Hello all! I am in need of some advice. I recently had what I thought was pouchitis. Frequency, gas, urgency and some cramping. I called my dr in cleveland and he gave me a scrip for flagyl. The side effects were not very pleasant (dizziness and mild nausea) but boy did it work and quickly. Actually, I had never felt better jpouch wise. I took 500 mg three times a day for 10 days. After I was off of it for about 5 days I think the symptoms began to gradually creep back up on me. Its no where near as bad as before, but I'm having the gas again and a little bit more frequency. I thought that I would try adding some kefir to my regular probiotics and that does seem to make a bit of a difference. So I'm torn between calling my dr again or just letting it ride. I do have an appt in July for my yearly check. Any thoughts?
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Sounds like it was pouchitis to me.
Maybe you just need a longer course. You could probably get by with a lower dose too (less side effects). I always do great on 250mg. I'd call back before the symptoms creep up worse and you need the higher dose.
I have a standing order for 10 days of Flagyl and I can repeat it if necessary. I take it within a few days of symptoms starting up.
Jan
Maybe you just need a longer course. You could probably get by with a lower dose too (less side effects). I always do great on 250mg. I'd call back before the symptoms creep up worse and you need the higher dose.
I have a standing order for 10 days of Flagyl and I can repeat it if necessary. I take it within a few days of symptoms starting up.
Jan
Thanks Jan! I trust your opinion. The flagyl made such a difference that I suspect that I had dealing with pouchitis for a long time and just didn't know what it was. I guess I just assumed that was the nature of the beast.
Don't feel bad. I messed around with cuffitis for over 4 years before getting treatment, and I am a nurse!
Jan
Jan
So I called my dr in cleveland again. I'm now taking the flagyl (500 mg 3 times a day) and cipro (500 mg 2 times a day). Not having any pouchitis symptoms. Typical side effects of dizziness and a bit of nausea. But I guess its the cipro that has slowed my gut waaaaay down. Things are like thick sludge. Sorry to be graphic. I'm not taking any of my immodium or lomotil and I've quit the fiber supplement. I have found that a couple of prunes help a lot. Is this common?
All or most antibiotics have a constipating effect because they are killing the bacteria creating the fluid. You are on a rather high dosage of cipro and flagyl and it is to be expected. Lay off imodium until needed and drink a lot of fluids. I don't think it is a good idea to drink sugary drinks and see if you can get either natural fruit juice or the unsweetened variety.
Cipro totally did that to me.
Milk of magnesia (it's a non-stimulant laxative; anything else cramps me up something fierce) in a lesser than normal dose (1-2 mls at bedtime) and a morning cup of grape juice helped when I had that problem.
I tend to be thicker, normally, and never needed the likes of Metamucil or Immodium or Lomotil, so I always thought that was why things got too thick for me with it, but constipation is a common side effect in general.
Milk of magnesia (it's a non-stimulant laxative; anything else cramps me up something fierce) in a lesser than normal dose (1-2 mls at bedtime) and a morning cup of grape juice helped when I had that problem.
I tend to be thicker, normally, and never needed the likes of Metamucil or Immodium or Lomotil, so I always thought that was why things got too thick for me with it, but constipation is a common side effect in general.