Hey, I just got off a script of Cipro (Flagyl gave me hives), anyway 1 week flagyl, 1 week cipro and boom. I have the same gurgling --gassy -- up all night & sore butt problems. Could the pouchitis not be gone?! Or 6 mths out from surgery..is this how it is? Help? --Those who have read my posts know how impatient I am! Whats up with this? Sue

I also new to this pouch - 7 months.

A few months out I would go on Cipro for pouchitis and then BOOM it would come back as soon as I got off. From my own experience since then and speaking with my GI, treating Pouchitis is not always simply taking 2 weeks of antibiotics and then it is all cleared. Yes, the symptoms might be gone, but there still could be slight inflammation that can easily return.

My ideas would be to either

a) gradually ween off Cipro - Start with the full dose of 1000mg for 2 weeks to get rid of it, then try going down to 500mg for a bit. Then 250mg, then 0mg. If that doesnt work, maybe your Dr will recommend taking 1000mg for a month or so to fully clear it up. I am on Cipro 1000mg for 3 months - it is working very well. I also take VSL#3.. Good Luck

I have been on cipro and flagyl for over 10 years. IF I go off the pouchitis comes right back. The pouchitis does not end with one course of Cipro as would be the case with some other bacterial infections Cipro is used to treat. It is an ongoing thing and the Cipro must be used continually in some cases to keep it at bay.

The good news is that I have been taking Cipro 1000 mg and flagyl 500 mg, which are high doses, almost continuously for 10 years, with some short interruptions for other unsuccesful treatments including VSL#3. My quality is very good as compared with what I am reading on this Board. I have very minor issues, at best, and no side effects and still going strong 15 years after J pouch surgery. So don't view chronic Cipro treatment as being impossible.

Thanks! I had a rough night last night & my tousch (sp?) hurts...I will give probiotics a try....Otherwise..I will call the Dr.--I feel so much better on antibiotics....my abdomen actually is sore! and DJB, life still is better now, than with colitis...isn't it? THanks for your advise....Peace, Sue

Sue,

Life is much better now that it was when I had ulcertaive colitis - from ages 9 to 29 when I had the J pouch surgery. My colon was almost disintegrated from UC when they removed it, from what my surgeon told me. Towards the end before the J pouch surgery, I was losing bowel continence and had to take large amount of Prednisone. I am glad I had the surgery, as it turned out I really had no choice.

Chronic antibiotic treatment is not so bad, but you will have to rotate onto different antibiotics when the cipro/flagyl loses its effectiveness.

DJB & Keith Pouch, Thanks...I will be giving probiotics a try today..How long before you know if they are working? And if it does not work...my DR will be getting a call...lived with colitis...Don't want to be living with Pouchitis!--Peace, Sue

It can take several months before you see a full effect. I gave probiotics three months to determine if one brand was more effective than another.

Jan

Thanks Jan, I started PB8 today. I thought I would get immediate results . So, glad you posted. I don't know, if gas is a sign of pouchitis--I got it. But, if it could be something else...like my pouch still adjusting (a 1/2 mths out) anyhow, the nurse said to make an appt wityh the surgeon. So, here I go.--Sue

Thats 6 1/2 mths out--Sue

Gas can be from bacterial overgrowth or pouchitis. Antibiotics would take care of both, but it is worth a try to see if probiotics set it straight first.

Jan