I have cystitis and having an IBS flare up. I was told by the doctor to take antibiotics (100mg nitrofuranroin) for 7 days, and my bowels usually can’t handle antibiotics. So I’m quite terrified for taking them, as I get bed bound, but I know I need to take them. Especially with my current flare up. Is there a link to flare ups and UTIs? Does this antibiotic cause major issues in your bowels too? Is there anything I can do specifically to help prep? Thank you!!
Ps, yet to reply back to my pervious posts, I’ll be back soon
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Avahw
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Hello this has only just come through on my email . I’m troubled by both conditions I get ibs bad when I have it then I get bad cystitis it’s a misery but I don’t know what to say , I have a lot of things wrong with me but cystitis is the only thing that takes me rushing to the drs .Good luck .💕💕
There is something you can buy over the counter. Ask at the chemist its called CYSTOCALM or you could instead try drinking warm water with half a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda whisked in it every 3/4 hours. Drink loads of water also to flush out your bladder.I have used these methods before which are quite ofter successful.
I take pro biotic every day for about 2 years now. In your case I would at least take them while on the antibiotics. My Doc said it was a good idea and did help me. Antibiotics destroy both good and the bad bacteria so the prebiotic help replace the good ones.
Antibiotics can significantly deplete both good and bad bacteria in your body. After a course of antibiotics bacteria slowly rebuild, all being well, they eventually return to balance. However, this can take time and rebalance may not be achieved, meaning that bad bacteria dominate.
Whilst taking antibiotics, if you take probiotics at the right time (at least two hours away from both previous and next antibiotic doses), they can pass through your system helping to protect the good bacteria and defend against any bad bacteria starting to dominate. The next antibiotic dose will still affect the microbiome, but some of the good bugs will survive helping the rebalancing effect when the course of antibiotics ends.
Some people may be more sensitive to histamine-producing probiotic strains such as Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus reuteri, and Lactobacillus bulgaricus. If this is the case, Lactobacillus plantarum, Bifdocaterium lactis, and Bifidobacterium longum would be better since they lower histamine levels, improve digestion and lower inflammation.
However, a comparison of Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus rhamnosus found that all helped restore the microbiome after a course of antibiotics. Lactobacillus casei was especially effective including building those strains that produce short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), particularly acetate and butyrate, which have health promoting properties. Additionally, it reduced inflammation promoting compounds, either through the SCFAs or the restoration of the microbiome. (2) In a study, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG was also considered helpful (3) (7).
Saccharomyces Boulardii, which is a beneficial yeast that has been proven to prevent antibiotic associated diarrhoea, is the best thing to take whilst on antibiotics. The reason it is so effective is that since it is a yeast and doesn’t consist of bacteria, antibiotics won’t affect it, so it can do its job. Take 2 Saccharomyces Boulardii capsules after a couple of mouthfuls of food at breakfast and at dinner whilst taking antibiotics and for 2 weeks to a month afterwards. If you start to become constipated on Saccharomyces Boulardii, this suggests that it has or is doing its job and it might be possible to come off of them. Probiotics can be taken in addition, bearing in mind the timing mentioned above.
Another preventative measure that can be taken is to cut sugar intake whilst on antibiotics. Good bacteria not only keep bad bacteria under control, but also fungi such as candida albicans, a form of yeast, an overgrowth of which can lead to gut symptoms such as diarrhoea. Candida loves sugar and refined carbohydrates such as white bread and pasta that can be easily turned to sugar. Cutting out or reducing refined carbohydrates is generally recommended. This is especially true when on antibiotics, in particular whilst the good bacteria are being compromised, may be unable to keep candida under control and the only other way to do this is to reduce their food sources.
If you are symptom free, that is, not experienced antibiotic associated diarrhoea since the Saccharomyces Boulardii and probiotics have been doing their job, it is important to start feeding your good gut bacteria to help them repopulate. Whole grains and eating a wide colour spectrum of vegetables can assist in promoting bacterial diversity. It is this diversity that helps to keep the baddies at bay.
I developed uti 2 days before testing positive for Covid last year. Over 14 months I had about 8 courses of antibiotics and camera in bladder and uterus, a biopsy and partial removal of fibroid. Finally the uti cleared and I felt better apart from flatulence and burping and recurrent pain in lower right abdomen and sometimes also back. Have been tested for campylobacter etc and negative but suspect irritable bowel from all the different antibiotics. My diet already comprises a wide variety of veg, keffir and live yoghurt but I did a week of stopping coffee, tea, wine, dairy (except cultured stuff) and reduced carbohydrates no gluten. As recommended on this site I started taking alflorex supplement and symptoms are abating. I feel it is working and intend to take supplement for 3 months.
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