New here, have some questions

[tex]

I am amazed that doctors continue to casually prescribe Amoxicillin to patients with digestive system problems. Though other antibiotics can also cause it, Amoxicillin is the one most commonly associated with C. diff infections. IMO, it should be illegal for them to prescribe it, except in emergencies where they have no other practical options.

Tex

[mini]

Tex I am surprised as well on the Amoxicillin, I have suffered a number of infections in the previous few years and my GP's would not give me any antibiotics because I had 'D'! There just not seem to be a consistent approach by doctors and GI's to treament!

[mle_ii]

I am amazed that doctors continue to casually prescribe Amoxicillin to patients with digestive system problems. Though other antibiotics can also cause it, Amoxicillin is the one most commonly associated with C. diff infections. IMO, it should be illegal for them to prescribe it, except in emergencies where they have no other practical options.

Tex

Hmmm... now that you say it that does sound familiar, I think it's the antibiotic they've used on my daughter at various times. I really don't like it. I wonder if it's because it's one of the cheaper ones or the ones that get "sold" to the drs to prescribe more of.

[mini]

Wow Kelly your story is sounding even more like mine and also the dates these events took place etc.............lol spooky.

The Preds can be horrid I too had the same side effects, moods, lack of sleep (which I am still having problems with on Entocort), moon face etc the day I took my last pill was like stepping into heaven, I could just not wait to stop that med!!! When I did stop it within days the D returned, I had withdraw symptoms, so emotional and felt very depressed all of which I have been told is quite normal with Predisone.

Also like you I tried stopping various food groups some days it helped and others made no difference what so ever. I have had problems with my weight as a result, during the worst attacks I would not eat when I had weeks I felt a little better could not stop eating my metabolisim is so messed up from this. The good thing about these forums is at least we realise we are not alone

[mle_ii]

Hi Kel, Forgot to comment on a few things you said.

* Joint pain (often in my lower back and that can be very severe in the mornings to the point where it is stiff and takes me about 15 minutes to get out of bed. While on high doses of Pred this stopped, but when taper this comes back. I can also get joint pain in my knees, shoulders, wrists and hands-- but not as much as my lower back pain)

I get back pain, low back pain normally, when I'm symptomatic. Sitting still in a car for long trips used to seem the worst. It was so strange as if my back were weak. When I don't have the other symptoms I can drive for a long time without low back pain. My guess is that for me it has something to do with the toxins produced with bacterial overgrowth. At times I would get severe upper back pain where my back would just seize up and I could barely turn my head, tie my shoes, lift up my head, wash my hair or even sleep without excruciating pain.

* I lost 30 pounds in no time flat because I just could not (and would not for fear of pain) eat.

Ugg, talk about losing weight. I balloned up to 200 lbs (which is big for my frame) and decided to lose weight. Went on a low carb diet (which is how I figured out that gluten was an issue for me) and lost about 40 lbs and I was happy. Problem was I kept losing weight til I got down to 140 lbs and couldn't keep the weight on as I kept getting sicker. I too feared the pain/symptoms so ate very little... didn't always help. :(

*Fatigue and exhaustion (never know some days when I am going to feel as if I have some energy or when I want to just take it easy. When things are at their worst there is horrible exhaustion)

Yep, this too. I'd retire for a "short nap" around 6 pm or so and wake up the next morning. :( I would also get this pressure or ache or tireness behind my eyes.

*Fever (when things are at their worst-- usually 100-102 range)

I don't ever remember getting a fever though, which is strange considering that I had a kind of infection. In fact my temperature is normally too low.

Mike

[mle_ii]

Mike: If it is MC, I am not sure he would see anything on the pill cam. I am thinking if he does see something, then this could be related to Crohn's, but I would be jumping the gun to concisely say that-- so trying to wait patiently

My guess would be that the pill cam would help remove the diagnosis of Crohn's, which would be a damn good thing. I still can't get over the 2 hours and it passing through. At my worst I'd say it would have take 5-6 DAYS for it to pass through me. LOL

There is only one time I can remember being on an antibiotic in the past 3 years and that was started late January 2008 (flare started early Jan.) because of the abscesses they found on my lower jaw (it was Amoxicillin). I was on that for 5 weeks-- which is a long time to be on an antibiotic, but Dentist wanted me on it, then oral surgeon wanted me on it for 2 more weeks after my oral surgery. On the antibiotic I did not really notice a difference in how I physically felt, but at the time frame I was put on them I was on a high dose of Pred and that had kicked in full gear to where I was having normal bowels, no ab, pain and feeling good (other than Pred. side effects, lol).

