Hi Folks,
Wondering if you can help me. I had my one step J-pouch procedure last June. Since three month post surgery I have plateaued at ten to fifteen movements a day. There has not been improvement in the past seven months. As well as frequent trips to the loo, I also have to wear pads all the time as I have frequent leakage. I eat a lot and have a healthy appetite but cannot gain weight. My current weight is about the same or a little below what it was when I left the hospital after my surgery. There is no bleeding or fever and my energy level is pretty good considering I'm up two to four times during the night. I feel frustrated and disappointed that I have to go to the bathroom so frequently and there doesn't seem to be any improvement.

I have an appointment with my GI Surgeon for a flexible scope but not until the beginning of June and wonder if I should start a course of antibiotics before then. I do have the medications as I was out of the country for three months this past winter and was given the perscription "just in case". I'm eager to hear what you think.
Thank you,
Rhema

What have you tried along the lines of:

* Avoiding certain foods, eating foods that reduce output
* Metamucil or other fiber supplements
* Imodium and other anti-diarrheal meds
* Drinking your fluids at least 1/2 hour after a meal
* Probiotics, Beano, etc.

Thanks for your reply. I have been doing everything that you've suggested except Probiots (although I eat yogurt every day) and Beano (gas is not a big problem). I will try drinking fluids at least 30 minutes after meals, hadn't heard that one before.
Rhema

Rhema,

I would suggest trying the anitbiotics. I took antibiotics for 6 years. They did help me immediately and it clears up the pouchtis for many people. Although over long periods of times, I wouldn't suggest it. Give it a try until your appointment.

If you are taking the maximum dose of Imodium and still are having chronic diarrhea, it can be a fairly safe assumption that you either have pouchitis (less likely without other symptoms) or bacterial overgrowth (more likely with diarrhea alone). A course of antibiotics should set this right, and it would be a good idea to follow up with maintenance probiotics to keep things in balance. If you don't get results within three days, you need to call your doctor for something else. Maybe you can get your appointment stepped up if the antibiotics don't help.

I had high output for more than 4 years until my chronic cuffitis was treated. I had bleeding only very occasionally and it was very minimal. I assumed it was the way it was going to be for me. I was wrong. The number of trips to the bathroom is less of a concern than your inability to gain weight.

Jan

Jan, Thank you so much for your wise counsel. I'm on day five of taking the 20 day course of anti-biotics and there definitly is a decrease in the amount of output. Unfortunatley I'm still leaking consistently but hopefully that will improve eventually as well. BTW has anyone had the experience of having insomnia while taking anti-biotics? I've been waking up during the night and having difficulty falling back to sleep, wondering if it's related. What a gift this web site has been for me and many others it seems!
Rhema

Yes, many antibiotics list numerous neurological side effects.

Jan