Every time I exercise with any type of frequency, I get what the dr. calls runner's pouchitis. For example, I biked/ran Mon/Tues/Wed and starting yesterday, my frequency went to about 15-20 bm with the consistency of water. This happens everytime I exercise---regardless of impact. Yoga has done the same thing.

Anybody have any ideas on what I can do? I am working out for my sanity....so I would really like to keep doing it. I was able to run a 5k this summer without major issues, but since then my body is saying no.

Anybody use any thickening agent that I'm not aware of or anything else? (I use Metamucil, VSL#3 DS, and immodium).

Any advice would be great....thanks!

Hi Cristol,
Everyone, even 'normal' people get increased frequency with exercise...you are stimulating your body and your digestive system reacts (that is why they tell people who are constipated to go for long walks...)...so you are fighting against nature here but you can do a couple of things like eat 'bulking' foods pre exercise, take lomotil or whatever else you take to lower the frequency and keep your mineral salts and hydration up.
Sharon

Hiking increases my frequency, I don' the pouchitis-like sypmtoms, though. I counter it with mass quantities of imodium/lomitil and it seems to work. You can take up to 8 imodium at a time, see if an increased dose helps you.

Sue

Cristol, how's your hydration level? Make sure you stay hydrated; us jpouchers are prone to dehydration since we don't have a colon to absorb liquids. I know my stools are more liquidy when I'm dehydrated.

Also, are you getting enough rest? You might try switching to every other day for your exercising, with plenty of rest in between, and see if that helps.

Finally, remember your pouch is still relatively young and your body is adjusting to the new plumbing. I agree with Sharon & Sue, don't hesitate to use Immodium or Lomotil as part of your pre-exercise routine.

Best Wishes, Steve

I found that to be true. the more I walk the more I go.

I'm a runner and have been working my way back to my normal routine (about 4 miles/day 4 to 5 days a week). I have just begun experimenting with L-Glutamine. If taken on an empty stomach it will slow things down. Apparently it also assists in muscle recovery which explains its popularity among weight lifters and others doing a lot of exercise.

I am currently trying 2 grams/day but may change the dosage with time depending upon how I react - I don't want to shut things down completely! I will try to find this thread in a couple of weeks and provide an update on how things go.

It's been two weeks since my last post and I wanted to give my promised update.

So far I have experienced good results using l-glutamine on an empty stomach. My frequency has dropped and I feel much more in control, even after exercise. It took a while to get to this point, however, as I did not notice any meaningful results until I reached the 6 gram/day mark (started at 2 grams).

My only concern is that I don't know that much about l-glutamine, at least in terms of its long term therapeutic value and potential for any complications. There doesn't appear to be a great deal of scientific research on it as a supplement. What little I have seen indicates that there can be side effects but at dosage levels well beyond what I am taking or in situations that do not apply to me. Next time I see my surgeon (in the next week or so) I will query him about it.

In the meantime I am going to continue with the 6 gram/day regimen for a while longer before reducing the dosage to see how I respond. I may also try a combo l-glutamine and loperamide regimen to see how that works.

In any event, so far so good!