Hello-
First off--thanks for all the useful knowledge on the board. It's great to have a place to turn to.

I have been diagnosed for the first time with pouchitis today. For some reason, I feel really
stressed about it. Was I wrong to be under the impression that pouchitis usually occurs close to the time of surgery? In the almost 10 years post surgery, I never had it---I am surprised that I started having symptoms last week. Is it common to get this so many years later?

So-once you get pouchitis once, does this mean you are prone to it again in the long run? My surgeon diagnosed me based off of a phone conversation. I have had super watery gushing- out stools (never had these before) for about 6 days, with abdominal pain before a BM and right when I take a bite of food, more urgency to go, and a decreased appetite. Does this not just sound like a flu? Do these symptoms sound typical of pouchitis? Do they need to scope before making this determination? I adore my surgeon, but I still feel unsure.

My surgeon prescribed me both flagyl and cipro. I'm going to CVS to pick them up tonight. Do these work quickly? From the other post, it sounds like they make you feel bad---Is this true?

Any other advice? I'm super anxious and hoped my once every two year bowel obstructions was the extent of what I had to deal with, but now I'm really nervous about dealing with pouchitis frequently in the future.

Thanks for your time-
Any thoughts would help ease my stress.

i have had my pouch 20 yrs and never had pouchitis.
if i ever have watery stools i think its a stomach bug, it resolves on its own and ive never taken anything or even called a dr about it
sound weird?
who knows?
i hope its a flu bug.

One case of pouchitis (if it is pouchitis) does not mean you will be prone to it. In about 12 years, I've had it twice and it responded quickly to a short course of low dose Flagyl. I find it strange that he would give you two antibiotics right off the bat. I would not take them both unless he gave you a compelling reason to. I think that the fact you have been sick for nearly a week is reason enough to treat for pouchitis. If it was a norovirus, it would be through by this time. Influenza should not cause these symptoms.

Flagyl worked for me within hours of the first dose. I did not get sick with it, but it gave me a crummy taste in my mouth.

Jan

I concur. Is there a reason why he prescribed both? Did he say?

I alternate between cipro and flagyl (for another problem.) It is very individual what you can and can not tolerate.

Sounds like pouchitis to me. I had my first bout with pouchitis a few years after TD and then had it off and on for many years until I started taking probiotics. Cipro or Leviquin always made me feel back to 100% within 24 hours on the drug.

Thank you so much for responding to my post and for the moral support. I was not able to respond earlier, my computer at work was giving me problems.

I started taking both medications on Wednesday night. (My husband was adamant that I take both even though I was hesitant. He said that my doctor has only given me the best care and to trust him.) I am taking Cipro twice a day and flagyl four times a day.

Though I am no longer having the original symptoms---I am now having trouble using the bathroom and have to really push to have a BM.
I can feel gas collecting. I called the pharmacist and they said that cipro and flagyl should be causing the OPPOSITE effect. So, now I am just confused.

Has anyone else had slower BMs when treating pouchitis? Is this normal? I guess I will have soup for the rest of the day.

Thanks again for your time and support-
Sana

Hi shk2j. I'm like you in that my first pouchitis event was many years post surgery. I also had the same effect after going on Cipro - I got better really fast, and my consistency went from liquid to formed overnight and I did remember having much slower BM's at first. I then went on Flagyl for maintenance but that didn't work for me so back to Cipro at a low dose and all has been well since.

Thanks DH.
My bowel movements are still very slow and super duper formed---but I dont feel any sort of obstruction pain---just the anxiety that I am used to going to the bathroom a lot more than I am now.

The pouchitis symptoms are almost gone....now, If I can get back to normal---albeit many looser stools a day---I'll be happy.

Thanks for the support!