So I had to have Paul make an emergency run to the pharmacy yesterday to fill my order of Flagyl yesterday. Had progressively deteriorating symptoms for the past week or so, but I thought it may have been related to something I ate. Was in the bridal shop trying on gowns yesterday and nearly keeled over from cramping! I was resisitant to do the flagyl again so soon (did a course of it about a month ago), because I was concerned that if I took it too often, I'll become resistant to its effects. Is this true for Flagyl? I'm going to do a 7 day course this week to clear out whatever bug is going on. Finally had to face facts that it wasn't my eating habits, once I returned to the infamous BRAT diet for a couple of days and got no relief. It's so frustrating that there's no "manual" for this. We're all different, and its like we constantly have to play doctor to ourselves...I suppose as time goes on I will get more comfortable "knowing" my new system and adjusting my approach accordingly.
Also, is it possible to have a bad reaction to a particular probiotic? I started taking Flora-Q after my last round with Flagyl, so I'm wondering if that played any part in this latest intestinal hiccup. Perhaps I should try a different one after this? Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated.

Probiotics can cause abdominal cramps.

Re the flagyl, you'd probably be looking at much longer term use before resistance starts to form.

Hi. I have been on flagyl on and off since my takedown in Oct. 2004. My doctor believes that if I take it, it needs to be for 3 months at a time to be effective. I take 2 a day for a month,then one a day for 2 months. After that I go back on Flora-Q. When I first start to take it, I get more gas etc. for at least 2 weeks, then it settles down. Right now I have been pouchitis free for about 6 months which has been wonderful. I feel that if I just get pouchitis intermitantly, that is better than chronic pouchitis. Sometimes when I get upset, I think my body reacts by getting pouchitis, rather than any type of food. I also take 4 lomotil per day, since my take down.
Like you said, we all get to know our bodies better than anyone else.
Good luck!
Linda

Michelle,

You may want to go a bit longer with your course of Flagyl. Sometimes Pouchitis is tough to get rid of. I would usually go on a 3x a day regimen for 10 day, then taper it back by one every week until I was done. And as others stated before, Probitics can cause cramping and gas when you first start out.

Hope you get relief.

I'm not sure about Flagyl because I couldn't tolerate that drug. I'm on Cipro, 4 packets of VSL and 4 Lomotil at night. I'm "under control" right now but still have pain. I'd talk to your doctor about risks associated with long-term use (such as it stopping working).

I haven't been able to find Flora-Q. I want to compare it to VSL.

Good luck!

You can get Flora-Q at various retailers, noted at the manufacturer's site, or by it direct, online from the manufacturer:
http://www.floraq.com/where_to_purchase.html

This is the lowest price online retailer:
http://www.zuckermanpharmacy.com/product.cfm/hurl/807982.html

And, you can even get it on eBay, but not necessarily cheaper...

Jan

Are there any probiotics out there that are cheaper than flora Q??? Also, should we use probiotics every day, or only when taking antibiotics?

Thanks!

Elise

Jan? any thoughts on using amoxicilin for pouchitis? I work for a doctor (dog doctor that is), and he prescribes amoxi instead of metronidazole because, he says, it is gentler on the bowels and faster acting with less side effects.

Flagyl is the first line of treatment because it is one of the few antibiotics that is effective against C. difficile. Anything else other than Vancomycin can cause a C. difficile overgrowth and C. difficile colitis, including Cipro. It is also antiprotozoan.

Yes, it does have side effects and sometimes you have to stop taking it. But all antibiotics have potential problems. Does the vet use amoxicillin for GI problems, or is it his default antibiotic for most anything? For example, my vet prescribes clavamox for virtually all infections my cat gets. Also, remember that humans are different than animals.

Oh, and Culturelle is cheaper than Flora-Q, that's why I take it. It is recommended that you take probiotics daily to prevent pouchitis. Of course, the only clinical study on this involve VSL#3, but Culturelle has been studied in UC and found to be helpful in prolonging the period between relapse.
http://www.luckyvitamin.com/049100364049.html

Jan

My docs (vets) try to avoid overusing amoxi and it's relatives. They use a lot of illness-specific treating meds. Clavamox is a good antibiotic for respiratory infections and soft tissue infections. Urinary tract infections respond well to enrofloxacin (and it's less likely to come across resistant strains of bacteria)But they also rx anti-virals like Lysine (OTC) and even Interferon to treat viral infections like Feline Leukemia and FIV. We're a pretty progressive practice, I think. We all participate in a fair amount of continuing education seminars.
Wow, way off subject..LOL
Do you think probiotics have any impact on cuffitis?

Probiotics and cuffitis? I don't know. I take them and still have occasional bleeding and urgency, and I even also take Azulfidine and Humira. I just figure that the evidence is out there that it prolongs the remission period for UC, so in my mind, that is enough reason to take them. I even got my husband on board for his UC. I don't think anything works 100%.

Jan