I have been having some recent issues with my j-pouch and would like to get some thoughts from my fellow j-pouchers. About a month ago I was having 15-20 BM's daily with extreme urgency. My GI prescribed Flagyl and cholestrymine. After my first dose of Flagyl I felt miserable. The next day I went to the emergency room and was diagnosed with innumerable gall stones and had to hae my gall bladder removed. The next day my GI had to do a follow-up procedure by going through my mouth to remove gall stones blocking my ducts. Would this procedure also have ruled out Chrones? After I recovered from my surgery my symptons of pouchitis came back with a vengeance. In addition to the number of BM's and urgency I get this uncomfortable and often painfull feeling in my rectum when I am standing or walking. The feeling is lots of pressure, as if I am traying to pass a bowling ball. Has anyone had similar symptons? Does this sound like pouchitis? I have been of flagyl since yesterday morning with no noticeable improvement. I had a one-step j-pouch 8/04.

Hi ek,

Sorry to hear what you have been through recently.

I definately have a feeling of pressure in my rectum when I'm having a flare-up of pouchitis. Its usually my main sign that pouchitis is coming and its time to start the antibiotics.

You mentioned flagyl, but have you tried cipro. Flagyl made my symptoms worse, but cipro worked great.

Adam,

Thank you for the reply. I will talk to my GI about cipro. I was not certain if the pressure, which is not relieved even after a BM, was pouchitis or something else. I had pouchitis once about 3 months after the surgery on '04.I can't remember if I took Cipro or Flagyl.
Thanks again!

Could this be cuffitis?

i have pouchitis and cuffitis, my symptoms of cuffitis are anal spasms and anal burning, which is aggravated by my pouchitis no less!

As long as my pouchitis is kept in check (it's recurrent) I am symptom free.

I have tried any antibiotics, but not Cipro nor flagyl. What I have found works best is amoxicillan (by way of accident, used it for dental work!) and Alinia.

I never even considered cuffitis though the treatment for pouchitis and cuffitis appear to be the same (Flagyl and Cipro). I am also taking Metamucil to relieve the feeling that I cannot fully evacuate. Any other suggestions would be well appreciated.