I have trouble with Pouchitis-

Okay Folks-

I havent been on this website in a long time,  so heres my situation...  I was Diagnosed with UC in 2006, battled it for a year, tried everything possible.  One day the Doc calls me up and says, "you're showing signs of displacia, which can easily lead to cancer.  We need to take your colon out ASAP."  He was very persistant, he seemed like he was very concerned about what may be developing.  I was only 18 years old at the time.  So I had a total Colonectomy with a complete reversal, the internal pouch, the whole 9 yards.  Not too long after I had my reversal, maybe a couple of weeks later, a nasty episode of pouchitis set in.  At the time I was one of those guys that would wait until I simply couldnt take it anymore before I called the doc.  So I called him up, told him what was going on and immediately with out even seeing me in his office he put me on 250mg 4 times a day. within 48 hours I was pooping like I champion!  I mean seriously, this was one of those moments where I just hadn't felt better in a VERY long time.  I was having 3 bms a day, it was coming out in SOLID PIECES!!!  I was able to go a FULL work day including an hour and a half round trip commute with out a single bowel movement.  I was feeling AMAZING ladies and gentleman.  I was working in a machine shop doing general labor in the middle of August with a heat index at 110 degrees and I was kicking ass and taking names.

So I told you all of that to make this point ->   I know how I am capable of feeling with my current condition(s).  I felt that way before I should be able to feel that way now right?  Well Flagyl just isnt doing the trick like it used to, and everytime I go off of it it takes me to a position that I simply am not comfortable in, im not completely miserable, but 8-10 bms per day for me is just too much.  So if there is anyone out there who can tell me what to do to keep pouchitis out of my life and get back to where I was for that short period of time!!!  I would be so grateful.  I know everyones bodies are different and respond diferently to certain things but PLEASE any advice!!!

Sorry, I don't think you will get too many responses here as most of us have not yet had surgery. I hope you get some responses from the folks who have jpouches but there are probably only 2 or 3 who post here. I think 8-10 BMs a day is quite a few but I have heard that is pretty average for having a pouch, 4 would probably be on the low side. I have seen people say everytime you pee, you have to empty your pouch. I usually pee about 5x a day, maybe more.

Are you on a probiotic? I've heard that one in particular, VSL#3, is really good at keeping pouchitis at bay.

There is a prescription version of VSL#3 and if your insurance will cover it, it might be much less expensive.