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[Ju Ju]

I'm taking a weeks course of ABs and these ones have resulted in diarrhoea and irritated bladder as a result. I have had to cancel everything in order to stay near the loo, hopefully only until the course is finished.

I have had repeated occurrence of thrush in the last few months. The doctor took a swab this last time, which showed thrush again, but also Strep B. By the time, I got hold of the results, a whole week later at a routine doctors appointment, the symptoms had subsided and the GP said no need to treat. A couple days later, I had my annual review with my gynaecologist. After examining me, she said I most certainly I needed to treat. My vagina was red raw and the walls thin ( I had damaged the wall just by inserting vagifem and had bled). She gave me loads of advice, including being able to up oestrogen as I have had a hysterectomy and the thickening of the womb walls is no longer an issue. But I misunderstood her. She talks very fast and I'm not that knowledgeable. The notes she gave me are difficult to decipher - typical doctors script! So I started the ABs for the Strep B as well as treating the thrush. Now the follow up letter has come, a copy of the one sent to my GP , stating that I should only take the ABs if symptoms persist following treatment for the thrush.

So I may need not have put myself through this! Of course, I'm one of the 1 in 10 to get diarrhoea. I didn't get this reaction from the copious amounts of ABs I had to take 2 years ago when I ended up in hospital with a chest infection/asthma. But I did 10 years ago, when I had to take ABs for Cellulitus. Then I had continuing digestive issues and temporarily became intolerant to several foods including eggs. I have IBS so try to avoid ABs. I am taking a probiotic preparation to support the bowel anyway. Any other suggestions that will help? I can cope this week, but am really worried about ongoing problems. Perhaps I should have posted this under 'Doing stupid things!'

[Halfpint]

Ju Ju,
I would contact your Dr and tell them about the diarrhoea. My Mum has taken AB's for years to treat UTI's and is now resistant to most. There are only two types of AB's she can now tolerate.

[Tinkerbell]

I have had to take a lot of antibiotics in my life...10 weeks of them, three years ago!
I have found that some give me an awful upset stomach and some don't, so I think they are all different in their side effects.

Can you phone the qynaecologists secretary to clarify what you should be doing re the antibiotics.
You will probably end up with thrush again whilst on antibiotics and if you do you should use one of those vaginal application treatments and not an oral thrush treatment tablet.

[Ju Ju]

Yes that's what I'm concerned about, but so far all is calm. I'm using Ovestin cream every night and things feel much better down there at the moment. No itching. I'm now on day 5 of 7, so all finished after Saturday. I'll see what happens then. I wish I had gone to see the gynaecologist before, then things wouldn't have got so bad, but it's a bit of a journey and I didn't feel up to it as I was recuperating from the hysterectomy.

[Tinkerbell]

How often are you using the Vagifem?
I would be tempted to do a reload for two weeks.

[Ju Ju]

I'm using Ovestin every night. I switched when I injured myself. The Ovestin thingy has smoother edges and not so stiff. I can go back to vagifem and use 2 twice a week, which I will as I am going to be travelling and the hygiene aspects of cleaning the Ovestin thingy might be difficult. The gynaecologist hopes I might not need it eventually, when my vagina is reoestrogenised.

[Tinkerbell]

Can't understand why your gynaecologist has said you will not need to keep using topical oestrogen if you are showing signs of thinning vaginal walls. Every time I got told to stop using it the problem returned.

[Ju Ju]

It's more of a hope I think. I have had to manage on the minimal amount of oestrogen before because of progesterone intolerance and thickening walls of the womb. I kept spotting and thought I would have no choice to give up HRT altogether. So having a hysterectomy for prolapse was a blessing. I don't think anyone is going to stop me using topical oestrogen if I don't want to unless there was a medical reason. I think she meant that once I feel the benefits of a higher dose of oestrogen, I won't have all the symptoms I have had and that my vagina will be better.

I was just thinking my bowels were much calmer, then remembered that I have forgotten the midday one. But hopefully that means that I will be ok when I finish the course.

[Joyce]

I'm one of the 1 in 10 to get diarrhoea. I didn't get this reaction from the copious amounts of ABs I had to take 2 years ago when I ended up in hospital with a chest infection/asthma. But I did 10 years ago, when I had to take ABs for Cellulitus. I am taking a probiotic preparation to support the bowel anyway. Any other suggestions that will help? I can cope this week, but am really worried about ongoing problems. Perhaps I should have posted this under 'Doing stupid things!'