Not sure if amoxicillin would have helped with SIBO or not. Seems there are quite a few resistant bacteria to this, which is very bad.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amoxicillin

I have yet to pin point any certain foods that causes it, but when I am very ill I cannot eat anything greasy or "heavy" as I just feel like I am going to immediately vomit. I have tried taking dairy out of my diet for a certain length of time and that did nothing. I will eat a certain food one day and be just fine, but then eat it another time and will have problems.

Yeah, for a time I was avoiding heavy greasy foods. Never felt like I would vomit, in fact now that I think of it, I rarely vomit, even when my body probably should have. And now to be gross, when you did eat fatty foods did your BMs float? Or any other side effects besides wanting to vomit?
Did you ever try removing gluten, fiber, fruit, sugar or any carbohydrates in particular?

Thanks for your support and I am feeling hopeful that we will be able to figure this out. I think the hardest part is just the waiting and having a question mark over your head. At least when I am able to pin point exactly what the problem is then I will be able to switch over to just maintaining, controlling or fixing the problem.

Thanks,
Kelly

It's a tough journey, I'm so sorry you have to go through this too. But at least you found a good bunch of folks here to support you. :)

Thanks,
Mike

[Kellyerin222]

I was not aware of the conflict between Amoxillican and digestion issues-- wow. The first to prescribe it to me was the emergency room Doctor (he had me on 2000mg day), then two days later I was in the dentist's office and he prescribed more for me and told me to continue taking it until I saw oral surgeon and confirm with him when he wanted me off of it (he lowered it to 1500mg day), saw oral surgeon for consult and he said I was to continue taking it until 2 weeks after surgery. All of these Doctors were fully aware of my digestive issues as I told every one of them so they would not prescribe me something that would conflict, but unfortunately I was unaware of the Amoxillican conflicts and therefore did not object. Very interesting though and Tex I think you could be right about how it is the most commonly prescribed besides the Z-pack.

mini: It does seem like we have a lot in common with our GI issues-- it is spooky, lol. I think my body's metabolism is also a little up and down and not sure which way to go, lol. I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome at the age of 18 (had to conceive my second child through invitro fert.) and the problem with PCOS is you have an extremely difficult time losing weight. I was told that the Atkins diet and low carb helps well to lose the weight in people with PCOS, but with the GI problems I always felt that I tried to eat what I could, when I could, therefore never gave the full low carb diet a good chance. I ballooned up to 275, and then went down to 198 and now on since on the Pred. I am at 230. In my teens and early adult life I was actually pretty good weight, tone (ahh I miss those days and even kept a pair of 8's for memories sake, lol). I am so hoping once I get all of this figured out I can get back on a good eating/exercising plan and get my weight down to where I feel more positive about it.
It is wonderful to have the support of the board and meet new wonderful people who understand what you are going through. A life saver!

Mike: I am sorry to hear about your problems and it does sound like we have similar as well. I am not sure if I would rather have neck or back pain-- not being able to move my neck would become so frustrating.
I did nod my head when you talked about the "short nap" and then slept through the night. I have two children (ages 10/4) so I do not always have the ability to ly down when I wish, but there were times I laid down for a nap, only to wake up much later then I wished-- and still felt exhausted, lol.
Thank you for the link and I am going to look at it and also look up some more information on Amoxicillin and GI issues.
When I was very ill and if I ate greasy or heavy foods half of the bowels floated and half did not, then other times all would sink.
I did try removing fruit for a period of time and did not find that to be helpful, but I have not tried carbs, gluten and such. I am looking into this to see if I should give it a go and try it.
I am glad I found this board and you all seem like a wonderful group of people. The support is wonderful

Kelly