I'm seeing lines of blood in my stool and not sure why. Can blood be normal for someone with a J-Pouch?
Ever since I got my J-Pouch in 2017 I've been seeing blood in my stool, however at first it was very infrequent, maybe once a month and over time it became more and more frequent. Now I am seeing it multiple times a day. However, the amount of blood isn't a lot unless I'm having a flare up.
I was recently diagnosed with Pouchitis. Had 2 flare ups this year in June and November. Both times had a 4 week course of Metronidazole and Ciprofloxacin - they helped however on both occasions still saw blood during and after the course however it was a lot less than when I was having the flare-ups. During flare-ups I see a lot of blood, sometimes the blood is more than the stool. And it isn't lines, it's a lot of bright red blood and on the tissue too.
I've been taking VSL#3 since the start of December. After my last course of anti-biotics just ended. Having 1 sachet every night. However I am still seeing blood in my stool.
Has anyone been in a similar position to me and maybe has some advice? I know bleeding isn't always a sign of pouchitis however I've had 2 sigmoidoscopies since having the pouch. The first in 2019 showed nothing and biopsies didn't show any inflammation. The second was this year August and showed mild erythema and inflammation on the biopsy taken from the pouch. I asked my Gastroenterologist if he thinks it might be cuffitis, but he said there was no inflammation shown from biopsies taken from that area.
Any advice or guidance would be greatly appreciated.