Taking Antibiotic - Watery D

[Gloria]

Thursday evening I noticed a red, tender spot where my glasses rest on my nose. By Saturday morning, the skin below my eye and on my eyelid were swollen to the point of my eye being almost shut.

I went to my eye doctor and she said I have a skin infection, and prescribed 250 Cephalexin 4x day. I told her that Cipro was much better for my MC and she said I could ask my GI if the Cephalexin was OK. I told her that he doesn't really treat the MC other than to give me the steriod.

When I looked up my symptoms and the treatment, it appears that I have cellulitis, a potentially serious skin infection unless quickly treated with the antibiotic I'm taking. Yesterday, Norman appeared three times, and then I had pudding D. This morning I had watery D. I've been taking Culturelle once per day, but I don't think it's as effective because I'm taking this antibiotic every 6 hours.

The swelling and infection are almost gone, but I'm supposed to stay on the antibiotic for 7 days.

I hope I'm not seriously set back by this. I'm thinking I should take the Culturelle more frequently, say twice a day. I'm wondering if I should call my GI to see what he thinks about the antibiotic. Do any of you have any thoughts or experiences with this drug or whether a double (or triple) dose of probiotic will help?

BTW, she also prescribed a tiny tube of antibiotic ointment (Ciloxan - contains Cipro) which cost $45! It took me a few hours to decide whether to buy it. I did, but yikes!

Gloria

[sarkin]

Gloria,

I'm so sorry to hear this - I hope you're quickly on the road to recovery, both from the skin issue and the antibiotic effects. (I once had topical Cipro drops for an ear infection - my insurance would only pay if there had been an elaborate pre-authorization dance where my doctor fought to prescribe this instead of the cheaper thing that didn't work... but I didn't know, so it was $105 for a teensy bottle... and I, too, paid, because I knew I couldn't go another 24 hours with the infection getting worse).

I think the timing of the Culturelle might be as important as the quantity. Also, continuing the probiotic for some time after the antibiotic course is complete could be helpful. Unless it's something in the antibiotic, and not the disruption of gut flora, that is to blame: I looked up these inactive ingredients, but of course there may be more than one formulation: D&C Yellow 10, edible printing ink with black iron oxide, FD&C Blue 1, FD&C Green 3, FD&C Yellow 6, gelatin, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose and titanium dioxide.

I am wishing you great health and relief from all this, especially the D... I hope your skin infection is already responding positively to treatment. I hope you let your GI doc and your regular doctor know what's going on - if there's an alternative, maybe your doctor will come up with it now that you're having concerning side effects to her first course of treatment?

Love,
Sara

[Zizzle]

Gloria,
Did you end up on the Cephalexin or the Cipro? Pre-MC I had great luck with Cephalexin. It caused my lactose intolerance and D to go into remission for a few weeks. But obviously we all have different flora doing different things for us. I hope the D is short-lived.

[Gloria]

Sara,

I should have clarified that I'm taking Culturelle Dairy-Free, which I believe is free of dyes. I'm thinking I should take two a day, 12 hours apart, between dosages of the antibiotic.

I'm a little nervous about calling my GI because he never saw a connection with the double combination of Flagyl and Levaquin, which I believe put my MC over the edge. Plus, he just gave me a subscription renewal for 1 year's worth of Entocort after I requested my insurance to contact him. I don't want to tell him I'm not taking it right now. I'm stocking up in anticipation of DH's retirement.

Zizzle,

I'm taking the Cephalexin. It's good to know that you had good luck with it. I suppose it's possible that my MC is deteriorating on it's own, but to go from a perfect Norman to watery D within 24 hours seems like it's being caused by something.

Thank you both for your input.

Gloria

[sarkin]

Sorry, Gloria - Actually I was the one being unclear. Those inactive ingredients were listed for the Cephalexin (though it's possible that it doesn't apply to the version that you're taking).

I do agree that starting a medication and starting watery D within 24 hours is pretty suspicious! That would seem pretty quick for such a complete disruption of gut flora, but I may well be wrong, and of course with MC, there are no hard-and-fast rules.

Are you able to wear your glasses? I have one pair of glasses I've always found 'itchier' than the other... and I do find that my skin generally is a little more sensitive these days. Not sure whether that will improve as my gut heals, or whether it's the 'new normal' for me.

Hope you're staying hydrated, feeling strong, and recovering!

Love,
Sara

[tex]

Hi Gloria,

That's a heck of a note, because Cipro probably would have worked just fine, but the main goal is to clear up the infection, and if the Cephalexin is controlling the infection, then you'll probably be ahead to stay on it for the 7-day treatment period, unless your symptoms become really aggravating. Hopefully, after you finish, the side effect symptoms will quickly dissipate.

I agree that it's usually best to not rattle a GI specialist's cage, as long as you have a good rapport with him or her, (unless you have a real need to do so, of course).

Best of luck with your treatment, and your recovery from the treatment, afterwards.

Tex

[dgshelton]

Gloria - I'm so sorry that you're having to deal with this. My husband had the same exact thing a few months ago. The dr. said it's something to do with the glands in the inner part of bottom eyelid getting clogged. I don't remember what antibiotic was prescribed for him, but he also used the cipro drops. His dr. has him massaging his eyes with a warm wet washcloth once a day. He usually does it when he takes his shower. It's supposed to keep the glands from clogging up again.

If I was a betting gal, I would say the antibiotics are causing your D. I hope it gets better soon!

Hugs,

[Gloria]

I'm staying the course - I haven't had any more trips to the bathroom, just once this morning. Maybe the Culturelle is helping.

Sara,

Unless it's something in the antibiotic, and not the disruption of gut flora, that is to blame: I looked up these inactive ingredients, but of course there may be more than one formulation: D&C Yellow 10, edible printing ink with black iron oxide, FD&C Blue 1, FD&C Green 3, FD&C Yellow 6, gelatin, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose and titanium dioxide.

I didn't read your statement clearly, and you are correct about the ingredients in Cephalexin. I tested moderately reactive to FD&C Blue 1 and FD&C Yellow 6 on the MRT test. Perhaps that's also causing a problem.

I can wear my glasses if I position them a little lower on my nose.

Tex,
Yes, I think it's best not to contact my GI. It will be two years next month since I've seen him. Think about that - I've been taking Entocort all this time, dropped to 91 lbs., had diverticulitis, and I haven't seen my GI. Doesn't bother me, but it says a lot about the insignificant part he plays in my treatment. I've learned that with MC, I'm the most important person in my treatment plan. I am a lot more in tune with my body and can tell when something is bothering it.

Denise,
Thank you for the suggestion. My sore was on my nose, but it is always a good idea to keep the skin surface clean. I was just gardening and rubbed my nose where the sore is healing (it itches). Dummy me - I quickly went into the house and washed it because my hands were coated with soil.

Gloria

[Kari]

Hi Gloria,

What an unfortunate turn of events for you :(. Just as everything was really moving along very nicely and you were headed for your 8 weeks off entocort, this came along ........... It sounds like you're coping very well, though, and I suspect that your gut has healed enough for you to weather the antibiotics. Can't believe that they have to put all those "extra" inactive ingredients into the pill, but there is hopefully small enough amounts so they won't cause you too much trouble. I also firmly believe that as we're healing, some of those reactive MRS ingredients, turn 'green'.

Anyway, thinking of you and hoping all will turn out well .

Love,
Kari

P.S. I agree that you should keep the GI out of the picture. I haven't seen one in over 4 years, and don't intend to see one any time soon, if I can avoid it :).

[dgshelton]

Gloria - So sorry! I saw eye doctor and cipro and immediately thought it was the same thing. Now that I've gone back and read carefully, I see that you said skin infection. That's what I get for scanning instead of reading carefully.

[Pat]

Gloria,

I am so sorry. If it's any consolation (probably not) you are not alone. I think I have a virus and am having watery D many, many times a day. Nothing seems to control mine. Hopefully the probiotic will take care of your situation. I would think you could take as many as you thought you needed to control the D. And continue taking it afterwards.

Pat

[Gloria]

Thanks, Pat. I'm taking two Culturelle a day and it seems to be helping. I hope your watery D stops soon. This condition is so frustrating, isn't it?

Gloria

[tex]

Gloria,

It's good to see that you're making such good progress, and your symptoms are so much better.

I've learned that with MC, I'm the most important person in my treatment plan. I am a lot more in tune with my body and can tell when something is bothering it.

That's a very profound statement of fact, and I suspect that's possibly the most difficult thing for people who are newly diagnosed with this disease to accept, because until this disease comes into our life, we typically have no significant reason to suspect that we might be a better judge of our own health, nor that we might be better qualified than our doctors, to determine and administer the best treatment program, for any particular disease - it's contrary to what we've been taught, preciously. And yet, recognizing that concept appears to be a prerequisite, for many/most of us, if we are to gain optimal control of our symptoms.

Thanks for reminding us.

Tex

[sarkin]

Gloria, I'm so glad you can see with those glasses. ALSO - seems like a good sign that the Culturelle is helping (I'm sure more help would be better), and that the sore on your nose is healing. AND - you were up for some gardening. All this is a credit to the systematic and diligent efforts you've made for so long to build your recovery and healing. Thankfully, this antibiotic will soon be behind you.

My olive-oil/almond-pulp crackers were smelling good in the dehydrator when I got back from choral rehearsal this evening... I think of you every time I make nut milk ;) I picked up paint-strainer bags on our hardware errands this weekend, because I think having more than one batch going might be in my future!

Love and wishes for continued and speedy healing,

Sara

[starfire]

Hi Gloria,
Just read this and I'm sorry to hear about the cellulitis and the antibiotic.
Several years ago I had cellulitis (started from a scratch on my nose, I think) and I ended up in the hospital on intravenous antibiotic for about 4 days or so. They were worried about it because it's only a short distance to the brain from there. I'm so glad the antibiotic helped even though you had to go through the D.
Love, Shirley