More Antibiotics- help!

[reb]

Hi, 5 courses of antibiotics within a month (February) for pneumonia (later diagnosed as mycoplasma) totally killed my digestive system. However, since mycoplasma is not a typical bacteria, it seems I still have some mycoplasma left, causing me symptoms which are debilitating- I can't even stay awake all day... forget about do something useful- I've been out of work since January. Anyway, the doctor has just given me another course of antibiotics and I want to minimize the damage- I already have tons of probiotics and yoghurt but the antibiotics say to take before food or on an empty stomach. I haven't started taking them yet... My stomach is still sensitive from Feb. but all the doctors say my digestive bacteria will have gotten back to normal. I feel like I am stuck between a rock and a hard place- before, I said I would never take antibiotics again, but on the otherhand, I can't sleep for the rest of my life and live with the mycoplasma... I can't work or do anything. Anyone have any advice, help? Any further ways to minimize the damage of taking antibiotics or other ways to treat mycoplasma? I have tried taking olive leaf extract, but it doesn't seem to help much and I am kind of nervous about taking stuff that hasn't been clinically tested....
Thanks in advance, Reb

[MycoplasmaQueen]

I, too was diagnosed with mycoplasma infection in Sept of 2000 by my pulmonologist (I suffer from COPD and Chronic Bronchitis).  I was put on Zithromax and Biaxin for 12 months.  During that time I started suffering from digestive upset and was told to eat more yogurt and use laxatives for constipation (didn't really help).  I have lost 50 pounds since Dec 2000 and continued to suffer from gas, bloating, nausea, constipation and episodes of chest pain and shortness of breath.

I had a colonscopy in July 2001 (negative)and was told to add more fiber to my diet, which only caused mor gas and bloating and I was unable to eat the proper amount because I couldn't eat more than a few ounces of food at a time.  I May 2002 amd endoscopy revealed I had a cindida (yeast) infection in my esophagus.  This was treated with 4 weeks of the anti-fungal Diflucan.  This added to my digestive distress.

My doctor then referred me to the web site for The Institute for Molecular Medicine (immed.org) which is in the forefront of treating mycoplasma infections.  I refer you to their website, especially Treatment Considerations, Reports:  "Dietary Considerations for Patients with Chronic Illnesses & Multiple Chronic Infections".

Recomendations include a diet consisting of 2/3 vegetables, 1/6 starch and 1/6 protein.  They also suggest adding acidophilus and digestive enzymes.

I have since changed my diet to more closely resemble their recommendations and added the following supplements:

       2 capsules of UAS Labs DDS-Plus Acidophilus Bifidus FOS
       each morning on an empty stomach

       1 capsule DDS-Plus mid-afternoon

       1 capsule DDS-Plus before bed

       1-2 capsules CompleteGest digestive enzymes with meals

After 3 days my regularity returned, after 10 days my appetite returned and the bloating, chest pain and shortness of breath went away.  For the first time in 19 months I felt normal again!

This week I was forced to start antibiotic therapy again for 7 days for an infection from a bug bite.  My digestive upset has started again.  I'm currently increasing my intake of DDS-Plus hoping to offset the effects of the antibiotcs.  This is important to me because I will soon start another 3 month course of antibiotic therapy for a recurrent mycoplasma infection.

Hope this info helps and read all you can on the immed.org website.

[rucnateb]

what is  micoplasia?also does your dr. know what you went thru before with the antibiotics?