I was curious how often people have a pouchoscopy done as a matter of regular maintenance, as opposed to there being a specific issue with your J pouch. I haven't had one done in a couple of years and was interested to see if people have a pouchoscopy done on a yearly or regular basis, similar how they would with a colonoscopy. Thanks.
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Every year for 40yrs!
Once a year. My doctor said I need to go once a year for the rest of my life.
I find this recommendation tends to vary, and it may also depend on your pre-op diagnosis. If your pre-op diagnosis was cancer or dysplasia, the recommendation is usually to have a pouchoscopy more frequently. It's important to discuss with your surgeon/GI what schedule is most appropriate for you. At the recommendation of my surgeon, I now go every 2 years unless I'm having problems. Of course COVID has put a hiccup in that schedule.
If you have cancer, or dysplasia, pre-colectomy, or you have chronic inflammation, you should be scoped annually. Otherwise it's discretionary.
I have had a colonoscopy or pouchoscopy every year since 1972. I had dysplasia pre colectomy and pouchitis for over 25 years.
First five years was every year. After that I’ve been advised to go every 2-3 years by my surgeon.
I have a question, so before my surgeries I had UC and they found dysplasia which prompted the surgery as my UC wasn't even that bad and controlled. When they biopsied by colon after surgery it stated NO DYSPLASIA was found.. WTF?? but that was 12 years ago and was told by DR Shen that I should get scoped every year and biopsied every 2 years. So far biopsies have been great
my insurance sucks so I will just go every other year for my scopes unless I am having an issue
@ytcrockpot posted:Every year for 40yrs!
I see you made 40 years recently!!! Congratulations 
Have you had any problems in the past 40 years???
My surgeon said its every year but my gastro says for a normal Pouch its every 3 years. So who knows really? If everything is fine and your not experiencing any pain than maybe every 2-3 is fine. I would ask 2 gastros the same question and whoever will do it the soonest, I would go with them.
After I got my j pouch, I had a pouchoscopy every 6 months. My surgeon wanted to check for cancer -- which was the reason I lost my colon. This is my 5th year so I graduate to an annual pouchoscopy, but now supplemented with a full body scan to check my organs. I don't think this will be forever. I will likely move to a check up every 2 years. Fingers crossed. If you were diagnosed with cancer or dysplasia, you and your doctor need to be vigilant.
@Pouchomarx posted:I have a question, so before my surgeries I had UC and they found dysplasia which prompted the surgery as my UC wasn't even that bad and controlled. When they biopsied by colon after surgery it stated NO DYSPLASIA was found.. WTF?? but that was 12 years ago and was told by DR Shen that I should get scoped every year and biopsied every 2 years. So far biopsies have been great
my insurance sucks so I will just go every other year for my scopes unless I am having an issue
Lol, that "WTF" is soo funny XD I love that! Maybe it was meant for you to get it taken out, you never know what might would have happened if you kept it, like perforating for example. Sometimes the Universe has a way of protecting us.
@Winterberry posted:After I got my j pouch, I had a pouchoscopy every 6 months. My surgeon wanted to check for cancer -- which was the reason I lost my colon. This is my 5th year so I graduate to an annual pouchoscopy, but now supplemented with a full body scan to check my organs. I don't think this will be forever. I will likely move to a check up every 2 years. Fingers crossed. If you were diagnosed with cancer or dysplasia, you and your doctor need to be vigilant.
@Winterberry - I also lost my colon because of cancer. I had a tumor in my colon and one in my rectum. That's great you are in your 5th year! Congrats!
That’s a good question. I think my doc said every two years but to be honest I can’t remember. I feel like something keep popping up, like pouchitis or something and we have to do it earlier (yearly) so I haven’t been able to make it to 2 years. So 2 years would be my goal at this point. I’ve only had it for 3 years this fall, so it hasn’t even been that long anyhow.
