Antibiotic Question - Concerned
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Antibiotic Question - Concerned
Hello - I had about three weeks of almost normal bowels and then a MD prescribed Cipro..... After I stopped the Cipro it seems that things are not good at all and I am concerned. Is this just a flare from being on an antibiotic or could this be c.diff? I did take probiotics in the proper format with antibiotics but?! I am sad and scared. I have started taking Pepto again. Should I call my MD and ask for a sample to be tested or wait?
Hi,
Based on the experiences of most of the members of this board who have posted about antibiotics, it seems that Cipro is usually the least likely antibiotic to cause problems for us. However, there is always a possibility that any antibiotic can upset the balance of the gut bacteria, so even Cipro is not 100 % safe in all cases.
Unless you've recently spent some time in a hospital or nursing home, and especially since you took a probiotic, it's not likely that you have developed a C. diff infection. C. diff symptoms are usually pretty severe, with a lot of cramping and the symptoms frequently involve blood in the stool. Blood in the stool would be a sure sign that it's time to call your doctor about a C. diff test.
It's possible that you may just be reacting to the probiotic — many of us cannot tolerate probiotics until we have been in remission for a while. Are you still taking it? If so, you might try doing without it for a few days to see if that helps.
Or, it could just be a coincidence, and something in your diet is causing the problem. Most of us find that when we take Cipro, it will usually stop an MC flare, but after the antibiotic is discontinued, in a few days our digestive system will usually return to whatever condition it was in before we started taking the Cipro.
Has anything in your diet changed since you started or stopped taking the Cipro, other than the probiotic?
Tex
Based on the experiences of most of the members of this board who have posted about antibiotics, it seems that Cipro is usually the least likely antibiotic to cause problems for us. However, there is always a possibility that any antibiotic can upset the balance of the gut bacteria, so even Cipro is not 100 % safe in all cases.
Unless you've recently spent some time in a hospital or nursing home, and especially since you took a probiotic, it's not likely that you have developed a C. diff infection. C. diff symptoms are usually pretty severe, with a lot of cramping and the symptoms frequently involve blood in the stool. Blood in the stool would be a sure sign that it's time to call your doctor about a C. diff test.
It's possible that you may just be reacting to the probiotic — many of us cannot tolerate probiotics until we have been in remission for a while. Are you still taking it? If so, you might try doing without it for a few days to see if that helps.
Or, it could just be a coincidence, and something in your diet is causing the problem. Most of us find that when we take Cipro, it will usually stop an MC flare, but after the antibiotic is discontinued, in a few days our digestive system will usually return to whatever condition it was in before we started taking the Cipro.
Has anything in your diet changed since you started or stopped taking the Cipro, other than the probiotic?
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
I stopped the probiotic this morning. I thought I was being careful with the antibiotic as I knew Cipro was potentially safer. I only had pretty bad mornings before that were mostly mushy but now it's been 3 or so a day plus more watery, which was why I thought c.diff. I had some metal removed from my mouth before I had the normal few weeks and I have been pretty careful with my food. I have been gluten free and dairy free but I can go further. I would prefer this just being a set back - this forum is inspiration so I will keep reading. I read one from Gabes I think about wondering about the next 15 years and letting go a bit. I feel like that with my family and I feel like I have so much more time and I don't want to be sick for it. Sorry sad day for me (me party). I am working on my attitude of gratitude.. Thank you for responding it really helps.
If you're familiar with my theory of how the immune system progressively recognizes food sensitivities according to a certain hierarchy, you should recognize that 3 weeks is approximately the time frame for remission (or at least improvement) that many of us experience after avoiding gluten and dairy for a while, and then symptoms return.
IOW, your immune system may be recognizing another food sensitivity. If you don't do better tomorrow (after stopping the probiotic for a day or so), you might try avoiding soy, also. If that doesn't do the trick, eggs may be the problem.
No doubt about it, setbacks are frustrating and worrisome, but most of us go through that stage before we finish fine-tuning our diet.
You're very welcome,
Tex
IOW, your immune system may be recognizing another food sensitivity. If you don't do better tomorrow (after stopping the probiotic for a day or so), you might try avoiding soy, also. If that doesn't do the trick, eggs may be the problem.
No doubt about it, setbacks are frustrating and worrisome, but most of us go through that stage before we finish fine-tuning our diet.
You're very welcome,
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.