-severe (painful) gas and bloating all day -bad smelling gas -diarrhea (no more than normal, though) -intestinal cramps so bad they make me sweat -chills while on the toilet and whenever I have intestinal cramps
At first I thought maybe it was a parasite I picked up while camping about 3 weeks ago.
I've since re-started Alinia AND Mimosa pudica (I've been pulsing alinia 3 weeks on/3 weeks off, so that was scheduled, and the M. pudica was also planned to start this week).
So I'm thinking, maybe...candida? I'm on nystatin, but maybe that's not strong enough any more?
Or, could gall bladder problems do this?
Which co-infection (or Lyme?) is known for GI problems? I used to have these symptoms before starting treatment for Lyme a year ago but they went away and now they're back even stronger.
Any ideas? I spend an hour or more a day on the toilet in pain these days, so I'd like to resolve this ASAP.
Posts: 243 | From Southern Arizona | Registered: Jun 2015
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-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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MichaelTampa
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 24868
posted
What Lymetoo said above is what comes to my mind as well. There probably are other possibilities, but that comes to mind.
Posts: 1927 | From se usa | Registered: Mar 2010
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-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Brussels
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13480
posted
Candida treatment can cause diarrhea in the beginning.
Posts: 6199 | From Brussels | Registered: Oct 2007
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Haley
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 22008
posted
Antiparasitcs kill off a lot of good bacteria. It can be difficult to restore... It's not as easy as probiotics and fermented food.
I would get a stool sample at Great Plains lab. It will show you the status of the good and bad bacteria (including CDiff)
Posts: 2232 | From USA | Registered: Aug 2009
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bluelyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 47170
posted
Have you treated parasites. .?..i had ascaris and giardia went wild after i cleared good flora..
-------------------- Blue Posts: 1539 | From southwest | Registered: Dec 2015
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posted
If it were me, I would go see my GP asap. At the same time I would try taking a really good probiotic. The best I've found is Genesis Today Probiotic available from Amazon and Walmart. (Up by the pharmacy near Pepto Bismo - not on the shelf with the vitamins - around $10 for 30 capsules). I have Bart and diarrhea has been an issue for me.
I can stop it by taking 1 Kelp tablet (don't know why this works for me) and 3 Genesis Today Probiotics. I take this combo once a day.
Posts: 653 | From Northern Virginia | Registered: Oct 2014
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posted
LLMD told me to stop all oral antibiotics just in case, and perhaps do a c. diff test if symptoms continue (which they are today, but less severe).
The diarrhea isn't out of the ordinary for me (comes and goes, and I take Magnesium and Vitamin C anyway), but the painful gas and cramps are new.
blue - I did go through the 6 week parasite protocol of Dr. K. Alinia was such a successful med for me on that that we were trying it three weeks on/three off. But now I'm off that too.
tulips - my GP has been pretty ineffective at anything, but I will check out the probiotic you mentioned. I am on 5 different probiotics right now (Florastor, HLC, Therbiotic Complete, Orthobiotic, and one I can't remember), which I take daily, but maybe it's time to rotate them.
Thanks for the thoughts, everyone.
Posts: 243 | From Southern Arizona | Registered: Jun 2015
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posted
Florastor is great for c.diff .. I take it twice a day if I have trouble with my gut.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
Yes to Florastor. When I got c. diff from treatment of a sinus infection, my gastro had me take Florastor daily in addition to his antibiotic treatment.
To be quickly tested for c. diff, my primary sent me to the ER. They will test your stool sample and you will get the answer in a few hours. (I took my stool sample to the ER. Keep it refrigerated.)
If you go to a regular lab, it will be days.
I agree that your new symptoms sound like c. diff. When I had it, I had to RUSH to the bathroom often in the middle of the night. I had about 10 seconds to get there or there would be cleanup involved.
The stool of a c. diff. patient is infectious, so use separate towels from the family and wash any soiled clothing separately. Don't let anyone come in contact with that stool in any way.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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Judie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 38323
posted
I'm so sorry you're going through this!
Alinia completely screwed up my stomach, but it did it to me right off, not later on so I knew it was THAT drug.
Posts: 2839 | From California | Registered: Jul 2012
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Judie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 38323
posted
If it were me, I'd stop the magnesium and vitamin C (and whatever supplements where it's okay to take a break from for a few days or more).
This is just to give your stomach a rest. If you're having diarrhea already, you're having trouble absorbing stuff right now.
L-glutamine powder helps heal the stomach lining, fixes diarrhea and fights Lyme. Take it when you first wake up on an empty stomach. Work up to 5 grams a day.
HMS Replete is designed to replenish good bacteria after taking antibiotics.
Both were recommended to me by a doctor who fixed my stomach after 2 1/2 years of hell after antibiotics.
Posts: 2839 | From California | Registered: Jul 2012
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Jordana
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 45305
posted
The anaplasmas all cause diarrhea.
LLMD just prescribed some expensive probiotic with the instruction to mix it with s boulardii in 2 oz of distilled water into an empty fleet enema bottle and administer them that way once or twice a week as tolerated.
If none of what you try works after a while maybe get your gallbladder checked.
Posts: 2057 | From Florida | Registered: Feb 2015
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posted
I'm here--my LLMD won't run a C diff test because I don't have watery diarhea (they claim the lab won't run it). In fact, I barely have diarhhea - just pretty loose stool, and on Monday I was even constipated. So really, all the other symptoms are the problem ones.
Can you have c. diff without the watery diarhea?
Does anyone know about gallbladder problems presenting without pain? I have worse gas after I eat, bad intestinal cramping in general, nausea (yesterday - today I seem to be nausea-free). I'm on IM rocephin and Actigall, which is why I suggest it. Any thoughts?
thanks for all the probiotic suggestions btw - I've been looking for some new ones to try.
Posts: 243 | From Southern Arizona | Registered: Jun 2015
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Jordana
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 45305
posted
They say that gallbladder problems don't cause intestinal distress but mine was horribly infected by the time they took it out, and a lot of my gastro issues went totally away when they did. Sometimes when the GB isn't working right it expels too much bile kind of spastically and that can be really painful.
Posts: 2057 | From Florida | Registered: Feb 2015
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sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
You can have c.diff even if you alternate between constipation and diarrhea, leaning towards the constipation side. (Per well known/ respected GI doc...)
Labs do prefer the diarrhea sample though to run their test. Does not need to be watery, just loose.
They usually want 3 separate samples to rule out C.Diff infections because it can easily be missed in one sample.
With your symptoms, I'd request the tests.
Posts: 5237 | From here | Registered: Nov 2007
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