Bacterial/Viral/Parasitic ???

[HockeyMom]

Hey Guys-
I was just wondering if anyone has had any of the above issues (bacterial/viral/parasitic infections) since having a MC diagnosis and completely melting down??

Took stool samples back to Dr's office on Friday. I swear what I have going on is way worse than when I first completely melted down in 2011. This has been going on for a couple weeks now and is getting no better with 8 peptos/day, changing diet, upping Cholestyramine (immodium seems so do nothing, had some Lomotil they gave me last fall that I never used, have had 2 of those today...no real change yet). Had stool tested for c diff at my hospital (I work in a hospital) last July and that was negative..

You can just hear stuff rushing through my guts, no slowing down yet. This seems to be getting no better if that is possible. Stopped the mag glycinate pills about 2 weeks ago, stopped the ReMag 2 days ago (just doing topical now). Nothing seems to make a difference as far as that stuff goes or cutting things out of my very, very, very limited diet!!

I know I will just have to wait until Tuesday probably to get results but was wondering if anyone had gone down this road recently. 3 weeks ago I was relatively great!!! I unfortunately work with pt's in a hospital and a few of my therapy coworkers and/or their kids have had gut stuff recently. So picking something up at work is a possibility. Since I haven't had food in a restaurant since late January, that sort of rules that out...

Hope everyone is having a great weekend. When I'm not in the bathroom and am catching up on reading!! And trying to stay hydrated and positive!!

Laine

[Gabes-Apg]

Yes
I have had parasite Blastocystis (about 12 months ago I think) for me it is related to ongoing zinc deficiency due to other health issues. (low zinc and other nutrients means the immune system can not fight parasites as well)

I have resolved the issue via increasing zinc intake, and used diatomaceous earth - food grade (natural - kinda like cholestryamine) and coconut oil.
I had to stop the diatomaceous earth and coconut oil as it lowered my cholesterol too much.
follow up testing in January and the parasite has gone...

Cholestryamine should help, but may not be able to do it all.
One thing I have read is that if you are taking B6 instead of P5P - then B6 in non active form can increase parasite activity happening

hope this helps

[tex]

Laine,

Remember that it's possible to get 1 or 2 false negative results on culture tests for C. diff before getting a positive result. It does sound as if something else besides MC might be going on.

Tex

[HockeyMom]

I sort of poo poo'd the idea of anything other than a flare, but was just thinking that since this is different ....maybe I do have something. Gabes, I have been taking the P5P....have heard others talk about diatomaceous earth before but don't know much about it (other than we used to use it in the filter in our fish tank years ago!!!).

I wish I was someone who could smell c diff Tex. Quite a few of my coworkers can walk into a room and tell you that someones diarrhea will be positive for c diff before the lab tests come back positive. No me...pretty nose dead..

I know that most of this stuff will just naturally run it's course, but with us MC folks I figured it might hang on awhile. I truly haven't gotten any of the gut stuff that has gone around since my formal diagnosis in 2011. Had crazy bad flu in 2013 but didn't flame my guts out....Guess I've been lucky that way.

Laine

[HockeyMom]

Um, what should I do people?? Don't think I am dehydrated as I do pee during the day, am just drinking tea and water with some salt added to it. I need to hang on until tomorrow...but am getting discouraged as stuff is just running through me, as in there doesn't seem to be a down time during the day or at night anymore. Don't think I'm running a fever (think the batteries in my thermometer are questionable as it's telling me both my brother and I are running at 95.7....). And as far as the tea goes...it doesn't seem to make a difference if I drink my black tea or if I do just straight mint stuff.

This truly has me concerned. I haven't felt this way ever, Pepto usually does something by now. I really am not hungry and am just forcing myself to eat because I know I have to. Think it's ok to add a banana or an egg back in for calories??? Add a probiotic back into the mix?? Really, I am not sure what to do at this point. I will be haranging the PCP's office first thing tomorrow for those stool sample results. Probably should call the GI office too and make an appt. I'm just grasping at straws here. The thought of actually getting diagnosed with some sort of bacterial/parasitic thing terrifies me because I just can't imagine taking antibiotics at this point. I need to put weight back on....not dump more weight. I did Flagyl for a week when I did gum grafts in July of 2014, but was in a good gut place at that time.

Just looking for something to make this better.
Laine

[brandy]

Go to walk in clinic or emergency room if you think it is serious.

Yes to banana and egg. Yes to protein. No GF bagels, no chips.

Laine I can't remember if you are taking other oral supplements. Eliminate all oral supplements for now. If you are having severe D they are not being absorbed. When we have severe D supplements are like irritants to our gut.

Keep forcing yourself to eat. If you unable to make broth drink the boxed GF SF chicken broth all day (inaddition to eating food) One with salt added would be better--not low sodium.

[tex]

Maybe you should go to the ER. They can probably access the culture test results if your hospital has a well-implemented digital records system. If everything is just immediately going through you, you are almost surely dehydrated. They can replace fluids via IV.

Other than that, yes, try a banana or egg. You need to eat or you'll just become weaker. Soup is good when nothing else works. Can you tolerate chicken soup? It's what I defaulted to when I was recovering and I couldn't keep anything down.

