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Combo Antibiotic treatment - PART II

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 8/8/2011 5:52 PM (GMT -6)
PART I

www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=2088679
Posted 8/8/2011 10:56 PM (GMT -6)
"Great news Mudua, just out of curiosity how did your UC start? For instance mine was triggered by food poisoning which lead to chronic diarrhea and taking antibiotics which makes me almost certain it was bacteria induced. Wondering if it was the same for you?"


Hi gavin92

I am a South African who was working for a Canadian company based in South Africa. I was sent to Vancouver, Canada to assist in a project that was running behind schedule. about 8 months later while still in Canada , I started having uncontrollable urgencies with blood in my stools. The doctors initially gave me immodium but this only increased the blood in my stools. I than went to a gastro and was diagnoed with colitis.
Posted 8/9/2011 7:11 AM (GMT -6)
OMG Muda that is so awesome and yes Thank you Diaperman for stating this thread, without I wouldn't know to ask my doctor. I wish I had better to report but I improved slightly so that better than were I was. Mine I feel started with food poisoning too. I ate alfalfa sprouts from the grocery store that I did NOT wash, stupid me, and became deathly ill and never went to the doctor. Six years later dx with Lyme's disease which is a bacteria infection too. Could they be one in the same? Who knows. But anyways, I'm a little better, so I'm thankful for that.

Diaperman good luck if you have to have the surgery, sounded like it was definete, I'm sorry you have to go through all that.

Posted 8/9/2011 7:12 AM (GMT -6)
I'm on my tenth day, and have noticed some improvement. I think I'd prefer to wait until the treatment is done and I'm off the antibiotics for a few days to let you all know more accurately how much this has or hasn't helped me. I am definitely looking forward to being done with these antibiotics though!
Posted 8/10/2011 1:05 AM (GMT -6)
Just a quick update on the last two days.

Yesterday ate some raisin bran for breakfast... bad idea, felt like sandpaper going through my guts. Guess I will have to wait for more healing before eating such things.

Today, much better. 5 BMs (3 before 10:30 am), very well formed poop, no urgency, no gas, no tenesmus, no discomfort during BM, no blood, no mucous, no nothing. Poop has that "remission" smell to it.

Was out most of the day with no worries. Didn't feel the need to take a change of underwear/clothes due to new found confidence.
Posted 8/10/2011 8:02 AM (GMT -6)
I do have to add this too for me, my emotions are so much better since I did the therapy too! I was having crying spells, depression before it and now I feel so much more level headed in my mind. I much more happier too! I don't know this would have helped maybe bcuz I'm not bad off as I was. I don't know. I still have urgency, sharts, blood and not formed stool but if 10 is was the worst it's at a 7 now, so I'm happy with that. I would love to try it again sometime in the future. C G K you had UC since '03 , me since '05 so I'm still hopeful it will work. I'm so happy for you and everyone else who get complete remission, it's worth SO WORTH trying this!
Posted 8/11/2011 12:06 AM (GMT -6)
Sorry for the incessant updates, but I'm just so happy that I am now, for all intents and purposes, in remission.

4 BMs today with no urgency, gas or other U.C. related nastiness. The longer and uglier the flare, the sweeter the remission, if you can get there. Keeping fingers crossed that it lasts!
Posted 8/11/2011 7:51 AM (GMT -6)
Please keep updating us and don't forget us, that's so easy to do when you are symptom (s) free! You're great success will help others! I'm happy for you, wish I could add the same, but not yet :) maybe I'm one that will take 3-12 months for improvement and its gradual. I'm praying!
Posted 8/11/2011 8:47 AM (GMT -6)
C_G_K I'm so glad you're feeling better! And I for one enjoy the incessant updates lol :)
Posted 8/11/2011 11:21 AM (GMT -6)
Not only am I in remission but my joint pains are also gone.

I will keep on updating this thread, hoping that others will try this simple method and get cured
Posted 8/12/2011 12:21 AM (GMT -6)
Well, I probably won't need to post here for a while as the posts are getting kind of redundant. Colitis symptoms have pretty much disappeared. 3 BMs today with no U.C. related symptoms to speak of.

