Infection--Antibiotics--Help

I've had a cold for approx. a month, yes, it's true and now I have a sinus infection, which the doctor told me yesterday that he doubts will go away on it's own, due to how long I've been sick. Last year, I took five days of azithromiacen and it threw me into a major flare and was hospitalized for two weeks. I'm currently in a mild flare so we're upping meds, giving it a week, but after that it may be that I have to take the antibiotics. This is all being coordinated by my primary MD, who's great, and GI by the way. GI has already confirmed that all antibiotics have the potential to throw you into a major flare. Any suggestions, thoughts, experiences?--help.

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Dx Ulcerative Colitis 1999; IBS; CP: Asacol x3 x3/day, Rowasa, Proctofoam, Prilosec, Bentyl, Prozac, Endocet (as needed), multi vit, probiotic, fish oil caps x2/day, calcium 1200 mg./day, Prednisone (off/on, unfortunately).

Hi Lucy..it's good your doc has found the reason why you've been sick. What med is he giving you?

I would suggest you make sure you take a good probiotic.

what UC meds did he up for you?

quincy

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I have had to go on anitbiotics ALOT lately.....back to back to back sinus infections. I had a place taken off my leg and it got infected twice. I always doubled up on my probiotics while on antibiotics and luckily did not have any problems. The key is to stagger when you take them b/c you don't want the antibiotic to kill the good bacteria as well!

Hope you get to feeling better soon!

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Tabitha (Tab)

100mg Azathioprine, 2 Fibercon, Colazal-6 a day, Acidopholis Pearls, Prilosec OTC

http://www.healingwell.com/donate
Co-Moderator UC Forum

What bummer! Usually a z-pack works well for me to get rid of a sinus infection without affecting my UC. Cipro, on the other hand, started a bout of D that took pred to get rid of.

Maybe since the z-pack doesn't work for you, maybe the Cipro would?

I'd definitely start the probiotics to repopulate the good bugs when/if you do start an antibiotic.

I hope you feel better soon!

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Pan-colitis and GERD diagnosed May 2003

 

Asacol 12 per day,  Azathioprine 75mg, Rowasa and Canasa as needed

Aciphex, Effexor XR, BCP, Rhinocort nasal spray

Forvia and a Probiotic

 

Osteopenia (hip and spine) from prednisone use.  Started Azathioprine because I was steroid dependent.

 

Co-Mod for the UC forum

Keep HealingWell running smoothly:  www.healingwell.com/donate

Just wondering if you may be better off trying an antifungal program to get rid of your sinus infections. The researchers at the MAYO clinic have found chronic sinusitis to be a fungal disorder and patients have had better success with antifungals. Who knows, the antifungals may even help your colitis symptoms......   :)

Kim

I'd eat a lot of yogurt. It may mess up your stomach for while you're on it, but it may prevent a flare. I had to take antibiotics for H pylori infection and I ate huge amounts of yogurt. I had huge BM's but I think I may have warded off a flare from the antibiotics.

Alternatively, lots of probiotics would help too.

Thanks for the responses. Quincy: I had to up my predisone to 10 mg.--I was just tappering and was on 2.5 mg. every other day before all this mess. I also had to go to two rowasa a.m. p.m. and the foam everyday. When I list meds, I don't always list as much or little as I take because it changes according to what's happening at the time. Asacol is constant along w/the probiotic, vit, fish, and calcium. I also eat yogurt pretty much daily.
This is the first time, ever, that I've had a sinus infection; last year I took antibiotics for an ear infection, before that, I only took antibiotics once years ago. The past two years, I've been suffering from constant colds and flu, my worse time of year is between Oct.--March, I work with the public in an old building, probably not the best environment for someone like me, but I take precations{stopped shaking hands long time ago} and I really like my job and gets lots of considerations for my medical conditions. As for the cold/sinus thing right now, MD has me taking sudafed x2 daily and benadryl p.m. and I'm doing sinus flushes every day. I'm taking care of myself, going slowly (any slower, I'd be going backwards, lol). Anyways, we'll see how it goes.

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Dx Ulcerative Colitis 1999; IBS; CP: Asacol x3 x3/day, Rowasa, Proctofoam, Prilosec, Bentyl, Prozac, Endocet (as needed), multi vit, probiotic, fish oil caps x2/day, calcium 1200 mg./day, Prednisone (off/on, unfortunately).

I just got prescribed Azithromycin (Zithromax) today, for an infection in my throat. I have been getting constant colds/sinus crap and stomach flus since getting UC in March...I rarely took antibiotics for anything before getting UC. I just had my tonsils out a month and a half ago and I can't figure out how I have another infection there already...I have never had problems with my tonsils/throat in the past. It's really painful and swollen.

How is it going with the antibiotic? I have never taken this one before and am hoping it doesn't make my flare worse. I have been getting penicillin family antibiotics a lot lately, so my doctor said I shouldn't take those anymore for a while.

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23 years old
Diagnosed with UC March 2007
Current inflamation in the rectum
Asacol 4 tablets 3x/day

I think kim123 might be right.  A fungal infection is something I considered but never really took that seriously.  I've been battling this flare for a few months, trying a lot of stuff and I'm finding that I'm either sensitive to sugar/carb stuff or yeast products, or both... and when I reduced these products, I've felt much less bloated and achy, so I'm thinking it is a yeast overgrowth and it can manifest itself in a variety of ways.  It may help just to try a light version of the diet and supplements just to see if helps... and if it is dying off, then you might even feel worse.

Plus, yeast can proliferate with the use of antibiotics and steriods.  I've been pretty intense with my probiotics and though they help, I think focusing on this issue is going to help.  Maybe it can help you as well.