gwb
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7273
posted
A few days ago I posted on another thread that I was feeling pain in my shoulder when I breathe in. Last night in spread to behind my rib cage and it was becoming pretty painful, especially when breathing in.
Went to Urgent Care because I don't have a good Primary Care Doctor. They did an x-ray and told me I have Walking Pneumonia. The doctor wanted to give me Levaquin and I told him I don't do well with this at all and prefer something else.
He then changed my Rx to a Z-Pak (Zithromax) that you take for five days. I wonder if that might be a bit too much for me since I am very sensitive to powerful antibiotics?
I have some 250 mg Zithro that the Lyme doctor gave me that I'm supposed to start on Monday. Wonder if it would be OK to just use that instead of the five day Z-Pak since it's pretty potent stuff.
Any thoughts?
Gary
[ 08-22-2009, 06:55 AM: Message edited by: gwb ]
Posts: 1349 | From OK | Registered: May 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
Zithro is a good antibiotic for lung issues. As a matter of fact if I were you I'd try to actually take the Zithro for a little longer than the 5 days.
You have to weigh the potential herx or sensitivity issues you have with the seriousness of pneumonia.
Posts: 984 | From San Diego | Registered: Nov 2006
| IP: Logged |
gwb
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7273
posted
Parisa, thanks for your input. I've been off antibiotics for several months now due to stomach issues, side effects, etc. I was taking Amoxy and Doxy for awhile. After that I had Bicillin shots but had bad side effects from it.
Went to my LLMD last week and he told be to start of Zithromax for now and then we'll see how that goes. I'm supposed to start it on Monday, but now that I've got this Walking Pneumonia I'm going to go ahead and start taking it tomorrow.
Sure hope I can handle Zith better than the other abx I've taken. I've got to do something because the this disease has taken a terrible toll on me. This is the worst I've felt in years.
gwb
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7273
posted
I'm curious, does anyone know if Amoxicillin or Doxy work effectively for treating Walking Pneumonia?
Looking over some of the user reviews on Zithromax makes me not want to risk taking it due to some of the horrific side effects some people have experienced. I just hate taking abx.
I assume you are doing lots of probiotics, trying gluten free and all other things to help heal your gut?
Posts: 984 | From San Diego | Registered: Nov 2006
| IP: Logged |
sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
Zithromax or Biaxin are usually prescribed for pneumonia. You want to take the full dose as prescribed so that the bacteria causing the infection do not develop resistance.
If you do not treat the infection properly the first time it will only get worse.
Posts: 5237 | From here | Registered: Nov 2007
| IP: Logged |
gwb
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7273
posted
Parisa,
I do take probiotics. I haven't gone gluten free but haven't eaten much bread or grain products lately. Been eating good quality plain (unsweetened) organic yogurt with fresh blueberries daily.
Anything else you suggest I do for my gut while going on zithro?
sammy,
Yeah, that's what I was afraid of. As much as I hate to take the zithro, seems I don't have much choice in the matter if I want to beat this bacterial infection.
Posts: 1349 | From OK | Registered: May 2005
| IP: Logged |
You never know maybe Zithro will be a wonder drug for you? I know I dreaded it when they started my husband on Flagyl and then it turned out to be great.
Look into mastic gum that can be good for healing the gut.
Posts: 984 | From San Diego | Registered: Nov 2006
| IP: Logged |
gwb
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7273
posted
I noticed it says to take Zithro on empty stomach, one hour before meals, or two hours after meals. Can't take it with food???? Any conflict with dairy products?
Posts: 1349 | From OK | Registered: May 2005
| IP: Logged |
gwb
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7273
posted
Parisa,
I sure hope so. I'm going to take my first zitho in about an hour or so because it says to take it one hour prior or two hours after meals. I was hoping I could take it with food but I suppose that would lessen the effects of it.
I'll look into mastic gum as you suggested. Thanks.
So if you didn't get a blood test that defines the causative organism, how do you think they arrived as the right prescription?
Yikes.
-------------------- My biofilm film: www.whyamistillsick.com 2004 Mycoplasma Pneumonia 2006 Positive after 2 years of hell 2006-08 Marshall Protocol. Killed many bug species 2009 - Beating candida, doing better Lahey Clinic in Mass: what a racquet! Posts: 830 | From Mass. | Registered: Aug 2006
| IP: Logged |
sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
Hey gwb, did you try the Zithromax yet?
I pulled it up on rxlist.com to double check that you can take it with food. Food will not decrease it's absorbtion and it will help protect your stomach.
