Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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I just finished a two week course of antibiotics much to my chagrin and protestations. This is only the second time in 10 years Ive taken them. Im really against them, but I had a bad urinary tract infection that I couldnt shake, and the antibiotics did the trick.

And, they did a trick on my gut too. Ive had nothing but brown water for bowel movements the whole two weeks. My intestines were irritable and finicky as it was already, but this is too much. It doesnt hurt, I just hear gurging sounds in my belly every time I eat now.

Given that I eat only meat and a bit of green veggie, and stay in Ketosis with no carbs, how much chance do any probiotics have to actually grow and take hold in my gut? They eat carbs, not meat, right?

Im taking Dr. Ohirra's now, and was during the antibiotic course too, 4-8 per day; Its been 5 days since I stopped the antibiotics, and my bowel movements are still liquid.

Any advice?

flag	asked May 24 2012 at 9:58 animaleater 3,338●11●33

Rogue Dietitan · Answer 1 · 2012-05-24 13:56:49Z UTC

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I HIGHLY recommend Theralac; it's the best probiotic in the market. It's microencapsulated and guaranteed to deliver throughout the GI tract, down to the colon (which is where you need it). Most probiotics empty out in the stomach (where they're largely killed off by stomach acid), or in the small intestine. You need one that can get to the colon. I was on 3 antibiotics (at once!) for 7 months when I had chronic Lyme. I tried several probiotics and all resulted in diarrhea except for Theralac.

What kind of antibiotic were you on? Some can cause C.diff which needs to be addressed. Is the diarrhea bloody?

Theralac isn't cheap, but just get it. It's hard to find in stores, but you can order it from Swanson. http://www.swansonvitamins.com/MSP001/ItemDetail?SourceCode=INTL405&CAWELAID=338697575

answered May 24 2012 at 13:56

Rogue Dietitan
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	What is C. Diff? No, it's not bloody, nor does anything hurt. I get a movement occasionally that's somewhat more substantive now. The same thing happened the last time I took antibiotics. This one was Sitafloxacin (INN; also called DU-6859a), a fluoroquinolone antibiotic. I live in Japan so everything has to be ordered. And, docs are worse here about understanding proper/alternative gut bacterial health than back in the states. – animaleater May 24 2012 at 22:15
	Clostridium difficile, a really bad bacterial infection that can occur with certain classes of antibiotics, including fluoroquinalones. The antibiotics kill off most of your good bacteria, but these bad guys hang around and with no competition can grow out of control. It can start as lots of diarrhea, which can progress to bloody diarrhea, and can progress to worse things. The fact that you DON'T have blood is a good thing. Being in Japan makes things hard. I would start with calling your doctor to see if he will help (and if he doesn't, try a different doctor or maybe the pharmacist?). – Rogue Dietitan May 25 2012 at 14:16
	Try taking more probiotics, double what you're doing now. Take on an empty stomach with lots of water (to dilute stomach acid so the beneficial bacteria doesn't get killed off). A probiotic enema is sometimes done here for antibiotic diarrhea. Good luck, and keep us posted. – Rogue Dietitan May 25 2012 at 14:18
	I took raw garlic twice a day with meals and ohirras probiotics in large doses twice a day on an empty stomach with loads of water DURING and now after the antibiotic course. The bowel movements are not water anymore, but still porridge like. Getting a little better. Can I rig a home enema and introduce the dr. Ohirras probiotics? Will they live in that part of the colon? I'm also taking natto everyday, just the sticky stuff, minus the soybean solids, as I'm carb/grain/legume intolerant. – animaleater May 26 2012 at 2:45

David Fisher RD · Answer 2 · 2012-05-24 18:46:23Z UTC

Rogue Dietitian is correct to bring up C. diff. If you're 5 days post and still having liquid bowel movements I'd be wondering if you have a C. diff infection especially if you took a broad spectrum antibiotic. Tell your doctor about your current diarrhea right away. Simply taking probiotics will not cure a C. diff infection at this point.

Matthew · Answer 3 · 2012-05-24 10:54:24Z UTC

Here in Czech Republic doctors recommend taking probiotics while taking anti-biotics and for a week or two after. For me though anti-biotics never seem to have a noticeable effect on my bowels, but my wife notices a big difference between taking the pro-biotics and not. The ones they tell us to take are supposedly "special" for when you are taking anti-biotics. I would ask your pharmacist if they can recommend which ones to take. Natural saurkraut or kimchee is also supposed to be good for the gut. It may also help to take extra fiber for a few days just to help solidify things.

Kelly · Answer 4 · 2012-05-24 11:40:10Z UTC

Definitely you'll want to stay on the probiotics for a couple weeks, you should take them while on the antibiotic as well, next time!

Eat more fermented foods, you can google ideas, but yogurt is also full of these good things. You'll want some carbs in yours system to help clean out the bad stuff from your gut. GAPS is a good reference as well (no potatoes of any kind or rice; but onions and coconut products are good anti-bacterials)

It could take a couple weeks, so don't sweat it. Antibiotics can be killers but necessary sometimes! I only try to take ones that don't mess with the gut (most do) but found Bactrium to be one I tolerate well.

Note that sometimes too high a does of Probiotics can cause rapid die off and also produce bowel issues. Maybe its too high a dose?? try cutting back one a day until it stops then maintain the does until done, or up later as tolerated.....

Kelly · Answer 5 · 2012-05-24 14:02:27Z UTC

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This proboitic is will regarded, and it allows you to adjust the dose more easily than with capsules.

http://www.customprobiotics.com/custom-probiotics-11-strain.htm

answered May 24 2012 at 14:02

Kelly
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	You do have a good point about your diet, however. You might not be getting much effect from your proboitics because they have nothing to feed on. Could you eat something with a little more carb temporarily? Cooked apples would help with prebiotics. Or rice would at least help to slow down the water passing through your intestines. – Kelly May 24 2012 at 15:16
	I've been strict no carb for months and my body and sleep and moods have never been so good. Carbs make me feel WORSE than antibiotics! – animaleater May 24 2012 at 22:26

help with antibiotic aftermath gut rehab

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