You can assume that I am still in remission unless I post otherwise (which I will do if my condition changes). I do have one nighttime steroid enema to taper off, so that may be a challenge and may change things a bit, but I doubt it. Even doing two enemas a day before the antibiotics wasn't bringing me much relief anymore. The antibiotics have been a game changer for me, thank God for that.

Best of luck to anyone trying this approach to ridding themselves of this dreadful disease. I met with a client at 9 this morning, something I haven't been able to do for years because I have either been flaring or doing a morning enema. I am enjoying my new found freedom!!!
Posted 8/12/2011 6:54 AM (GMT -6)
C_G_K and mudua,
Congratulations on your remission. Are you going to remain on Salofalk and continue with the probiotics and psyllium?

Antibiotics jump-started me into remission well over a year ago but I don't intend to find out if it will work again in the future. I am careful how I eat and watch out for the first sign of any flaring. I may be wasting my money but I take probiotics every day.
Posted 8/12/2011 7:16 AM (GMT -6)
Thanks for posting your progress CGK, so valuable. Based on you, mudua, BITWoods and others I will be doing this in September so that I too can be 100%. Leaving the house at 9 AM is something I haven't done in years. My GI suggested antibiotics at our last meeting but she also suggested nicotine patch and that was a disaster :-(
Posted 8/12/2011 7:58 AM (GMT -6)
gosh at least your gi suggest these other avenues mine says immunosuppresants or surgery
Posted 8/12/2011 8:20 AM (GMT -6)
BabeInWoods,

I will definitely continue with the oral 5 ASA for the foreseeable future. For one thing it protects against colon cancer for people with U.C. If I can, I will taper down to 8 tabs/day since 12 is a bit on the high side.

I am planning on taking probiotics for the rest of my life. For me, the greatest value of probiotics is how it protects you if you happen to consume questionable food (that may contain harmful bacteria) or if you are exposed to a virus that attacks the digestive system. Same with the psyllium fibre, it provides a good growth media for healthy flora and so works with the probiotics.

InAGarderner2,

Let us know things go! Antibiotics and FT seem to get at the root cause of U.C., and so have the potential for the highest quality remission where other treatments just try to block the immune response, leaving the harmful bugs to linger and cause problems. Also, according to the study from Japan, the more severe your disease (up to a point) the more likely the antibiotic combo will help, and most of the people on this board have pretty stubborn, severe disease at times.
Posted 8/12/2011 8:34 AM (GMT -6)

therearemiracles said...
gosh at least your gi suggest these other avenues mine says immunosuppresants or surgery

Well she knows I refuse to do immuno's, I'm sure she has it highlighted in my file so she only has alternative treatments available to suggest to me.

We have a discussion when we meet rather than her telling me what to do. The last time I was there I told her I was planning on FT from Dr. G (who since decided he can't do it again). She was very interested in FT but can't do it because the facilities (one doctor owned and one hospital) will not approve FT for UC only C. difficile.
Posted 8/12/2011 3:39 PM (GMT -6)

BabeintheWoods said...
C_G_K and mudua,
Congratulations on your remission. Are you going to remain on Salofalk and continue with the probiotics and psyllium?

Antibiotics jump-started me into remission well over a year ago but I don't intend to find out if it will work again in the future. I am careful how I eat and watch out for the first sign of any flaring. I may be wasting my money but I take probiotics every day.

Hi BabeintheWoods

 

I am in full remission and I am no lnger taking any medications or any supplements

Posted 8/13/2011 9:16 PM (GMT -6)
Well... I am done with the 14 days finally!

I am definitely not much improved over my symptoms before the therapy, except for bleeding being mostly eliminated. I somewhat attribute the continued urgency and frequency to the antibiotics "flaring" everything up somewhat. For much of this treatment I've gone about 6-7 times per day. There was actually very little diarrhea all-in-all... and only happened at all after about day 10.

Initially I had blood covering my stools, but have recently had almost no blood.

This treatment was not that fun, but was bearable. There were days where it felt like poison was boiling in my stomach, and I've had pains in my legs lately too. There are also other symptoms that if they go away soon I will attribute them to this therapy as well.

