Casie-
I have had pouchitis since 1995, treatable with antibiotics, and basically kept in check. I can't get off the antibiotics and have to rotate them, but as long as I take them I am essentially symptom free but we have seen some inflammation and ulcers in the pouch (I posted pics of these in another thread).
My surgeon wanted me to lose weight because he told me that a colectomy is easier to perform and more likely to be complication free if the patient is not carrying around extra weight. I was about 162 pounds when they cut me, lost 10 pounds to get there which with Prednisone was very hard. I was weaned off Prednisone but after surgery had some complications and went all the way down to 135 pounds but I have since gained all the weight back.
I don't really have any complaints because I had no choice but to have surgery. I had dysplasia, and as we later learned, my colon was about to perforate. Even with the 17 plus years of battling pouchitis the 20 years I have had with the J Pouch were WAY better than the prior 20 years with UC. Pouchitis is a different disease and seemingly more treatable, although I should add that I have some issues in my ileum above the J Pouch which have led to a suspicion that I may have Crohn's Disease. However, this has never been unconfirmed and my official diagnosis is pouchitis.