post-infectious IBS/rifaximin

[beth22]

I posted before that about two months ago I had a positive breath test for small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) after being off of vanco for about 3 1/2 months. Yesterday I went to see the IBS/SIBO specialist and found out that not only did I have a positive breath test, but the test went off the chart! They actually had to re-graph the chart to show it. I'm one of the lucky 10 or 20 patients out of thousands that the doctor has seen over the years to have it be so severe.

Anway, I had a couple of options, but the least difficult one (ha) is to go back on rifaximin (Xifaxan) that I tried twice before, but only could take for 3 days because of side effects. That dosage was 2 pills 2x per day and now I would have to take 2 pills 3x per day. I'm wondering if anyone has some good advice on how to take the medication so that it might be a little easier to tolerate. Obviously, I would take it with food, but I am not allowed to take any probiotics right now as even good bacteria are going to add to this already very high bacterial count. The c diff made me lactose intolerant, so that leaves out yogurt.

The doctor said that I may have had this prior to the c diff (can't remember any particular symptoms though) and that this made it more likely for the c diff to take hold inside of my gut. It provided a good environement for it apparently. If that is the case, I really do want to get rid of it, as I had c diff with numerous relapses for almost a year. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.