Topic: IV Rocephin - how do you know if diahrrea is just a side effect and is it ok?
penguingirl
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Member # 28688
posted
So I am very new to this IV thing - just got PICC line in last Tuesday. Since Wed/Thur morning having black stools/diahrrea. Around Sunday/Monday they were less black but still dark.
Went to PCP on Monday to get specimin cups to give to hospital on Tues morning.
So I have stopped IV Rocephin on Mon/Tues but been flushing with Saline/Heparin. Although my dr told me to STOP heparin think it could be contributing to black stools so will stop that today.
This morning - totally normal BM! Not black either.
So I think my body just doesn't really like Rocephin. Funny because it is not an oral abx so I though diahrrea would not be a factor but guess so.
Awaiting test results from c.diff but I am pretty sure I am fine. I guess until we know for sure, no drugs infused. But here is my question - I just know that once I start back on Rocephin all this madness will prob start again. Which is fine - as long as I KNOW it's ok to just deal with - but how can you distinguish between something that is a side effect vs a warning sign?
I don't know if I should ask to switch to IV Doxy or something?
And now that my stool is normal colored I prob should flush with heparin right? I don't want any chances of blood clots! I will call my dr this morning to report that.
PS I am on tons of probiotics and s. bouillardi. I would not think it is yeast if my BM became normal within 2 days?
-------------------- Posts: 1204 | From USA | Registered: Oct 2010
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ktkdommer
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Member # 29020
posted
PICC problems are a bummer. In my family we have not had your issue so can't really help. It sounds like you've got evidence of an issue. Your questions is a good one whether to move ahead or switch. II hope your doctor helps with the heparin flush question.
My son has been on IV rocephin for 9 months and only problem is PICC lines cracking.
Do you think if you rephrased your topic as a question that it would help? Some people who are off of IV drugs may not have interest in the subject but may reply to a question.
Has anyone using IV rocephin developed black stools?
-------------------- Things are never dull. After 3 fighting Lyme, 2 are in remission. Youngest is still sick, age 22. He has new diagnosed Chiari Malformation and Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. Posts: 1366 | From Perrysburg, Ohio | Registered: Nov 2010
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penguingirl
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Member # 28688
posted
Thanks Kari.
My dr called and said no heparin for me. Just baby aspirin once a day once/if I start back on Rocephin.
I am just weary of persistent diahrrea that will happen if I go back on it.
-------------------- Posts: 1204 | From USA | Registered: Oct 2010
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posted
If the antibiotics are causing diarrhea then you have an imbalance in beneficial G.I. bacteria. Hubby had hepatic encephalopathy from IV Rocephin when he first did it back in 2003. He had an overgrowth of klebsiella and some other bad G.I. bacteria whic produce ammonia.
He was not on s. boularrdi but was on VSL #3 at the time.
Olive leaf extract may help with antibiotic induced diarrhea. If that does not work, then I would suggest something like cipro or levaquin. Those antibiotics work on bartonella and also on klebsiella and other bad G.I. bacteria.
You could request a G.I. panel from DiagnosTechs which might be helpful.
This is not medical advice, just my opinion based on hubby's experiences.
Bea Seibert
Posts: 7306 | From Martinsville,VA,USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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scorpiogirl
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Hi I ALWAYS have diarrhea when I start a new antibiotics. But usually by the end of the week my body adjusts and it's all back to normal. Although I have not had black stools... so I don't know what could cause that.
If you don't flush w/ Heparin your line will clot!! It only took 3 days for mine to. Stupid ER nurse told me when not using the line to flush w/ just saline. WRONG!! My Infusion nurse said when not using the line flush with Heparin. B/c I was told the opposite my line clotted up and I had to go in the ER to get it fixed.
If Rocephin is the culprit could you not ask for another IV?
-------------------- Posts: 1391 | From Lyme Land | Registered: May 2011
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penguingirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 28688
posted
Bea - I will try some olive leaf extract if/when I do go back on it. I am supposed to start Rifampin in a few weeks (once I have acclimated to whatever IV I will be on)
Scorpio - I am so confused now! how do you know if it is clotting up?
I just want this thing out of my arm already - but I came this far so I should just deal with it and hope for the best!
-------------------- Posts: 1204 | From USA | Registered: Oct 2010
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If you don't flush w/ Heparin your line will clot!! It only took 3 days for mine to. Stupid ER nurse told me when not using the line to flush w/ just saline. WRONG!! My Infusion nurse said when not using the line flush with Heparin. B/c I was told the opposite my line clotted up and I had to go in the ER to get it fixed.
- That's what *I* thought.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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posted
If you take enough lumbrokinase or wobenzyme or something else for hypercoagulation you can get away witout using heparin. Hubby has not used heparin in his PICC line for probably the last year or two but we do flush it at least once per day if not more often with normal saline.
The line could just clot up overnight or it might just start getting harder to flush.
I am assuming the doc said not to use heparin because they are worried that you are bleeding internally and that the black stools are from blood loss.
Bea Seibert
Posts: 7306 | From Martinsville,VA,USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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scorpiogirl
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posted
When your line is clotted, you cannot push anything through!! When you flush and meet resistance DO NOT force it!!
-------------------- Posts: 1391 | From Lyme Land | Registered: May 2011
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My daughter had GI problems for the first 8 weeks following her IV Roc initiation. So we switched the timing of every thing around. Changed when we infused...from pm to am then added Nystatin in the morning and continued taking Theralac (lots) and S Boulari but at night before bed. It corrected her digestive issues shortly thereafter.
Dark stools are a different matter though.
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