Hello to everyone,wonderfull site. I had a different doc do my takedown about three years ago ,because it was close to home and my wife.I saw him for a few follow up appt and that was that. I am doing well,Ihave some fairly painfull gas attacks once and a while but nothing that doesnt work itself out.MY question is should i be going back to my doc for any special type of checkup? thank you all.
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This seems to vary from doctor to doctor but mine (my surgeon) told me he would like to scope my pouch every 2 years. My sister also has a j pouch and she goes for a scope every 5 years.
I, too, chose a different surgeon for takedown than for the original proctocolectomy. Surgeon #1 believes in annual scopes in his office. If nothing seems suspicious he does not take biopsies. If he wanted to do biopsies, a separate appointment would be scheduled for that procedure as he doesn't take biopsies in his office. Surgeon #2, who did my takedown, saw me every year for scopes. Started off in his office. Then, I chose to have this procedure in the GI lab at the hospital. He took biopsies as needed there. After 10 years he said he'd only need to scope me every 3 years. So, that is now the schedule I'm on. I'm very fortunate because I really have no issues with my J-pouch. Whew!
I have been told every two years after a couple of yearly checkups.