lyme and parasites?

How are you being treated? Are you on any probiotics? It's very possible that the balance of "good" bacteria in your digestive system has been upset by the antibiotics that you are on. There are various way to get back the good bacteria. One way is to eat foods that have natural bacterial loads, such as yogurt and kefir. You can also get probiotics, which are usually in pill form, to re-colonize your GI tract. Probiotics that need to be refrigerated are generally considered better. Compare CFUs (colony forming units) of the different brands as well as the different types of bacteria that they contain.

What probiotic(s) are you on? How soon after starting the antibiotics did the problem start? The does problem occur within 30 minutes to 2 hours of eating?

hezzer926 said...
It happens as soon as I get up before I even eat.. I have rifampin at bed time and when I wake up this happens... Then after I eat it happens until the afternoon for around 2 hours Id say...

Does it happen each time you eat or only after breakfast?

It could be a side effect of the rifampin. Many drugs have diarrhea as a side effect. It could also be that you need to increase your probiotic. I've never been on rifampin before. Is there a reason you take it right before you go to bed? It may be helpful to take the rifampin a couple of hours earlier, and then take the probiotic at least 2 hours after that. If you take multiple antibiotics throughout the day, you may need to take probiotics multiple times during the day, but make sure it is at least 2 hours after the antibiotics. You may need to add other probiotics as well. Probiotics is a new field, and there really are no definitive standards on which bacteria are best to use and which delivery system works best.

You may also need to adjust your diet. Specifically, avoid sugars that increase the growth of bad bacteria and yeast in your GI tract. Avoid sugar altogether -- no sodas, sweets, etc. Avoid white carbohydrates, such as flour, rice, and potatoes. Do not drink fruit juice. You should only eat fruit at the end of a meal, never by itself. You may also want to try to give up dairy for a few days to see if this resolves your problem. It's easier said then done as many products have dairy as an ingredient. You need to give it up totally to see if it is the source of your problem.

Have you discussed this with your doctor? He/she can test you for other causes such as parasites or other infections.

I had awful problems with my stomach too when I was on antibiotics.  I was on Cefdinir and Azith. These two abx can wreak havoc on your stomach.   Doc suggested I take Metamucil with a full glass of water and then my antibiotics also with a full glass five minutes before eating. 

I have been off abx for over a month now and feeling good except for some occasional problems with my knees.  I have osteoarthritis in both knees. 

I had also been going for colon cleansing and the nurse did detect parasites in the cleansing process.  I followed up on the cleansing with treatment at home for parasites as well. 

Maybe I am in remission, maybe I never had Lyme at all, maybe I will never know.  All I know is I feel normal again. 

I'm on Cefdinir (Omnicef) and Azithromycin (Zithromax) as well, and I've been having more problems lately. I've got it under better control by starting VSL3 probiotic. I think I'm also going to try a little Kefir, but I'm not sure how I'll react to this.

I was going to suggest the fiber as well, but I haven't tried that myself. I wonder why the doctor suggested it right before the antibiotic? I've heard of using fiber supplements to treat diarrhea. It may seem counter-intuitive to take fiber, but it absorbs liquid and adds bulk.

I thinking switching your schedule is a good idea. Most medications that need to be taken on an empty stomach need to be taken 2 hours before and after food. Perhaps you could take it between breakfast and lunch? I would recommend taking your vitamins and supplements with breakfast. These may give you extra energy. If you take them too close to bed, they might keep you awake. I like the idea of taking probiotics right before bed. It gives your GI system overnight to heal.

You should also avoid caffeine as it upsets the GI tract as well.

AnneRoto said...
The doc recommended the Metamucil with the abx to help them be absorbed by our bodies.

That's interesting because fiber actually reduces the absorption of some antibiotics, like penicillin, I think.

What vitamins are you taking? Are they the same in the morning and at night? B vitamins are typically the ones that give extra energy.

hezzer926 said...
yes i took a super b complex vitamin in the morning and at night... can i take 2 at once?

It depends on how potent the super b complex is. Usually, B vitamins come in "50" or "100" form, the later being twice as potent. It would probably be best to discuss with your doctor which vitamins you take and when to take them. The B vitamins might not interfere with your antibiotics, so you might be able to take them at the same time. Usually, it's vitamins that contain metals like calcium, magnesium, and iron, that interfere with drug absorption. Your doctor will know all of the interactions and how to space things out.