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Oral Abx vs. IV and Stomach Issues

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Posted 9/17/2013 2:37 PM (GMT -5)
I'm creeping into my third month of treatment and I'm having bathroom issues. (I don't know how else to put it!) Last week it was so bad that I had to stop my abx for 4 days. This was stressful because my "normal" symptoms got worse.

I slowly introduced just one of my antibiotics after this, and although the bathroom issues aren't as bad as last week, they are still there, and they are still worrisome to me.

I just started a good probiotic with hopes it will balance things out in my digestive tract.

Coincidentally, my mom saw our general practitioner, (not my LLMD), and he expressed great concern over my long-term use of oral antibiotics. He even suggested that I consider going the IV route so that I don't ruin my digestive system.

I don't want to stop treatment, but I don't know what to do. I'm only taking the Clarithromycin now, as my LLMD cut out the Amoxicillan. But she had wanted me to start Bactrim, before the bathroom issues, and I just know I couldn't handle that right now.

I'm so discouraged and scared now. I just want to get better and it's not happening. What if I have to stop all my antibiotics? Would I be better off trying the IV route with hopes of saving my stomach? Will the probiotic at least get me to a more tolerable situation?
Posted 9/17/2013 4:39 PM (GMT -5)
Hi Bindu,

Sorry to hear you are having stomach issues. I am having some right now too and hoping this intensive care probiotic will help. Unfortunately, lyme is very much a self-guided treatment tour and only you can decide what is best. If your 'gut' (pun intended turn ) is telling you to do IV, and you can do it that may be the way to go though it does carry other serious risks like blood infections and I believe gallbladder issues though both seem to be rare.

I, myself was on/off oral antibiotics for 7-9 months and luckily did not really have a problem with my stomach during that time. EXCEPT when I neglected to take probiotics. My stomach would tell me the next day that it was not happy with me and I tended to be constipated. A few questions, just to check...

1)Are you taking your antibiotics with food?

2)How is your diet, what is a typical day?

3)Are you on a yeast preventative/diet?

4)Yes, I am going to ask it...how are your BM's (I'm guessing loose from your description) and are you going at least once a day?

5)Have you been on probiotics the entire time you have been on antibiotics?

6)Are you taking a lot of Vitamin C or magnesium that could be causing you to 'go' more?

 

Posted 9/17/2013 4:47 PM (GMT -5)
You could add probiotic rich foods to your diet too. Yogurt (make sure it had live cultures), kefer, fermented vegies etc. http://www.culturesforhealth.com/ If you feel up to it, this site teaches you how to make your own fermented products. If nothing else, is will teach you about the importance of them. I hope you can find the help you need so you can take your meds without the hard side effects.
Posted 9/17/2013 5:11 PM (GMT -5)
Thank you, opugirl and Garden Peace.

Answers to your questions...

1. Yes- I always take my antibiotics with some food.
2. My typical diet was sugar free and mostly yeast free- mostly lots of roasted or steamed veggies, maybe some quinoa, yogurt, eggs, oatmeal, sometimes some fish.
3. I've been trying to be yeast-free, although I know I sometimes eat things like olives which have a high yeast content.
4. My BM's are the problem- it has been diarrhea (sorry rolleyes )
Today I had it maybe 3 times, and then it stopped. Seems to be like this lately, where it isn't all day, but it does happen at some point during the day.
5. I just started a probiotic this week. I was just taking acidipholus, which I guess for some people is enough? My doctor never told me to take a probiotic. But I'm taking one now.
6. I do take quite a bit of Vitamin C, but have backed off since these problems.

I just spoke with my doc. and she said to get something called Saccromyces Doulardi to help stop the diarrhea, and that once I go 3 days without diarrhea, to start the antibiotics again. She said we could also try an extended release of the Clarithromycin since that might be easier on the gut.

Sounds like there are ways to get this under control...

Thanks for all your support. I hope I can get things back in balance again.

Post Edited (Binduspire) : 9/17/2013 5:30:39 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/17/2013 6:58 PM (GMT -5)
Yes, S. Boulardii is very good. Acidophilus is okay but a variety of strains would be better - a min of 7 strains. Many of the more expensive brands (unfortunately) do 10 + strains. I would recommend a minimum of 30 billion cfu a day and many others on here would recommend 50 billion a day.

Your diet looks pretty good.;) I love roasted veggies. I would say keep on the path that your on and of course just 'proceed with caution.' Hopefully if you add more probiotics in it will get things in check.
Posted 9/18/2013 4:25 AM (GMT -5)
Ortho Biotic has S. Boulardii, Bifido, and lactobacillus. I bought mine on Amazon.

I, personally, would stop treatment until I could get my GI flora under control. You don't want to end up with C. Difficile.

Eat a lot of raw veggies.
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