posted
I was wondering how to keep from getting C-diff? I've had it 4 times in a year and a half. I had c-diff (from having so many sinus infections) before I found out I had Lyme. Anyway, now I'm needing to start antibiotics to treat the Lyme but I'm feeling really anxious about it. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know.
I am taking probiotics. Is it alright to take more then the bottle says?
Sandy
Posts: 56 | From Washington State | Registered: Feb 2006
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posted
After being treated for 19 months on a mix of IVs and orals I finally came down with the C.diff also.
My doc put me on flagly for 10 days and it helped quite a bit but then had to go to 10 days of vanco to finally kill it off. That was a couple of weeks ago and I have been back on ABX for a bad ehrlichia infection that we are having a hard time getting rid of.
I just had a stool test for c.dif and it came back neg. My intestine are doing much better so there are no real signs of the C.diff. I did a number of colonics while on the vanco and that did help get all the toxins out for me. Also a lot of the floristor yeast probiotics really helped along with kefer and yougurt. I also did a lot of aloe vera gel in my water, 4x a day.
I also added red cabbage to my juicer. Cabbage is really good for the intestinal support. I have been lucky so far and will continue with these until done with ABX.
Posts: 582 | From milwaukee wi | Registered: May 2005
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posted
A lot of us take many times the recommended amount of probiotics --- literally handfuls of them. I don't think they can hurt you, especially when on lots of abx, which kill them off....
-------------------- "Looks like freedom but it feels like death.. It's something in between, I guess"
Leonard Cohen, from the song "Closing Time" Posts: 822 | From California | Registered: Jan 2006
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5dana8
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posted
ditto on minomonkey-
When I was on abx I found I couldn't take too much pro-biotics as the abx was killing the good flora faster than I could replace them not matter how much I took.
-------------------- 5dana8 Posts: 4432 | From some where over the rainbow | Registered: Sep 2005
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TerryK
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Member # 8552
posted
I take this as a preventative because it has been shown to be effective in studies. I've never had C. Diff but I've only been on abx since May. I wrote the following. You can see the studies referenced in the text here: http://www.webshopemporium.com/Probiotics.htm You could also do a search in pubmed for more studies. It seems to be well documented.
Saccharomyces Boulardii
Saccharomyces Boulardii is a yeast that is probiotic in action and is considered non-pathogenic. Studies have verified that it is useful for treatment of diarrhea and that it is safe. It is used to prevent diarrhea associated with antibiotic use.
S. boulardii improves the immune system defenses, digestion, and absorption of nutrients. It also helps regulate gene expression and protein synthesis.9 In animal studies, S. boulardii protects against diarrhea and enterocolitis induced by a variety of enteric pathogens, including C. difficile. In human studies, S. boulardii treatment reduced the risk of subsequent relapse in patients with a history of multiple episodes of C. difficile. 10 In another animal study, S. Boulardii inhibits the Escherichia coli endotoxin.11
One study notes that it's possible that some strains of Saccharomyces Boulardii could become pathogenic so they recommend caution in immunocompromised patients until further study is undertaken.7
I take kefir and yogurt and quite a few probiotics 2X per day.
Terry
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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dontlikeliver
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My LLMD said max 8 probiotic caps a day or you could get an infection from THEM.
DLL
Posts: 2824 | From The Back of Beyond | Registered: Oct 2003
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TerryK
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quote: My LLMD said max 8 probiotic caps a day or you could get an infection from THEM. DLL
There are many strains of bacteria that are considered probiotic. Did your LLMD say which strain/strains he is concerned about and why? 8 caps of what? Certain strains, brands or?
I've spent considerable time searching medical literature looking for information about this and everything I've read say's that probiotics are, for the most part very safe. In general, probiotics are considered non-pathogenic (not disease causing). In fact, they are just the opposite because they bind to sites that bad bacteria colonize thus not allowing the bad bacteria to cause infections. The only concern that I've seen voiced is in rare cases of infection found in people who have extremely compromised immune systems and only with a few strains.
I suppose that one could get a probiotic that is contaminated and perhaps get an infection that way?
If on abx, it would seem unlikely that one could get an infection from non-pathogenic species since abx continually kills the good bacteria and one must keep replenishing it in order to keep the bad bacteria from growing. How much is too much? So far, I've seen nothing that indicates there could be a problem except in severely immune compromised individuals or newborn infants who are ill.
Not to say that your LLMD is incorrect but I would really appreciate something to substantiate his concern since it is clear beyond a doubt that not enough probiotic does indeed allow infections with bad bacteria to grow.
I'll keep looking for information about probiotics and add to my website page as I find it but I wonder if you don't already know, if you could try to find out more from your LLMD for us since I know a lot of us take quite a few probiotics? I'll ask my LLND when I see her in December and my LLMD when I see him in a few weeks. Maybe between us we can get a better idea of what the concensus is.
I want to stay on abx and so far, my large doses of probiotics are allowing me to accomplish that goal. Terry
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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AZURE WISH
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posted
I use Saccharomyces Boulardii by nutricology.
But I advise you ask your llmd before starting anything.
TerryK
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Member # 8552
posted
quote: I use Saccharomyces Boulardii by nutricology.
But I advise you ask your llmd before starting anything.
Yes, good idea. I use Saccharomyces Boulardii by Jarrow. I've asked 2 LLND's about S. Boulardii and they both recommend it. My LLMD is not extremely knowledgable about probiotics although he does recommend them in general but I did not talk to him specifically about S. Boulardii. Terry
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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