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Do antibiotics make you flare?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 4/21/2017 7:06 PM (GMT -5)
I had a fecal transplant in August 2012. The GI who helped me with the protocol told me at the time to try and avoid antibiotics. I have been in remission ever since - loose stools at times but generally I would still say remission

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in Dec 2016. I'm currently undergoing chemotherapy. My GI has said she doesn't think I will flare in chemo since it weakens the immune system. Two weeks ago, I caught a cold / congestion from my son and husband. I have not been able to shake it. The doctor just prescribed Azithrimiacin antibiotic. I'm scared about my UC. Flaring with UC was worst than this chemo!!

My stools are already looser in the last 10 days - but I have had a ton of drainage. I'm taking all kinds of meds for this cold / congestion.

Do antibiotics mean trouble for us automatically? I had the bilateral mastectomy in January and I have had a c section since UC diagnosis. I'm sure I had antibiotics for those but I'm not sure I have had oral antibiotics in last 5 years.
Posted 4/21/2017 7:32 PM (GMT -5)
While on antibiotics stools might be looser and UC symptoms may appear worse. Often that's temporary while on the antibiotic. Antibiotics increase our odds of flaring but are in fact necessary at times. Antibiotics aren't guaranteed to cause flares, they might and they might not. As a precaution, take a good probiotic.

Good luck with the chemo and breast cancer. I hope everything goes well.
Posted 4/21/2017 7:42 PM (GMT -5)
I don't think anyone will know that answer for you @LoLil. Did your doctor suggest a bacterial infection with your cold? I would be reluctant to use antibiotics for a cold but given your situation with surgery and chemo therapy your doctor has warranted it's use.

Wishing you continued UC remission
Posted 4/21/2017 7:50 PM (GMT -5)
I just had to go on antibiotics (Cipro) for a bladder infection, and was very worried also about it causing a flare. It didn't. I was still on prednisone at the time, so I don't know if that helped or not? I did keep on with the probiotics while on the Cipro, and then when I was done with it, I doubled up on the probiotics for another couple of weeks.
Posted 4/22/2017 4:56 PM (GMT -5)
TG, I have had good luck with Azithromycin (Z-pack) RXed in connection with periodontal surgery with & w/o implant placement, but can totally understand why you're wary of the potential for it to cause you a UC flare. The worst flare I ever experienced to-date came from Cipro, which was RXed to combat a staph infection; I think that's the major antibiotic to shun whenever possible because it is known to induce lasting tendon problems. *** Best wishes for your follow-up chemo & surgery recovery!!!!! For the cold/congestion I would recommend using saline solutions whenever you can for nose & throat + keep up your intake of water. It's a positive sign if things are draining now. It could be that doc RXed antibiotic thinking to head off any sinus or bronchial involvement-- so you are probably a better judge of whether or not your viral symptoms are abating presently or changing for the worse which would then definitely require antibiotic treatment. / Old Hat (36 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
Posted 4/22/2017 5:44 PM (GMT -5)
Does anyone know how Levaquin and UC respond? That's what the oncologist issues as standard to start if any fever is 100.5. I have read scary stuff about it. Saying it's like a nuclear bomb to kill a mouse. I started running a fever again (2 weeks from the first time). The oncology PA said to give the ZPack a few days to start working. The primary care called back and said to start the levaquin. And I begged to wait a few days to see if the ZPack would start working.

I was doing nasal steam baths, rinses and tons of hot beverages with lemon and honey before I resorted to the antibiotics. Unfortunately it was just taking forever to get better and with the next chemo next week, I couldn't bare to suffer like I did last week so much. I don't know how the doctors know if it's viral or bacterial. I think they are using process or elimination. Although the oncology PA said with the sound of my super hoarse voice, that bronchitis usually means some viral component.
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