Probiotics and feeling ill

This forum is for discussions related to C. diff. including symptoms, doctors, medical advances, medications, If you are a new poster (joined within the last month), you can post more often for two months from your date of joining. After that time, one post per day only about "you." You can post more often to support others. Post other topics in Free Form Discussion and Chat Forum.
okaylo
Regular Contributor
Posts: 147
Joined: Thu Jun 16, 2016 6:32 pm

Probiotics and feeling ill

Postby okaylo » Wed Jan 31, 2018 5:29 pm

I took a 3 day course of Macrobid for a UTI from Dec 4 - Dec 6. It's been 8 weeks tomorrow since the Macrobid. I have been on probiotics during the antibiotic and ever since then. When I first started taking them, it was tolerable but I never felt great and they made the restroom more urgent. Most recently, I have headaches, it feels like my system is moving at 100mph internally, shakiness, nausea, diarrhea, gurgling intestines, belching, and feeling similiar to having the flu without the vomiting. I have made no other changes to my routine or diet so I think the probiotics may be responsible and I may be over-compensating or making matters worse. I want to stop taking them and see if the issue is resolved but I am scared. My FMT was October 2016 so I would think 14 months for new flora to take hold would be long enough prior to taking the Macrobid and I would hope after 8 weeks since taking the Macrobid, I would be out of the woods. I asked my doctor and he said it should be enough time by now, but still nervous.

roy
Administrator
Posts: 4193
Joined: Sat Aug 02, 2014 1:05 am

Re: Probiotics and feeling ill

Postby roy » Wed Jan 31, 2018 5:54 pm

Firstly Macrobid is unlikely to cause c.diff.
When you take Antibiotics they are removed from the body in 2 ways.
One type are Filtered by the liver and released into the colon where they are in direct contact with the gut flora, these ones are the high offenders that can cause c.diff
Others are filtered by the kidneys and go into the bladder to be removed in your urine, these ones do not come into contact with your gut flora so are "unlikley" to cause c.diff.
Macrobid is filtered by the kidneys and that's why it's so often given for UTIs, it goes into the urinary system in a therapeutic dose.
Macrobid does not go into the colon.
I doubt if taking a normal dose of probiotics would cause the symptoms you describe but if you think they are responsible you might need to stop them (emphasis on normal dose!).
Probiotic in bottles are after all an unnatural addition to your normal bacteria and you get far more exposure to "good bacteria" by just going about your normal daily routine and eating healthy foods.

MKW
Regular Contributor
Posts: 392
Joined: Mon Sep 26, 2016 9:49 am

Re: Probiotics and feeling ill

Postby MKW » Wed Jan 31, 2018 8:14 pm

Hi, okaylo. I am 10 months post FMT, and as you know was just diagnosed with SIBO. I went to see my GI doc yesterday about this, and she said to me she notices her patients who complain that probiotics worsen their GI symptoms often turn out to have SIBO.
Also as my problem has gotten worse over the last couple months one of my primary symptoms that was new for me has been loud gurgling intestinal noises. It will go on for a couple hours at a stretch sometimes and I know my coworkers who sit near me can hear it. So embarrassing. Also I get a lot of belching. So, maybe you are at a point you should stop the probiotics. In the end it has to be a decision you feel ok with.
Roy, hopefully you will see this... I have inquired about safer antibiotics with every doctor I have seen since my first c Diff episode. So, that’s three PCP’s and three GI specialists. None have explained what you did above about colon vs kidney processing of antibiotics being linked or even just possibly theoretically being linked to antibiotic effect on gut flora. Thanks for providing that information!

beth22
Long Time Contributor
Posts: 10852
Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2009 2:23 pm

Re: Probiotics and feeling ill

Postby beth22 » Thu Feb 01, 2018 12:16 am

Probiotics gave me cramping, gas, and D when I first tried to take them and, I too, had SIBO. I had to try different ones before I found one that agreed and even then, could only take part of a capsule.

linnyg
Contributor
Posts: 62
Joined: Thu Aug 25, 2016 11:19 pm

Re: Probiotics and feeling ill

Postby linnyg » Thu Feb 01, 2018 1:11 am

I was diagnosed with c diff after taking Macrobid. While it is on the "low offender" list for c diff, it does happen. ALL antibiotics can cause c diff, some have a higher risk.

