Diarrhea side effects from the Big 3

Hi @machelp, I don’t have MAC but I’ve had to be on antibiotics longterm and also, recently developed C-diff while on another antibiotic.
If you have watery stools you should have a sample lab tested for C-diff. That requires another type of antibiotic specific to the C-Diff bacteria. To get a collection kit, call your doctor for a lab order. You may need to stop by the lab to pick up the kit to take home, and then return the next day with the sample.

If C-diff is ruled out, start eating a good quality, live culture Greek yogurt daily such as Chobani. Preferably plain yogurt. Fruity yogurts contain too much sugar. You can add fresh fruit or small amounts of jam, juice, to give it flavor. You control the sugar that way. Even Activia can do in a pinch to help restore normal gut flora. But it is important to have active yogurt cultures.
Also, eating pre and pro-biotics daily can really help ramp up the suffering gut biome depleted by the antibiotics.

Prebiotics allow your gut bacteria to produce nutrients for your colon cells, which leads to a healthier digestive system. Here is a great article with a list of prebiotic foods.
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/19-best-prebiotic-foods
And a list of healthy pro-biotic foods https://www.verywellhealth.com/probiotic-foods-7970825

It’s also a good idea when you have diarrhea to avoid milk and dairy products. Yogurt is an exception because the lactose is neutralized in the process of making the yogurt. Kefir is another great product for gut biome. However, if you’re not used to it, the side effects can be a bit troublesome with serious gas and bloating.

I hope you find some improvement soon! Have you been tested for C-diff?

Lori,
Thank you so much for your comments and advice. Yes, my ID physician tested me for C-diff, and it was negative. I take so much medicine that I am so relieved that I can try to include prebiotic and probiotic foods to my diet to ease my gut symptoms rather than take more medicine to help with the side effects of the antibiotics I am taking to cure me of MAC. I looked at a carton of yogurt at the store today, and it listed 6 live cultures. I am thinking that is the type of yogurt I need to buy so I will start with that. My doctor advised me to eat more fiber, which I have been trying to do; the the diarrhea is still quite evident. I bought some oatmeal, an apple, and a banana and plan to make some oatmeal apple banana muffins to help with my gut issues. Hopefully, eating the muffins along with some yogurt that has live cultures, my diarrhea issues will subside. Thank you so much, and wish me luck. I only weigh 70 lbs so can't afford to lose any more weight from my bouts with diarrhea.

I’m relieved for you that you don’t have C-Diff. That’s scourge I wouldn’t wish on anyone! Keeping my little gut-bugs happy is my goal. 😃
Antibitoics are godsends for helping us fend off certain bacteria. Unfortunately they are not discriminatory and kill off the good bacteria in our guts as well. So we need to replenish, feed and nurture the good guys!
There are some great articles online about keeping our gut biome healthy. I gave you a couple links yesterday and with the addition of some of those foods, the yogurt you bought and the addition of fiber will help.

I wanted to caution you though! Add fiber daily in small amounts! Too much will cause their own level of gastric disturbances. ☺️ If you end up with more bloating or gas, just back off for a day or so again. For the yogurt, aim for 8 oz daily. You can divide that into smaller portions of 4 oz morning and then evening after dinner. If you’re introducing fiber like ground flax seed, then only mix 1 teaspoon in with your morning oatmeal. And also, if you’re not used to oatmeal, work your way up to larger portions of that as well. I think a serving is 1/2 cup of raw oats (before cooking). That’s a lot if you’re not used to it! So try 1/4 cup and cook in the microwave with either milk or water added.
Same thing for the muffins! They sound healthy but if you’re not used to a lot of fiber, slow and steady gains is the way to introduce them.

Another staple food I add to my diet daily is raw sauerkraut. Fermented foods such as raw sauerkraut or kimchi are super healthy for our guts. The kraut should be fresh, not canned. You can make it at home, or grocery stores carry it in refrigerator case! I eat about 2 tablespoons of kraut daily on a salad or sandwich.
You might also consider having a consultation with a registered dietician to help you find a happy balance with getting enough fiber, nutrition and protein. Weighing only 70 pounds you definitely can’t afford to lose any more weight. Let’s get that gut healthy so you can put some meat on your bones again. It takes time to heal a gut, so don’t rush it!

Best wishes for success in treating your MAC. That’s out of my wheelhouse but I would like you to let me know how you’re doing with your intestinal issues.

Lori,
I so appreciate your help in helping me lessen my diarrhea. I just realized that I mistyped my weight. It is actually closer to 80 lbs, not 70 lbs. I used to normally weigh around 110-115 so the weight loss due to my medical issues has been quite extreme over the past couple of years. I really want to lessen my bouts with diarrhea by eating more probiotic and prebiotic foods, rather than plug more meds into my body. As you suggested, I am trying to take it slow. Thanks, again, for your support.

