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Keflex causing diarrhea / UTI on Humira

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Sara14
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Joined : Mar 2007
Posts : 7223
Posted 2/17/2020 8:45 PM (GMT -7)
So I just started Keflex for a UTI and it's already giving me diarrhea and I've only taken it for one day so far. No other antibiotics have ever given me diarrhea. So I call the ER to see if they can give me amoxicillin or something instead and they say no and to follow up with my family doctor. So I have to just wait until my appointment on Thursday, I guess. I am so beyond frustrated right now. I don't know if I should keep taking the Keflex and just have diarrhea. It wasn't painful like UC diarrhea. Would this be bad for my UC? I wasn't even having typical UTI symptoms really, just that crazy dizziness, which I don't even know was from the UTI or something else. But I did notice some discomfort when peeing and felt UTI pain 2 or 3 weeks ago but then the pain went away, so I would like to treat this infection since it seems to be lingering for weeks. Sorry for all the posts!
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quincy
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Joined : May 2003
Posts : 33341
Posted 2/17/2020 10:13 PM (GMT -7)
Did they do a culture of the bacteria?
I used Septra in the past for a bladder infection....can you use that?

Call the doc you're seeing on Thursday and ask what you should do.

Can you take probiotics?

q
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Sara14
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Joined : Mar 2007
Posts : 7223
Posted 2/18/2020 7:00 AM (GMT -7)
Thanks for the reply. They did a culture but did not have the results of that back by the time they gave me the Keflex. They should be back by now I would think. The doctor I'm seeing Thursday is a new family doctor for me who I've never seen before. I don't like my current family doctor. I left a message for the current one anyway, but I'm sure she will not do anything helpful like not make me come in just to change my antibiotic. Lol. I've never had Septra. I've only had maybe 2 UTIs before, and I think I just took amoxicillin for those. I can handle the diarrhea but just didn't know if it could cause a UC flare.

I left a message with my GI, too. He told me I should continue the Humira even with this UTI. I don't think that sounds right from what I've read online.

I could take probiotics. I never found they did anything for my UC. I eat vegan yogurt most days.
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Sara14
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Posts : 7223
Posted 2/18/2020 8:55 AM (GMT -7)
Family doctor called back and said I could stop taking them. She thought I'd been on them for 3 days and said 3 days is really all you need for a UTI. Guess I'll just take them today and tomorrow then. The script was for 7 days.
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FlowersGal
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Posted 2/18/2020 9:19 AM (GMT -7)
Ummmm. Depends I think on how bad the uti is if 3 days of antibiotic is enough. I found it never was. I was getting them all the time for a while and it was always e. Coli cultures and I took cipro. Funny but I haven’t had one for a few years now. I always wondered if they were somehow connected to my diverticulitis infections because that’s when I was getting them the most. It’s funny but in elderly people a uti can cause really strange symptoms like confusion.

Anyway uti’s can be nasty things and I don’t know if I’d mess around with it. Depends how bad your diarrhea is tho. If it’s just loose stools I would think that’s ok. If it starts causing cramping or urgency then that’s not good.

Definitely add some probiotics after the antibiotic tho to repopulate your gut. I believe you can take florastor at the same time if you can tolerate that one.
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Sara14
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Posted 2/18/2020 9:29 AM (GMT -7)
Ugh, I am so sick of doctors being idiots. sad I don't even know what my culture came back as. Maybe I'll call the ER again and ask because I'd like to know.

It wasn't bad compared to UC, like I wasn't in pain and I've only had 3 bouts of D so far. But it was urgent. I was scared a fart was going to be a shart last night...lol. Someone I know who doesn't have IBD told me Keflex gave him bloody D! That scared me.

Thank you!
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quincy
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Joined : May 2003
Posts : 33341
Posted 2/18/2020 10:01 AM (GMT -7)
Personally....do the course if you can. The worry would be a stronger infection over a period of time. The probiotics should help prevent gut further imbalance. Yes, you should know the bacteria considering you have UC and might need further antibiotics.

q
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Andreita
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Posts : 3828
Posted 2/18/2020 10:28 AM (GMT -7)
From what I've read, keflex isn't good for UC and I tried to tell you that I wouldn't take it. It might cause c diff and a flare.

Cranberry juice and soft gels worked for me while I had a painful UTI. I had to take those several weeks. One time I tried to taper off, the pain came back. I just stayed on it a couple of weeks more and it was resolved. I've never treated my UTI with antibiotics.
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Sara14
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Joined : Mar 2007
Posts : 7223
Posted 2/18/2020 10:34 AM (GMT -7)
The family doctor's office called again and now told me just one single day of it is good enough to treat the UTI. Quincy, I agree. Thank you.

