Safety of Rifaximin and Nystatin?
Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2018 3:44 pm
I’ve been reading this forum for the past four years but this is my first post.
I was diagnosed with c diff in May of 2014 after a colonoscopy following few rounds of antibiotics for a kidney stone and having my wisdom teeth taken out. I did two courses of Flagyl and then a course of Vancomycin followed by a vancomycin taper. Following the taper I combined S. Boulardii, Oregano oil, diatomaceous earth and Bentonite clay to make sure everything was out and followed with heavy doses of probiotics as well as the Candida diet.
I ended up with thrush and was given two courses of diflucan which knocked it out. Additionally I had esophageal thrush show up during the endoscopy/colonoscopy.
It took a long time for the burning stomach, loose stools and weight loss to subside but eventually I found my way back. I cut down on the probiotics and the symptoms seemed to subside with them.
In 2015 I had another IBS flare up and had some white on my tongue and my doctor prescribed me Nystatin to swish and swallow and it took care of it.
Now flash forward to September 2017. I broke up with my fiancé, was on tour with my band and after coming home I noticed some stomach pain and looser stools. I immediately went in and had a stool test done which came back negative. I attempted to use the bentonite clay and oregano oil again to see if it would sort itself out. No luck. Tried some grape seed extract and it made things worse. I had another stool test done and it came back negative on all fronts.
The stress got worse and the flares got worse. It got to a point where I couldn’t eat and was constantly vomiting, losing weight quickly and was riddled with gas and diarrhea. After a few days of nonstop vomiting I ended up in the ER. All scans came back negative and I was sent home and it was suggested I get a colonoscopy. I was extremely hesitant but I complied, I took Florastor and VSL #3 as well as Thorne research Bacillus coagulants during the prep in order to at least maintain some kind of temporary flora
Everything came back negative.
I ended up back in the ER due to vomiting and they did a capsule pill endoscopy as well as more stool tests. Everything looked clear and they prescribed me Zofran and Amitriptyline.
Neither really worked, the Zofran made me constipated though I was visiting the bathroom often with mucus consistently. The weight loss continued and eventually I gave up the Zofran. I was prescribed Levsin and Lomotil and both made me feel awful.
I met with a new gi doctor and he instructed me to take Florastor every day whether I felt good or not. He labeled it as post infectious IBS. And I should mention I’ve never felt good while taking Florastor. It gives me a burning sensation as well as gas and loose stools.
After a month and a half I gave up and called Mayo Clinic. Drove up to Rochester and they did more stool examinations. Everything came back negative. No c diff, no viruses, no parasites and I was instructed to take citrucel and do a breath test for SIBO. I did the breath test and it was low but they still suggested Rifaximin.
Since I’ve had problems with yeast in the past am I wrong for wanting to try Nystatin again? My main symptoms are loose stools, a burning feeling in the lower abdomen as well as extreme anxiety and fatigue that doesn’t seem to want to let up. I avoid trigger foods but have cut down on excercise due to the fatigue.
Has anyone had any success with Rifaximin or Nystatin clearing up their IBS. How likely am I to relapse? I’ve been told that Rifaximin tends to be very safe since it is not absorbed by the body and is somewhat flora sparing. I mentioned the yeast/fungus thing to my GI doctor and he said that it basically doesn’t exist. He said that the success I felt last time was merely a coincidence. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.
I’ve avoided antibiotics for the past four years and the only other change I can put into place is I did start dating someone new around the time this all started. I have been checked for all STD’s as well as issue with the liver. The only thing notable is a low body temperature and slightly low White blood cell count whichever I’ve read can be due to a Candida overgrowth.
I was diagnosed with c diff in May of 2014 after a colonoscopy following few rounds of antibiotics for a kidney stone and having my wisdom teeth taken out. I did two courses of Flagyl and then a course of Vancomycin followed by a vancomycin taper. Following the taper I combined S. Boulardii, Oregano oil, diatomaceous earth and Bentonite clay to make sure everything was out and followed with heavy doses of probiotics as well as the Candida diet.
I ended up with thrush and was given two courses of diflucan which knocked it out. Additionally I had esophageal thrush show up during the endoscopy/colonoscopy.
It took a long time for the burning stomach, loose stools and weight loss to subside but eventually I found my way back. I cut down on the probiotics and the symptoms seemed to subside with them.
In 2015 I had another IBS flare up and had some white on my tongue and my doctor prescribed me Nystatin to swish and swallow and it took care of it.
Now flash forward to September 2017. I broke up with my fiancé, was on tour with my band and after coming home I noticed some stomach pain and looser stools. I immediately went in and had a stool test done which came back negative. I attempted to use the bentonite clay and oregano oil again to see if it would sort itself out. No luck. Tried some grape seed extract and it made things worse. I had another stool test done and it came back negative on all fronts.
The stress got worse and the flares got worse. It got to a point where I couldn’t eat and was constantly vomiting, losing weight quickly and was riddled with gas and diarrhea. After a few days of nonstop vomiting I ended up in the ER. All scans came back negative and I was sent home and it was suggested I get a colonoscopy. I was extremely hesitant but I complied, I took Florastor and VSL #3 as well as Thorne research Bacillus coagulants during the prep in order to at least maintain some kind of temporary flora
Everything came back negative.
I ended up back in the ER due to vomiting and they did a capsule pill endoscopy as well as more stool tests. Everything looked clear and they prescribed me Zofran and Amitriptyline.
Neither really worked, the Zofran made me constipated though I was visiting the bathroom often with mucus consistently. The weight loss continued and eventually I gave up the Zofran. I was prescribed Levsin and Lomotil and both made me feel awful.
I met with a new gi doctor and he instructed me to take Florastor every day whether I felt good or not. He labeled it as post infectious IBS. And I should mention I’ve never felt good while taking Florastor. It gives me a burning sensation as well as gas and loose stools.
After a month and a half I gave up and called Mayo Clinic. Drove up to Rochester and they did more stool examinations. Everything came back negative. No c diff, no viruses, no parasites and I was instructed to take citrucel and do a breath test for SIBO. I did the breath test and it was low but they still suggested Rifaximin.
Since I’ve had problems with yeast in the past am I wrong for wanting to try Nystatin again? My main symptoms are loose stools, a burning feeling in the lower abdomen as well as extreme anxiety and fatigue that doesn’t seem to want to let up. I avoid trigger foods but have cut down on excercise due to the fatigue.
Has anyone had any success with Rifaximin or Nystatin clearing up their IBS. How likely am I to relapse? I’ve been told that Rifaximin tends to be very safe since it is not absorbed by the body and is somewhat flora sparing. I mentioned the yeast/fungus thing to my GI doctor and he said that it basically doesn’t exist. He said that the success I felt last time was merely a coincidence. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.
I’ve avoided antibiotics for the past four years and the only other change I can put into place is I did start dating someone new around the time this all started. I have been checked for all STD’s as well as issue with the liver. The only thing notable is a low body temperature and slightly low White blood cell count whichever I’ve read can be due to a Candida overgrowth.