I’m optimist that you’ll start noticing some changes within a few days of eating the yogurt and some of the pre/probiotic foods. Those foods will start giving your intestines some good bacteria again!

When you have time, do a little research for healthy foods to eat for repairing gut health. But try not to get too obsessed with it! Eat what you will enjoy and skip the weird foods that might not appeal to you. It won’t take long before you’re comfortable with the new food routines. They’ll become second nature.
After your stool starts becoming more formed you can add foods like nuts and berries, healthy salads, fruits, veggies to your daily intake. I think I mentioned avoiding dairy (except the yogurt) for few days until your stool is normal as well. I’d also suggest switching to lactose free milk products. For example, I drink Fairlife (fat free) milk. All the Fairlife products are lactose free. Other products on the market are Lactaid, which also makes lactose free ice-cream (which is to die for! 😅). They also make cottage cheese and sour cream. I didn’t have any luck at all with the Lactaid pills, (to take before eating dairy) they really bothered my stomach. But I’ve tried most all the lactose free dairy on the market. Another yummy cottage cheese is a brand called Good. They have a lactose free product in their lineup. That on has active yogurt cultures in it too.
My goodness…you have lost a lot of weight. I’m hoping you can gain some of that back soon. When your guts are healthy again, I can guarantee success in that department if you start eating some of that Lactaid Salted Caramel Ice Cream. 😂

This might be something for you to consider. Google: brown rice liquid for diarrhea recipe.
I have done it in the past and it helped.

The following falls under the area I mentioned I googled:

Brown rice liquid for diarrhea is made by boiling rice in water, straining the rice, and drinking the water. This rice water can help with diarrhea by preventing dehydration and binding stools.
Ingredients 1/2 cup brown rice and 1–2 cups water.
Steps
Add the rice and water to a pot.
Boil for about 10 minutes, or until the water is cloudy.
Strain the rice, reserving the water.
Let the rice water cool.

Also Aldi has Lifeway Kefir and a high protein greek non fat yogurt, 0% fat, no added sugars, 0% milkfat, by Friendly Farms if you are looking at labels as I do. I also always try to find the websites of producers etc. to read about them.
For us to consider, I read that Fairlife was sued for false advertising. It is a Coca Cola brand product. We have to be so careful and cautious in so many things.

I hope you are finding your way in all, certainly not an easy task.
Barbara

Barbara,
Thanks so much for your help. I shop at Aldi regularly and had planned to look for yogurt there so I will definitely look for the Greek non fat yogurt you suggested. I don't know what kefir is, but I am about to find out. I always have brown rice in the house but never thought of drinking the rice water. I don't know how it will taste, but I will try anything to stop my daily bouts with diarrhea. I so appreciate your advice and the advice of others in this very supportive group.
Kathy

Kathy-
To be specific the Friendly Farms Greek Yogurt is in a black container with the word Protein in large letters.
I googled What is Kefir, for you to get an idea of what it is. More information is there about it also. "Kefir is a fermented milk drink that's similar to yogurt but with a tangy flavor. It's made by adding kefir grains to milk, which are clusters of bacteria and yeast that ferment the milk's sugars."
Lifeway is produced by a long standing family farm.
I, myself, when taking new things such as Kefir I like to start out with an ounce or two and gradually build up, if I want to build up from there. Gives me an idea how my system will react to something new.
Hope you have success.
Barbara

Barbara, I went to Aldi today and didn't see the black container you suggested. I bought a carton of Friendly Farms Plain Nonfat Greek Yogurt. According to the label, it contains several live and active cultures. I also bought a 32 oz. carton of Friendly Farms Probiotic Kefir Blueberry Cultured Lowfat Milk. My plan is to start tomorrow adding the yogurt and Kefir to my diet to help my gut with the diarrhea side effects from the antibiotics.

Hi Kathy. Since yogurt, kefir and all the different types of fibre you’re adding to your diet are new to you, a suggestion would be to start slowly and maybe just try the yogurt first. Kefir is an amazing product for boosting the good bacteria in the gut biome. But it can also cause gas and bloating if you’re not used to it.
So I’d begin with 8 oz of yogurt daily. You can break that into smaller portions, morning and then evening before bed. Then in a few days, you can add a little kefir to give that a try. I wouldn’t go with a full serving size right away. That might be too much of a good thing when you’re not used to it. You could used a couple tablespoons the flavored kefir mixed into your plain yogurt to start.
This will take time to completely heal your gut…weeks to months! But don’t get discouraged. You’re on the right track now with getting the healthy pre and probiotics back into your system. Good luck!