Do antibiotics always give you diarrhoea?

[Thetoasterhasbroken]

I have very rarely taken antibiotics and will avoid them if I can help it at all.

However, I have had a bad tummy and bladder since yesterday morning.

I had a one off and unexplained episode of diarrhoea yesterday morning but was left in agony in my rectal area afterwards. Since then my body has been trying to push something out every 10-15 minutes, my rectal area feels so sore and sensitive but all that I’m passing is clear mucus (had no sleep last night as my body has gone into overdrive and I feel like I constantly need to go, for some reason). I may also have picked up a possible urine infection (or it’s irritated my bladder?) because I am also needing to pee every time I feel the need to open my bowels and now my bladder area is hurting a bit when I pee. In my 50 years I have never experienced anything like this apart from when I had to take strong laxatives for a colonoscopy 4 years ago.

I rang 111 yesterday as the rectal pain was so distracting. They recommended I get checked out at the local out of hours clinic. The nurse there was so lovely, did an internal examination, couldn’t feel anything and said the intense burning pain I was feeling was probably due to the acid in the diarrhoea, she prescribed me some cream to ease the pain.

She also dip tested my urine and said there were ketones and protein in my sample. Ketones probably as I hadn’t eaten anything yesterday but she didn’t explain why the proteins could be there (since googled and scared myself as it mentions kidney failure!). I didn’t ask if any of this indicates a uti?

She then prescribed co-amixiclav. I had explained to her that although I felt well I wondered if it was food poisoning as I’d eaten some cooked chicken the day before (although have felt ok in myself and would have thought food poisoning would make me feel rough?). I didn’t ask why she was prescribing antibiotics tbh as I was in so much pain and scared I’d crap myself there and just wanted to get home and in bed.
My worry now is that due to my chronic and daily IBS and a super, super sensitive stomach at the best of times (although what I’m experiencing atm isn’t normal for me or my usual IBS symptoms) these antibiotics will give me a worsening of what I am experiencing atm (leaflet says diarrhoea is the most common side effect) and it mentions c diff on the ‘potential’ side effects as well which is something which scares the life out of me.

Is there anything I can do to help prevent getting diarrhoea with these meds?

Antibiotics don’t give me diarrhoea so I can’t share experience from that POV. I was on them for about six months straight when on chemotherapy, and my issue was constipation.

Since I’ve finished chemotherapy I’ve been looking now to get healthy again, and probiotics pop up regularly.

It might be worth a look at these bio-kult capsules: https://amzn.to/3Wm7Aqx — currently on offer until midnight today. Some of the reviews mention how they’ve helped with IBS symptoms. Not everyone has had success with it, but if you were thinking of probiotics anyway, this is currently a great price.

Depends on the antibiotics, some are more prone to give diarrhoea than others. I react to penicillin and will 100% get vomiting and diarrhoea. Others it’s hit and miss. There is one I’ve been prescribed for tooth infections, my dentist always tells me it will cause diarrhoea.

I have gastro issues and very sensitive to the slightest thing so I’m extremely conscious of what I can and can’t eat and when it comes to medications.

Maybe ask if you can take Lanzoprazole, I take this to help line my stomach for regular meds I take, it definitely stops diarrhoea issues with these meds, it’s just if it can be taken in conjunction with your antibiotics.

some times you just have to ride out the storm, stock up on lost fluid replacements, diarrhoea relief meds and paracetamol. I’d also stick to binding food, I tend to stick to carbs when I’m like this, some toast if I need to take with food, baked potatoes or chips, I avoid most fresh food and especially anything that could potentially naturally upset my tummy.

Ive been having bouts of loose bowel since last summer/autumn Only recently worked out its the bloody Nexium i take for acid reflux

These probiotics specifically for when you are on antibiotics are meant to be helpful
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Optibac-Probiotics-Those-Antibiotics-Supplement/dp/B09Q97NPYD/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?keywords=optibac+antibiotics&qid=1684846991&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1