You might simply need a different antibiotic. Have you ever used Flagyl? The ER may not have much help for you, I fear, unless you're getting dehydrated. You don't say what you're doing about the rawness (raw skin, right? Butt burn?). Do you need some ideas?

Hi Scott

Thanks for responding to my post.  I am having extreme rawness inside my abdomen where the pouch is located.  Feels like road rash but on the inside.  I am only second day now of extra cipro.  I can't take flagyl as I am allergic to it unfortunately.  I took a tylenol this a.m. and haven't had to take once since.  Although it is still raw it's not as bad and I am able to cope with it better so i think it is getting better.  Hopefully!  I have a appointment with my Gastro Doctor next Friday so that's good.  Yes you are right about ER and I am trying to avoid going there.  I just have to wait and wait and wait (living in Canada) and be uncomfortable and get more exhausted at the ER which will not help. Anyway, if it flares up worse overnight or tomorrow I may not have a choice as I may need an add on med but we shall see.   I was just getting nervous because the rawness was getting worse and becoming very painful.    

500mg per day of Cipro is about half the dose for acute pouchitis. I take 500mg twice a day when it is active. 

Low dose is good for maintenance, if it works. 

Jan

Thank you Jan!  I think I misinterpreted her instructions.  Her assistant said max 500 bid.  That means 500 mg twice a day doesn't it?  I wish they would just say 500 mg twice daily.  I thought it meant 500 max daily so 250 mg in am and 250 mg in pm.  Dummy me!  

500 bid definitely means 500 twice daily.

How about Augmentin or Levaquin? when Cipro stopped working, these two replaced and work well. 

Hi Brewbirds  

I am going to give the cipro a chance now that I am on the right dosage thanks to Jan.  If I am not improved greatly by tomorrow this time I will go up to hospital.  I will write down these names to suggest.  Thanks

Or Xifaxan or Tindamax or ...

There are a fair number of choices for pouchitis. 

Yes more options! Don't hesitate to switch. Cipro worked for many many years for me, then stopped. But I'm doing great with my other rotation options. Btw, maybe a pouchoscopy is needed too. 

I also have PSC so don't know if I what I can take that won't be a problem for my liver but thanks everyone for your suggestions.  I will ask the Doctor at ER if I end up going there.  

Why on earth would they talk to you in medicalese unless you are medical professional? Seems nuts to me and a recipe for miscommunication!

Yes, BID is twice a day.

Jan

I agree!  Maybe her assistant didn't know what it meant either so she relayed it word for word...... I would be lol if my tummy didn't feel so bad.   Thanks again Jan for your help and to everyone else who responded