After 12 years with a J-pouch, I had my first bout of pouchitis. Went on Cipro and Flagyl and it cleared up. Now, I am trying to adjust to a new normal with adding a daily probiotic. I used to need grape juice to completely eliminate my pouch at the end of the day but find that post pouchitis and now with a daily probiotic, juice isn't needed. Do others find that the daily probiotic helps with elimination? My transit time is back to my pre-pouchitis condition but the stool consistency is softer and less caustic. Do others experience these realities with probiotics?
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Probiotics vary a *lot*, in both composition and dose. I do find that a hefty dose of VSL #3 helps keep me in much better shape.
I've always been on probiotics (conscious choice, since my op). The first 12 weeks were full dose, then then it's down to a 50% maintenance dose. If I had a bad day diet wise i will perhaps take full dose for a couple of days, I can tell the difference between a full dose and a half dose, let's just say half dose suits me more, full dose certainly helps with ease of elimination.
once established you can probably play with the dosage a little bit. Reducing it will of course save money, but may also suit you more.. then you up it at first sign of issues or preemptively if you having a night on the beer or eaten a lot of sugar etc
I'm relatively new to jpouch (2 years) but that's the approach I'm trying.