I doubt that a probiotic will help. An antibiotic wouldn't be likely to cause any worse symptoms than you are having now. My reasoning on that is that it's hard to screw up a train wreck.

Tex

[brandy]

I took a look at what you were eating on last post.

Added things in slowly I thought....eggs (tested ok with those on Enterolab years ago...maybe not so good anymore, or would be ok less frequently..), my tapioca bagels (only have tapioca starch and coconut in them really), some highly overcooked spinach. Otherwise just the usual overcooked vegies (acorn/
butternut squash, carrots, zucchini), white sweet potatoes, lamb/turkey/cod/elk, water/black tea, taro chips, avocado/banana, apple sauce and sunflower seed butter. Did try some very overcooked cauliflower mixed with the sweet potatoes a couple times... Will admit to the occasional piece of dark chocolate with no bad stuff in it...

Safer options:

If you are having extreme D eliminate the following: tabioca bagels, spinach, zuchhini, taro chips, cauliflower, dark chocolate

Best foods:

Protein, broth (boxed get gluten free soy free)

Would be ok for me in a flare: banana egg avacado

Should be ok--seed butter, pureed butternut squash, pureed carrots, pureed sweet potato

Might be ok--applesauce--has a lot of sugar in it

When I am in a serious flare I shift to a lot of protein, boxed GF broth(sip all day), and bananas and no supplements and an avacado

Force yourself to eat.

[HockeyMom]

Thanks Guys-

Don't think I'm ER/Urgent care material yet!!! Am staying hydrated... Other than food rumbling through my guts and having to go to the bathroom I feel pretty good. It's just disconcerting that nothing seems to be making a difference...

Thanks Brandy. I make lamb bone broth regularly so have been using that. Chicken is off the table as it is a big reactor according to Enterolab. I added an egg into breakfast today-egg/elk/white sweet potatoe. Black tea.

Will have my brother go grab some fairly green bananas in a bit, maybe an avocado. Have really cut all that other stuff out like a week or so ago. My overcooked veggie blend contains zucchini/carrots and butternut squash. Do have just straight overcooked acorn squash in the freezer that I have been eating, can switch to that if you think the zucchini is an issue, seemed to be safe in the past. Haven't done any of that other stuff for at least a week or more. I will admit to eating applesauce daily though...

I guess I am just concerned because in the past if I started to go bad, pepto would work. And it isn't doing it (Immodium and Lomotil don't seem to be doing it either...tried 2 Lomotil's yesterday and had one this am....no noticeable change there).

Gotta go, forgot to slather myself with my am dosage of mag oil!!! I will be ok until tomorrow people, just needing some encouraging words from people who have been there/done that..

Laine

[brandy]

puree the zucchini veggie blend in blender, i.e. since you are really struggling puree all of the veggies,

yes, less ripe bananas are safest

I know bananas and avacados are controversial due to the histamines but I had no choice during my flare last summer. If you go with avacados go with the less ripe ones too.

Sweet potatos are good too.

Sorry about the triple posts above.....seemed to be computer glitches

Emphasize protein and the lamb broth. I'm a big believer in the few foods regimen when I'm struggling. Pick what you think are your safest 3-4 foods and stick with them for several days. Variety is overrated when we are struggling.

Sit out in the sun for awhile for vitamin D. Relax, Rest, Drink a lot of fluids

[brandy]

Agree with Tex, probiotics probably are more negative than positive.

Stick to black tea (mint tea may be more likely to be contaminated.)

[brandy]

Are you taking the max dose of cholestyramine?

Perhaps talk Uceris with the Doc this week. It is budesonide but works a bit different from Entocort.

It does seem like perhaps something else going on as most respond to pepto or immodium or cholestyamine or Entocort.

Hopefully you will have test results this week and more info.

[HockeyMom]

Brandy-

Funny, I noticed you joined this board 2 weeks after I did in 2011. I just did so well for years that I didn't post much as I never really had much to add to what others with way more experience here had to offer!!!

My brother will run to the grocery store in a bit. Will add the green bananas and some underripe avocados back into the rotation. My last batch of overcooked veggies was done in the pressure cooker, and they are almost pureed looking!!! Have I mentioned that I love that pressure cooker???? Can puree them in the blender though...

I've upped the cholestyramine to 3 packets a day. Guess I could go up to 4..... Have heard of Uceris but didn't know it was a form of budosenide...Will ask about that.

I was just hoping that if this is some sort of gut bug going around the hospital/coworker group that it would be improving on it's own somewhat by now. Like I said, this isn't responding like in the past....

Laine

[tex]

Uceris becomes activated in the lower part of the colon. It was developed for UC, but most MC patients find that it works for them also. It is claimed by the manufacturer that there is absolutely no systemic absorption because of the late activation.

If EnteroLab found chicken to be reactive for you, eggs may well be off limits to you, also. Bananas are well known for helping to stop diarrhea.

Tex

[brandy]

Laine, I'd go with what the docs recommend for high dose on the cholestyramine, i.e. don't go higher without checking with Doc or pharmacist.