Every sympathy Ju Ju. AB's & me don't mix since I had pneumonia some 20 years ago. Pumped full of AB's so much so, I had bloody diarrhoea. Can no longer tolerate dairy. Nearly every AB since has me house bound. 7 years ago I had bad chest infection. ABs had me doubled up, running to the loo etc etc. I was so bad they thought I had C Diff! So I hope you recover soon. I take acidophilus capsules, but doesn't help much if on AB's. I honestly dread ever needing in the future. GP thinks I'm over reacting when I say how bad I get.

 

[Kathleen]

Hello Ju Ju.

Sorry you are having this problem.

I've seen an  interview with an American gastroenterologist who says that antibiotics can kill a third of your microbiome. I've also learned that using a variety of probiotics and eating healthily ( of course ) is the best way  to help the bugs recover. Hope this helps.

Wishing you well.

K.

[Taz2]

Hi Ju Ju - some info here re Strep b and treatment in non-pregnant women http://gbss.org.uk/who-we-are/about-gbs/what-is-gbs/non-pregnant-women/

Taz x

[Ju Ju]

Thanks Taz. I probably didn't need to take the ABs then. Maybe a case of expecting me to know more than I do. It wasn't made clear until the follow up letter came. I assumed that as I was given the prescription I should take it.  There's always a silver lining. No need for prunes, flax and fibogel. Shame the constipation and diarrhoea couldn't have got together and taken a middle road!

Cubagirl, I was very worried when I had to take the copious amounts of ABs for the chest infection and asthma. It took ages to get better, but my digestive system coped well, even though I didn't take probiotics at first as I was too ill. But I'm twitchy this time because of the diarrhoea. But hopefully not once the course is finished. The ones I had to take for Cellulitus are known to be vicious, but I was told my eyes could be infected or even my brain, so it was a no brainer. Have you tried reintroducing dairy into your diet? I was able to introduce eggs back after a year, with the support of a nutritionist.

[Taz2]

Which one is it Ju Ju?

Taz x

[CLKD]

LIVE yoghurt!  Eaten and applied ;-).  When 1 has had GA the gut is starved allowing any 'bad' bacteria to get a hold.  It goes through the whole digestive tract.

Buy 2 large pots of Greek LIVE yoghurt - 1 to eat several times a day, the other in the bathroom to apply as high up into the vagina as possible.  Has always worked for me and I don't know why GPs don't suggest it as a first course of action!

Laying in the bath after typing the above: thrush thrives on sugars.  We are what we eat so checking what you have in your diet that may be causing an increase in sugars which will 'feed' the candida?  The first attack I suffered with was shortly after stopping the Birth Control Pill and I remember the itching, high up in the vagina.  I can't remember what the Gynae Registrar gave me as treatment, some kind of pessary I think  but I do remember her telling me not to scratch  .  The next time I suffered was following emergency surgery …………. about 3 days after I returned home (5 days post op.).  I used the LIVE yoghurt for 5-6 days as often as possible and it solved the problem.

Now if I have elective surgery I begin eating it 2-3 days prior to being starved for the operation.

[CLKD]

"Treating oral thrush in babies

"If your GP or health visitor feels your baby needs treatment, they will probably prescribe an antifungal medicine. The two main antifungal medicines used to treat oral thrush in babies are miconazole and nystatin.  These medications usually need to be used up to four times a day and are most effective if used after your baby has had a feed or drink.

"Continue to use the medicine for two days after the infection has cleared up as this will help prevent the infection coming back. If treatment hasn't fully cleared the thrush after a week of treatment, speak to your GP or health visitor again for advice.

Miconazole

"In most cases, miconazole will be the first treatment recommended by a GP. It is available as a gel that you apply to the affected areas using a clean finger. It's important only to apply a little at a time and to try to avoid the back of your baby's mouth to reduce the risk of choking.

'A small number of babies are sick after being treated with miconazole, but this side effect usually passes and is not normally any cause for concern.

Nystatin

"In some cases, your GP or health visitor may recommend an alternative medication called nystatin. This comes as a liquid medicine (suspension) that is applied directly to the affected area using a dropper (oral dispenser) supplied with the medicine.

"Nystatin does not usually cause any side effects and most babies will have no trouble taking the medication."