Have antibiotics ruined my stomach? Help!

midgetastic · 01/01/2023 20:48

If they do affect your stomach it could be that it's depleted the variety of bugs and such in your tummy

So varied diet and including fermented food like sauerkraut is recommended I recollect

midnightfirework · 01/01/2023 20:55

Try yakult

blablablagobshite · 01/01/2023 20:59

I had this years ago after being on antibiotics for 6 months. I took something called dida I think it was called.
Think it was charcoal vitamin tablet originally from Scandinavia but it worked anyways.

Whydidimarrythis · 01/01/2023 21:00

Very possible. If I were you, I’d get onto a very strict regimen of probiotics and a high-fibre diet and you should see a marked improvement. You can purchase fibre powders online (amazingly cheap too) but they’re far less effective than fibre from real food. Try oat bran for a cheap option that won’t go off to boost your fibre and innocent smoothie do a high-fibre pink juice that’s delicious.

HundredMilesAnHour · 01/01/2023 21:02

Start taking Symprove. It isn't the cheapest but its one of only two pro/prebiotics recommended by GPs. I started using it a year ago after it was recommended by a nutritionist friend and I definitely notice the difference. The other recommended one is VSL but that comes in a powder format so I didn't think I'd be able to get that down so went with Symprove instead.

(If you want to try Symprove, PM me and I can refer you for £20 off your first 12 weeks order but I don't want to spam the thread).

LizzieSiddal · 01/01/2023 21:02

Have plain yogurt every day for a week, it will really help.

Our Dr always says to eat yogurt whist your on antibiotics, it really does work.

BringOnAutumn · 01/01/2023 21:03

These are worth trying:

www.boots.com/alflorex-precisonbiotics-capsuls-30-capsules-10223325

StupidStupidStupidStupidStupid · 01/01/2023 21:03

Kefir. The unflavoured kind, that sort has added sugar.

Its proven to boost gut health. I drink it daily.
I have to say I’m pretty sure it’s the thing that lost me the last few pounds when I was slimming. Once I’d drank it daily for a couple of months the weight just dropped off!

FifthTimeLucky5 · 01/01/2023 21:05

I’ve had similar in the past following a number of antibiotic treatments over a short period. I was recommended Symprove and it is honestly brilliant. It’s not cheap but it did the trick for me and I have used it a few times since following a bug or with antibiotics again. You can buy it on Amazon or direct from Symprove - I would recommend the mango and passion fruit flavour rather than the original - it’s a taste that you get used to rather than enjoy and it’s not cheap but worth it in my opinion.

StupidStupidStupidStupidStupid · 01/01/2023 21:05

I mean the flavoured king has added sugar!

OlleOskiFelle · 01/01/2023 21:09

Canestan tablets.
Take one every third day for 9 days, plus prebiotic.

pompei8309 · 01/01/2023 21:18

Tumtroubles · 01/01/2023 20:46

NC as personal/ private info.

The short version is that I'm on antibiotics for the second time in 9 months and I've started to get bloating and diarrhoea symptoms again.
I know ABs can affect your guts and so I'm hoping there are some cures that MN users can recommend as the internet is a minefield.
Particularly looking at pre/pro biotics, even the feacal transplant or resetting pills?

Long version:
Was put on clarithromycin in April 22 for a week. I know this is well known to irritate the stomach, and that it sometimes doesn't show for weeks.

End of July 22 started with bloating, sudden onset diarrhoea which lasted for around 10 weeks. Was often triggered by eating and very sudden. Saw GP twice during the period, they immediately said it was IBS but I asked for tests and so a blood test ruled out caeliac, IBD stuff. Then they said it was indigestion even though I've never had those symptoms. By this point it had eventually improved by itself.

I've just had another lot of antibiotics. Originally was put on clarithromycin again but it caused severe gastro symptoms almost straight away (vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach ache) and so I had it switched to cefalexin. Coming to the end of the cefalexin course and now I'm getting the same symptoms as over summer - diarrhoea suddenly after eating.

It's awful because you don't know when you'll get an attack, and last time I ended up a hermit because I didn't want to go out anywhere I might eat or be caught out.

Any thoughts?

You must take a probiotic with every antibiotic, it acts like a protector for the lining of your stomach, antibiotics ruins the flora of your stomach

Alicesweewonders · 01/01/2023 21:21

I second, Kefir

Original poster

Tumtroubles · 01/01/2023 21:24

Thanks all.

I will try to ensure my diet is high fibre and incorporate fermented foods where possible.

The symprove sounds good, is it a one off course or do you use it forever @HundredMilesAnHour ? I have always struggled with liquid medication (it just comes back up) but if it's only 70ml I should be ok.

OP posts:

FifthTimeLucky5 · 01/01/2023 21:32

@Tumtroubles it’s not really like taking medication - more like a shot of strong fruit juice if that makes sense?

the recommendation when I started taking it was for a 3 month course - which I did - since then I’ve just bought a months worth as and when needed. It has a use by date so you only buy one box at a time (although think you can subscribe and get a discount). So maybe just try one box to start if you think you might struggle.

Original poster

Tumtroubles · 01/01/2023 21:36

FifthTimeLucky5 · 01/01/2023 21:32

@Tumtroubles it’s not really like taking medication - more like a shot of strong fruit juice if that makes sense?

the recommendation when I started taking it was for a 3 month course - which I did - since then I’ve just bought a months worth as and when needed. It has a use by date so you only buy one box at a time (although think you can subscribe and get a discount). So maybe just try one box to start if you think you might struggle.

Yeah that makes sense. I don't have anything to lose by trying, and I guess you get used to it.

Thanks!

OP posts:

HundredMilesAnHour · 01/01/2023 21:40

Tumtroubles · 01/01/2023 21:24

Thanks all.

I will try to ensure my diet is high fibre and incorporate fermented foods where possible.

The symprove sounds good, is it a one off course or do you use it forever @HundredMilesAnHour ? I have always struggled with liquid medication (it just comes back up) but if it's only 70ml I should be ok.

They recommend you take it for a minimum period of 12 weeks to notice a difference. I noticed a difference after about 6 weeks and planned to take it for the minimum 12 weeks but decided to carry on as I find it beneficial, and it gets cheaper if you take out a regular subscription.

I take the mango and passionfruit one like @FifthTimeLucky5 does. It's cold from the fridge and is just two swallows and doesn't actually taste unpleasant. I take it as soon as I get up each morning before I'm awake enough to realise what I'm doing. 😂 I'm historically terrible with taking medicine. As a child I once spat Benylin all over my Grandma's hair - that had just been permed so it went green 😝She never tried to force me to take medicine again. Took about 30 years to live that one down.😂

Lilyhatesjaz · 01/01/2023 22:23

A doctor on TV did a diet where you eat 2 stewed apples a day for a few weeks sprinkled with cinnamon. I think the type of apple mattered I did it with granny smith's. You eat this as well as not instead of your normal food.
I did this diet when my gut bacteria had been wiped out by a combination of chemotherapy and antibiotics and I found it very effective, it is also comparatively cheap.

Celloma · 01/01/2023 22:35

Reduce your sugar intake, increase your fibre intake (Flax or chia seeds are high in fibre). Eat/drink fermented food daily like kombucha, kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut, tempeh. Eat a variety of veg. Looks up zoe/prof tim spector