Diarrhea side effects from the Big 3

Lori-
Good sites listed.

I had been and have been eating most all the foods etc. mentioned on the sites, however, some good other combination recipes shown. I do apples somewhat like the banana recipe and want to try rolling the banana with my chia seeds and other seeds plus walnut flour and milled flaxseed.
Barbara

Lori,
You can't possibly know how much I appreciate your suggestions and support. I will definitely check out the online recipe sites you listed. I always try to cook healthy foods for me and my hubby and am always open to new healthy recipes to try.
And, yes, my son is definitely a keeper! He is such a good son to his mommy and is a wonderful husband and father. I am truly blessed!

Hi @machelp. You popped into my head this morning so I just had to stop and write. I have my fingers crossed that you’ve seen huge improvements in your gut health! How have you been feeling after implementing the new diet plan??

Lori,
So good to hear from you. I am not doing well and feel sick most of the time. I have tried to incorporate the new diet into my eating routine, but it appears that I have diarrhea and feel sick and weak even after trying to eat just a few bites of any food after taking my antibiotics. I have an appointment with my pulmonary physician next Monday and my ID physician next Wednesday. I am considering stopping the treatment, as I feel so sick and have to lie down after eating just a few bites in the morning. My main concern is that the MAC infection in my lungs will progress into something worse if I make the decision to stop treatment. Until I get more information, I feel caught in a "Catch 22" situation.
I so appreciate your willingness to help and your continued support.

Oh noooo! Are you kidding me?!! I’m so sorry to read that you’re still having complications with the anitbiotics. I was in hopes that you were finally on the right path to feeling normal again! You poor thing! 😢

I know your stool has been checked for C-Diff before but honestly, with these symptoms of feeling nauseated, sick and weak, along with diarrhea…I’d get checked again…soon!
If you, or if someone can run an errand for you, it would be a good idea to stop into your ID’s office (GP or even urgent care) ahead of your appointment, to get a stool collection kit and return it for analysis. C-Diff is nothing to mess around with if this has developed. Your doctor may put you on another type of antibiotic called Vancomycin, which targets C-Diff. But to continue like this is dangerous to your health. Dehydration with diarrhea is a major concern, too. Are you able to get enough liquids down?

A little info about C-diff
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/antibiotics-diarrhea#how-antibiotics-cause-diarrhea
You really are caught up in the Catch 22 situation with requiring the antibitoics for MAC but then suffering the side effects with the gut issues. Another doctor that may be an important addition to your team would be a gastroenterologist. Just a thought…

MAC is way out of my area of experience but I’ve had a couple of relapses with C-Diff. So you have my empathy for what you’re going through with the gut issues. Sending positive vibes and I hope you feel better very soon. Please let me know what you find out with your appointments, ok?

Except of the diet ask you doctor for a stool test for cdifficil I think it’s the name

Thanks for the advice. I tested negative for C-Diff several weeks ago.

Ask for Ondansetron - it helped so much with the side effects you are experiencing. Also take probiotics hours before the antibiotics.
Good luck.
Niamh (London)

@machelp So sorry to read about your gastrointestinal issues / diarrhea when taking the antibiotics.

Besides the probiotics recommendation and keeping hydrated, I’ve read that eating a diet of “ Bland, Low-Fiber Foods helps. Choose easily digestible foods like the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast).

Foods to Avoid: Limit or avoid spicy, fatty, and dairy foods, as they can worsen diarrhea.

Take Antibiotics with Food: If antibiotics upset your stomach, taking them with food can help reduce irritation. “

Also, I’ve noticed some people mention that they were on a three day a week antibiotic regime for MAC when they couldn’t tolerate more frequent use.

This is not a scientific based idea so I hesitate to share it, but I wonder if you decreased the meds for a month or longer (with you doctor’s knowledge ) and gradually returned to five days a week afterwards, if that might alleviate some symptoms by giving your gut a short break. I’ve never dealt with this and I’m not a health professional, so your doctor may not agree with this line of thinking! Maybe it is worth exploring though.

Hope you get relief from your symptoms and can continue with your antibiotic treatment!

only you can answer that but I stopped after 2 months of being on only 2 of the meds.
diarrhea and gastritis. the infectious doctor said it a quality of life issue and if I had added the 3rd required drug I would have been even sicker. so I opted out. my best to you.