I am sort of in your camp. I am a less is more sort of girl. I could see scoping before treating if she was interested in seeing what was going on. But, if Flagyl fixes you up, why go poking around in there? Perhaps she wants to see if there is chronic pouchitis, but only intermittently symptomatic? But, still, I would think this could wait until it was time for a routine scope, or if treatment was not effective.

Jan

So I canceled the scope. The Flagyl is constipating me badly and I'm trying to get through it. With a continent ostomy this is difficult.I will wait till mid-February to have an office visit. I am also waiting for lab results. She is testing for c-diff.
I said to my husband that it feels awkward to be as a patient to say to a doctor " this is how I want to do this ......"
But a friend of mine whose father just retired from practice told me, his practice required the doctors to order "X" amount of tests per time period.

I agree with Jan. Sometimes called 'emperical' treatment...If Flagyl has been working - no need to scope.

(medical treatment) based on practical experience rather than scientific proof...

If the Flagyl is too constipating and you are already taking a smallish dose (250 mg 3 times a day), just increase your typical thinning methods, juice, extra fluids, coffee, whatever.

Jan

So an update:
The Flagyl worked...temporarily.I finished the medication Christmas and the symptoms have reappeared a few days ago. They begin in the morning. The doctor's office has called and sent a letter in regards to the scope I canceled and haven't rescheduled. Anyway, I have scheduled an appointment with her for Monday. She will push for the scope and I will want to do another round of meds before a scope. Should I just do it?
FYI: There have been times I've begged my doctor (a surgeon) to do a scope when I really felt strongly something was wrong so it is isn't like I have have an aversion to them.
Thanks for your thoughts.

Oh, and when making the appt with 'scheduling', the wanted to know why I was coming in. I said 'pouchitis'. The woman said "I don't know what that is".I repeated it I am coming in for pouchitis and asked if I should spell it. She got a little curt with me than just repeated my appt info back. All she had to do was writ it down, the doctor will know.

Think of it this way, you and your doctor are members of a team, working to improve and maintain your health. So, you don't have to feel awkward about having some ideas of your own, particularly since you felt relief from the course of flagyl. Still, you don't have to be making demands and telling your doctor how to do her job.

You can say, "I'd like to try another course of Flagyl before we do anything invasive." she can then tell you why or why not that is a reasonable approach. If she feels that a scope is necessary, then she should be able to explain why, in a convincing manner.

Bottom line, it is your body and you get to make the final choice.

Jan

What you say is true. She had me on 1000mg Flagyl.
It wasn't easy but good results.