Hi, everyone - I've been struggling with balancing my abx (Tetracycline) dosing and kefir, yogurt, and acidophilus capsules. Last week, I had a blood sugar crisis that I thought was caused by the Tetracycline, but in fact on extensive research found it was caused by the acidophilus. I'm feeling much better now, so I thought I'd share the link to the journal article I found, particularly for those of you who are having "carb cravings," and weakness, which were the signs for me that my gut organisms were gobbling up all available carbs.
Can't figure out what this means. Does it only apply to people who have had bowel surgery?
It is interesting how many times they handed out abx, like candy practically. Quite a contrast when it comes to lyme.
I have never heard before that acidophilus was only killed by some abx, and not others.
Everyone on abx is probably going to have to watch those carbs anyway. That is part of the treatment protocol.
Posted by Truthfinder (Member # 8512) on :
Thanks for the info, Katie - I had no idea there could be such a thing as an overgrowth of what I consider friendly flora in the gut.
I found the article very confusing - did you? Also, it was my interpretation that this happens when surgery has shortened the bowel....
quote:
Surgical procedures that cause anatomical or functional short bowel facilitate the overgrowth of D-lactate-producing gram-positive organisms (such as Lactobacillus species, Streptococcus bovis, Bifidobacterium species, and Eubacterium species) at the expense of the gram-negative flora.
quote:
And I don't know what the "gram-negative flora" would be that they are speaking of.
All confusion aside, this is most interesting and definitely food for thought - thanks.
Tracy Posted by triharder (Member # 8857) on :
I think the bowel resection part isn't as significant as the response to the acidophilus. I would imagine that when a patient has a bowel resection all potential GI problems are magnified.
Take it for what it's worth. I had many of the symptoms of lactic acidosis, and even though I had my urine and blood tested for low blood sugar and protein in my urine, my results were normal and I responded within two days to a reduction in acidophilus capsules. Lactic acidosis is serious, but luckily it is self-limiting (kind of like when you hyperventilate).
Katie
Posted by Lydie (Member # 8327) on :
Low blood sugar does not show up in urine tests (although ketones do) and a blood test would not show low blood sugar unless you were low at that very moment. You could purchase a meter to see what your blood sugars are doing...
Hypoglycemia is a side effect of tetracycline, but it is interesting that stopping the probiotics helped you. Could you have an allergy to one of the ingredients? That can sometimes cause low blood sugar...
Posted by triharder (Member # 8857) on :
Actually, I didn't have a glucose test, but a HbgAic test, which looks at levels over the past several months (I have no idea how this is done).
I didn't say I stopped the probiotics. But I did cut back to one or two a day (I'm still trying to find the happy medium).
I consulted my physician, pharmacist, and of course all my online sources about the affect of Tetracycline on blood glucose levels but found nary a reference. Please let me know where you found out about this association between the abx and hypoglycemia - I'd be very interested to see it.
Posted by lpkayak (Member # 5230) on :
i don't know you guys---i was on HUGE doses of oral abx for 3 yrs and i took ALOT of probiotics, nystatin and sbc. my bowel movements were what i used to determine how much i took. i just took how much i had to to stay normal.
Posted by JimBoB (Member # 8454) on :
I have just read the article best I could and FAIL TO SEE where Acidophilus has ANYTHING to do with that persons condition.
From what I have read it is the antibiotics that CAUSED the condition.
SHOW ME where it says different.
Jim Posted by blueskyfaith (Member # 8723) on :
I did noticed twice that after I took Yogurt that had been put on room temperature for about 2 hrs I had a upset stomach. I intended to get more Lacs by this 2hr/RT method. Don't know wether it's increased bacteria number or their side products caused the problem.
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