I will update in a few days or a week, letting you all know how things turn out now that my gut can pick up the pieces after this all-out war the antibiotics have waged.
Posted 8/14/2011 8:54 AM (GMT -6)
Most of my improvement has been slow and gradual, but accelerated after I was finished the two weeks of antibiotics. I am now to the point where I was able to take my dog out for a jog yesterday in 100 degree heat!! Yes, not a walk, a jarring, pavement pounding jog!

That would have been unthinkable before the antibiotics. And this is while I am tapering down on my last bit of steroids too, which normally would put me in misery by itself (down to one steroid enema every second day).

I know this is only my personal experience (well, and that of mudua too), but I'm just saying that you won't know the full extent of the results of the ABX treatment for months.
Posted 8/14/2011 9:32 AM (GMT -6)
That's great C_G_K! Perhaps things are less notable for myself because I was not as degraded in my health when I began this therapy. I'm thrilled to hear of your success with this therapy, and will be sure to give things some time before I make a final judgement.
Posted 8/14/2011 10:07 AM (GMT -6)

I am not sure why more people do not try this therapy.  The two weeks was really not that bad as compared to the symptoms I was suffering before the therapy.   I got 3 really good weeks after and I am not sure what happened after that.  But I can say it was the best I felt since diagnosed with UCF. Perhaps the dysplasia changed the outcome.  If I were a GI, I would consider the combo therapy as a first line defense.  Compared to Remicade and Humeria this is nothing.  Anyway I just want to encourage more participation in the treatment.   It may not work for all but I would do over again without hesitation especially in place of other treatments.

Good luck to all.

Posted 8/14/2011 10:47 AM (GMT -6)
Hi All - I have considered this treatment, but am trying the LDN protocol first, starting on transdermal LDN this week, used oral for one month...some improvement, but then slowly not working...hence going to transdermal.

My concern is that antibiotics (doxycycline) I believe gave me UC. smhair  so I'm scared to try this.  However, I remember when I had a severe sinus infection and put on amoxiclillin, my stools were somewhat forming up like on steriods, so it does make me wonder.
Anyway, my MD was more for tryng the LDN, she was hesitant because the triple antx is pretty strong, so I will give the transdermal LDN time to work.

Question:  do you receive good results right away within a months time?
What would the time frame be if you think this treatment has failed for you?

My current status;  LDN oral, physillium seed powder, mesalimine enamas 1x nightly, probitotics VSL, l-glutamine, ultrainflamx360, multi-vitamin, no gluten, very low, low sugar if any at all, no-beef, and a no-dairy diet.

 

Posted 8/14/2011 4:21 PM (GMT -6)
Hopeful4UC,

Antibiotics also gave me U.C. in the first place. The difference is many broad spectrum antibiotics kill off the good bacteria, but leave the bad ones untouched. The bad ones then overgrow once their competition is removed from the scene.

The combo antibiotics are chosen for their ability to kill the bad bug(s). The combo I took specifically kills fusobacterium varium which is a known pathogenic strain, and found in most U.C. sufferers.

Single broad spectrum antibiotics should be avoided whenever possible for people with U.C., but taking amoxicillin, tetracycline and metronidazole together is completely different than taking any one of them alone.

Here is the study information I sent to my GI Doc that convinced him to let me give this a try.

www.nature.com/ajg/journal/v105/n8/abs/ajg201084a.html

Notice in the abstract that between 3 and 12 months many additional people achieved a response or remission, in addition to those who responded in the first three months. Also people with more severe disease responded at a higher rate than those with mild disease. The response rates after a year are similar to remicade, and higher than humira.

Also, the people in the study had disease that already had failed conventional treatment.
Posted 8/14/2011 6:00 PM (GMT -6)
Sorry for my previous post in bold, I did not realize it was in bold type. Thanks
Posted 8/14/2011 10:19 PM (GMT -6)
Today has been my first day off of the treatment. I still have an achy body (legs, back/torso), and have a headache that I wouldn't wish on anyone. I had five BM's today, though a couple were just precautionary due to wanting to prep before going shopping and golfing.
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