Hi Guys...

Back up about 3 weeks ago:
Feeling crummy, saw my surgeon, went in for a scope.
He said it looked redder then it should, took some biopsies, put me on Cipro for 14 days.

The day after I started Cipro I felt 100% better. BM were very formed and went 6-8 times per 24 hours. I remember thinking, this is what having a j-pouch is supposed to be like, life was good.

Ended Cipro last Saturday, everyday things have gotten a little worse. Last night was nothing short of a colitis flare. I was in the bathroom every half hour. Its like the entire area from below my breasts to my pelvis just aches. When I eat or drink anything, as soon as it hits my stomach, it triggers something and I have to get to a bathroom fast.

The achiness almost feels like the gas pain I had after takedown surgery. I'm being pretty conscience of what I eat. It seems like everything is giving me gas. I have also had some pretty nasty acid reflux this week.

I also quit immodium and started Lomotil this week (2.5mg/3times a day). Does this take while to kick in? Because the last two days, I've been almost completely liquid.

I should throw in that last weekend my Godson passed away, I had to cut a business trip short, to attend funeral was this week. Yesterday my mother-in-law had colon cancer surgery. (She's doing really well) I thought I was handling all this fairly well. It's just been a very sad week. I don't know if stress could do this.

Sorry so long....any thoughts would be appreciated...

PS...I just read some old posts...I am I suppose to continue taking Immodium with the Lomotil???

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Cataja,

Hi Cataja:
If the cipro worked... sounds like you could have pouchitis / bacterial overgrowth ??? For me, lomotil does not seem to work nearly as effectively as codene at slowing bowel action. I vary the two...occassionally, also using some imodium. I am nearly a year post TD. I was having repeated pouchitis symptoms. Last Nov, went on two weeks cipro followed by two weeks flagyl and started VSL3 on the day of my last flagyl. No problems since. The VSL3 seems to thicken output and I supplement with a little metamucil. I mostly use the codene or lomotil at bedtime.
jim

Cataja,

Lomotil didn't work very well for me, so I reverted to immodium. And I would suspect 2 things with your situation: The first could be a return of the pouchitis like troubles and the second could be the stress you have had. I do know that when my schedule is off and I am having a stressful time for several days in a row, my frequency and control are a little off.

I hope this resolves itself quickly for you. I would say that if things don't get any better fairly soon, you should return to be checked out again. Good luck to you!

Rick

Just my 2 cents... I had the same feeling you did and went for my normal scope and had pouchitis and cuff issues... I am on a few things and did the 2 weeks of cipro and felt wonderful.. when I went off it about 3 days later had that "Flare" feeling... I have been on it now about 3 months 250-500 a day and have felt wonderful since. You may be on this long term but for me its like night and day. Side effects arent to bad and I have adjusted 100% to it. The only thing I do is 12 hours after I take the cipro I take VSL to get some bacteria back into me. Good luck

Hi Cataja,
I'm sorry I don't have any pearls of wisdom here at all, I just wanted to say how sorry I am about your godson. I'm glad your mother-in-law is doing well. I hope you get well soon! I hope that this is all just stress, and that it passes as you settle again.

Dear Cataja,

Stress can do rough things to our bodies. Talk to your doctor about EVERYTHING that you are experiencing, including the stress.

Keep us posted, friend.

Hye Catja,

I hope that you get yout a good feeling back soon. It sounds like a bit of pouchitis, another cource of Cipro may be in order for you. I've read here that longer smaller dosage cources work for people. Maybe give it a try???

And yes, stress can worsen any phycial contidion, so that isn't helping you. But talking about it will ease some of your pain.

My Brother died not loog about my temp-reversal / asheasion surgery back in late summber 2006. It was devastaion and messed with my recovery. It through me off for weeks.

Hang in, you have a great additiude.

Oh Cataja,

I'm so sorry that you are going through the mill again! My condolences for the loss of your Godson. I'm glad your MIL is doing well though. Yes I think stress can make symptoms worse so it doesn't surprise me that you have another flare.

My understanding is that antibiotics kill off all bacteria, good and bad so your output would be thicker without the bacteria to give it volume. However you shouldn't be getting cramping and increased frequency once you've come off them so this suggests to me that the bad bacteria have taken up residence again and you need to get some of the good guys in there.

Jim and Jason's suggestion about starting a good probiotic is a sound one and VSL#3 worked wonders for me. I had chronic pouchitis due to bacterial overgrowth and VSL was the only thing that would keep me in remission, once I'd got there with anibiotics. Having said that, it doesn't have to be VSL (which is very expensive) there are other more affordable probiotics out there such as Culturelle or PB8, but if your insurance will cover VSL then I'd give them a go.

I really do hope you feel better soon.

Take care

Shell

I hope you do better real soon!

It sounds like you still have pouchitis! In the past I did great with 1000mg of Cipro and whenever I stop all together the pouchitis comes back. So my doctor is suggesting that I gradually go off the Cipro.

For example, 1000mg 2 weeks - 500mg - 2 weeks - 250mg - 2 weeks - 0. This is all trail and error and works different for each person. Like JasonPA, some people stay on low does Cipro a long time.

Also, Ive heard that when you are off an antibiotic it makes sense to take a large amount of Probiotics.

Keith

Thanks everyone...I had no idea it could be pouchtitis again that soon, or that 2 weeeks of Cipro wouldn't have cured it. I'm going to call the first thing Monday and ask the surgeon about it.

I was on VSL3 a long time ago for UC. If I remember right, I took one vial a day in yogurt. It didn't seem to do much for my UC, but maybe that wasn't the point of taking it. I think my insurance covered it completely, that or I was on a trial, because I never got billed for it. My GI order it.

I talked to my M-I-L today, she's still weak. her voice is all gravelly from the tubes.

Get this...the GI that did her colonoscopy told her he could tell it was cancer, just by looking at it. The surgeon said he couldn't tell, it had to be biopsied. They still haven't got the results.

My godson, 24, did two tours in Iraq, and was sent to southeast asia after the Tsunomi, to come home a year ago, and spiral out of control. He got very intoxicated last weekend and commited suicide. He left a wife he was separated from, and two small children.

Very Sad.