After 10 Years Pouch Suddenly Working far Better

I still see changes with my 23 year old pouch. It's pretty amazing that that happens. I no longer take imodium/loperamide and I stopped Metamucil wafers a while back.

I also hope yours lasts.

kathy

I've eaten Chobani Greek yogurt. Have some in the fridge now. Didn't notice any difference. Could just be coincidence for you and your gut just decided to change for the better. You never know. Every time I think there is a food that is better or worse for me, it pretty much is just a blip. The only exception was reducing carbs in general. That does seem to improve my function.

Have you noticed that you stopped anything in particular? That might be more likely. Like less sweets or alcohol or less bread?

But, whatever it is, sounds like good news!

Jan

Hi Jan,
I wish! No, I eat sweets every day, sometime more than once, well all the time more than once, lots of bread too. I don't drink so that's not a factor. I switched from Lomotil to Kirtland's Immodium slowly over the past months so that's a change. It's really nice to be so much more confident about a full nights sleep without an accident but like my golf swing, it comes and it goes, like the blips you're referencing. Oh well, I'll enjoy it while it lasts. Cheers.

The switch from lomotil to Imodium may be the key. It takes a while for Imodium to build up to a steady level when you are taking it regularly. While the actions are very similar to lomotil, in addition to slowing the gut, it also improves rectal sphincter tone (improving night time continence) and actively increases the rate of water absorption.

Jan

There's a wonderful article in today's NY Times. Who knew our bodies, our gut, was nothing more than a host for 100 trillion mostly friendly little buggers.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05...robiome.html?hp&_r=0

There's also been a wonderful series on PBS called "Guts, with Michael Mosley" where I've learned more about fecal transplants and, pardon my French, that 1/3 of our poop is composed of those friendly little buggers. Probably done with us humans and moving on to the next step in their life cycle. Gotta love life in all it's wonderful varieties.

Who knew, indeed!

Interesting in the article that discusses Bifidobacterium. This is the probiotic in Align, which has been studied in treatment for IBS. My husband takes it twice a day and feels it improves his gut function (he has UC also). I didn't find it any better or worse than others for myself. But hubby also has moderate lactose intolerance too.

Jan

I have been taking Ultram instead of Lomotil. It works great. I had to quit taking Lomotil because I stayed dehydrated and had to keep getting IV's. I'm 2 years post-op, but I'd like to know of other alternatives.

I've never needed Immodium, Lomotil, or Metamucil, but I'm much more "efficient" at two plus decades out. Lately I've been going about 3-4X a day, that's it. My surgeon told me years ago that this could happen, as the pouch grew in size over time and learned to absorb better, and it did for me.

Yes regarding the original post, I'm ten years on and have noticed my pouch behaves itself much better now. The only thing I can remember adding is Psylium husk (metamucil) and I have had to take far fewer meds to keep pouchy in check! Strange but definitely welcome!

These comments regarding longterm improvement give me hope- I am struggling at one year four months since takedown but do not feel ready to return to a stoma yet.

My god Kathy your pouch is old,Glenns is 13
this year,and doing great.
By the way if you ever get over to
Gardnerville Ranchos Nevada.
Go to Philadelphia Restaurant & Sandwich Company
My other son with a colon just opened up there.
Philly steaks and Italian food.
Tell Mike you know his dad,and demand free food.
I am the bank,and I authorize free food for you.
He went to Tahoe to ski and work on the slope,
go figure.
Old Mike

http://www.yelp.com/biz/philad...company-gardnerville

Yes, Mike. Which means I'm old as well. Thank you for the reminder.

Are you just a familial bank or do you also hand out money to colonless acquaintances?

Young Mike had to do something to fund his skiing. I think he did good.

kathy

Kathy: As far as I am concerned your 23,read that on the internet somewhere,so it must be true.
Pretty much a familial bank,banked Glenn's
landscape business also.
One of my joys in life is to watch Glenn suck
down food for 2 hours at a buffet,it is an amazing sight.
Just to stay on topic with this thread,he claims,intestine and pouch function to be better eating one meal a day. Believes low bacterial growth when otherwise empty.
Hey,I have got to keep a little fun in my life,
still have UC,33 years and counting. I will find a none colectomy cure for this disease.


Old Mike

Mike:

Can you expand on the point about "functioning better on one meal a day....low bacterial growth when otherwise empty."


You mean he eats one meal and then grazes the rest of the day? Wouldn't that be the opposite? Because I'm empty more when I eat 3 meals but my stomach is full all day when I graze.

No I mean he eats one meal,as far as I know he is not grazing. But I will recheck tomorrow since we will be haveing dinner with him.
Old Mike

Well I was wrong he now eats two meals a day,about 1 and at 5 or 6,he does graz in between those hours,then has nothing except water,lemon juice and a dds-100 probiotic.
He also eats only paleo type fruits,and grass fed meat,or organic range chicken tht kind of stuff. Eats sprouted bread like Ezekiel,but the other brand he can get it at half the price.
Claims pouch function much better,he will also tell you that things improved or the much better after he had his mercury fillings removed.
Old Mike

well i am 7 years after jpouch operation and i would have to say i think it is very possible it just can get better for no reason i can think of..i had issues right away diagnosed with antibiotic dependent pouchitis after 2 really bad years of trying lots of things..i rotated full dosages antibiotics thereafter for about another 4 years which seemed to keep me under control than as recently as about 6 months ago i tried amoxicillian since my rotations were getting shorter in between antibiotics..i have been able to stay on amoxicillan now steady and at 1 half the original dosage with no need to change...i have been re diagnosed as bacteria overgrowth but treatment is the same as pouchitis..it has been great not rotating and using just one 500 mg of amoxicillian..moreover i should add that over time 9years0 my ability to eat lots of different foods has definetely increased over time..as example there was a time salads were out but now are fine..

i am definetely better off than i was in 06 through 011..its all much more doable..