Listening to your J-pouch
March 16, 2009Some people have asked me about the noises j-pouches tend to make. When gas gets in the j-pouch it can make very loud noises, which people around me interpret as hunger pains.
You must still be hungry, they say to me after meals.
I know the j-pouch noises can be very loud. But try not to see them as an embarrassment. Try to view the situation as your j-pouch telling you what to do and how it’s working.
Keep fighting,
~Dennis
Question: Does your j-pouch make these kinds of noises and if so, what do you do about it? Comment on this post!
Hi Dennis,
I’m looking at step 2 and 3 surgeries this year and I’m concerned about the noises with a j-pouch because I work with clients in an office setting, which seem potentially awkward. Is it worse or better than the noises from an ostomy? Would you say that the noises can be managed by what you eat and/or by the timing of eating? Thanks.
JCM,
J-pouch noises are pretty mild. The only time it really makes noise is when it is full of stool and the intestine is trying to push in more stool. This usually happens after meals if you hold it in a long time. The solution? Just go to the bathroom! It can be a little noisy expelling gas in the bathroom since it all comes at once–I haven’t farted in three years now because of the way the J-pouch works.
Or if you find certain foods make you more gassy, don’t eat those foods. Some people take Gas-X or something like that: I never have, so I can’t tell you if it works or not.
Take care,
~Dennis