Can you try benefiber, extra water, probiotics, no sugar (if you eat any at all)? BTW rifaxim just increased my diarrhea when I was having active pouchitis. I cannot take this med.

Have you tried any algee (sp?) suppliments? Certain algee can bulk up the stool, give you some really good trace minerals and iodine all in one...it may help...I have no names but go into a healt food store and check it out.
Sharon

One idea would be to try Ginger Root pills. I have had my pouch since 1988 and have been struggling with chronic pouchitis for the past 5 years or so. I also was diagnosed with Celiac disease this summer so that also is a new challenge! My father-in-law started me on Ginger Root pills a few years back and it really helps to bulk up my stools. I have also been in Cipro, Flaygl, Canasa and Rifaxin(spelling?) but these no longer seem to help. I also notice that I need to limit my sugar intake as someone on an earlier post also noted. Hope this helps!

Thank you all for the suggestions! I will check them out!

Kelly-if you have questions about being gluten free I would be happy to help-I have been eating the gf diet for almost 10 yrs now & have tried a lot of different products, etc.

Thanks again, guys, if anyone else has any other suggestions, I'm all ears!

Be careful with ginger. I tried many variationa including capsules snd tea and it aggravated my pouchitis. The butt burn was WAY worse and even swallowing this stuff in tea burns going down.

I would definitely love some ideas for a GF diet, I am having a difficult time, especially with lunch ideas. Because of my pouchitis I cannot eat salads (my mom and aunt both have celiac and salads are a staple for them). I definitely agree that you should be careful with the Ginger Root, everybody's body responds differently. My brother also has a j-pouch and tried Ginger Root and for him it bulked up his stools so much that he had a hard time going to the bathroom.

Ginger root-what is the best form to try, tea, pills, etc? Brand recommendations?

Kelly-lunchtime salads for me, not so much anymore. I eat a lot of baked potatoes, grilled chicken or bunless burgers. Udi's makes a pretty good tasting/textured bread. Amy's is a good brand for things like frozen pizzas or frozen lunches/lasagnas if you want a quick fix. Quinoa is good, & there is a Quinoa "breakfast" cereal that people eat like oatmeal-but I find it better with savory seasonings like a little veggie stock or cheese if you tolerate dairy. If I want to boost veggie intake, I make a veggie soup, just veggies with enough water to almost cover them, & maybe even puree it or just cook them to be softer & easier to digest. I like yellow squash &/or zuchinni, with a little onion & some skinned tomato. Adding anything in the squash family will give your soup a buttery flavor...I can be more specific with some veggie soup recipes if need be...

Kelly,

Cooked soups are a great alternative. I make them often loaded with veggies and potatoes, spinach, anything that you can throw in. This combination really agrees with my pouch.

Thank you pouchmonkey and Jeane for your suggestions, I know that will help Here is the site for the Ginger Root where you can order pills http://www.swansonvitamins.com. It is very inexpensive and has good reviews, this is also what I have used.