This gives me diarrhea & I don't know if I am destroying my digestive tract. It scares me to death that in addition to having Lyme & Anaplasmosis, I may also be destroying my digestive system!!
Can anyone tell me why it would not be safer & better to get your antibiotics via IV? It just seems that if you got it via IV, directly into your bloodstream, you would NOT be destroying your digestive system as much as you do when you swallow pills & they go thru your stomach & intestines...
Anyone know...???
Jennifer in Minnesota (JenniferMN)
Posts: 83 | From Minnesota | Registered: Jan 2011
| IP: Logged |
posted
IV is more expensive and requires a line of some kind to be installed, unless you go with IM (needles). Lines can have problems. So, there is no perfect delivery system.
Have you changed your diet to lower carbs and are you taking probiotics two hours after every antibiotic dose? If not, you should be doing this. And some people add organic yogurt, without sugar, to help GI tract.
Posts: 8430 | From Not available | Registered: Oct 2000
| IP: Logged |
Thank you for your answer. I will have to look into VSL #3 & Theralac, in addition to my Ultra Flora IB.
lou...
Thank you for your answer, too. I need to get on the Ultra Flora IB & I will take your advice to take it 2 hrs after each antibiotics dose. I will also add organic yogurt. I didn't understand the doctor's orders when he handed me a scribbled sheet that I couldn't read that turned out to say "Ultra Flora IB" and "IgG2000". So, I'm thinking if I get on those it will drastically reduce my diarrhea which had scared me so much that I quit the drugs after only 4 days.
My doctor is 3 1/2 hours away & I was just diagnosed, after having these symptoms for at least 12 years. He is totally overwhelmed w/ Lyme patients now that we here in Minnesota & Wisconsin have been recommended him as a LLMD. He has so many new patients, that he has had to stop taking any more, so it is no wonder that he was in such a hurry when he gave me my IGenX lab test results showing that I have seven positive IgM Lyme bands & Anaplasmosis & the DNA for Bb in my blood. I was so freaked out by this I started crying & couldn't ask him any more questions, so it is no wonder I didn't know I was supposed to be taking the Ultra Flora IB & the IgG2000.
Thanks again, so much, for your help. JenniferMN
Posts: 83 | From Minnesota | Registered: Jan 2011
| IP: Logged |
posted
You might also talk to your LLMD. Zith can give some people diarrhea .... and Biaxin can be taken instead.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
| IP: Logged |
TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
It is not safer to get your antibiotics through IV when you consider that if you get an infection in your IV line, you can be dead in 2 days.
So, the risks of IV are definitely greater than oral antibiotics.
Oral antibiotics don't normally give people diarrhea, so you do need to let your doc know that this is happening.
Also, as the others have said, you have to take very good probiotics and eat the anti-yeast diet while on meds. This is true even if you are on IV meds. On IV meds, you still take oral meds also. So, don't think that you are on the riskest form of treatment.
Instead, you are on the least risky form of treatment.
To learn about the anti-yeast diet, see the Burrascano Lyme Treatment Guidelines found here:
If you have not already read these Guidelines, I suggest you become very familiar with them.
I treated my lyme, babesiosis and bartonella with oral medications only. In April, it was 6 years since I completed my lyme treatment and I am still symptom free, enjoying my life.
You have a lot to learn right now since you were just diagnosed and are just starting your treatment. Read the Guidelines and hopefully you will begin to feel more comfortable with lyme therapy.
I trust all will go well with you once you let your doc know what is going on. You are not expected to endure diarrhea. Perhaps it is a side effect of one of the meds. Side effects are common. If a side effect is unbearable, the doc just changes your meds.
There are many, many meds that treat lyme, so there is room to maneuver when the patient calls to report side effects that cannot/should not be tolerated.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
| IP: Logged |
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96223 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
| IP: Logged |
scorpiogirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 31907
posted
Both have it's pros and cons.
I thought IV by passes my stomach too but I still get very nauseous and diarrhea for about a week when I start any new antibiotics oral or IV! Both can destroy your stomach AND other organs. IV are more expensive, time consuming not to mention you have to take care of your line. People typically go on IV when orals failed them. I can't wait until the day where I don't have to swallow another pill or drip another bag!!
-------------------- Posts: 1391 | From Lyme Land | Registered: May 2011
| IP: Logged |
Dogsandcats
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 28544
posted
Taking care of my IV port is a pain in the a$$.
Amen to Scorpio for the day no more ports or pills.
Be patient with yourself Jennifer, this is all new to you and it is overwhelming at first.
Hugs...
-------------------- God will prepare everything for our perfect happiness in heaven, and if it takes my dog being there, I believe he'll be there.
Billy Graham Posts: 1967 | From California | Registered: Oct 2010
| IP: Logged |
Rumigirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15091
posted
Everyone else gave good advice here. Just beware: if you are having diarrhea from antibiotics, it could mean that you have a case of C. Difficile, a serious intestinal infection.
So it is important to let your LLMD know right away. It may not be that, but just to give you heads up.
Posts: 3771 | From around | Registered: Mar 2008
| IP: Logged |
quote:lou: IV is more expensive and requires a line of some kind to be installed, unless you go with IM (needles). Lines can have problems. So, there is no perfect delivery system.
None is perfect but the Intra Muscular type like Penidural, is a very good replacement of Oral AB. That's what generally is given to treat syfilis, in which case only two shots are needed! In the case of Borrelia many more are given, 3x per week I believe.
According to Burrascano very efficient and spares the gut. Just have to find someone who can do the shots.
-------------------- "They that are whole have no need for the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance"(Mark 2.17) Posts: 149 | From Amsterdam | Registered: Jul 2011
| IP: Logged |
Thank you guys, all of you, I really do appreciate your help & advice. Your answers were all extremely helpful to me & I feel much calmer now about starting back up w/ my antibiotics now that I am armed w/ all the information that I didn't have before. If it weren't for you guys, there really wouldn't be anyone to ask who has experienced this whole thing! It is totally surreal that if it weren't for the internet, I would not only have no one to ask about the normal treatment side-affects, but I would NOT have even ever figured out, all on my own, what was wrong w/ me for the past 12 years & how to PROPERLY get tested for it!!
This whole entire thing is outrageous & unbelievable to me, that this could even be happening considering that I live in the state of Minnesota which is known, around the world, for it's State Dept of Health epidemiologists & it's healthcare in general!
Thank you all again, JenniferMN
Posts: 83 | From Minnesota | Registered: Jan 2011
| 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!
Printer-friendly view of this topic