Reluctantly, I took doxycycline in order to get rid of a bad bout of diverticulitis.
Now, everything is going right through me. I am going on a broth/weak tea fast today to try to simmer my system down, as I am feeling weaker and am dropping a pound a day. I'm already very thin.
I'm being very good about avoiding my Enterolab no-nos (except I forgot about the walnuts and had a few of those 1+.
Does anyone have any other ideas, besides the broth?
Help! Bad flare after antibiotics!
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
-
sharonbelterday
- Little Blue Penguin
- Posts: 28
- Joined: Fri Jun 28, 2013 11:50 am
Help! Bad flare after antibiotics!
Sharon Day
Diverticulitis flares '11 &'12
MC since 05/13
Low thyroid
GF since 4/2013
Vancouver WA
Diverticulitis flares '11 &'12
MC since 05/13
Low thyroid
GF since 4/2013
Vancouver WA
Hi Sharon,
I'm sorry to hear that you needed antibiotics, and that they triggered an MC flare. Unfortunately that's a common problem with taking antibiotics. Some of us try to convince our doctor to prescribe Ciprofloxacin when we're in a situation such as that, because Cipro typically does not cause us to have D, and often it can be substituted for many issues. No antibiotic is entirely without risk, unfortunately, and even Cipro carries a risk of causing tendonitis or even torn ligaments in some cases, so it's hard to win if we need an antibiotic.
There is a risk of a C. diff infection following the use of most oral antibiotics, and if that happens to be the problem, you might need further treatment with Vancomycin (if a stool culture is positive for C. diff). If I were in that situation and my symptoms were unusually severe, with extremely painful cramps, and especially if I were having bloody stools, I would suspect C. diff, and I would ask my doctor to do the culture tests.
On the other hand, if it seems to be a typical MC reaction (even if it's a severe flare), then most of us find it necessary to go back to whatever treatment we originally used to bring our MC symptoms under control (IOW, the same diet changes). For those who used Entocort as part of their treatment, if the diet changes don't bring significant improvement within a week or 2, some find it advantageous to resume taking Entocort again, in order to suppress the symptoms until the bland diet can restore digestive system tranquility.
Some members find that taking an antihistamine helps almost as much as taking Entocort. Some even take one type of antihistamine in the morning, and another type at bedtime.
Please keep us posted on your progress, because this is a relatively common problem, and we all learn by sharing our experiences.
Tex
I'm sorry to hear that you needed antibiotics, and that they triggered an MC flare. Unfortunately that's a common problem with taking antibiotics. Some of us try to convince our doctor to prescribe Ciprofloxacin when we're in a situation such as that, because Cipro typically does not cause us to have D, and often it can be substituted for many issues. No antibiotic is entirely without risk, unfortunately, and even Cipro carries a risk of causing tendonitis or even torn ligaments in some cases, so it's hard to win if we need an antibiotic.
There is a risk of a C. diff infection following the use of most oral antibiotics, and if that happens to be the problem, you might need further treatment with Vancomycin (if a stool culture is positive for C. diff). If I were in that situation and my symptoms were unusually severe, with extremely painful cramps, and especially if I were having bloody stools, I would suspect C. diff, and I would ask my doctor to do the culture tests.
On the other hand, if it seems to be a typical MC reaction (even if it's a severe flare), then most of us find it necessary to go back to whatever treatment we originally used to bring our MC symptoms under control (IOW, the same diet changes). For those who used Entocort as part of their treatment, if the diet changes don't bring significant improvement within a week or 2, some find it advantageous to resume taking Entocort again, in order to suppress the symptoms until the bland diet can restore digestive system tranquility.
Some members find that taking an antihistamine helps almost as much as taking Entocort. Some even take one type of antihistamine in the morning, and another type at bedtime.
Please keep us posted on your progress, because this is a relatively common problem, and we all learn by sharing our experiences.
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.
-
sharonbelterday
- Little Blue Penguin
- Posts: 28
- Joined: Fri Jun 28, 2013 11:50 am
Tex, thanks for the quick response!
I've never had an Entocort Rx, but I did take Fexofenadine this morning.
So far, no blood, just slight cramping, but I think it's just the gas! I'll keep my eye out for C-Diff, but I think it is just a severe flare.
I was wondering if Candida could ever be the culprit. I had an overgrowth once before after antibiotics.
I started taking a probiotic (lactobacillis acidophilous) and an enzyme supplement right after the antibiotics stopped (the no gluten, soy, dairy, etc kind). Do you think I should stop or continue those?
I will keep you posted.
I've never had an Entocort Rx, but I did take Fexofenadine this morning.
So far, no blood, just slight cramping, but I think it's just the gas! I'll keep my eye out for C-Diff, but I think it is just a severe flare.
I was wondering if Candida could ever be the culprit. I had an overgrowth once before after antibiotics.
I started taking a probiotic (lactobacillis acidophilous) and an enzyme supplement right after the antibiotics stopped (the no gluten, soy, dairy, etc kind). Do you think I should stop or continue those?
I will keep you posted.
Sharon Day
Diverticulitis flares '11 &'12
MC since 05/13
Low thyroid
GF since 4/2013
Vancouver WA
Diverticulitis flares '11 &'12
MC since 05/13
Low thyroid
GF since 4/2013
Vancouver WA
Yes, gas can certainly cause cramps, and since you were taking a probiotic as soon as you discontinued the antibiotic treatment, that minimizes the chances that C. diff might be the problem.
Candida is certainly a possibility, because it can cause intestinal permeability. If you have thrush, or arthritis symptoms, or you suddenly crave sugar, etc., Candida might be an issue.
On the other hand, many of us cannot tolerate many/most probiotics while we are reacting, so there is a possibility that just discontinuing the probiotic might bring improvement. If I were in that situation, I would stop using the enzyme supplement also, because some of us (including me) can't tolerate certain enzyme supplements. It seems that most of us can tolerate such supplements when we are in remission, but when we are in a flare, they can prevent us from breaking out of it.
Tex
Candida is certainly a possibility, because it can cause intestinal permeability. If you have thrush, or arthritis symptoms, or you suddenly crave sugar, etc., Candida might be an issue.
On the other hand, many of us cannot tolerate many/most probiotics while we are reacting, so there is a possibility that just discontinuing the probiotic might bring improvement. If I were in that situation, I would stop using the enzyme supplement also, because some of us (including me) can't tolerate certain enzyme supplements. It seems that most of us can tolerate such supplements when we are in remission, but when we are in a flare, they can prevent us from breaking out of it.
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.
