Just realised that I’ve had mild pouchitis for four weeks. (Lots going on, thought it was food related, just realised today after being on low-residue for several days that it’s not.)
Are antibiotics the first option? Cipro or metronidazole if I remember right?
I am in a terrible situation regarding doctor access at the moment. Treatment may have to be prescribed by someone who doesn’t know anything about j-pouches so I need to be armed with the correct info in case I have to supply it.
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Hi - Cipro and or Metronidazole would very likely be your first treatment protocol with an JPouch expert.
What are the symptoms of "mild" pouchitis? I'm extremely curious about this. I have wondered if I have had mild pouchitis before. I definitely have inflammation there at times but it usually goes away without antibiotics. I just have to rest and be mindful that I ingest soluble mucilagenous fibers, probiotics and avoid uncooked fruits and veggies.
Cipro or Flagyl for 10-14 days is generally the first-line approach. Dosing varies a lot, and may not matter very much. Cipro has worked much better for me, and relief is often astonishingly quick.
Stool consistency can be substantially altered by diet (especially fiber), but liquid stool is not a reliable sign of inflammation. Urgency and leakage, though, seem to often indicate inflammation.
@Sara Marie posted:What are the symptoms of "mild" pouchitis?
Mildly increased frequency and urgency. Mild leakage/spotting at night.
I am familiar with those symptoms, so I guess I have had mild pouchitis. A speedy recovery would definitely be a good thing. I try to stay away from antibiotics since they cause a lot of other problems for me. Some seem to do quite well with antibiotics! And more power to them.
Thank everyone for the replies. Wouldn’t you know it, as soon as my pouch was “threatened” with medical attention, the symptoms improved and I got back to normal within 24 hours.
Interesting to note that I passed almost no gas while I had the pouchitis. Just as well, because passing gas while lying in bed plus diarrhea would be a dangerous combination.
@Sara Marie posted:I am familiar with those symptoms, so I guess I have had mild pouchitis. A speedy recovery would definitely be a good thing. I try to stay away from antibiotics since they cause a lot of other problems for me. Some seem to do quite well with antibiotics! And more power to them.
For me, it’s aching muscles/bones (like the start of the flu), watery greenish BMs with a distinctive different smell to normal, slight feverish feeling (not enough to register as having a temperature), and mild abdominal cramps.
@Kushami posted:For me, it’s aching muscles/bones (like the start of the flu), watery greenish BMs with a distinctive different smell to normal, slight feverish feeling (not enough to register as having a temperature), and mild abdominal cramps.
Thanks for the description. It's interesting how so many people experience this differently. I have watery greenish BMs when I drink green drinks, sometimes, depending on how much psyllium I have had in advance. And my poo randomly smells strange and different, it seems. Sometimes it's kind of like I have had asparagus when I haven't, or sometimes it's smells like it used to when I had a colon, and sometimes it smells completely unprocessed like it did when I was going through chemo after I got the pouch. And my husband said sometimes it smells like pot roast! Ha ha!
I am so glad your pouch was scared into submission. That's great to hear! I wonder if that is an official treatment option? Where do I sign up?