Andrina: Yeah, I know, but I've been so lightheaded and feeling like I'm almost about to pass out for a week now that I wanted to treat the infection in case that was causing those symptoms. Thanks for your replies though, I appreciate it. Glad you're doing better, too.
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Sara14
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Posted 2/19/2020 6:29 PM (GMT -7)
I've only had diarrhea twice so far and I'm on day 3, so it hasn't been too bad after all. Keflex legit tastes/smells disgusting though! I wish they had given me Cipro or Amoxicillin instead. I will request those if I ever get another UTI. I called the hospital again yesterday, and they still didn't have my culture, and it had been over 72 hours, so not really sure what's up with that. I feel like the UTI is all better though. I barely had any symptoms to begin with.
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quincy
Elite Member
Joined : May 2003
Posts : 33341
Posted 2/19/2020 9:27 PM (GMT -7)
How many more days left? Good you're starting to feel better.
It takes 3 days to culture....from what I remember of my cat's.
q
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Sara14
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Posts : 7223
Posted 2/20/2020 6:28 AM (GMT -7)
I just called the ER again and they have no record of a culture result for me and that none was ever ordered. The nurse and doctor both told me they were doing one. The case manager I just spoke to thought it was very odd, she said they do cultures for everything. She also said it was really odd the ER doctor didn't give me antibiotics until I called back and requested them myself 2 days later. She said "I don't know what she was doing." Lol. She said sometimes they won't prescribe antibiotics if the urine bacteria result is 1+, but mine was 2+. They did, however, order a pregnancy test even though I told them I was literally currently on my period and haven't had a boyfriend since last summer! Oh well, it isn't a huge deal, but still, wth.

So, the ER prescribed the Keflex for 7 days, but when I told my family doctor I was having diarrhea, she said you only need to take it for 3 days for a UTI. Then she said you only need to take it for 1 day. However, my GI told me to take the whole course. So, I'm kind of confused what to do. It wasn't a severe infection, but I am on Humira.

Also, the case manager lady I just spoke to in the ER thought all this dizziness could be from the UTI. She said that's common in elderly people and that it could have been the case for me even though I'm only 36. No doctor I've spoken to seems to think that is the cause though.

I saw a new family doctor today. He did not impress me at all, barely seemed interested in my issues and barely spent any time with me. I personally think I have a very interesting medical history and that he should have been interested! LOL. He did order more bloodwork -- he's testing my Vit. D, iron, ferritin, and doing another CMP and CBC. He said he thought my low potassium reading at the ER the other day could be the cause of the dizziness. The ER doctor said my reading didn't worry her at all, and that it was common in people with D or vomiting; however, she never bothered to ask me if I had had any recent D or vomiting, (I hadn't), and I looked at all my old CMPs for the past 2 years, and my potassium was always normal even while in severe flares! That ER doctor was nice, but she didn't seem to know what the hell she was doing, on multiple fronts.

The other interesting thing today was my blood pressure at my appointment early this morning had returned to totally normal for me -- 112/62. It had been 124/82 or higher recently, which I know is still pretty normal for most people so maybe that means nothing. Since I feel fine when I wake up in the morning, and the dizziness happens an hour or two after I wake up, and an hour or two after I take my Uceris, which can cause high blood pressure, I had been wondering if maybe that could be the link. Just grasping at straws here. It hasn't been nearly as bad this week as it was last week though, so who knows.

Sorry I wrote another book. I know I'm starting to sound like a hypochondriac.
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tiredofallthispoop
Regular Member
Joined : Jan 2017
Posts : 242
Posted 2/20/2020 9:17 AM (GMT -7)
I do the same thing - trying to piece together all the different symptoms to figure out what is going on. I don't think it's hypochondria, more like I am the one with the the most knowledge of what is going on. I swear medical staff don't listen to everything even though we are trying to give them all of the information that seems pertinent. They focus in on one thing whether or not it is the most relevant. Reminds me of the Far Side comic What Dogs Hear. smile
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C_G_K
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Joined : Dec 2006
Posts : 1421
Posted 2/20/2020 9:25 AM (GMT -7)
Antibiotics are a guaranteed flare trigger for me. I can trace most of my flares back to ABX use, including my first flare which was a doozy. My GI doc told me that taking antibiotics now might put me 6 feet under, since I am fighting valley fever, so I have limited to no options to treat a flare without giving the valley fever free rein to run amok.
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Sara14
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Joined : Mar 2007
Posts : 7223
Posted 2/20/2020 9:29 AM (GMT -7)
tiredofallthispoop -- Yes, good point and I agree. I just looked up that comic -- too funny and true! Lol.

