How often to get pouch scoped?

Your pouch should be scoped routinely. I go each year....some doctors say every two years. It's just a good idea to make sure everything looks ok in there and they can see if there is inflammation or anything funny looking. There usually is no prep....just an enema maybe (that's what my surgeon has me do) a couple of hours before the procedure. Each time I have had a scope it was quick, easy and painless. I had no sedation. If you don't feel right, give your doc a call. Since you are a teen, be sure to communicate what you are feeling to your parents.

The purpose of pouchoscopy is to answer a question. "Is this pouchitis" is a reasonable question for a scope to help answer. Similarly, periodic (e.g. annual or biannual) scopes can answer the question "has anything happened silently in there that we ought to know about?" Doctors differ in their approach to periodic pouchoscopy, and vary widely in how frequently they recommend it. One of the benefits of colectomy for folks with UC is that the cancer risk is hugely reduced...but not to zero. It's a good idea for your doctor to take a look at the rectal cuff periodically, to make sure that remaining tissue isn't growing something you'd be better off without.

My doc told me that when i get my scope I will be sedated in some form or another. havent had one yet, but expect to be scheduled for one later this year

Depends on you, why you got your pouch and your surgeon/G.I docs habits and opinions. Some like to take an annual look-see while others say that if it isn't broken, don't fix it. They wait for you to call and say that something isn't right before schedueling one...as for the sedation question, it is the same. If it is a radiologist alone doing it he/she may want you out just for simplicity sake while some surgeons who know their patients well, choose to keep you awake and ask quesitons while doing it.
It also depends on how you feel about being scoped. If you feel akward, embarassed or uncomfortable then you can request sedation and they will usually agree.
Sharon

My prep is just tap water enemas before leaving the house (and I also limit my diet to liquids the day before). I don't get sedated (never have, except for a full colonoscopy). I have my scopes every 1-2 years. I have not ever had any dysplasia, but my original diagnosis was pancolitis more than 40 years ago, so my cancer risk is higher.

These are good questions to ask your doctor, as the answers vary. There is no one right answer, and it should be tailored to your needs.

Jan

The answer I got from my GI doctor is get scoped annually due to the rectal cuff cancer risk, dysplasia or not. Because I had dysplasia, this is a "very firm" recommendation, which he says is also endorsed by his mentor Dr. Bo Shen.

I don't have any chronic pouch problems, pouchitis or cuffitis, so I get scoped every 3-5 years. I did do annual scopes the first 5 years post surgery.

Sue