This is going to get graphic and gross, so please ignore if you need to, but I have to ask. I have had diarreah since starting on the antibiotics, even while taking Super Probiotics (capsule form). I should probably add yogurt or something, but I was wondering if how the diarreah looks has anything to do with gauging how my treatment is coming along. Specifically, and this is the gross part, the diarreah looks "wormy" and that's the only way I can describe it. Just explosive, little wormy-looking things. Last night I had a big Italian meal (was starving -- only had a bowl of cereal up until then, and my stomach wasn't giving me fits as usual), and I ended up with explosive, dark black diarreah. Any help on this?
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
please be sure you're taking plenty of probiotics, no, tons of probiotics.
the diahhrea can turn into either c. diff or psuedomembranous colitis, both of which are pretty serious.
i'm not sure about the "wormy" stuff but i'd definitely keep an eye on things.
Posted by LizaLu (Member # 21483) on :
It's possible your treatment is clearing some of the worms out that 1 in 3 people in America get. My poo is cloudy all the time...this cloudy stuff just comes out ALL the time. i believe that's from antibiotics but it was happening b4 i started treatment (for years now) and my Nurse Practitioner said that was bacteria.
There's soo much just exiting the body for us...it's hard to know what's what.
Posted by Brussels (Member # 13480) on :
Abx would cause me diarrhea even before I had lyme. It is a massive destructive weapon for your GI tract as it kills good and bad bacteria there.
Probiotics are a must, but they don't fill in the gap left by the massive abx killing (as the number of beneficial bacteria and strains are just too large to be replenished short term).
I would add liquid enzymes (like Rechtsregulat) that help digestion. Every single day, a couple of times a day in case I'm taking abx.
I would at all means avoid highly allergenic foods like wheat, tomatoes, nuts, chocolate, etc. And by no means put a single grain of sugar in my mouth while on abx (because of yeast).
One of my allergy symptom for foods was merely diarrhea. The food comes out without being digested as I'm allergic to it. Other symptoms were stomach cramps, rash or feeling of burning, or sometimes fatigue after eating.
Everytime I had fatigue after eating, I tried to check what exactly I ate and test if avoiding that would still cause me fatigue.
If fatigue comes after ingestion, I would usually avoid the food (because of allergy). Lyme caused me all sorts of allergy and after getting rid of lyme, I think I'm not allergic to anything anymore.
you could also think about yeast. Some people with GI yeast have barely no visible symptoms, but most have either constipation or diarrhea. Gas and worsening after eating sugar or larger amount of carbohidrates are signs of yeast. Craving for carbs and sugar another.
It could be worms, as you suggest, of course.
It could also be just a detox reaction from either foods or toxins from die off?? Are you on antiparasitic treatment? One of the classical consequences of killing worms is diarrhea too.
Posted by treepatrol (Member # 4117) on :
Black could mean blood higher up say intestens? Get a sample to LLMD.
Posted by Starfall1969 (Member # 17353) on :
I agree with treepatrol--black stools can signal bleeding in the intestines and should be checked ASAP.
Posted by Dancer (Member # 11039) on :
Things that keep diarrhea at bay for me while on tons of abx:
I switched to Culturelle and BioK Plus (liquid) probiotics - both have patented probx strains that they claim are able to survive the stomach acid and then attach to the intestinal walls.
On a nutritional pharmacist's advice I initially used Florastor beneficial yeast probiotic as my sole probiotic for many months while on orals - sometimes 5 or 6 Flor a day. It was suggested that it survives abx and starves out bad pathogens, although its temporary, it doesn't colonize in the intestinal tract. I was advised to restore flora with standard probiotics AFTER finishing abx. It seemed to work well - no yeast or diarrhea to speak of for that first year or so.
Posted by Dancer (Member # 11039) on :
Black stool can also be caused by Pepto Bismol or other bismuth based products.
Posted by NellieK (Member # 23554) on :
Thanks everyone! Luckily, no more black poo -- must've been something I ate that night. Brussels: the allergy thing really hit home. I've been having allergic reactions to the strangest things lately -- things I'm sure I've eaten before and not had any problems. I will increase the probiotics and look into the liquid enzymes.
Posted by WildCondor (Member # 434) on :
Get tested for c.diff, and if the black stool shows up again get checked out asap that means bleeding in the GI tract, or bismuth ingestion. I highly doubt its any kind of worms. Its more likely c.diff or antibiotic associated diarrhea. make sure you are on Florastor and dont mess around with this.