CGK -- Oh yes, I keep forgetting about the valley fever thing. Hopefully you can beat that soon. That must be really scary. I've always done really well on antibiotics in the past. They've never made me flare so far, knock on wood. I would not take Keflex again though unless I really had to.
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Sara14
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Joined : Mar 2007
Posts : 7223
Posted 2/20/2020 9:54 AM (GMT -7)
I've decided I need to go to medical school so I can just treat myself. Lol. Only half kidding. Think I'm too old for that though.
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quincy
Elite Member
Joined : May 2003
Posts : 33341
Posted 2/20/2020 10:05 AM (GMT -7)
LOL Sara...you could start creating your own comics, for your experiences are worthy of sharing to the masses.

No culture...disappointingly interesting.
Keflex, a high potency abx for a mild infection...interesting.
Conflicting statements of how long to take it...interesting.

It could be the infection being the cause of your episodes, especially if you don't have them again. It could be the lower than norm potassium. Or a combo of the two.

Its good your doc has requested further blood testing...have you seen a cardiologist in the past?

q
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Sara14
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Joined : Mar 2007
Posts : 7223
Posted 2/20/2020 10:12 AM (GMT -7)
LOL, yes, I should write a book or something. Ha.

Nope, never seen a cardiologist before!
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quincy
Elite Member
Joined : May 2003
Posts : 33341
Posted 2/20/2020 10:39 PM (GMT -7)
If your symptoms continue, maybe request to see one.

q
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Sara14
Veteran Member
Joined : Mar 2007
Posts : 7223
Posted 2/21/2020 8:30 AM (GMT -7)
I feel like it's something wrong with my head, not my heart, but I guess I have no idea. I've spent hours researching online every day and can't figure it out. sad No one really seems to have experienced exactly what I did. It wasn't like normal lightheadedness when you stand up. It was like my head jerked down like when you're about to fall asleep but I wasn't falling asleep and then it kept feeling like that over and over for hours for two nights in a row last week. I didn't take my Uceris this morning and I did not do my Humira yesterday. I'll see what happens. I can't live like this.

I got my bloodwork results from yesterday. Everything is normal except my Vit. D was super low! 13.8. I've been taking calcium and Vit. D every single day for months, so that is super weird, isn't it? I've never had low Vit. D before. What is recommended for that? I already take more than the recommended daily value every day in vitamins. I get it in my diet too. Great that I just keep finding more things wrong with me but nothing to explain my symptoms. sad No wonder my foot broke from walking a mile.
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FlowersGal
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Joined : Feb 2017
Posts : 1414
Posted 2/21/2020 9:13 AM (GMT -7)
When I was first I’ll and in a flare I went to the hospital twice. First time I just felt really weird and weak — it was 3-4 years ago so I don’t recall exactly what was going on except that I remember knowing something was wrong , and turned out it was my blood sugar was at 30. They had me drink a bunch of juice and sent me home. A week later I felt really bad again and went back. This time they admitted me and treated me for pancreatitis because those enzymes were 3x normal. I knew that wasn’t what it was because I had no pain there.

My point is that apparently it is possible for colitis to throw off a whole lot of bodily functions. It affected my pancreas in the beginning throwing off all those numbers and affecting my blood sugar. No one ever explained to me why or how — I just know it can happen. Anyway just thought I’d offer a thought that it could still be your UC.
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Sara14
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Posts : 7223
Posted 2/21/2020 9:16 AM (GMT -7)
My UC is under control though. It wasn't a blood sugar issue for me; I had just eaten when it started. Thanks for sharing though!
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tiredofallthispoop
Regular Member
Joined : Jan 2017
Posts : 242
Posted 2/21/2020 9:38 AM (GMT -7)
How much Vitamin D are you taking Sara? Mine was also really low so I started taking the maximum daily dose of 5000 IU. I take it pretty much every day and my levels are never high, usually middle of the range at best.
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Sara14
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Joined : Mar 2007
Posts : 7223
Posted 2/21/2020 9:51 AM (GMT -7)
Ok, thank you. I was taking about 800-1,000 IU per day of Vit. D2 most days (sometimes I skip my multivitamin so I'd get less). I guess I need to take way more. I'll see if this doctor is going to recommend something. He is out today. Or I might just ask my GI. I read some old posts on Healingwell this morning about their doctor's prescribing them a 50,000 IU pill that you take once a week. I used to go outside a lot and get a lot of sun but not lately so that probably doesn't help. Do you take D2 or D3? Maybe I should switch to D3.
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CCinPA
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Joined : Dec 2014
Posts : 2235
Posted 2/21/2020 10:16 AM (GMT -7)
Why did you stop Uceris & Humira if you haven't had that happen again since last week? Last thing you want is to go into a bad flare again.

My thought is that the dizziness could maybe be hormonal. You are young but it's not unheard of to start perimenopause early. Not saying that's what cause the problem, but I know for me perimenopause caused me lots of grief ...both physical & mental. Once I got treatment (first the mini pill birth control and then later a hormone patch) I was a new person.

Whatever it is hopefully it doesn't come back!
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