I had been diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis several months ago. However, I recently was treated for a Pilonidal Cyst (it was lanced) and a culture came back positive for Shigella. I was put on Ciproflaxin, which helped the cyst, but also seemed to begin clearing up my colitis. I was on for a week and ran out. Two days later I went back on Cipro and things seemed to be getting better again. However, I have also been having symptoms of gallbladder problems. Firstly, I have been having GI problems since December '05 (Didn't know it at the time, but now it seems to have been symptoms of gastroenteritis), but I never sought serious treatment until this past December '06 when I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis. Is it possible, if untreated, to harbor a Shigella infection for this long? The recent culture confirms the bacteria in my system, but is it also possible that it could have been in my body so long that it has now infected my gallbladder? How long should I remain on Cipro and should I add another antiobiotic to complement it?