My apologies I forgot to explain my situation, I've had UC and ended up with a jpouch about 7 years ago, pouchitis about once a month sometimes I'm ok for 2 months but eventually it comes back. At age 25 I got UC at 207lbs, by the time I was 32 years old and 96lbs I realized none of the doctor's medicine is working. I got a referral for UCSF and had my surgery and 2 months later a reversal. Now anytime I have pouchitis I take ciprofloxacin or Flagyl,  they both help. Most days it's 12 to 16 bm,s a day on a good day it's  9 to 11. If anyone has any advice like on any different med I should take to slow down my bowels or for depression or anything positive, please let me know, I truly appreciate your input, thank you 

I had J pouch surgery in 1990. For me smoking cannabis twice a day and exercising for 30 minutes 4-5 times a week has been the constant during the last 26 years. Until 4 years ago I had a dream run. I had about 10 bms daily but the toilet visit was very brief and with very little butt burn. As I age the visits are taking much longer and the burn ranges from discomfort to pain which brings tears to the eyes at times. I still count myself very fortunate and I only hope that the cannabis acts as an anti inflammatory, a relaxant , a brilliant anti depressant and delivers other health benefits such as reduced blood pressure and increased libido as it did for me.

Hi Stone, 

FIrst off, you didn't say if being stressed out is something 'new' of if you were always this way even before UC and the pouch.

If so, it is your nature and personality and other than therapy to control it (buy not necessarily resolve it) or meds to shut it up, there is not much that can be done.

Next, if this thing popped up when you got sick or since the pouch then you are probably suffering from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) which comes into play when the human body or mind suffers some sort of severe trauma or shock. 

We cannot always deal with things while they are happening so our minds sort of stock the stress and it comes out later in all sorts of unexpected ways. 

Some people get insomnia and nightmares, cold sweats, beating hearts, teariness at the slightest provocation, anger, phobias (I suddenly became claustrophobic after an incident), anorexic, bulimic, agoraphobic (afraid to leave the house or be in crowds) or many other symptoms.

All of these, especially after everything that you have been through can be caused by PTSD...they can also be managed.

Sometimes group or talk therapy helps a lot. Sometimes you need an antidepressant to get you through it and sometimes both...then again, some of us slug our ways through it and hope for the best...(my way). It gives rather mitigated results that way.

I am not sure if it ever really goes away...sort of just lurks under the surface and pops up whenever trauma or the suspicion of trauma is near (or the smell of O.R. or latex gloves, betadine solution...)

PTSD is the gift that keeps on giving...most of our friends and family cannot understand, or will not unless they have been through it. Usually those who have suffered similar traumas are your best cohorts to sympathize and understand you.

Hope that this helps

Sharon