I have had a j pouch for about a year and a half ahd have been diagnosed with pouchitis and/or cuffitus. I am currently taking 750 mg of Cipro twice per day. The main problem is frequent bowel movements. I have in excess of 10 per day on the average. My Gastroenterologist referred me to the Cleveland clinic but there is no improvement. Anyone out there have any views on the frequency of bowel movements? There is much stress in my life. I am a Viet Nam Vet, have a son who will be deploying to Irac and am contemplating a move in the neqar future. I think it's stress but would appreciate anyone else's views. Thanks!

Not sure if you want to go down this road....but the only thing that slows me down is narcotics. I know the risk of dependency, but I need to slow it down I take oxycodone 5mg usually one in the evening so I'm not up all night.
LoriP

I got about 12-15 times a day and I don't have pouchitis/cuffitis. It annoyed me at first but I have gotten used to it and, quite frankly, if I didn't keep an 'input and output' daily journal I wouldn't think that I went that much. I take 2 tabs of lomotil 3 times a day to slow things down. I also take welbutrin (one tab per day) which I believe also slows me down a bit. When I am stressed it definitely increases my trips to the bathroom. So my advice to you is if you cannot control the stress through natural means (things like meditation) then to speak to your doctor about an anti-anxiety drug (like Effexor - its quite gentle). If you're less anxious then this may be reflected in a decrease of bathroom trips. Also, some anti-depressants have been shown to reduce bathroom trips. Have you tried immodium or lomotil to slow things down? As Lori said, narcotics do work (percocet does great things for me to reduce the number of trips) but if you have chronic pouchitis/cuffitis then you don't want to get into a position where you are chronically taking narcotics due to the risk of dependency/addiction. Also, have you tried probiotics like VSL-3?

I hope you find some relief. And my best wishes go with your son for a safe and uneventful tour of duty in Iraq. Take care,

Suzanne

I had my jpouch done in 2001. Since then I have been trying to figure out what would slow down the process of digestion / elimination. I'm experiencing problems with hydration and nutrition. I'm sure this is due to how quickly stuff is moving through me. I had my Endocrinologist / Thyroid Dr proscribe paragoric as a trial to see if this would assist. I think it does a little. However. a good old Lortab is the most effective. I have tried lomotil. This works for a couple days and then the effectiveness lessens.

Lets keep this one up... Need more information here...

First, thanks to all of you for your comments. Shortly after T.G., things started to improve; less bowel movements. I have no idea why. My eating, exercise and personal habbits have not changed. Forgot I posted this problem until abt. a week ago when I began having what I guess I would describe as a flair-up. Began searching internet and found my origional post. I will look into the drugs mentiioned and ask my 'Gastro Guy' about seeing an endocrinologist. Thanks again. Let's try to keep on top of this situation so that we can mutually benefit. Lou