Have you been taking Cipro for suspected pouchitis? It is possible you could have some pouchitis that this med is not impacting and you may need another antibiotic. Dark stool could indicate blood as burning always indicates cuff irritation or inflammation, at least in my case. It is a good idea to have the scope as that is the only real way they can diagnose pouchitis or cuffitis.

you said blood on last wipe and more pain. sounds like a hemmeroid that doesnt bleed til last wipe...

I don't have pouchitis but I have bacteria small bowel overgrowth. Usually they give Cipro for this. Just an example, Cipro doesn't work at all for my symptoms. So maybe you need something else? I think it is a joke and actually causes me more issues when I take it.

Could be anything from a fissure to cuffitis on through...the fact that you say that the blood is dark means that it is not 'fresh' blood...that in itself is significant but I would let the G.I. have a peek and see...pouchitis doesn't necessarily cause bleeding.
Sharon

Cipro has worked to get me back on track in the past....

When I say the blood is getting darker I mean more brighter. It started out kind of faint,now is brighter.

Basically, there's something inside me that's bleeding, this I know, and it may be closer to my anus considering that is where the burn is when stool is passing through.

I guess I will know for sure when I see my GI.

Sounds exactly like a fissure to me.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002116/

Jan

Yes it does Jan. Having a pretty good idea that this is what I have, should I still go through the process with my GI?

Sure. Just in the meantime, take hot sitz baths and do what you can to slow and thicken your output. You probably won't need a scope.

Jan

Thanks a bunch Jan!

Cuffitis is bright red blood so I'm thinking it isn't cuffitis.

samlc25
I had those same symptoms and finally had scope in Sept. from GI and found the anus to be completely ulcerated. Don't wait too long. I was suffering a few months. My surgeon treated it with Canasa (didn't work) in early months. I thought fissure treated it with sitz baths. Didn't work. Finally, GI was right on the money I am being treated with hydrocortisone suppositories 25 mg. and it seems to be doing the job.
Don't wait too long to be checked out!

Roberta

Thanks RLC! Did you go under for the scope? I'm not crazy about doing a scope with it being pretty tender right now. If that's what he wants to do, I'm going under!

Oh yes....go under! I asked my GI to put me under and she said she would not do it any other way. Make sure you get put out!

Roberta

My GI did check me and apparently I suffer from Cuffitis. There are basically no blood in my stools, but plenty of bad burns. You can see my other posts for further information.

I have been on Asacol suppositories, but it's hasn't helped. Now my GI wants me to start on pregnisone 10mg suppositories, but I dislike the idea of pregnisone.

I'm considering buying hydrcortisone suppositories 25mg (can be bought without prescription in Spain where I live) and try it before I start on the pregnisone.

I know I shouldn't start on this without the GI's acceptance/knowledge, but if I do anyway (my responsibility 100%), how do I take it? One 25mg suppository daily until it's helps or for a maximum of e.g. 2 weeks? I can imagine you all being reluctant to answer, but I would really like to know your experience on this and let me emphasise it's my own decision whether I go ahead or not and my responsibility 100%.

Thanks.

Ask your doctor for a 25mg prescription for anucort (I believe hydrocortisone) suppositories. This is a very common treatment for cuffitis. I have chronic cuffitis and use both canasa and anucort at times. You need to know, however, that doctor are reluctant to prescribe this for long periods of time due to the skin thinning concerns. I am not an expert, but they are probably trying to avoid this issue at the anastomosis connection.

I have been on it for a month at a time with no concern of a thinning problem from my GI's. The dosage is 25 mg so do the OTC if you want to, it is far less harmful than prednisone and it works well for lots of people with cuffitis. It's called Anucort here but it says on the suppository wrapper "hydrocortisone acetate 25 mg". If you can get that OTC then it's the same exact thing.

It's a relatively cheap prescription so I'm thinking it won't cost much OTC and why not try. If it bothers you then you'll stop.

Take it before bed and try to keep it in for at least 3-4 hours or a long as possible. If you can't keep it in that long you can always insert another.

Good luck!