New to site

I take Align. My doctor recommended I take a probiotic after my first bout of pouchitis. Been doing well for a year now.

I don't take probiotics, although I have in the past. I do have an Actimel every day, religiously, and can tell you that helps me tremendously.

Gin

It has helped my husband. He takes VSL3

I didn't bother with probiotics for the first 6 years or so. They won't do you any harm, but it's less expensive and less hassle to skip them unless you turn out to be prone to pouchitis.

Thanks for the input. After much reading on this site I have realized I need to start seeing a GI doc again, so I have scheduled an appt with my pcp (primary care physician) to get a referral to a GI doctor. I have been very blessed, I feel, to have been able to control my j pouch on my own for the past 10 1/2 years. Although it is scary to think about going to a new GI doctor it's even scarier to think I could develop problems and not have a doctor familiar with my case. Thanks again.

I only take a probiotic (Align) when I'm prescribed an antibiotic (for any reason). Good idea to develop a relationship with a GI doc or a CR surgeon. For the first ten years after takedown, my surgeon did a full on scope every year. No problems except some minor polyps which he removed during the scoping. Since the 10 year mark he only wants to see me (for a scoping) every three years (unless I'm having a problem). I prefer seeing my CR surgeon to my GI doc. My GI doc is knowledgeable about J-pouches but my CR surgeon is even more so! Personal preference, I guess.