I'm 81, my pouch is about 20 years old, and most of the time it works just great. I eat whatever I want and with the help of 3 Immodium daily and a heaping teaspoon of Metamucil everything is hunky dory. I sleep through the night and rarely have accidents. Every so often something changes, frequency increases, things get loose, watery, and I'll leak a little poop in my sleep. My doctor insists it isn't pouchitis. That's when I break out one Cipro, just one, and cut back on the Immodium to keep from getting too slowed down and constipated. Within a few hours the pouch is working perfectly again. Just wanted to share. I always keep Cipro on hand just in case.
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Glad you are doing so well.
I agree with your doc. Pouchitis this is not (Yoda speak)!
To me, it sounds like mild SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth). Since your Cipro use is infrequent, it probably isn’t a big deal. But, have you tried non antibiotic options, such as bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto Bismol) to reduce your bacterial growth? Might be worth a try.
Jan 
Jan, is Pepto Bismol considered to be in the same category as NSAIDS? Am not allowed to take NSAIDS but am thinking that short term use of Pepto Bismol might be okay because it's so highly buffered so as to coat the stomach. Have used a couple of doses for loose stools without apparent negative affects. When I saw that it's actually a form of salicylate, it got me thinking. Rose
No, it is not an NSAID, but it is anti-inflammatory. If you are allergic to salicylates you’d have a problem with it. I tried it when I had antibiotic dependent pouchitis when I was doing antibiotic rotation. It was OK, but did not induce remission for me.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560697/
Jan
Thank you, Jan. You're a gem!
Thank you Jan, I don't know how long I've witnessed your calming and informed presence on this forum but I'm guessing you have to be at least 127 years old. I'm hoping you'll outlive me as I don't know what I'd do without you. Cheers, I'm off to take a hit of Pepto.
Ha, ha! It is not the years, but the mileage!
Jan