I've been undergoing Lyme treatment for four months now; the third month started wtih Mepron and Tinidazole 2x per day...in the middle of that third month I started getting pain below my stomach, at the top of the intestines; a burning pain and then acid reflux started (and became severe); and the area that hurt seemed inflammed/swollen.
At the end of this third month came severe watery diarrhea with cramping that lasted for ten days straight (with some nausea but no vomiting). I stopped both of these drugs by the third day of the diarrhea.
My PCP (who isn't my Lyme doc) said I had stomach flu. Ten days of stomach flu? I think it was because of the antibiotics.
My Lyme doc had me start these two drugs again three days after the diarrhea stopped. The same pain started again the following day with loose stools, so I stopped the meds two days after starting again. I've been off of these for over a week now and I still have the burning pain, cramping and loose stools. I thought I would have recovered by now.
Has anyone else had these problems with these drugs? I read that they both can cause GI problems...but this long after not taking them??
I thought about trying to get another month of these into my treatment, but now I'm having strong second thoughts.
If anyone responds...appreciate your time and help with this.
Chance
Posts: 6 | From Ft. Collins, Colorado | Registered: Mar 2012
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seekhelp
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C-Diff sounds very likely and is very serious. Your LLMD should be aware of this risk and testing for it now. It's no joke. I hope he/she takes it serious!
Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
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TF
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Go to Walmart and buy Florastor. Take one twice per day. This expensive probiotic will help to restore your gut flora.
Are you on a good probiotic with your antibiotics? Do you take the probiotics at least 2 hours after the antibiotics? If you aren't on a very good probiotic, then the lyme treatment can destroy your gut flora and cause diarrhea.
Also, a germ called colostridium difficile that causes terrible diarrhea can take hold and be tough to get rid of.
So, for C diff, you take the Florastor as I described above. And, you stop the antibiotics.
If that doesn't do the trick, you will have to be tested for C diff and if you have it, you will have to be treated for it. They use flagyl first. If the C diff comes back after the flagyl, then they give you vancomycin which is extremely expensive.
I would call the lyme doc and say I wanted tested for C diff. He can fax an order to your lab and you arrange with them to get them a stool sample.
With C diff there is often a terrible odor. What you have written sounds a lot like C diff. I just got over it.
I would not go back on meds until I found out whether or not it was C diff. C diff can be very difficult to get rid of. Hence the word "difficile." I had to take 20 days of vancomycin (4 times per day, then tapering the dose down the last week) in order to get rid of it. You won't believe the price of this med and it can be difficult to find a pharmacy that has it or has all that you need.
Wish you the best. Let us know what happens.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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gmb
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Some variations of ABX effects us more than others. I had a tough couple of weeks of GI issues when I first added TindaMax. I was already on Mepron, Zith, IV Rocephin, and Bactrim DS. I was also on VSL#3 DS and Florastor.
I recall that 6 weeks after starting Bactrim (nice to keep a good sx and abx log book) I had a similar reaction, as well as when I doubled up on my Mepron dose. My worse reaction was on Augmentin which I just could not tollerate and had to stop.
When GI issues flair I first double Florastor to 4 capsules a day, and up increasing the VSL#3 if that doesn't help. Sometime you need a break from the last ABX added to see if things improve.
My opinion is that most of our GI issues are a direct result of long term ABX use, but sometimes I feel that ABX are doing their job and the GI issues are resulting from a purge from die-off. I'm sure other parasites may have a role here as well.
I've had two test for C-diff as well just to be sure. Both were negative and GI stuff did settle down eventually.
Both Tini and Meprox are strong drugs maybe you should try adding back only one at a time. What else are you taking?
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'Kete-tracker
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There Is a bad intestinal virus going around that lasts 5-10 days typically. Everything goes liquid. (Not clear.) So just be aware. Still, a check for C. Difficile would be a good idea here.
Any GI side effects for those 2 drugs *should* clear after a 1 or 2 day break, I'd think.
I never had any similar issues with Tinidazole. I've never been on- or needed- Mepron, thankfully (no babs).
Posts: 1233 | From Dover, NH | Registered: Sep 2008
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Thank you all very much for your time, concern, and personal information.
I was tested for C. diff - negative; all other stool tests were negative...so that's good news.
I will try the Florastor probiotic, replacing what I've been on. Thank you for this info.
Could have been a stomach virus? Or die-off? Or ABX? Hmmmmm.
I see my LLMD in a couple of weeks; he may suggest one ABX at a time at this point. I appreciate 'the break' but the tight neck muscles/headaches and weird joint pains are coming back. Sigh.
Again, thank you for your time with my problems...I know you all have had some rough times and I appreciate sharing notes with you as we continue this battle with Lyme.
Blessings, Chance
Posts: 6 | From Ft. Collins, Colorado | Registered: Mar 2012
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
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That is really great news that it isn't C diff. Once you get rid of the diarrhea, you won't have to take the Florastor daily.
Take other probiotics in addition to the Florastor.
Burrascano recommends getting a few kinds and mixing them together, plus drinking kefir daily. Be sure the kefir does not have any form of sugar as an ingredient. Get plain kefir.
Take probiotics 3 times per day, for a total of 6 per day. (Plus the Florastor every once in a while.) I always took 2 at bedtime so they had all night to repopulate the gut. See page 28 of Burrascano's Guidelines.
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