It does warn that you should not take magnesuim or aluminum containing antacids at the same time as your medication. So it would be wise to wait a couple hours after taking your medication to take any vitamins or supplements.
Hope this helps clear up any confusion.
Posts: 5237 | From here | Registered: Nov 2007
| IP: Logged |
gwb
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7273
posted
sammy, yes, today I took my first zitho and seemed to handle it OK. Been real tired though.
I'm making sure I take plenty of probiotics and trying to eat the right foods so that I don't mess up my stomach.
Thanks for the information and link on the zitho. I took it 90 minutes before food and it seemed to not bother me, so I'm hopeful. If it bothers me I'll take it with food.
Cold Feet, thanks for the link. Didn't realize that there were so many different kind of bugs that could cause this.
The doctor didn't draw blood (wish he would have) but he did take an x-ray and showed me where the "honeycomb" on the right lung was "Walking Pneumonia".
I'm hopeful the zitho will do the job, if not, then I'll have to find another doctor and get some more testing done. I should know in about three to five days if this gets cleared up.
Even after it's cleared up my Lyme doctor wants me to stay on zitho for awhile. I'm really hoping this will help with my lyme.
Posts: 1349 | From OK | Registered: May 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
gwb- I too am on Zith -- its been a little over a week now. So far able to tolerate it. Have been taking it with food. Also taking 1 Theralac Probiotic during the day and 2 at night. This may be a lot, but I wanted to make sure protecting the GI.
Sending thoughts and prayers for healing.
Posts: 515 | From In His Loving Care | Registered: Apr 2009
| IP: Logged |
gwb
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7273
posted
MorningSong,
That's encouraging to know you've been able to tolerate it so far. Glad to know you can take it with food.
Can you buy Theralac Probiotic at the Health Food Store? We only have a couple of decent stores here that carry health foods, vitamins. I don't recall seeing that brand on their shelves.
Is it refrigerated? I suppose I could order it from their website if I can't get it locally.
Thanks for your thoughts and prayers for healing. I pray the same for you as well, and for all of us who have suffered with this horrible disease.
posted
Gary, thanks for explaining. If you have the patience and energy, it may be wise to get the proper blood test.
You can probably tell from my signature why I care about this issue -- I almost died from neglect from doctors who were looking for a diagnosis from an XRAY. I can't believe that this "dark ages mentality" is still defined by the "standard of care."
Zithro and or doxy and other tetra drugs may be the right choice, but it makes a lot of sense to find out more. If your doc won't partner with you, perhaps you should find another?
Alas, will your Lyme doc write a blood script?!
-------------------- My biofilm film: www.whyamistillsick.com 2004 Mycoplasma Pneumonia 2006 Positive after 2 years of hell 2006-08 Marshall Protocol. Killed many bug species 2009 - Beating candida, doing better Lahey Clinic in Mass: what a racquet! Posts: 830 | From Mass. | Registered: Aug 2006
| IP: Logged |
posted
Gwb- My LLMD recommended Theralac since having so much GI problems with Doxy. She stated her other patients have good success with it. It is a little pricey, but it has really been helping.
There are others on this site taking it as well. I usually order by phone, and receive in a couple of days. They send via priority mail. Here is the ordering info my doctor gave me:
You may not need to take as much as I am taking. One capsule is 30 billion cfu and requires refrigeration. Hope this helps.
Posts: 515 | From In His Loving Care | Registered: Apr 2009
| IP: Logged |
Pinelady
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18524
posted
I have been on the zith for a month now and I have slipped esp. this last week. I don't think it has done much for me?
-------------------- Suspected Lyme 07 Test neg One band migrating in IgG region unable to identify.Igenex Jan.09IFA titer 1:40 IND IgM neg pos 31 +++ 34 IND 39 IND 41 IND 83-93 + DX:Neuroborreliosis Posts: 5850 | From Kentucky | Registered: Dec 2008
| IP: Logged |
posted
Was just treated last week with z-pac for pneumonia. Managed to finish the 5 days worth, but I had terrible stomach pains about a half hour each time I took it.
I decided to take it at night, so I could try to sleep through the side effect.
Since I've finished the z-pac, my urine has had a stink to it. And not to give TMI, but I had the runs for a few days too. Now seem to be constipated. Wondering if it's all related to the med?
Good luck, hope you're on the road to recovery very soon. Pneumonia is no fun.
-------------------- Mom to a 5 year old lymie.... Taking it one day at a time. Posts: 182 | From Ipswich, MA | Registered: Jul 2008
| IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
![[confused]](graemlins/confused.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic