[LindaB]

I no longer have IBS-C symptoms since I got rid of my gallbladder, BUT I still have big problems when I have to take antibiotics or steroids. Thought they were about to kill me the last 3 weeks or so!! First it was Prednisone for fluid in the ear, then it was Ceftin for an ear infection.I did a little research on colitis and was surprised by what I read about C. Difficile and Pseudomembranous Colitis. One of the interesting things I read about Pseudo... Colitis is that is may be accompanied by "Reactive Arthritis." My question to those in the know is whether C. Diff and PMC could be chronic problems or would they disappear after acute episodes while taking the antibiotics or shortly thereafter.

 

[flux]

I think that C. dif is probably going to be acute and can be severe causing uncontrollable diarrhea, but the arthritis that comes from it would be something that starts after the C. dif has been eliminated and keeps on going after that.Another example is developing Guillain-Barre syndrome after a campylobacter infection.

 

[Guest]

Linda - Five years ago, I was hospitalized for two weeks, with Pseudomembranous Colitis. It is caused by antibiotics---when the antibiotic kills off all of the good bacteria in the colon, and leaves only a "bad guy" called Clostridium Difficile. If it allowed to get out of control, it is extremely hard to get rid of. I was given scary amounts of Flagyl, in my IV, about 6 times a day. The treatment made me sicker than the illness, but it had to be done. I eventually developed an adverse reaction to the Flagyl, and had to have adrenalin, etc. The whole thing was a nightmare. The Pseudo, had nothing to do with my IBS, which had been going on for at least 20 years prior, and has continued on it's merry way, ever since. Also the D, that I got from Pseudo, was completely different from regular D. I knew right away that something was seriously wrong. It was the worst illness I have ever had. I went from 125 lbs to 110. It took me months to regain my strength, and get back to normal. The moral to the story----Don't take any antibiotics, unless absolutely necessary!

 

[LindaB]

Thanks for your replies. It's just a mystery to me why just in the last couple of years antibiotics nearly kill me. I avoid them like the plague, but what are you gonna do if you have an ear infection that's causing bigtime pain plus blood in the ear canal?? I thought maybe I had C. Diff from previous antibiotics and that taking them again might cause it to rear its ugly head. I never take antibiotics without also taking PB8 acidophilus twice a day, but apparently that doesn't do the trick. I'm beginning to think I will get knocked off by some pissy little infection that will turn into a death bug because I can't kill it with antibiotics!!And, Marilyn, your description of your problems with pseudo... colitis gave me the chills. [This message has been edited by LindaB (edited 03-24-2000).]