Im only 5 weeks post op, but was curious who you go for regular follow ups..your old GI doc or the surgeon. Both of mine are wonderful, but my GI doc, who discovered the dysplasia, seems to have a gentler touch when inserting "foreign objects" in me. I would feel a little funny abandoning my surgeon too.Follow ups would be to scope the pouch and cuff, I suppose.
At 15 BM a day....any idea when I can expect some improvement? Another month? two months?yes, I use immodium, lomotil,oxycodone, metamucil power and crackers.
Mr. Pouch still does his own thing.

You can have your follow up care provided by either doctor. I chose my surgeon as my GI had no pouch experience. I live in a small town, my surgeon is in the big city. It's worth the drive for me.

I don't know when you had surgery but expect improvement in 6 week increments. Also keep a food journal to identify what foods have the longest transit time and focus on those. Be patient, your new plumbing has to learn how to behave like a colon. It takes time.

Sue

I agree with Sue. My surgeon gave me the option of returning to her or having my GI do the follow up scopes. She preferred to do them, since she was familiar with the new anatomy, but since she's a 3.5 hour drive from me, she gave me the option.

My first scope post reconnection was one year per her recommendation. I love my GI, but the drive is worth it to me as well, since she's more familiar with the pouch. Some surgeons only do surgery and not the scopes.

Well, since my surgeons are long retired I go to a GI goddess. She's very good. That's something you should think about too, the life-time warranty on either of your doctor's life spans. I would bet that at some point you'd be going to someone other than the two of them since your j-pouch will be living as long as you do and your doctors will probably be retiring at some point.

kathy

I also had the option of using either my GI or surgeon. Both were located in the same building approx. 2.5 hours away. I chose the surgeon mainly because he and his staff seemed to be the most comfortable in discussing follow ups and treatments when needed.
Also, I agree with the 6 week increments of improvements. That seemed to be the time it took to show marked improvements.

NJ
I am having problems 3 weeks after TD and my surgeon isn't giving me the answers (or relief) that I need. I just called my GI and he wants to set up a scope for tomorrow and isn't sure the meds the surgeon prescribed is what I should be taking.
Each speciality is different but so far my GI seems to be coming through on my TD problems. All the best-
Kara

I've been seeing my GI for 12 years. That's about a year post op for me. My surgeon said either way. Now, he's doing bariatric surgery for the most part and is very busy, so I'm glad I didn't get in the habit of seeing him.

Jan

My GI ended up firing me. Unless something changes, there was no need to go to him. He does want to clear any new medications I am prescribed, as I have had three bouts of pancreatitus most likely from meds (only one was prescribed by him!)

So I am now supposed to make annual visits with my surgeon.