hmmm...interesting. that happens to me sometimes during my antibiotic rotation, but, for me, IT IS because of resistance over extended use. i would not think that is the case for you. i wonder if you actually never had pouchitis, but got the favorable effects that everyone (or most j-pouchers) will see when you initially kill the bad bacteria. from reading posts online, people will be excited at first from the effects, but then some will end up with a bacteria imbalance that leaves them worse off than before the antibiotics. not quite sure, but just putting together some bits of info i've gathered.

I am new to this site and don't know all the lingo. I don't have an answer to your problem. I do have a similar story to you I believe. I got UC after having chronic sinusitis and having to go on antibiotics for two different series back to back. After that event I suddenly had erractic bowel movements and my food was not digesting properly. Do you believe that it was the antibiotics that caused the UC? It was my theory all along but everyone (doctors) always disagreed.

Hi Selene. I always blamed the Cipro for the UC. When I discussed this with Christine Cartright (supposed to be one of the USA's foremost authorities on UC) she said that its likely the Cipro triggered my UC, however 'I would have got it anyway - sooner or later'. The prevailing theory seems to be that there is some genetic susceptibility to UC that can be (but is not necessarily) passed on by family members. In my case, my father had severe UC also and lost his colon to toxic megacolon and nearly died many times during his 4 months in hospital - its been over 30 years since then and he has had the bag ever since (J-pouch was barely invented back then and was only conducted in the UK apparently). Personally I suspect immune alterations from western living such as immunizations, diet and stress as the likely case that UC is so prevalent and on the rise in developed countries when it doesn't exist in the depths of Africa.

thanks for the comments clz81. You could be right. I further experimented on myself and took some Cipro for a few days in addition to the Augmentin. The Cipro messed me up but I threw me back in the heavenly state again intime for xmas! My pouchitis symptoms were never that severe - no blood or cramping but lots of gas and urgency. Within a few days of the antibiotics things settle down so much I can barely tell when I need to go to the loo...

i have rotated antibiotics for about three years now because of diagnosed pouchitis but last check up dr. shen said my situation was bacteria overgrowth...it doesn`t change anything in and of itself but i have taken seriously the need to eliminate all sugar from my diet suggested again by dr. shen..i have your type symptoms plus if left unchecked the going to bathroom turns into a very painful event..feel like inside very irritated like going with open sores or something..but with antibiotics no pain..go easier..but i think there may be something to the no sugar thing for me..give it a try ..you are open to everything it seems..by the way i did scd diet for two years with uc..didn`t help..but we are dealing now with different problem by virtue of the operation..

also do not know about this other thing i will mention..even prior to stopping the sugar intact.i noticed i was in fact getting along for much longer time on my antiobiotic of the moment..and as of last antiobiotic and now my latest one i have been able to cut the dosage....so something else has changed(this is before stopping any significant sugar) all i can think after 6 years into jpouch is for past 2 years have taken culturelle and s.bulgarii(florestor) maybe they are helping me cut back on dosage of antiobiotics? not really sure..

dr shen also suggested i drop antibiotics after a few days try belladonna/opium suppositories..he said do that after i give up sugar..

rebe

by the way i assume you know that there are various antibiotics people on site use for pouchitis or bacteria overgrowth..besides augmentin..keflex,tindermax,xifaxin as example..

rebe

Thanks this seems to make sense - Bacteria overgrowth rather than full blown pouchitis. I am aware of the relationship to sugar as anything sugary makes the gas and other symptoms worse. I am on a low processed sugar diet definitely influenced by all the time I spend on SCD. BTW, I found SCD helped with symptoms but didnt do much otherwise for the UC.
I will keep these other antibiotics in mind and discuss this with my surgeon (Shelton) when I get back from New Zeland.
Cheers

fyi xifaxin is one drs like because it does not go through blood stream goes diredtly through intestines..when i rotate it seems sometimes some work for longer periods than others and than the next rotation might change..

belladona /opium suppositories instead of antibiotic..works by masking the syptoms with some of dr. shen`s patients

How long can you typically stay on one antibiotic before changing - I presume you switch between them before they become ineffective?

How long can you typically stay on one antibiotic before changing - I presume you switch between them before they become ineffective?

Unfortunately, I can usually only stay on one for about 2 weeks and then it loses effectiveness. I have better luck on Pepto Bismol and can stay for about 3 weeks. So ideally yes, I would switch while the one is still working well, but I tend to wait until it's not comfortable anymore so I can stay on one as long as I can.