I am afraid of antibiotics. I know they are very bad for a person, however, I need them for when I get pouchitis, so Cipro works great for me. This could be because I now, after 8 years of suffering on a near-daily basis, have found what works best for my body and I only have to use it a couple of times a year or so.
The first 8 years with my pouch was a nightmare. I thought I would never be well. I eat only the very most strict of diets. But, I found I needed to experiment or die. I now eat everything. Everything. However, I can only eat small doses of cheese and sour cream. (I eat it okay, but can only tolerate it in small amounts). But, the thing is, I have added black beans and rice to my daily diet. I boil the gas out of the beans and eat them daily in the morning with eggs, or rice, or whatever else I am eating.
I believe it is the beans, that instead of giving me diarrhea, have actually slowed down my intestine and have made it possible for me to eat normally. Bananas, potatoes, etc have not helped. I can even eat sauerkraut and chocolate.
I do not eat anything processed unless it is absolutely necessary either. I think this helps. I do, however, sometimes eat S&W canned black beans when I am lazy. It seems to be the only brand that does not cause me to have gas.
I also exercise daily and believe this is important too.
I now take very little cipro and it always works after just two or three doses.