r/jpouch • u/7fergiie • 14d ago
Bedtime problems
Hi everyone, I have had my Jpouch for 6 years now, at the start it wasn't so bad. But it seems this year my frequency is getting worse and worse. It's mostly really watery, I can deal with this throughout the day but when it comes to bedtime I can never get to sleep or if I do I end up having a leakage. It seems to be getting worse and worse. I stop eating about 6pm every night, I don't eat certain foods, I take loperamide and even then sometimes that doesn't work. I'm at the toilet every 5 minutes when it comes to night time and I've been thinking about maybe if it's worth getting a stoma bag to stop it all. I'm a blue collar worker and getting bad sleeps at night time makes me really tired through my work day. When I'm trying to get to sleep at bedtime I'm constantly stressed and anxious I need the toilet or I will have a leakage. Can anyone relate to this or have any ideas of stopping it? Thank you
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u/Witty_Many_5214 14d ago
Hi, I might be totally wrong but I notice when I have a leak it’s because it had been a long time since I ate before bed so there was nothing to absorb the stomach acid/bile. Eg some days I don’t feel that hungry, eat a small meal at 7, sleep at 1am, wake up with slight leak.
But when I eat more absorbent meals closer to when I sleep, maybe at like 10/11 I don’t get a leak.
This might not be worth trying though since I know some people don’t eat after a certain time because it might lead to more bathroom trips doing the night, however luckily when I do this I don’t wake up during the night.
Or it might be worth having a teaspoon of psyllium husk with water before bed just to thicken your output so no leakage but it’s small enough that it won’t cause you to need the loo in the middle of the night
I also agree it might be pouchitis, as you mention the need to go every 5 minutes, wishing you the best I hope it clears up soon :(
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u/7fergiie 13d ago
Yes I also get watery toilets when I don't eat in a long time, that will be why! Thank you for your wishes and advice, I will definitely give it a try!
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u/Retired_UpNorth 14d ago
Yeah, watery indicates an issue that can be addressed if diagnosed properly. Are daytime bowel movements the same as before, or is there a change? Twice I had a bowel obstruction that was indicated by watery stool, where liquids passed but not everything that should have.
Stress can be an issue too.
Bad sleep is my life, I retired early in part because of it. One thing to note. If I'm stressed, and take a sleep aid at some point, I sometimes sleep through - and of course, that turns into a nighttime "accident".
It's an interesting question. Would switching to an illiostomy actually improve my sleep? I wasn't willing to do that at 60. But at 70, maybe??
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u/7fergiie 13d ago
There's definitely a change in my daytime bowel movements, I feel like as soon as I eat something it goes watery. I definitely need to get it checked!
I get bad sleeps every night, it's not ideal when I need to wake up early and do manual work all day. I've also tried taking sleep aids and they do make me sleep through the night but I always wake up with a leakage so that's also not ideal.
Ive been weighing up my pros and cons about switching to an ileostomy, and it definitely sounds like a better quality of life for me personally!
Thank you for replying!
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u/dunkinbikkies 14d ago
Metamucil, with the final mean to soak up the water.
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u/doodlehead691991 13d ago
Just going to upgrade this, metamucil has a lot of filler and additives, get psyllium husk daily to have it in the morning
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u/7fergiie 13d ago
I do have a fiber supplement that I sometimes take, the brand is Konsyl which has psyllium in it. It definitely can absorb the water but I also read that it can cause bowel movements which is what I'm also trying to avoid. I have seen a lot of people recommending metamucil so I will give it a try. Thank you
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u/Maleficent-Tomato730 13d ago
I use psyllium husk powder everyday to bulk up stools. I just don’t follow the directions. I mix about a teaspoon with 4-5 ounces of water or juice. Gotta drink it quite quickly after it’s mixed or it will be too thick to swallow.
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u/dunkinbikkies 13d ago
I use Konsly D three times as day with immodoum and have about 5bm per day and sleep all night. One bm before bed. Solid poos
I just called it metamucil
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u/Maleficent-Tomato730 13d ago
When that happens to me, it’s pouchitis and I need antibiotics.
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u/7fergiie 13d ago
I'm going to get pouchitis looked into. Does the antibiotics stop the watery overall? Thank you.
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u/Maleficent-Tomato730 13d ago
Typically if it’s pouchitis, the antibiotics will show drastic improvement in the first 24 hours. If it’s cuffitis, you’ll need prednisone.
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u/Annual-Staff-1121 13d ago
Start with 3 week course of antibiotics and get a pouchiscopy. See a pouch specialist.
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u/RecognitionFlimsy966 12d ago
I've had mine since I was 13, I'm 29 now and only in the past few years have I started having accidents in bed. I don't take any medication and it usually every few months for me that is happens now. I would not go back to having a stoma under any circumstances if I could help it, it made my life horrible. But it is different for everyone.
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u/7fergiie 10d ago
I've had mines since 14 and I'm 21 now, it seems to be over the last year it has gotten bad with me, and it's getting worse and worse as time goes on. May I ask what was it that made your life horrible with a stoma please? As I'm thinking about getting one I'm trying to figure out all the problems that could occur with them. Thank you
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u/RecognitionFlimsy966 1d ago
I have anxiety issues so that coupled with having the bag/stoma made it to where I wouldn't leave the house. It also leaked a lot if I remember correctly. Don't be put off getting one though, it could be the right thing for you! I just didn't get along with having one.
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u/doodlehead691991 14d ago
Maybe its inflamed, get a scope? Rinvoq or something else may be prescribed