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It’s almost been a year since I got my jpouch and things have not been great! I’ve had chronic pouchitis since April, and I am antibiotic dependent. But this whole time I have had no problems emptying my pouch. I had a scope in mid-September that did not show any structural problems (just a comical amount of inflammation in my pouch and cuff).

I had a bad flair shortly after that scope in mid-September, and my GI put me a 30 day dose of Cipro and Flagyl, along with budesonide, while I got my insurance in order to start taking Entyvio.

The Cipro+flagyl+budesonide combo got my pelvic pain under control and firmed up my output almost immediately, but I had no trouble emptying my pouch. Then I had my first loading dose of Entyvio. Three days later, while now taking all four drugs, I suddenly had tremendous trouble emptying my pouch. What stool did come out was very firm! I saw my GI last week and reported this. It seems everything is working a little too well, but she didn’t mention a possible stricture.

The antibiotics have ended, and although my stools have loosened up a little, I am still having a lot of trouble emptying my pouch. It feels like how a stricture is described, but how did I get a stricture in 45 days since my last scope? Has anyone heard of anything like this or has this happened to them? The only thing I can think of is that I might have scar tissue forming from my cuffitis healing. But that is pure speculation.

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This isn't a reported side effect from Entyvio. It's possible that your stool got too firm to easily pass, without any structural problem like a stricture, though the problem apparently persisted when things loosened up a bit. Perhaps your attempts to empty have swollen some hemorrhoids, which could add some difficulty in emptying. Things you could consider doing (don't do them all at once):

  1. Stop any bowel slowers (Imodium/Lomotil/opiates)
  2. Add more fluid, especially if your urine is dark.
  3. Try psyllium fiber
  4. Try a little Miralax
  5. (Probably a last resort): Try a tap water enema

Are you sure your pouch is full when you try to empty it?

Scott F

Scott, thanks so much for your response. Well, I have 100% aggravated some hemorrhoids. It’s not too bad, but it is definitely noticeable. If that is the culprit, I’m in a very viscous cycle. I try hard not to strain when I empty my pouch, but sometimes I cannot help it.

I am generally waiting until I have a full pouch to empty it, but I have admittedly been fooled by gas lately (which was blissfully nowhere to be heard/smelled while I was on the antibiotics). So, I am still relearning a few things. Of your suggestions, I think I will try a little Miralax. I drink a lot of water, take two servings of Metamucil daily, and have been fortunate not to need bowel slowers lately.

The tap water enema would probably work really well. I’m just not sure I want to go through all that when I’m trying to empty in the middle of the night. As you say though, last resort…

J

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