My Dr. and Antibiotics....

Can someone figure out why my GI refuses to recognize anti-biotic treatment for UC? He put me on anti-biotics last year for something unrelated to UC and not only did it clear up my issue, but it put me into complete remission. He says it's just a coincidence. Seven months later, I start flaring. I ask him to give me the anti-biotics again. He once again tells me that it was a coincidence, and I have to talk him into it. I go into immediate remission. Here we go again, seven months later and I'm flaring again and he still refuses to admit that the anti-biotics put me into remission. He keeps pushing the traditional UC meds which have never worked for me. I'm getting really frustrated with him and starting to wonder if I should find somebody new. Can anybody figure out why He's doing this? I think he's just pushing the big Pharma drugs, they obviously have him bought off. Thoughts?

Well, finally I talked him into it again, but I shouldn't have to be doing this. Now how many UC patients does he have that he's denying them relief?

You are lucky to have finally found that something (antibiotics) is able to jump-start your remission. But I would not count on using antibiotics forever. First of all they can have their own serious side effects if taken long term. And like all the other meds like Remicade, etc., someday they might just stop working.

Antibiotics put me into remission over two years ago but I try to maintain remission as long as possible by monitoring my diet and taking probiotics every day. I recommend keeping a food diary to see if anything triggers flares for you. Many people need to be careful about gluten foods. I also have issues with kale and plums. Antibiotics can be useful for some of us to initially end a flare but I would not count on them forever.

BTW you need to get a new doctor.

It could be that your GI fears the antibiotics will have a negative effect on your body. Some antibiotics are really strong. I also once went into remission after taking a strong antibiotic for my sinus and wondered why. In general, my doctor doesn't want me to take too many antibiotics because according to him, it will have a negative effect on the colon. Also, I think if you take too many antibiotics they say that it may lose it's effect on your body so when you're really sick with something else and need antibiotics it may not work.

Well, my Dr. hasn't voiced any of those concerns to me. Only that it's been a coincidence that I've went into remission with them. It's ridiculous because the only other time I've ever gone into full remission was with Remicade. I stopped that because of fear of long-term use. Now with the Anti-biotics, I figure it's definitely the lesser of two evils. I believe the one sure way antibiotics become ineffective is when you don't finish taking the entire prescribed dose. I think every seven months, plus the fact I don't eat a lot of red meat at all, I shouldn't have a problem. We shall see. In the meantime, I printed out articles to show him where there are plenty of studies to indicate that antibiotics put UC into remission.

I take Cipro and Flagyl, plus an awesome Probiotic.

That's pretty interesting. I'm having a hard enough time getting him to prescribe what he's giving me now. How would I suggest that triple combo? That would be basically telling him what to do. Makes sense what your saying.

i think another GI or telling your GI now your not gonna feel this way to get him to perscribe you relief! and that he's not voicing any concerns or worry just laying it on coincidence is stupid!
i agree with somedude - tell hims he's stupid for me as well!
i have a similiar GI , alot of NO's to stuff i wanna try!

Like I stated earlier. Only two things have ever put me into immediate, complete remission. Remicade and now Antibiotics. The potential downside of Remicade scares me. So I will go, IMO, the lesser of two evils. This thing with my Dr. is puzzling because I've had him for over twenty five years and he's been a great Dr. It's just been the last 14 months where he has this issue with the antibiotics. If it''s giving me relief. Than I really don't give a crap what the protocol is. Traditional UC meds have never worked for me.

I understand why you doctor is reluctant and why you beg for them too! Id beg for them too to release me from a flare.
However im not on that lucky side with anti biotics and i took cipro and made me flare instantly. So on your doctors side of things he might see other patients who do not respond well to antibiotics.

It's a weird position as you are asking him to go opposite the treatment of colitis. Im not saying you are wrong and it doesnt do you good but for your doctor maybe you taking them would be the tip of the iceberg and there might be unlying issues in the next future that you dont see now.

And he probably doesnt want to take that risk and responsability. He might think if you get resistant to them and end up with a severe pneumonia... you are going to need to respond to the antibiotics.

It must be frustrating because for you it worked in the past and you are surely fed up of that flare.

Im at lost with what to suggest to you;