Right now I’m on 500 mg twice a day and then will start tapering

Liza, of course some folks get tendon problems on Cipro - that’s why it has a black box warning. OTOH my ability to be active is much better on Cipro than it would be without, so I judge it well worth the risk, at least for me. I’d be grumpier about it if I’d ruptured an Achilles tendon, though. I’ve been on Cipro for about 16 years.

DAMN! You had takedown 10 months ago and already need Cipro long term!!! I am sorry hon

@liza_s posted:

Has anyone had tendon issues while on long term or short Cipro?

I took it for almost 20 years, almost continuously, and never had tendon issues.  Cipro does photosensitize your skin so if you go out in the sun you will burn much faster than you normally would, meaning use a lot of sunblock. Other than the photosensitizing of skin, the one other side effect of Cipro taken long term is being prone to fungal (yeast) infections and viral (warts) in your skin. Especially at higher dosages. I found those side effects are counteracted by rotating onto other antibiotics periodically, even if the Cipro is working well.

I took Cipro for probably most of the first year or two.  Had tendon strain and pain but no rupture. Thank goodness.   It certainly slows your output down but can also firm stool up to the point where it causes more harm than good for some.

To get off Cipro I was put in Tinidazole for a while which is a next generation Flagyl with fewer side effects.  Now I am on Rifaximin 550 TID which has been the best for my "floppy pouch" issue.  I'm very happy to be off Cipro.

Have you tried psyllium husk? It can firm stool and improve control & frequency.

You're still early days.  Things may well improve once the pouch settles in and your body adjusts to it.  

Thanks for the replies! Yes I use pysillum husk. I worry the risk isn’t worth us considering an injury could disable me from my job as a chef. What alternatives are there to cipro besides flagyl? I’m happy to try flagyl as I don’t drink and I don’t remember having bad side effects when I have taken it before.