a giveaway on December 6th, so be sure to follow them on Instagram and keep your eyes peeled for that!
“Our vision is to make healthy home hygiene affordable & accessible to everyone. We know that the common thought regarding bidets is that they can be cumbersome and expensive. Because of this, we wanted to change that perspective and make bidets easier for everyone!” –LuxeBidet
3) Toilet Bowl Sprays/Drops
Visiting the homes of others is difficult when you have inflammatory bowel disease. I hate dropping one in someone else’s house. Not only is my j-pouch extremely loud and messy… but the smell is also embarrassing. That’s where the toilet sprays/drops come in. My go-to? Poo-Pourri. I’ve tried several toilet sprays/drops, but nothing comes close to covering up that stank like Poo-Pourri. I have multiple bottles in my house (and one for my go-bag, too).
4) Passing Gas with a J-Pouch
In a previous post about life with a j-pouch, I warned people NOT to pass gas with a j-pouch. But after living with my j-pouch for longer than a year, I can safely say, TEST THOSE WATERS. First, I would absolutely tell you to try it over the toilet. Sitting upright will end with you also expelling more than gas (or it does for me). Try lying down in multiple positions. I have found this the most effective way of gas relief. I have yet to make a mess while lying down to cut the cheese. I’m still not comfortable trying this in an upright position. However, my fistula likes to toot its horn once in a while whenever it gets the urge… Curse you fistula… CURSE YOU.
5) Psyllium Husk
Ok, last year I discovered something that I wish I’d tried sooner: Psyllium Husk. Mount Sinai describes Psyllium Husk as “a soluble fiber used primarily as a gentle bulk-forming laxative in products such as Metamucil. It comes from a shrub-like herb called Plantago ovatathat grows worldwide but is most common in India. Each plant can produce up to 15,000 tiny, gel-coated seeds, from which psyllium husk is derived.” There are multiple products out there that contain Psyllium Husk. You can even buy it plain from places like Amazon. However, I usually buy the store brand Metamucil. I have discovered that it really helps bulk up my stools, reduces the number of trips to the bathroom and cuts back on the butt burn. If you’re scared to try it because the word “fiber” scares the pants off of you, believe me, I UNDERSTAND. That’s how I felt. But I got to the point where Imodium just didn’t do much for me, so I decided to give Psyllium Husk a try. And boy and I glad that I did. I would encourage you to do the same if you are looking for functional improvement in your j-pouch, too.
A Word of Caution about Psyllium Husk
A few quick side notes: Start off with the lowest dose and work your way up to the higher dosing. Starting may give you more gas than when you started, but that diminishes quickly. For me, I actually feel less bowel-churning gas when I’m consistent with my intake. I am also less malnourished now that things stay in my gut for longer periods of time so my body can absorb what it needs. I find that Psyllium Husk is more effective when I mix it with a couple of ounces of water (instead of a full glass). Be sure you also take the supplement a few hours before or after you take your vitamins and medications as Psyllium Husk tends to absorb whatever you put into your body and interfere with the effectiveness of those vitamins and medications. I usually wake up once per night and that’s when I take mine.
6) Probiotics – Tiny Little “Bugs” You WANT in Your Gut
After my battle with pouchitis, I realized that I should do whatever I can to keep the bad bacteria at bay. The best way to do that is by the use of probiotics. The Cleveland Clinic describes probiotics as “a combination of live beneficial bacteria and/or yeasts that naturally live in your body.” There are many forms of probiotics out there. Many swear by VSL#3 (pharmaceutical-grade probiotic). In fact, Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals found that the use of VSL#3 reduced the risk of pouchitis from 40% to 10%.
Personally, I like to make my own milk kefir. I mix it in with a breakfast smoothie every morning for the past three or so months. It has made a HUGE difference in my bowel habits. When I skip a day, I feel the effects of it. So I do my best to make sure I have my daily dose.
If you’re interested in making your own kefir, I recommend starting with Yemoos. They have a ton of information and they also sell kefir grains and starter kits.
If you don’t have the time or resources to make your own kefir, you can buy it in most grocery stores. A good brand to look for is Lifeway Kefir.
7) You Absolutely NEED a SquattyPotty
When I first started using the SquattyPotty, I didn’t feel like it really made a huge difference. And then I went on a trip WITHOUT my SquattyPotty. It was a huge mistake. I remember telling my husband that I regretted not bringing it along and that I missed having it. He agreed saying he noticed a difference when he wasn’t using it, too (and he has a happy, healthy colon)! When you have a j-pouch, you have to kind of “re-learn” how to use the bathroom… I mean, hello! You’re missing your whole colon and rectum… the VERY last stages of the digestion process. So of course that would make sense. SquattyPotty has changed my life for the better, and if you have trouble going, give them a try! You might just discover what you’ve been missing.
Conclusion…
I hope that all of you benefit from at least some of these tips. Feel free to reach out any time–email me.
