Help with antibiotics
#284206 - 09/27/06 03:32 PM
|
|
|
|
|
Lisa Marie
Reged: 07/17/06
Posts: 1566
Loc: Lakewood, CO
|
|
|
I've been taking antibiotics since Monday morning, and I have a two week course to get through. Ugh. It's for a cat bite I got over the weekend, for those of you who didn't see my post about it earlier. At first, I wasn't minding the D so much (it was a nice change from constant C!), but now I'm really tired of it and I'm VERY uncomfortable (the toilet paper at work isn't NEARLY as nice as what I have at home)! I'm also feeling generally icky and rumbly. I am eating soy yogurt every morning, but I'm still at a pretty low acacia dose, so that probably isn't helping me much. Should I just not worry so much about the IF for awhile, and increase my SF? Any other suggestions? I've tried probiotics in the past and they've never done anything for me. Even before starting the antibiotics, I was nowhere near stable yet, but now I feel like I'm taking a HUGE step backwards. Sigh.
--------------------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lisa, IBS-C (Vegan)
Stable since July 2007!
Mommy to Rhiannon Marie (Dec. 13, 2008)
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
probiotics in a big way, go get some strong ones, if you can afford it get the Natren smart stat pack and do it for the month.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
And Miso, what can you tell me about Natren?
I just went to Wild Oats, and the (quite knowledgeable) woman in the supplements department suggested taking BioK for two days. I guess it's a yogurt-like substance that is supposed to quickly replenish your system. Then, she said to switch to a prebiotic called Natural Factor. Has anyone ever heard of either of these? I explained that I have IBS and a very sensitive gut, but I'm not always sure if people really understand what this means. "A little" bloating and gas to them often translates to "extremely painful" bloating and gas for me!!
I need to do something about this NOW (antibiotics causing bad diarrhea) so any advice would be GREATLY appreciated!! (UGH - time to go to the bathroom AGAIN!!!)
Thanks, guys!!
--------------------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lisa, IBS-C (Vegan)
Stable since July 2007!
Mommy to Rhiannon Marie (Dec. 13, 2008)
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I'm staking Cefzil, an antibiotic for a sinus infection and it hasn't been bothering me too much, but I have had a little d and the pharmacist sold me a probiotic called "Culturelle." The recommendations say one per day for maintainence or two per day if you're on antibiotics...then follow with two per day after you stop antibiotics. I know all the probiotic amounts differ, but generally speaking, for IBS sufferers, should we follow the regular recommendations or always increase our amount due to our intestinal difficulties? (For example, take two per day for maintainence and maybe 3 per day when on antibiotics) Just a general question and looking for insight as to what everyone out there does. I was taking Acidophilis but not any more than recommended...maybe I should have been taking more?? 
--------------------
Originally IBS-D for a million years!
Then IBS-A, Now a transformed slightly C
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Many antibiotics cause d but I have found through trial and error through the years that some are at least a little better on my stomach than others. Amoxicillin and Cefzil seem to be okay (check their generic names) but you might be different. I was once on like 5 different kinds of antib. after an infection post pardum with my daughter...UGH>>>the worst!!! So sorry to hear you're going through this. I'm not sure about the probiotics...I posted a question too, but I would suggest calling your physician and asking (or at least for next time) if you can try a different brand of antib. that might suit you better.
--------------------
Originally IBS-D for a million years!
Then IBS-A, Now a transformed slightly C
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Unfortunately, I was limited in what I could take because there's really only ONE antibiotic that's really good for eliminating the bacteria resulting from a cat bite. It's called "augmentin" and I think it contains amoxicillin. My doctor felt really bad having to prescribe it because she knew it would probably cause me problems, but the other choices aren't nearly as effective in treating the infection. Ugh! This sucks!!!
--------------------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lisa, IBS-C (Vegan)
Stable since July 2007!
Mommy to Rhiannon Marie (Dec. 13, 2008)
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
BioK is fantastic, get the non dairy one only though, also 2 days isn't enough, do at least a week and go slow you have to do 1/4 of a container, then up it, etc, the chart they have should explain it.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Oh you poor thing! I hate augmentin! I won't take it, it makes me so sick. I told my Dr that the first time I saw him, made sure he put it in my file! The only thing I've found that's worse is the Z-max suspension. It gave me the worst D I think I've ever had. I'm so sorry that you have to have that stuff. I don't much about the probiotics, I use the acacia now. But I would go w/what Miso says. She's smart!
--------------------
IBS-A...I can never make up my mind 
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Quote:
I don't much about the probiotics, I use the acacia now.
Incase you misread the information about acacia (like I did at the beginning) it is a PREbiotic, not a PRObiotic. The prebitoic helps feed the good bacteria.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Be careful with Culturelle. It does contain a small amount of dairy proteins:
web page
--------------------
[Research tells us fourteen out of any ten individuals likes chocolate. - Sandra Boynton]
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
yes I did misread it, which just goes to show how little I know about it!  I hope you're feeling better!
