Going on Cipro tomorrow - best advice?

No comments or recommendations?

Btw - feeling AMAZING after just 2 pills.. I'm now 3 doses in and I feel back to normal.

 

LOVE LOVE LOVE! Hopefully wont have to take this so often, but I am so happy right now.

Not much to say other than take as prescribed and hope for the best. Some people take probiotics at the same time (but spaced out from the antibiotics). Others wait until after the course is completed.

 

Jan

I've also just started Cipro for the first time. 11 years with pouch and lots of problems recently. Jut took my 3rd dose and feeling great as well! Is this a permanent fix do you think? What probiotic do you use?

The probiotic with the best scientific evidence in J-pouches is VSL #3 DS. I take a maximal dose of 4 packets per day. It worked well enough for me for a couple of years that I was able to put off continuous antibiotics. Most other probiotics have much smaller doses of beneficial bacteria.

Scott-

Where can you purchase this?

VSL #3 DS (Double-strength) is available at a pharmacy by prescription. Some of us in the US can get insurance coverage for it (it's expensive), but I don't know the situation in Canada. The single-strength version is available over the counter - pharmacies can order it for you, or you can order it directly from the manufacturer. It needs to be kept refrigerated. 

Other brands that some people like (in no particular order): Culturelle, Align, PB-8, and Florastor. Some people also swear by eating yogurt daily, but there have been no studies actually showing there is enough probiotic bacteria to colonize.

 

Jan

I eat Greek yogurt every day, but I have low expectations for it as a probiotic. In addition to the relatively small dose of beneficial bacteria, the bacterial strains in yougurt don't generally survive well in the GI tract. Probiotic supplements are usually made with bacteria that can make the trip successfully through the stomach and small intestine.

 

Some of the studies of probiotic use for J-pouches suggest that high doses (numbers of bacteria) are important. I've noticed that when I lower my dose things don't seem to go as well. If you choose a lower-dose option (such as one of the more affordable lower potency products), it's important not to put too much weight on a failure, since a higher dose might have done the trick. Also, Florastor is a probiotic yeast supplement (rather than beneficial bacteria), and is recommended to prevent C diff infection rather than to prevent pouchitis.

I have battled pouchitis and incontinence for years now and finally found these amazing natural oils and supplements. They take about a month to see results. I've been taking for about 4 months and symptoms are almost gone. I was doubtful at first but they work.

dōTerra- micro plex MVp, alpha CRS+, xEOmega, digestZen terrazyme, digestZen oil

Hope this helps. Good luck