I am 4 months post-op. I have had what I believe to be bouts of pouchitis. I have tried both Flagyl and Cipro. Both seem to work well in controlling the number of bowel movements while I am taking them. However, I quickly fall back in to the same symptoms. These consist of 10-15 bowel movements per day with increased urgency. I have not noted any bleeding in the stool, but some while I am wiping. Recently, I acquired a probiotic (Florajen) which consists mostly of Acidophilus strains. I have been taking doses for the last couple of weeks. I fear becoming resistant to the antibiotics and wonder if I should just let my body "work it out" and try "gut through it" (excuse the bad pun). On a positive note, my pouch is fairly empty in the morning and my exercise hour is the best hour of the day. It sort of goes downhill after lunchtime. I am also up two or three times per night on average. What should I do? What should I expect? Your thoughts are appreciated.

hi there Happy feet. I am also about 4 months takedown, and have had pouchitis 2x. Flagyl has worked wonders for me, and I think most of my problems come from trying to diversify my diet... no more popcorn for me! I also bought some probiotics, but am waiting to get off of the antibiotics (I am currently finishing my flagyl) before starting. There are so many opinions on taking the probiotics along with the anti ones, I figured I would start after. I was to the point before this last infection that I wasn't up at all at night, which was so cool. I can't wait to start excercising again. I have to wait because my uterus decided to fall out and no heavy lifting or squating or whatever so I am waiting to get it fixed. I guess I didn't have any help or advice for you, just to let you know that you are not alone. I do take 3 imodium and 1/2 fiber wafer and 1 valium (for spasms) in the am, 2 imodium and 1/2 wafer at lunch and 1 whole wafer, 3 imodium at dinner. When I am not experiencing pouchitis this seemed to get me through the day without any bm's and through the night mostly without. I have a horrible time from 5-9. I am going constantly. I think it is just from being up all day, eating and it just has to come out. I have had a hard time figuring out how to empty my pouch. I cannot seem to do it all at once. I do much better in the shower. Oh, and I am still loving the warm water enema. I think this helps most of all to get it all out. Feel free to pm me and we can chat!

Kristi

Kristi:

Thanks for your response. I really do appreciate hearing the experiences of others. I am learning that the recovery process seems to be a little bit different for everyone, but many of the experiences are the same. Like you, I respond pretty well to Flagyl. I just worry that I might condition my body to the antibiotics and that they will lose their affect... and so the question becomes, how long do I function at less than optimal when I know I could be doing better on anti-biotics. I hope you are benefitted by the probiotics. Did you get any particular advice on what type to use? I would be interested in knowing which probiotics are most effective. It was also interesting to read about the regimen that seems to be working for you. I wonder if I need to be taking Immodium in more concentrated doses? I have been drinking Citrocel a couple of times per day. Do like the wafers and do you find them helpful? I wish you the best of luck in getting back to exercise. I know for me it is a real bright spot in the day. I makes me feel a little more control over things... at least for part of the day. Thanks again for your post

Hi,

I have been dealing with Pouchitis for almost a year now and have been on cipro for 7 months... Everytime I stop taking the cipro the symptoms return (pain, urgency, frequency...) and I after a day or two of taking the cipro I am fine.

I even seem to be good on a very low dose of cipro (250mg a day) so I have been taking probiotics as well and hopefully eventually I will be able to stop the antibiotics.

Some people on this site have been on cipro for years and if they build up a resistence to it they switch to another antibiotic for a time and then go back to the cipro. For them it's the only thing that keeps them healthy.