So I really need to see a doctor because I'm having problems with my jpough after 20 years. For the last two years I have what I think is pouchitis. I have all of the symptoms Not sure because it comes and goes. I've always gone to the bathroom a lot but now it's getting really hard to hold it, Almost feels like a mini flare up of ulcerative colitis. I have to be near a bathroom, take tons of Imodium or not eat when I'm out in public. Plus I'm sore all of the time. At my last scope my doctor who's a colon/rectal surgeon said no to pouch it's but couldn't explain what I am experiencing other told me to find a gasto doctor. What I'm wondering is should I continue to see a colon rectal surgeon or should I see a gastrointerologist Due to the jpouch? My doctor left in Pittsburgh and I moved to a new area and am trying to find a good doctor.
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I'd recommend a gastroenterologist, particularly given your surgeon's comment.
Dr Bo Shen is a gastroenterologist at the Cleveland clinic. He works close with my surgeon Dr. Remzi and is well respected. I have not even had my j pouch for a year and have had multiple problems but one thing I would highly recommend that has helped me big time is eating unpasteurized sauerkraut. I have found it much more potent than any probiotic and I've taken them all. I get mine at Wholefoods in a bag for like 5$. Just make absolute sure it's completely unpasteurized
I don't think you need to go further than the area you live it to find a GI that can do a pouchoscope. My local GI did my first scope and he said all the doctors in his group could have done it as well. It was only after my cuffitis didn't go into remission that he sent me to a GI specialist at the Mayo Clinic.
My local GI also caught that I also had c.diff along with the cuffitis You can get tested for c.diff with a stool sample ordered by any doctor.
What I'm trying to say is it would be less of a hassle to get scoped in your locality. You could have c.diff, pouchitis, cuffitis and other problems. It's difficult to know what is wrong without a flexible scope.
Take care
When searching for a new gastroenterologist, ask if they see patients with a J-pouch as not all do. After my surgeries, My gastroenterologist told me he does not see patients with a J-pouch.
My surgeon still practices, so I chose a GI his team recommended that he works with fairly often, for a multidisciplinary approach.
My GI only specializes in IBD patients. Sorry to hear you're fitting the bill, too... 20 years after my surgery, I also started with issues.
He says he's seeing this a lot. "Old" j pouches are having issues after 20ish years. Mine is with strictures and a fistula.
My GI only specializes in IBD patients. Sorry to hear you're fitting the bill, too... 20 years after my surgery, I also started with issues.
He says he's seeing this a lot. "Old" j pouches are having issues after 20ish years. Mine is with strictures and a fistula.