I am currently on long term cipro. I was wondering what other drugs are used for pouchitis. With summer fast approaching, I don't want to be on cipro because you're supposed to limit sun exposure. That won't work for me. I work in the sun and I also like to spend time in the water and other outdoor activities. I don't want to be on flagyl because I would really like to be able to have a beer every once in a while. What else is used and also are other drugs just as effective?

Here is a pretty good article:
http://usagiedu.com/articles/pouch/pouch.pdf

And here is another, but it covers all pouch diseases:
http://usagiedu.com/articles/pouch06/pouch06.pdf

The main thing to keep in mind is that practically all of the antibiotics (and many other drugs) can cause sensitivity to sunlight. So, just wear sunscreen and you are golden!

Jan

Thank you Jan, I appreciate the info. But what if I want a tan!?

Get a fake tan. Those tanning gels and sprays work very well and no longer turn you orange. Besides, if you are working outdoors, you should be wearing sunscreen regardless of your medications.

You want some skin cancer to go with that tan???

Jan

You are right Jan. I agree with you and I'm not trying to argue here, but, I feel overall better when I spend time in the sun and get tanned. I just feel healthier and have more energy and so on. I don't know what it is. Maybe it's in my head. I've never worn sunscreen. I used to be a lifeguard back in the day too. I know I am asking for more health trouble if I continue to do it. Just wanted to show where I'm coming from on this. Maybe I'll just work a little harder to get off the cipro and I won't have to worry about it.

Well, just because you may be more sensitive to sunlight while on Cipro, it does not mean you cannot have some sun exposure. It just won't be as long as before. Everyone tans differently and you may find that the Cipro does not affect you that much. If you can get off the Cipro, that would be great, but I wouldn't beat yourself up about it if you can't. Plus, even with sunscreen, you will tan eventually, because it does not last all day. What it does do is prolongs the time you can be in the sun without burning.

I suppose you can experiment and find out how long you can really be out in the sun before burning. Of course, you do know that sunburns and their relationship to skin cancer are a lifetime cumulative effect?

I know where you are coming from. Most of us feel more energetic and vibrant when we have been outdoors and are tanned.

Good luck with it!

Jan

Thanks Jan

Hi Justin,
It always pains me to read about someone who wants to tan and does not wear sunscreen. Thanks to my tanning days I have/had melanoma. If you think it will never happen to you, you are wrong. It is not pretty and if not caught early there is no cure. WEAR THAT SUNSCREEN. PS I have a hard time trying to get my own kids to understand this and they have seen me suffer thru some pretty painful and awful surgeries to cut it out and even then there is no garantee, just better odds.
Susan