Xifaxan's Time
#275270 - 07/22/06 05:18 PM
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Alright, I am little worried.
A few weeks ago I tested positive for a bacterial overgrowth.
My main problems are incomplete, but frequent evacuations, c, trapped gas, bloating, and a big stomach.
I have been taking Jarrodophillus, Benefiber, and been on Heather's diet for a long time, which has kept things from getting worse, and improved me to an extent but am still far from close to being all set.
I was prescribed Xifaxan.
I picked it up on Wednesday.
I took one pill in the afternoon.
I forgot to take one in the night.
I took one pill three times Thursday, and twice on Friday.
As I was about to have my third dose Friday night I read the instructions on the prescription.
It said I to have two pills three times a day, so not until Friday night did I begin taking the correct amount.
I have been on the medication for 3 and 1/3 days.
I have not seen any changes.
I heard that for people such as myself with a bacterial overgrowth and my specific range of problems that this medication was a good fit and should work between two and three days.
I am concerned that it has not, and I only have a ten day prescription.
I wanted to know for those who have taken this how long it has taken it to work for you, if I need to do anything else while on the medication like an all liquid diet to get the most.
I also wanted to if me screwing up with the medication could be the reason this is not working, and if so what might can be done so the medication is given a fair trial.
Is there a chance I need to start all over with the prescription, is it common to get another ten days after the original, and does the liquid diet need to be considered, because the doctor said nothing of it.
Thanks.
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IBS-C and Bloating
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It wouldn't seem to be that taking an extra course would be especially dangerous if you can take antibiotics without pain or D in general. And Xifaxin's got some really good press lately, and I've got to admit, it's at the top of the list of Things I Want To Try. I haven't heard of any woes with Xif yet.
For people who don't know, Xifaxin is an antibiotic that dissolves in the intestines instead of the stomach. It's used to treat Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO), and there are some with this condition (and IBS) who have received great relief from their IBS symptoms after a couple of courses. 
I think the important fact is that you need more than one cycle of Xif to achieve this relief... I do very well with antibiotics (I'm IBS-D) and I've found relief from my D with a course of penicillin or amoxicillin. But the D always eventually comes back, which makes me think that with a few courses of Xifaxin to treat SIBO, I might find longer lasting relief.
I've never had the SIBO test, but it wouldn't surprise me at all if my intestines were teeming with microbes of the creepy-crawly and painful kind. 
Let us know how you do!!
~nelly~ 
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Nelly...Thank you so much! You just might be on to something....If the "acacia" doesn't improve my symptoms in the next few days, then I will call the GI Doc to set up an apt. I want to know about SIBO & Xifaxin. I have no problems w/antibiotics. That's interesting.....my doc of 20 years blames everything on stress & menapause. Tell me....what do you make of this one?? My symptoms go away for a very long time after I have a colonoscopy. PS: I'm at a more peaceful happier place in life.
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I was told that stress creates an imbalance of bacteria causing IBS, but as for the medication I was never fully conferred that it takes more than one cycle.
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IBS-C and Bloating
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Alright, the trial is up.
I just finished my last dose of Xifaxan, AND NOW I AM OFFICIALLY FREAKING OUT.
I feel absolultely hopeless.
This 10 day experiment, which was supposed to signifcantly help me with my symptoms, FAILED.
Here is what I did:
1) 1200 mgs a day
2) Benefiber 3 times a day
3) Jarrodophillus 3 times a day
4) This diet
Here is what it was supposed to do:
1) Help with trapped gas, frequent incomplete evacuations, bloating
Here is the result:
1) ZERO relief, in fact feeling slightly WORSE
I have tested positive for a bacterial overgrowth, and am very concerned that this drug did not help.
I continue to go to the bathroom six or more times a day without a full release, having trapped gas, and feeling bloated.
In fact while making this I went to the bathroom TWICE.
Please look at my diet, it can't be to blame.
I took Benefiber and Acidophillus, I did everything right.
I would like to know if there is any hope, or what you people think.
The only thing I can think of is
1) Maybe I need a second trial
2) Maybe I need to go on a liquid diet
3) VSL instead of acidophillus
However the doctor NEVER mentioned any of these and is he is renowed IBS docter.
Is all hope lost?
Thanks.
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IBS-C and Bloating
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Is the SIBO gone?
#276275 - 07/30/06 08:17 AM
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Sand
Reged: 12/13/04
Posts: 4490
Loc: West Orange, NJ (IBS-D)
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SIBO is something different from IBS - although you may be misdiagnosed with IBS when you really have SIBO or you may have both SIBO and IBS, they are two different conditions. So what you need to know is whether the course of antibiotics got rid of the bacterial overgrowth? If not and you're convinced SIBO is your problem, you need to talk with your doctor about what treatment happens next. If the SIBO is gone and you're still having symptoms, what is your doctor's diagnosis now?
As for your diet, I'm IBS-D and would not do well on it, especially when my tummy is in an uproar. Again, I can only talk about with regard to IBS, not with regard to SIBO.
I would feel better eating meals with more SF, especially first thing in the morning. I'm not sure what oat bran is, but anything with "bran" in it is tough on my tummy. Shredded Wheat I assume is a whole grain also. I don't know anything about Captain Crunch, but Cracker Jacks are popcorn (IF), nuts (IF and fat), and - I assume - HFCS. I know graham crackers are - or were - on Heather's list of WTEWYCEA, but they have more whole grain than I can handle, especially when my tummy is in an uproar. As for peaches and pears, the skin is a pretty tought IF. Spinach is a classically brutal IF to digest.
None of the IF you're eating is bad per se and if I'm doing well I can eat all of it - except the whole grains - provided I do so with a solid SF base. When I'm not stable, though, I wouldn't touch any of it with a ten foot pole.
I can't really speak to trapped gas and bloating, but my frequency and incomplete evacuation (a classic IBS symptom) were resolved by following the EFI Diet and taking a lot of SFS. Again, however, you first need to get retested for SIBO and if it's not resolved, decide with your doctor how you're going to proceed in that regard.
HTH.
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[Research tells us fourteen out of any ten individuals likes chocolate. - Sandra Boynton]
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Have you tried the peppermint oil capsules?
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IBS-D, SIBO
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