Hi there! I was diagnosed with severe anemia in January ... 7.4 hemoglobin level ... was told previously by my gynecologist that I was tired, no periods, vision issues, etc was due to menopause ... YIKES! So, needless to say I did not really know that I had pouchitis until they ran tests and found ulcerations in my pouch ... I was put on iron pills and increased my food intake to encompass iron fortified foods ... my iron levels appear to be good right now; however, still battling with the pouchitis issue ... I am at a point where I cannot eat hardly anything without having to run to the rest room ... it keeps me up through the night. I have recently taken a major look at the types of foods that I am eating and am trying to get it under control. Unfortunately, no luck with doctors right now ... been to one in STL, one in Charleston, SC, one in Statesboro, SC, OMG ... no one seems to know what to do to cure it. I eat only ... baked fish, baked potatoes, baked sweet potatoes, bread, that is about it. No seasonings whatsoever. Drink only water. Does not seem to be helping though ... any help would be greatly appreciated. I have lost 10 lbs ... and don't have much room to lose too much more. A recent doctor put me on Dyflucan ... since I read an article that it could possibly be yeast.

Tired, don't sleep, dehydration

VSL-#3 - 4 per day
Activia - 1 per day
Vitamins - Women's One a day and Calcium
Benefiber - 1 tsp per day
*** currently on Dyflucan - 6 more days (total 14 day)


Severe Ulcerative Colitis from 1979 - 2005
Colon Removed in 2005 ... J Pouch created

Tina

Tina,

Potatoes, sweet potatoes, and breads all contain sugar and are aiding the overgrowth of the yeast (if that is truly the problem).

Have you tried dropping the bread, my thought that it may be a wheat (if it is a wheat based bread) or gluten sensitivity?

My wife went gluten free and she feels a lot better. I'm fighting it because I'm Italian - gluten free diet? There's no question I know it slows down my "going" problem. Sometimes 15 a day? A good day is less than 10 times. Yeast is definitely a no-no. My doc keeps me in codeine pills to slow down my insides from "moving" things. Diet, dear.

Tina,

I took that yeast pill also and found I feel so much better since taking it as I was on antibiotics for 3 months for pouchitis.

Try the gluten free diet and high doses of probiotics (vsl3). I swear since doing this (and pebto bismal tablets) I feel 100% better. I got scoped today and there is mild inflammation in a couple of spots in my pouch and my cuff is a
bit inflamed but before starting these changes I was on fire last week and suffering miserably with pain,urgency, burning and itching.

Kjeane--

Thank you SO much for the update ... I am doing 4 VSL#3's per day ... do you think that is enough. Also, what does pebto bismal tables do? I have never heard of that before? When you say a gluten free diet ... can you give me some suggestions? I googled gluten free diet today ... seems like there is not much that I can eat ... I am avoiding yeast, sugar, and now gluten ... can you give me some suggestions of what you are eating. Glad to hear that you are feeling much better! That is great news