Over the past month or so I have had some symptoms which I believe are pouchitis. I was on cipro for a week the first time and felt better when the diarrhea and cramps came back. I have now been on Cipro for two weeks (last dose today) and I am starting to feel sick again. Increased urgency, etc.

Any other recommendations? I am in brasil and am not sure where to find probiotics.

Thanks for the help.

Oh Sam...what a bummer! Sometime people have to be on Cipro long term. I was on and off it for 2 1/2 years. Everytime I went off the pouchitis came right back. But it also turned out I had Crohns instead of UC. Sometime they will give two different antibiotics, Cipro along with something else. The probiotics work miracles for some people...unfortunately I wasn't one of them. Best of luck!

Sam, have you read through the recent threads with lists of helpful ideas for managing pouchitis? There is a lot of good stuff there. The unfortunate part is that every one of us is different and there isn't a one size fits all solution. I used to post on here a lot with chronic pouchitis, but was able to get past it once I hit on the right combination of remedies for me. You have to experiment to find what works for you.

Check out this thread, along with others on here: http://j-pouch.org/eve/forums/...51071921/m/171100823

Good luck!

PS - an all Minnesota thread... represent!!

Thanks for the replies. I decided to try flagyl and see what happens. Cipro seemed to work but I wouldnt maintain remission. Flagyl is also a lot cheaper which is nice. I just hope I do not get the nasty side effects with Flagyl...I plan on taking 400mg, 3 times a day. What do you think of that dosage? Its a bummer that I am starting Flagyl now since Carnaval here in Rio starts next Sunday...ha

At the end of a few weeks I plan to start taking PB8 that I just ordered...somebody is bringing it to me from the US. I was unsure which probiotic to try as I have used Culturelle a while back when I had UC.

If anybody has any further advice please respond.

I had the same problem,..i have to be on antibioics for life,..Xifaxan doesnt enter the blood stream but works well,..also 2 shots of cortifoam daily and probiotics daily,..I now get pouchitis 1-2 times a year and it goes away with cipro quickly