Hey there,
Do the symptoms for Pouchitis come and go or are they constant?
It seems I am good for a day or so then the symptoms come back for a couple of days.
thanks
David

David,
My take down surgery was Feb 2007. I am 49 years old, male. I have found between then and now I am getting more stable, but its taken a long time. Recently I felt good for maybe three weeks, then must have innoculated myself with a 'not good' bug, and I have symptoms: loose (watery stools) many stools, leakage at night, lots of gas (bad odor), and lots of pain when stool or gas enters the pouch. I do not run fevers and I have not taken antibiotics since the takedown. I think I have an 'irritable" pouch. As I said, I am getting more stable, but I still am learning what, when and how much to eat, and have learned I have to be very careful that I am getting "clean" food, i.e. I have had more trouble from fast-food and eating out than food I prepare myself. When I'm not feeling well, I try and get as much probiotic (mainly Activia yougurt) as I can stand, and am careful how much liquid I drink, as it really exacerbates the watery-ness of the stools. If you are really experiencing pouchitis, I suggest getting in to see your doctor. If your symptoms are like mine, maybe consider what I've shared and try some alternatives. Good Luck and hang in there. The pouch is not 'great', but its definitely better than severe UC like mine was...

Sincerely,

Mark

Pouchitis symptoms should not "come and go." But, you can have symptoms that are similar to pouchitis that are variable, when they are caused by diet, stress, etc. This is not pouchitis though, and should not be confused with it. Those symptoms are more likely to be IPS (irritable pouch syndrome) or simply dietary intolerances.

For most of us, it is a matter of dietary management or just learning to live with the imperfections of life with a j-pouch.

Jan

Hey Mark,
Your symptoms sound very similar to mine. I too avoid fast food as it tears me up.
Jan, my doc said the same thing about it not being pouchitis. I figured it was caused by diet. I am doing fairly well with the diet...sometimes it is not the usual suspects that causes the problems. I seem to do well for a few days then something minor messes things up.
Thanks
David

I do have chronic pouchitis and things do vary constantly. Whether that's down to the pouchitis or independent of that, I don't know. However, I do find certain factors such as stress can make the symptoms worse.