Antibiotic Therapy

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KCP
Posts: 4
Joined: Sun Oct 22, 2017 3:46 pm
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Antibiotic Therapy

Postby KCP » Fri Jul 13, 2018 10:13 am

Hi everyone, it's been awhile. The good news is that over a year after my colostomy reversal I finally found the mixture of Imodium, probiotics, and fiber to keep me "as normal as I'll be". Things were going well. However, on Wednesday I had to take my sick cat to the vet. While they were trying to get blood, he bit me. Now I'm on antibiotics. They put me on Augmentin, but I was at the doctor today and had them switch me to two other ones. Can anyone give me some hints on how to prevent diarrhea? My family is leaving tomorrow for vacation and I don't want to spend the week in the bathroom. Today is also my annual CT scan. On Friday the 13th, no less.
Thank you all !!!
59 yo female
Diagnosed July 2015 with stage 3 rectal cancer
Colostomy
Radiation and 5 FU
Surgery to remove tumor in December 2015
Chemotherapy until June 2016 with gall bladder removal during treatment
Colostomy reversed December 2016
June 2017 CAT scan all clear :D

weisssoccermom
Posts: 5988
Joined: Thu May 10, 2007 2:32 pm
Location: Pacific NW

Re: Antibiotic Therapy

Postby weisssoccermom » Fri Jul 13, 2018 11:01 am

Good news.....they took you off of Augmentin. In addition to diarrhea, that medication can do a real number on your gut!

A lot depends on what antibiotic you are on. For example, I am on a daily low dose doxycycline and I am able to tolerate that without any GI issues (although after awhile, the yeast infections can and usually do set in....be aware of that...especially if you are on higher doses for a time). For me, an extra dose (X2/day) of a probiotic helps immensely and IF I need it, I take just ONE immodium to avoid the full blown problem.

What antibiotics did they put you on??
Dx 6/22/2006 IIA rectal cancer
6 wks rad/Xeloda -finished 9/06
1st attempt transanal excision 11/06
11/17/06 XELOX 1 cycle
5 months Xeloda only Dec '06 - April '07
10+ blood clots, 1 DVT 1/07
transanal excision 4/20/07 path-NO CANCER CELLS!
NED now and forever!
Perform random acts of kindness

zephyr
Posts: 363
Joined: Thu Aug 18, 2016 7:31 am

Re: Antibiotic Therapy

Postby zephyr » Fri Jul 13, 2018 11:53 am

I was taking antibiotics a few months back for a recurrent UTI. When I mentioned to the pharmacist my fear of diarrhea, he told me to take a good probiotic 2 hours before taking the antibiotic, and that worked for me. The key seems to be the timing and quality of the probiotic. Many probiotics that are shelf stable (e.g., not refrigerated) have few live bacteria. My naturopathic doc suggested Culturelle for travel and VSL#3 for when you can keep the capsules refrigerated. Her practice makes the manufacturers prove their bacteria are live before they recommend them. She also said it was important to mix up your probiotics -- if you take Culturelle this time around, switch to VSL#3 the next time. There were other brand recommendations but those are two that are easily available. VSL# is not a prescription but you have to ask the pharmacist for it because it's stored in the frig behind the pharmacy counter.

Hope this helps.
Nov-2009 Early stage CRC, routine colonoscopy
2010-2014 F/U colonoscopies, all clear
Jun-2016 CRC during F/U colonoscopy, surgery, Stage 4, KRAS, MSS
Aug-2016-May-2018 Folfox, 5FU, Folfiri & Avastin
Aug/Sep-2018 YAG laser surgeries (Germany), 11 nodules removed
Nov-2018 clean CT scan
Mar-2019 New lung nodules
Apr-2019 Dec-2020 Xeloda/Avastin, SBRT, cont. Xeloda/Avastin
Mar-2021 Forfiri/Avastin
Mar-2022 Ablation & Thoracotomy
Feb-2023 Folfiri & Avastin
Nov-2023 Xeloda & Avastin

KCP
Posts: 4
Joined: Sun Oct 22, 2017 3:46 pm
Contact:

Re: Antibiotic Therapy

Postby KCP » Fri Jul 13, 2018 2:04 pm

I have been put on metronidazole and doxycycline. Luckily it is only for 10 days. I want to thank you for your suggestions, I'm sure I'll be trying some. I take 2 imodium a day now, perhaps I'll have to increase it. I have been taking a probiotic, but will try the Culturelle. I too have found that you need to switch these up every once in awhile.

Thanks again everyone.
59 yo female
Diagnosed July 2015 with stage 3 rectal cancer
Colostomy
Radiation and 5 FU
Surgery to remove tumor in December 2015
Chemotherapy until June 2016 with gall bladder removal during treatment
Colostomy reversed December 2016
June 2017 CAT scan all clear :D

weisssoccermom
Posts: 5988
Joined: Thu May 10, 2007 2:32 pm
Location: Pacific NW

Re: Antibiotic Therapy

Postby weisssoccermom » Fri Jul 13, 2018 2:39 pm

From my experience with doxcy, it tends to be much easier on the GI system than Augmentin. Flagyl (metronidazole) is an antibiotic often given when a patient HAS uncontrollable diarrhea.....for example, C-diff and, from what I know of it, doesn't cause diarrhea.

I would also recommend taking TWO probiotics a day.....when I am on a higher dose of doxcy.....I take one probiotic in the AM and one in the PM.
Dx 6/22/2006 IIA rectal cancer
6 wks rad/Xeloda -finished 9/06
1st attempt transanal excision 11/06
11/17/06 XELOX 1 cycle
5 months Xeloda only Dec '06 - April '07
10+ blood clots, 1 DVT 1/07
transanal excision 4/20/07 path-NO CANCER CELLS!
NED now and forever!
Perform random acts of kindness

Jannine
Posts: 204
Joined: Wed Jun 20, 2018 7:46 am
Location: Maryland, USA

Re: Antibiotic Therapy

Postby Jannine » Fri Jul 13, 2018 8:23 pm

Posting mostly in sympathy, as I don't have any good anti-diarrheal tips. I was on Metronidazole for 10 days along with Cipro, back when they weren't sure what was wrong with me yet (turned out to be colon cancer). The taste and smell changes with metronidazole drove me to distraction. Some people smelled like they had bathed in mothballs to me (people I saw regularly who I KNEW didn't normally smell like that), and I smelled lots of awful smells that didn't seem to have a source, and some things I normally love just tasted bad and wrong. Including both coffee and chocolate.

The bad smells quit when I went off the antibiotics, fortunately. Hopefully you won't have many side effects!

Thanks for posting this question; the tips on probiotics are super useful to me. I am trying to get an appointment with an integrated medicine specialist to find out what more I can do to keep my gut healthy.
DX: sigmoid colon cancer 5/2018. 48 F
laparoscopic sigmoid resection (24 cm removed); no stoma.
7.5cm adenocarcinoma -- mod. diff.
1 noncontiguous tumor deposit removed; 0/31 lymph nodes
T3 pN1c M0
5/18 before surgery, CEA 11.2
6/18 began FOLFOX
7/18: CEA 1.9; added neulasta post infusion
9/18: CEA 2.8
10/18: 25% chemo reduction
11/18: CEA 1.8
7/19 CT scan clear


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