I've been getting weekly bicillin injections for 6 weeks, 1 in each rump....I realized that I had neglected to take the rifampin the LLMD had Rx'd as part of a six week protocol of various meds that I was supposed to take prior to starting getting the bicillin injections
I had taken all the others prior to starting the injections but somehow forgot the rifampin
So the nurse who gives me the injections told me to start taking it....
Here's my current status My urine has turned orange, dark My abdomen seems to be growing and although I'm having bm's more than once a day, they're not well formed
I have lots of internal gurgling and discomfort after eating sometimes with acid indigestion following
It's almost like the food I'd getting blocked on its way through the GI tract
It's making me more sluggish
Now, the only symptom that I associate with the rifampin is the orange urine
The GI symptoms have been around since starting the bicillin
But everything seems to be getting worse
I take probiotics 3x day
Magnesium, fish oil, vit b complex, glutathione, and androgel testosterone
Any ideas?
I'm thinking of asking the nurse to confirm that I should be taking the rifampin while I'm getting the bicillin but the GI symptoms started with the bicillin, not with the rifampin
I'm also thinking of calling the GI guy I've seen for 30 years, but if this is related to the bicillin, maybe I should just skip a week or two of the bicillin?
[ 09-11-2014, 10:41 AM: Message edited by: DanP ]
Posted by joalo (Member # 12752) on :
Up.
Posted by GretaM (Member # 40917) on :
How are you feeling DanP?
What is the type of probiotics you are taking? What is the cfu count?
Rifampin will turn ones urine orange. That is normal and is not a bad thing. For me it was temporary.
Are you eating a low carb/low sugar diet to avoid yeast issues?
When your bartonella was at it's worst-did you have stomach issues?
Sorry for the gazillion questions, just trying to narrow down if it could be a herx, from BLO killing, or a yeast/fungal issue.
Posted by DanP (Member # 7501) on :
Greta,
The LLMD prescribed diflucan , he's convinced the GI symptoms are due to a yeast overgrowth
The rx called for every other day but the nurse said for first week take every day and then switch, countermanding the rx
She's a Lyme patient herself
The GI symptoms are still bothersome but after two days on diflucan they have lessened
That is I still have gurgling after eating and some acid indigestion but the bm's although regular are somewhere between fully formed and diarrhea
And I think the bicillin and rifampin have improved the lower back and left hip pain BUT
I'm waking up a dozen times during the night with sweats alternating with chills, so I throw off the sheets and two mins later put them back on
I haven't had a straight 4 hours of sleep In over a week, it wasn't that much better before that either
I'm constantly stretching and gyrating like a cat bec I'm tight and trying to get the kinks out
I'm alternating 3 different probiotics and eating sauerkraut and pickles, still taking vit b complex, glutathione, fish oil, a men's multivitamin, and sometimes I take dr z's allicin regimen but I think that exacerbates the acid indigestion
And of course when I wake during the night and throughout the day I get depressed abt how I feel wondering how I'm going on this safari I have planned in November
Oh and one last thing, I've stopped the androgel testosterone I have been applying at the recommendation 8 years ago of a dr in ME whose male patients around my age had low counts
My regular MD said I could but now I'm wondering bec my last test results had me at 448 and I think the acceptable range is 400 to 1200, so I'm still low
Posted by hermit (Member # 44427) on :
have you tried using a buffer C solution, two tables spoons of vinegar in water, or baking soda in water to adjust the pH of the intestines?
Posted by DanP (Member # 7501) on :
I haven't tried the buffer approach, there was a time that I was taking apple cider vinegar once a day for a while, but I keep forgetting...and I can't remember if I thought I was doing better with it, but i'll try to remember to start again when I get home tonight...
[ 09-11-2014, 03:02 PM: Message edited by: DanP ]
Posted by DanP (Member # 7501) on :
Update - I've continued the weekly bicillin injections and the oral rifampin...last night I had one of my worst nights ever...woke around two with the feeling that my lower back was running on empty, drying up and tight, not quite electric but close = tossed and turned for the next few hours..
I take magnesium, fish oil, vit b complex, a fiber supp, I don't know why this is happening
I had a glass of wine with pasta around 4 but nothing after that, except for some walnuts, and almonds...
I'm also taking the diflucan but am starting every other day after today, I know I have a yeast problem because my tongue is coated
I'm calling the LLMD today, I'm considering backing off of the bicillin and rifampin for a while...
comments? advice?
Posted by jlcd1 (Member # 18138) on :
Just my opinion but the pasta and wine will just feed the yeast. Be careful!!
Posted by Tbrown2 (Member # 42446) on :
Pretty sure rifampin And alchohol are a big no no as well
Posted by Judie (Member # 38323) on :
For me, rifampin was a nightmare. It first made me wired. Then it was impossible to me to relax.
I couldn't sleep except out of pure exhaustion.
I had knee pain in my good knee. Never had that before.
Then I lost my senses (I couldn't hear or feel things I touched). Hallucinations followed.
I stopped the rifampin. I found out later I have gene that makes it difficult for me to break down certain meds and rifampin was on the list.
I did fine with bicillin. That was given because it bypasses the stomach and is easier on the tummy than orals.
Good luck! It does sound like candida is an issue too.
One antibiotic that gave me thrush within a few days.
Does your tongue have a white coat?
I'm glad they gave you diflucan. Nystatin works well for me.
[ 09-16-2014, 02:08 AM: Message edited by: Judie ]
Posted by ladyjenie (Member # 21098) on :
Have you been on VSL #3 or VSL #3 DS? My LLMD has me taking it along with Nystatin and S. Boulardi.
You need to discuss your gut issues with your LLMD as chronic diarrhea is a possibility. I have been dealing with it for 4 months now.