Probiotics anyone??

[tink_0427]

Inknowthis is kinda off topic but since it is in direct relation to my Chiari Decompression Surgery I thought I would ask anyhow.

I had surgery on 7/10 so I'm about 8 weeks post surgery. Ever since I came out of surgery I have been having 'tummy troubles'. It started with loss of my appetite, the only thing I would eat in the hospital (I was there for 48 hours) was those frozen Italian Ice cups they bring u. When I was released I was prescribed a stool softener, a laxative and also Femotidine (Pepcid) as well as an anti-nausea medicine (Tigan). I was extremely nauseous coming home from the hospital and thought of eating made my stomach turn...if I was able to force myself to eat I had to take the Tigan to keep from throwing up (sometimes it worked, sometimes not). When I managed to eat it would go straight through me and have me running to the bathroom all day. Needless to say I didn't need the stool softeners or the laxatives.bintook the Tigan as needed and the Famotidine as prescribed (1 tablet 2 times a day). My stomach issues started immediately and still I am experiencing them.
At between 2 and 3 weeks post surgery, my incision got infected because I had a reaction to the dissolvable sutures. I was prescribed Clindamycin at a high dose and took it for 10 days. Taking this did nt make my stomach any worse but I was still having all my same issues.
At 6 weeks post-op I saw my NS for my check-up and told him about my issues (I had lost 30 lbs at that point) and he said that my system was flushing out the anesthesia and to give it time.
The next week I emailed my PCP because I thought maybe something else was wrong, she agreed with NS and suggested more time.
This week I saw a nurse practitioner in OB/GYN and though it is not her specialty mentioned my issues. She suggested that possibly the Antibiotics killed off the good stuff in my system and to try probiotics (I can't eat dairy, I throw it up in like 5 minutes). I told her that these issues were going on before I was on the meds. She said that I was probably on high amounts of antibiotics in the hospital as well. She said to take the probiotics for a week and if I don't see an improvement to see my PCP, because it could be something else then.
I bought Culturelle yesterday and started it yesterday. Since I've taken it I've been in the bathroom so many times...any one know whether this is normal? Does it just take time to 'regulate' your system? Also, what can I expect as a result from taking these?
Sorry to be so long winded here, but I'm at a loss here as to what is going on with my system...I've already lost over 35 lbs (not that I couldn't use to lose them but still) and aside from a few more pounds I'd prefer to not lose anymore.
Any help would be appreciated!

[nurseling07]

You should definitely be checked for c-diff. I thought I had a bad gallbladder as everything I ate went through me for over two weeks... I went to see my PCP. I had been on Clindamycin three weeks before that and it is a common culprit to cause c-diff. The problems slowed down for a while then finally went away after about six weeks. If you are having minor symptoms and it is caused by c-diff they offer probiotics to help get the good bacteria back. I didn't have cramping, vomiting, fever or any of the other many listed with cdiff... so my PCP didn't prescribe additional abx. Just know if it is cdiff it can reoccur when placed back on abx such as Clindamycin.

[Marybz]

You could have c-difficile infection of your bowel.  The antibiotics killed off your normal bowel flora and sometimes the c-diff bacteria proliferates and causes you to have nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, etc.  It is treated with Flagl or Vanco orally.  The infection can cause you to have an elevated temp also.  You should see your pcp to have a stool speciman checked.  If your stool is positive, just using probiotics might not cure you, you may need the above mentioned antibiotics.

[selmaS]

  Many with excess acid can feel nauseated, and they may have assumed that it was reflux..mayb it was mayb it wasn't  but there r anti nausea meds too so I am not really sure.

  If u r done with antibiotics and other meds that may cause u to have an issue and u feel ok, u should call ur Dr first and then make the change.....we should never change meds without talking to our Dr.

[tink_0427]

I'm so confused...I wonder y they gave me the PPIs, because I have never had acid reflux or heart burn or anything...I thought it was for nausea or to prevent all the other meds from upsetting my stomach...
I have only gone thru 1 prescription of 60 pulls and just refilled another yesterday, I was without them for about 2 weeks and truthfully didn't notice too much of a difference, a bit more queasiness but that's it...maybe I will stop taking them and let the probiotics work...

[czpdx]

My neurosurgery PA told me to be sure that the probiotic I used post surgery was numbered in the billions (with a "b"), not millions. They started me on them right away, while I was still in the hospital. They worked wonders for me.

[selmaS]

  It all depends on u, I have always had so called IBS but with a combo of probiotics and magnesium I am ok, so for me it will continue I also have a hiatal hernia and keeping the digestive track clear helps with my reflux.

PPI's will not stop nausea, only slow or stop the production of acids .......u will want to slowly step off them as u can have rebound affect with PPI's....it all depends on how long u r on them and how ur body reacts...but the meds stop the acids from being produced, when u stop taking the meds ur body can over produce the acids making it appear u have reflux again, when it may just be time to adjust.....

If u never had the issue b4, u should be ok....I was able to stop them and now only take them when I need them....

  Do what ur Dr has advised, but taking the probiotic may take longer then a week is all .And it is possible for u to feel bloated  with the probiotic but that is normal.

No worries ask as many questions as u need to but always go by what ur Dr rx's. unless u have a reaction.

[tink_0427]

PHEW......
I feel better now knowing that I'm not just messed up for life!!!
U mentioned the PPI, should I stop it? It has helped the nausea which is why I still take it.
Also, is this Prebiotics a forever thing, or am I good with just finishing up the 30 day supply I have? Sorry so many questions but man oh man I'm confused!!!

Thanks!

[selmaS]

  Hi...I did not even read all of ur post...got to the infection and high does of antibiotics and I was waiting to ask if u were on ne....sigh....

Antibiotics kill all bacteria in our digestive track, the good with the bad, only thing is we need the good bacteria to break down the food we eat....and then u r taking a PPI med to stop acids from being produced , the acids also help break down the foods....

Probiotics r great and will get u back into balance and yes u will get bloated and run for the first 2 weeks possibly, but once u r on track u will be happy u r taking them....I take them and they help me.

  Give it more time, all the drugs that they use during surgery and give u post op.....ur stomach will be out of whack and may take longer then a week to correct....

I posted about this topic a few times....so u r not off topic at all.