How recent were your surgeries? I tended to feel more run down overall and to take longer to recover from illness for the first year or so after takedown. Now that I'm further removed from the trauma of flaring and surgery, I pretty much feel normal. I am probably more cognizant of staying hydrated than I used to be but generally I feel that I get sick "normally".

I came down with the flu and strep throat a week ago double whammy.... and feel like caca. I was wondering the same thing. I used to be able to handle it and bounce back pretty quick but this is dragging me down. I have to push myself hard to just get thru the work day. I am not contagious anymore. Otherwise I would stay home but my contagious period was unfortunately over the holiday weekend. That's good that I had the time off but bad that it ruined my holiday. I mean it was an hour before turkey was served and it hit me like a brick wall.... I was in bed almost the rest of the day.

I never noticed a difference, unless it's GI in nature, and I get dehydrated faster and end up at urgent care for fluids often. Especially if it's vomiting on top of diarrhea. If it's just diarrhea, I can usually keep up.

Pluot, my surgeries were all in 2010. Once I put my weight back on, I knew I was healed but it took three years. Rachel, I'm the same way. I have diarrhea now but I'm not going as many times as usual. Misticobra, whew! I hope you're feeling better now. I don't usually get sick - one of the benefits of constant antibiotics?? - and I just felt so dragged down at first, now just stuffy. I started to wonder if our colons play a role in fighting infection and viruses, along with its other roles. Thanks for the replies. It's good to get feedback regarding our pouch quirks!