Long time listener here, first time caller.

I was diagnosed with FAP several in 2002 and had a colectomy and IRA. In 2008 I began to develop polyps on the little bit of rectum that was left so we decided to get the J-pouch last winter at Cleveland. After surgery I struggled with the entire range of post-op problems including a fistula that required re-hospitalization, pain, but burn, roids, fissures, etc but most troubling has been the constant "pouchitis" symptoms. For me these included severe gurgling, gas, frequency & what I call "encores", overly loose stools, rectal (not anal) itching. My surgeon kept putting me on antibiotics which would provide relief after a few day but it would only last for the time I was taking the drugs. This went on through the summer...take the antibiotics, feel better, stop taking them, feel crummy, repeat. I wasn't gaining weight and I felt horrible mostly from 5-9PM when I was almost always on or near the toilet.

All during this time, my wife was suspecting that I had candida overgrowth. I fought the idea because it would require me to give up my favorite food group...sugar. So I tried to eliminate other possibilities like gluten. Which maybe helped a bit but not enough. So I had to try to eliminate the possibility that I have candida. I started doing some research and started by doing the "saliva test" which was clearly positive. Next I tried to give up sugar compltely and take CANDEX as directed. This really didn't work for me either.

Then I started taking ThreeLac and eating cultured foods (ala the Body Ecology Diet) each day and judiciously cut back on sweets...wow has this helped. I now take ThreeLac in the morning and at bedtime and I typically wash it down with some water kefir (coconut water or traditional water kefir) and this does wonders. It works even better when I add some homemade raw sauerkraut, Kim Chi or other cultured food. While it's only been a few months, I've started putting weight back on and my gut seems to be settling down to a "new normal" that I can deal with. For sweets, I avoid regular sugar and use Stevia and Xylitol so I'm able to satisfy my sweet tooth when the need arises.

I wanted to share this because I see so many stories of chronic pouchitis and such a lack of success with drug therapies. For me, working to supplement my gut's flora seems to be helping a lot where the drugs just treated my symptoms and didn't cure the problem. While there is little hope of fully restoring the ecology of my gut since the anatomy is disrupted, I feel like I've found a way to get close enough.

It simply sucks to have pouchitis. Maybe you have the same problem I do and this may help you find some relief. There are a ton of resources out there about candida and I urge anyone with recurrent pouchitis to look into some of the probiotic/natural therapies in hope that you can find long-term relief. BTW - If you are able to do the Body Ecology diet, you deserve a medal!

It's great that you've been able to get this under control. I've had yeast infections from taking antibiotics and was treated with a prescription of onr or two pills. I've done this around 3 times this year. The antibiotics just kill any bacteria that's in there and yeast takes over. I take VSL#3DS. Is Treelac a probiotic? If not what is it and where do you purchase it?

Thanks for your post, I might need to go the diet route too so appreciate you detailing what you did.

Thanks

Yes. Threelac is as probiotic that claims to be specifically formulated to battle candida. It's available on several internet sites including Amazon.

Thanks CJP

Thank you so much for this post. I have been suffering with pouchitis almost consistently since the j-pouch was created. I just recently had my blood tested for food sensitivity but a naturalpath. (normally I am against homeopathic remedies and the test cost $250, which is extreme to a Canadian who has full health care and never pays anything for medical tests, home care, supplies, I didn't ever have to pay for ostomy supplies).

Anyways the test came back with a sugar sensitive and my candida levels were off the chart.

Your post gives me hope that my constant pouchitis is just candida. I have ordered Treelac and I will update in a month with hopefully good news.

Thanks

It's a great thing you shared details about your condition here. Candida is not an easy thing to handle and at times it can be overwhelming especially if you have other health conditions to be concerned about. Here's this threelac candida resource, you guys may find it helpful in fighting this infection.

What's the saliva test? Thanks for the info! Anna

Threelac Candida

Scientists determine that 70 % of people have the Candida in their intestinal tract or skins or on their mouth. In most circumstances, the cells is commensal; its not harm full to the people. Most of people not to prefer a deal with candida & dieting plan to stay consistent. Threelac Candida is not too expensive. Lots of people spending their money in many ways but its not successful initiatives against to candida