Hi Scallop,

I live in Los Angeles and see Dr. Phillip Fleshner. He works at Cedars-Sinai and is excellent. Before my surgeries, I did a lot of research on surgeons because I wanted only the best for such serious surgeries. I have had my j pouch over 2 years and I haven't had any problems. I was scoped every 3 months for the first year, and now I'm scoped once a year.

I’d suggest always being clear about the differences between colo-rectal surgeons vs. gastroenterologists. While it’s true that plenty of colo-rectal surgeons provide fairly complete post-J-pouch surgery care for their own J-pouch patients, very few of them would take that role on for a different surgeon’s patients.

looking for g.i. doc not surgeon.  Should have made that clear.

Where in California do you live?  I have an excellent gastroenterologist in Newport Beach.  Let me know if you would like his name, etc.  Best Wishes!