--------------------
IBS-A...I can never make up my mind
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Lisa Marie:
Antibiotics can cause D in anyone, not just someone who has IBS. My doctor years ago recommended taking an antibiotic with one or two large glasses of water (assuming you are allowed to take water with it). By taking the medication with lots of water, you will quickly flush it through your intestines and reduce the likelihood of irritation and D.
If you are allowed to eat something before and after the antibiotic, I recommend having a slice of IBS-safe white bread or some white rice (Basmati is the best!) before and after. This will help you tolerate the antibiotic better.
It may or may not comfort you to know I would literally have to book off work for the entire course of an antibiotic because I would get so ill. I am fortunate though in that I haven't had to take a "serious" antibiotic since circa 1990 when I was bit by a "sick" black fly and the bite became infected. However, I have had to take a more "minor" antibiotic on a few occasions since 1990 for bladder infections. But the doctor has put me on Noroxin on those occasions and for some reason the Noroxin hasn't bothered me at. What a miracle!
I would recommend you stay away from IF while on the antibiotics and stick to a more soothing diet for your tummy. Binding foods like potatoes and white rice should help, along with some naturally raised chicken or turkey. Whenever my tummy is irritated, I drop all veggies, fruit and IF out of my diet until I am feeling better.
Hope this helps and hope you finish those antibiotics soon!
Belinda
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I did read that on the label about Culturelle containing traces of whey and casein...but they seemed so minimal. I told the pharmacist that I have IBS and microscopic colitis and that was what he suggested. Which probiotic do most people take or is it necessary to take different kinds to get the combination to work on different bacterias? All the posts say so many different things and unfortunately it's hard to tell what's working for me b/c there are so many variables that could be impacting the IBS.
--------------------
Originally IBS-D for a million years!
Then IBS-A, Now a transformed slightly C
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I don't have d problems but I know when people have stomach surgeries etc they say to go on a low fiber and bland diet so you may want to try. Also maybe the timing you take it can help. I know your doc siad this is the best but if you keep having really bad issues I still would call because it maybe doing more harm then good. Feel better and take care.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I'm so glad to hear that, Miso!! And yes, I got the non-dairy kind. The woman at Wild Oats said to do one bottle per day, but I only added half a bottle to my smoothie this morning. That stuff is expensive!! Luckily my BMs are slowly starting to bulk up (I've really been avoiding IF this week), but it's still D-like. Today I'm really gassy; I assume from the Bio-K? Is that normal or did I take too much? There wasn't a chart, I just bought two individual bottles...
--------------------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lisa, IBS-C (Vegan)
Stable since July 2007!
Mommy to Rhiannon Marie (Dec. 13, 2008)
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Thanks for the advice, you guys! Like I mentioned, I have definitely been avoiding IF this week. I'll have a peach or similar fruit with my morning smoothie, and that's pretty much it for the day. I had a few bites of vegetable soup yesterday for lunch, but I made sure to eat lots of french bread with it. I've been sticking to bread, rice, bananas, peeled apples, cream of rice, and Heather's snack mix. My husband's really getting tired of not having a real "dinner" I think!!
Yes, I have always taken the meds with food in my belly, after which I drink my extra large cup of tea. So hopefully that counts for lots of fluids...
I've felt pretty bad about missing some work this week (I've missed SO MUCH already the last few months for IBS reasons), but my manager is fully aware of what's going on, as embarassing as that may be. But I figure it's easier that way. I just don't want him to think I'm trying to take advantage of anything.
--------------------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lisa, IBS-C (Vegan)
Stable since July 2007!
Mommy to Rhiannon Marie (Dec. 13, 2008)
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I tried to find one that:
* didn't have ANY dairy
* had at least 1 billion organisms per dose
* wasn't outrageously expensive
other than that, i have no idea how one brand varies from another.
--------------------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lisa, IBS-C (Vegan)
Stable since July 2007!
Mommy to Rhiannon Marie (Dec. 13, 2008)
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
You should also look for one where the probiotic is colony forming, I think the short form is CFU, and one that doesn't break down until it gets to your intestines or else the stomach acids will destroy most of them.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Well, I spent a full week with all out D - some very sticky work situations, but I survived. I avoided IF like the plague, and I'm still taking about 1/3 bottle of BioK each morning, mixed with my yogurt. That, combined with my diet changes made a HUGE difference. So much so that I ended up with C yesterday! Go figure!! So I'm upping the IF intake and adding my Natural Calm back in. Much better this morning.  I have two more doses of BioK, then I'll switch to a probiotic in pill form.
I would HIGHLY recommend the BioK to anyone who knows they have to be on antibiotics for awhile. Pricey at $5/bottle, but you would only need 2-3 bottles.
After now experiencing both C and D, I think I actually preferred the D - I didn't have a single "fat day" last week, and WAY less gas. Oh well; grass is always greener, isn't it?
--------------------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lisa, IBS-C (Vegan)
Stable since July 2007!
Mommy to Rhiannon Marie (Dec. 13, 2008)
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
Posts
