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Re: PI-IBS symptoms

Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2020 2:32 am
by LHutz
Foam on stool is pretty common with IBS. If I was in your shoes, I would not add a bunch of new supplements while my gut was healing from c. diff. I would probably take Florastor if you can tolerate it because there is some evidence that it helps prevent c. diff recurrences. After c. diff I was sensitive to a lot of vegetables. Lettuce still causes violent D for me. Part of your recovery is figuring out which foods you can no longer eat and that takes a while.

Re: PI-IBS symptoms

Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2020 10:29 am
by BetsyS
It sounds like we contracted C DIff under similar circumstances. I had appendicitis which turned out to be cancerous, and I ended up having part of my colon and small intestine removed. I contacted CDiff from all of the antibiotics used, and suffered two relapses.

Long story short, I am one year out from when I first got sick, and I hardly ever have a solid BM. What I've learned echoes what others have been saying, it takes a long time for the gut to recover. You've had a lot more than CDiff going on, so what you're experiencing is a combination of all that you've been going through, including your surgeries. Listen to your PCP and GIs; as in my case, this may be part of your new "norm".

Re: PI-IBS symptoms

Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2020 10:54 am
by healthys
Thank you LHutz and BetsyS for responding! Appreciate you taking time out to respond!!

Yes, Betsy, I did read your story and found hope in it as our circumstances were similar. Wishing you continue health and success! :)

Re: PI-IBS symptoms

Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2020 6:32 pm
by Ril
In answer to your questions to me...
I did not see an ID dr as my GI was knowledgeable in c diff and IBS and a dr in his practice did FMT if it became necessary, which it did not. After 2 courses of meds, my c diff was gone and I have been c diff free for about 8 years, but continue with IBS. This is not true for everyone. I have had IBS for many years so the PI IBS exacerbated it and there are no studies to tell if this will ever end. So we continue to treat.

I used Florastor 1 cap twice daily at first then later switched to align probiotic but not both at the same time. I also used hyoscamine, an antispasmodic, but that was not enough for me but might be something you might want to ask your ID dr about. It is commonly used in IBS. I have used many other things, but I don’t think they would be prescribed so early in the course of your illness. I would be glad to share with you but probably this early on, you would be best to try to control with diet and possibly by asking about whether your dr thinks an antispasmodic might help. This is NOT unusual. Your gut has been through a lot! Many people have trouble with dairy, fried foods, fiber, (I still periodically have difficulty with salad), beef, sweets, etc. Stick with bland foods. Pasta, eggs, toast, chicken and fish, baked potatoes etc were good for me. More frequent small meals are better than big meals.

I did not, and would not, use a naturopath simultaneously to being treated by a GI / ID dr. Too many cooks...You don’t know what is helping and what is hurting. Natural medicine has it’s place but not in an acute episode in my way of thinking, but it’s your body.

I hope this is helpful.
Rita

Re: PI-IBS symptoms

Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2020 2:55 am
by PamO
Hi healthys,
I absolutely believe that consulting with a good naturopath is helpful. Your classic doctors will not know much, if anything, about natural medicine. Of course, as with every profession, the person you are consulting with should be experienced in treating the condition you are seeking advice for. Cdiff is one of these classic illnesses that has actually been caused by the medical system and its treatments.

During and after my cdiff infection I used natural medicine and am very sure that this has helped tremendously. Healing takes time and after the actual infection is cleared, there is still damage that needs to be mended. In addition stress reduction and good self care is also important.

Things will get better :-)

Re: PI-IBS symptoms

Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2020 3:38 pm
by healthys
Hello Pam!

Thank you so much for dropping by and commenting!

I continue to have 1-3 BMs every day. First ones in the morning after I wake up for formed yet soft and the subsequent ones during the day become loose with white foam at times. Wanted to ask you a couple of questions!

1. When did you return to "normal" BMs after antibiotic treatment?
2. I am experiencing some hair loss- when did you notice improvement in these symptoms that happen during or post recovery?

Thank you so much!!

Re: PI-IBS symptoms

Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2020 5:50 pm
by PamO
I don't recall when BM returned to normal, and I would actually say that they are not like they were prior to cdiff, but it was certainly months before there was a significant change. There are days when it certainly feels like things are back to normal, but then there are days when they are not and this is almost a year out. I was quite certain after the antibiotics were done that the cdiff was still there, but the doc I saw, he was a cdiff specialist at Mayo, was certain that it hadn't. There is a lot of mending and rebuilding going on in your gut, and I imagine that the bacterial imbalance and rebuilding of the microbiome causes much of what you are seeing/noticing...of course, I am not a medical person and so these are just opinions based on my own experiences. So, if there is no active infection anymore, then this where I believe naturopathy can help.

I experienced a lot of hair loss and could tell that it was growing back due to short stubbles that began forming in the areas from where the hair was falling. Hair loss became worse several months after the infection and lasted for several months...I think it may have been at least 8 months or so. I have read up on this pertaining to the physiological side of this, and it seems that severe infections can cause this phenomenon. Also, this illness is usually very emotionally stressful, and we know that stress and shock can cause this reaction as well. Also, stress can also cause additional issues with digestion. Recent research also has been showing a very direct connection between gut health and psychological symptoms, such as anxiety. It appears that a damaged microbiome can cause symptoms of anxiety...sometimes it is just good to know that and the knowledge itself can help to create some calm :-)

Re: PI-IBS symptoms

Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2020 9:23 am
by healthys
Thank you Pam!! Appreciate you responding with great insights! :)

Re: PI-IBS symptoms

Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2021 9:43 pm
by Ali-Mar
Healthyes, thanks for sharing the article by Joan Hardin. I might try some of these supplements. Did the supplements work for you?

Re: PI-IBS symptoms

Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2021 11:54 am
by healthys
Hi Ali-Mar,

I took those supplements for a month and then stopped them. I am not sure if they helped or not completely. I currently take Florastor- 1, vitamin D- 2500IUs, Iron supplement - Ferrous Sulphate- 325mg, fish oil - 1 capsule and I had been taking 1 capsule of renew life ultimate flora probiotics but I am going to start 1 capsule of Culturrelle from today instead. I take vitamin D and iron because of deficiency in both. Hope this helps!

Re: PI-IBS symptoms

Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2021 1:17 pm
by Ali-Mar
Thanks Healthys, It looks like you didn't treat after Vanco, even your ID test was positive? If so, the supplements must have worked

Re: PI-IBS symptoms

Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2021 2:58 pm
by healthys
Yes I took 10 days of vancomycin and afterwards my test did come positive but I wasn't having copious amounts of watery D per the 3x3 rule so my ID doctor decided further treatment by abx unnecessary and yes in that first month after vanco treatment I took the supplements. Then stopped them. I am at 5.5 months since last dose of vanco now. I get 2-3 BMs a day and my 2nd and 3rd BM is loose usually with some foam. First BM is formed and a 3 or 4 on the bristol chart 99% of the times.

I wish you continued health and success on your recovery! It does take time for some folks and that is what I keep in mind.