I could not tolerate probiotics for a long time. They really upset my stomach. I would suggest going off of them for a week or so and see if things improve.

roy
Administrator
Posts: 4193
Joined: Sat Aug 02, 2014 1:05 am

Re: Probiotics and feeling ill

Postby roy » Thu Feb 01, 2018 12:35 pm


okaylo
Regular Contributor
Posts: 147
Joined: Thu Jun 16, 2016 6:32 pm

Re: Probiotics and feeling ill

Postby okaylo » Thu Feb 01, 2018 3:25 pm

Roy, thank you for the clarification on how Macrobid enters and exits your system. It makes me feel a bit better but I'm still nervous as I think I always will be. Thanks for the article with the antibiotic information.

MKW, it makes since that people with SIBO would complain of worsening symptoms since there is already a bacterial overgrowth present and taking probiotics just adds to the load. I have been told by my dietician that probiotics are not usually recommended when you have SIBO as you need to starve out the bacteria and follow a diet that limits foods that feed the overgrowth.

Beth, I've tried several over the years and they all make me feel bad. When I first started taking them, it wasn't great but I could get through it because my fear of being on the Macrobid. Now the symptoms are magnified and it feels like a very overall ill feeling. It is the worst in the mornings and throughout the day. During the evening it dies down. I've been on a 15 billion probiotic with various strains of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium plus a 5 billion of Sacchromyces Boulardii. So 20 billion cfus a day. I think the SIBO is why it doesn't agree...

Linnyg, how long were you on Macrobid? Hearing that absolutely terrifies me after reading that it's a low risk and leaves your gut relatively untouched... I pray to God I am okay.

I am going to stop the probiotics for a few days and see if things improve even though I'm very scared. I have read that probiotics can often actually cause infections and other issues. It is just odd how this all hit me with worsening effects about 7 weeks in to taking the probiotics. I don't know if it has caused further issues internally or if I've just hit a tipping point from taking them.

beth22
Long Time Contributor
Posts: 10852
Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2009 2:23 pm

Re: Probiotics and feeling ill

Postby beth22 » Fri Feb 02, 2018 2:34 am

I would stop them and then if you want, try to reintroduce later. I still only take part of a capsule of VSL#3. It has a high count, but one capsule last me a week. I just take a small amount in applesauce and it seems to work well. My breath test results improved over the years. One of the markers for SIBO is a higher than normal folic acid reading. Mine used to be quite high, but in the last year or two it has been fairly normal.

okaylo
Regular Contributor
Posts: 147
Joined: Thu Jun 16, 2016 6:32 pm

Re: Probiotics and feeling ill

Postby okaylo » Fri Feb 02, 2018 3:11 am

Beth, I didn't take the probiotics today (first day) and I still am having problems and feel awful. It comes and goes in waves. Morning is bad, afternoon is up and down, dinner time is better and then late night is either somewhat okay or it starts again. I don't know if my body is just trying to readjust but I felt okay up until 1 week ago when it hit me with loose stools and D and now I am terrified that I have cdiff again. It is taking everything I have to tell myself this will pass and that the stress is adding to it. I would hope that being almost 8 weeks out from the Macrobid that I would be okay. I don't have diarrhea 3+ times a day but that wasn't always the case for me when I had cdiff. I am so scared right now as I feel very ill. Today no stool at all. I am so scared right now as I feel very ill.

MKW
Regular Contributor
Posts: 392
Joined: Mon Sep 26, 2016 9:49 am

Re: Probiotics and feeling ill

Postby MKW » Fri Feb 02, 2018 11:05 am

Hi okaylo, are you considering getting tested at this point? With the psychological stress maybe it would be the right thing to do. But of course they will reject a sample that does not take the shape of the container.
With SIBO symptoms, you can of course feel very sick, be food intolerant, and have D. If you have developed this from taking probiotics it could take some time to resolve the symptoms even if you stop.
I know the uncertainty is maddening. Ibs/SIBo symptoms can almost mimic early c Diff symptoms and it’s just impossible to not continually be evaluating yourself for possible c Diff.
I am currently having sinus infection symptoms and completely terrified this could lead to a required antibiotic. I get tired of living in fear from this, it’s rough and spiritually exhausting.

okaylo
Regular Contributor
Posts: 147
Joined: Thu Jun 16, 2016 6:32 pm

Re: Probiotics and feeling ill

Postby okaylo » Fri Feb 02, 2018 3:13 pm

MKW, I will private message you as my post is long and I know we are supposed to try and keep them short.


Return to “General C. diff. Discussion”



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 19 guests