Herbal Remedies for Pouchitis Pain Relief?

I've now had my j-pouch for 3 months (still a loop ileostomy) and I keep getting pouchitis!
For anyone that has had it, they will know just how painful it can be!

I was just wondering if anyone could suggest any herbal remedies or alternative medicines that not only help with the pain but also help to keep me in a good mood! It's so hard to stay happy all the time when I'm stuck inside in tons of pain all day, every day!

The last thing I want to do is get rid of it and have gone through all this just to end up where I was before, stuck with an ileostomy for life.

Thanks, Fran!!

See and try:

http://www.shop.acupuncture-cupping.com/sore-throat-herbal-powder-014.htm

Sprinkle on the wound.
It feels cold and relieves pain.
Do not eat fish.
Tell me if you are still sick or recovering.
Sorry if not potent.

My heart goes out to you. I had an internal pouch operation 14 years ago and was always sore. Cold calamine lotion poultice helps quite well; lots of Sudocreme lotion once dry. I ended up having a stoma, but the internal pouch is still in there and leaks now and then, but it's less of a problem. Hope it helps a little; it's miserable to be sore.

Franinaa,

Sorry to hear about your pouchitis. Pouchitis is generally caused by the wrong bacteria; the J pouch gets inflamed and sore.

For most patients suffering from pouchitis, the cure of choice is the antibiotic Flygal (sp). It is usually given at a fairly low dose for the long term, perhaps 6 weeks. There are some patients that have either or both J pouch and U/C that have to be on a very low intermittent dose of antibiotics. It seems to be the only thing that will work to keep the inflammation down.

Also, try experimenting with probiotics. There are dozens on the market, most are ineffective at best. However, there are a couple of good ones. My colo-rectal (sp) surgeon swears by a product called Align. I have used it for about 2 years. I have tried others without any noticeable result. I still use Align.
My surgeon has done several hundred J pouch surgeries. He is very familiar with the J pouches and their inherent problems.

What I have found is what works for one person may not work for another. The intestinal system I have found is very slow to heal, years in fact. It is also very touchy in how it reacts.
The most consistent thing I have found with my J pouch is its inconsistency.

Back to the probiotics. It takes several weeks for these to work, that is if they are going to. If you do try them, don't expect a quick change. The trick is to get the right bacteria in the J pouch.

For me, I find most protein works well. Cheese works very well. Most but not all yogurt works well. Believe it or not, a little whiskey seems to help.

I actually keep written records of what I eat daily to try and get a handle on what works for me. I still don't have it figured out yet, but I am getting closer.

There are many foods that I can tolerate well in small amounts. If I exceed the amount, I do what I call going "upside down": cramps, nausea, using the toilet a lot. Under no circumstance do I put a veggie in my mouth, period!!!
Vegetables, cooked or raw, don't get along with J pouches. It's because our shortened intestinal system cannot handle the fiber.

I can't stress the importance of chewing your food almost to a liquid. It takes a lot of the work away from our intestines. Remember, the newly created J pouch is our colon; it's not much.

Hope some of this helped.

Rick.....

If you could find a naturopathic doctor, they may be able to help you. Being in the health field for so long, I know Acidophilus or probiotics will work, but which one
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Also, you may want to try chlorophyll, aloe vera, or even digestive enzymes. Always start slowly and then increase the dosage as recommended. Good luck
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I too would like this procedure, so let us know how you're coming along. Butterfly48

Staying Hydrated with an Ostomy with LeeAnne Hayden | Hollister

Hi Fran - after my temporary colostomy reversal, I had lots of problems like you are describing.

My alternative medicine physician put me on probiotics - VSL#3. They were expensive and were only available through pharmacies. Target turned out to be the very cheapest. Since then, they have come out with lots of OTC probiotics, and like Junopete said, Align is the best one and not as bad as VSL#3 but still expensive.

I got a lot of help after the most recent surgery with the Activa yogurt. If you can tolerate milk products and can find it, milk with lactobacillus bifudus is also really helpful.

Other things recommended to me were biofeedback and acupuncture (for pain). I never tried the acupuncture and was sorry I didn't.
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