Florastor is Saccharomyces boulardii strain. It is a yeast probiotic and is known to help suppress C. difficle. That is probably the reason your doc wants you to follow up with it after taking Cipro.

I took Florastor for 3 months as a pouchitis preventative, but did not see a difference. I also took a different strain of S. boulardii for 6 months or more, but also saw little change. Didn't hurt anything.

Jan

Thank you, Jan. I've been taking Cipro for seven days, one tablet twice a day, 500mg. This is my second course of Cipro within six months. Last night a strange thing happened for the first time and I wonder if it has to do with Cipro or a full pouch. I had a big dinner, and usually my transit time is six hours. I always empty my bladder at the same time as my pouch. Last night and this morning I was able to slowly empty my pouch, but could not urinate no matter how long I sat. I knew my bladder was full, I had lots of water and tea. I could feel the pressure but could not urinate. There was no pain as you might have in a bladder infection. Eventually, 45 minutes later I was able to slowly empty my bladder, without pain, just slow outputting. It felt like I had a lazy bladder!  Could it be my pouch was too full and pressing in my bladder? Or is Cipro playing with my system? Has anyone else experienced difficulty urinating if their pouch was full? 

I have taken Florastor twice daily for years. I swear by it. It's a probiotic yeast so it's great while you are on an antibiotic because it will survive the antibacterial onslaught. Were you on Cipro for a pouch infection?

I also take  high quality psyllium husk with every meal along with an Immodium. I call this my "colon in a can" treatment. I have been able to stave off pouch infections sometimes this way, it keep me on a schedule and I have semi-formed movements as well. Of course we are all different. 

-Joe

Hello, Joe. Yes, I'm taking a 14 day course of Cipro because of pouchitis. I was having a terrible time with frequency and pressure in the pouch, and leakage, so I started a course. I usually take Flagyl but I hate the strange after-taste it leaves in my mouth for weeks afterward. Cipro is working very well this time. After four pills, it gave me formed, solid stool as if I had my colon again. Thank you for the tip about psyllium husk! With the help of psyllium husk, are you able to eat anything you want, including vegetables and fruit with skin?

Yes I can east pretty much anything if I take psyllium husk with the meal. I do stay away from sausage and lots of nuts. That's a sure ticket to a blockage for me! I also get into trouble if I start to skip meals.

I get the same taste in my mouth from Flagyl and I think I recently had an allergic reaction to Levaquin. I ended up with what looked like chemical burns all over my feet.

Feel better!!!

Urinary retention is not a known side effect of Cipro. A full pouch should not prevent your bladder from emptying either. If anything, it should cause more urgency.

Are you taking antihistamines or decongestants? They can contribute to this. Most likely it is just a temporary blip.

https://www.niddk.nih.gov/heal...ion/Pages/facts.aspx

Jan

Hello, Jan and Joe. It must have been a blip because it happened only twice consecutively where I could not pass urine at all, and now I'm okay. I'm not on antihistamines or decongestants or any other meds, except Cipro for another few days. The thought of a bladder infection and that kind of intense pain on top of pouchitis frequency was too much!  Maybe it was a reminder never to wait too long between urinating, never hold it for so long. Cipro has helped 100% with pouchitis and it's like I have a good colon again.