Question:
A whole slew of problems, I am MISERABLE! HELP! (Kind of disgusting, sorry!)

Hey, all. Well, here I am, 6 months out from surgery, lap bypass. I have done really well till now...I'm sick for the first time since the surgery. I went to the doctor, found out I have a kidney infection, most likely stemming from a UTI that went undetected. I have lower back pain and was vomiting the past two days, but not at all today. (YAY!) I started antibiotics on Thursday-sulfamethoxazole-and basically within two hours after my first dose, I have had unstoppable diarrhea-I am talking about sitting on the toilet for 20 minutes at a time at least once every hour-and this has now been going on for over 24 hours. I am so raw down there and so sick of sitting on the toilet that I skipped my last doseage. I also haven't eaten since Thursday morning, and even then I only had half a protein bar. I have been drinking water all day long, which is basically all that's coming out at this point, in a strong smelling, slightly yellowish-tinted color with a tiny bit of floaty bits I can't recognize. I'm going to call my doc today and see if he can give me another med for the infection, because one of the main side effects of this one is severe diarrhea. (I want to SMACK him for prescribing this to begin with!) What antiobiotics have you all had success with post-op? (Mainly meaning, NO DIARRHEA!) Please give me your experiences or advice with this med or with antibiotics and thank you for putting up with my gross questions and descriptions. I am just so miserable! I cry every time my stomach grumbles! Also, I was wondernig if there's anything we can take for diarrhea that may help until this drug is out of my system? THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!    — jenn_jenn (posted on March 26, 2004)

March 25, 2004
Acidophilus is what I usually give my children for diarrhea when they are on antibiodics. (It is the same good bacteria that is found in yogurt in a more concentrated form) It can be purchased at the Health food store and comes in capsules that you can sprinkle on food or even liquid form. I usually give that to them 1-2 hours AFTER their dose of antibiodics. (The antibiodics kill everything in the intestines including the good bacteria which the acidophilus replaces) You must take it after every dose to replace the good bacteria that each dose of antibiodics kill. It is also good for yeast infections. Hope this helps!
   — Shannon C.

March 25, 2004
Hi Jennifer: Yes, there are other options for antibiotics that may better serve you. Please make sure you are getting a lot of fluids, diarrhea can dehydrate you FAST. Glad to see you are going to discuss this with your doc. Take care and hope you feel better, soon! Jackie O.
   — Jackie O.

March 25, 2004
Hi Jennifer, So sorry to hear of your misery. Yucko. I don't have any experience with those antibiotics but I have a suggestion for your sore bottom. Make sure you're using those wet wipes instead of dry paper. They will help alot. When I had constant diarrhea following surgery, they saved my butt....literally! Hope you feel better soon!!
   — Lori J.

March 25, 2004
I recently had a UTI, and my doc Rx microbid 100mg caps, and I didnt have any problems with taking it. The best thing for taking care of the rawness, is wash it and put vasaline on it it will coat it, and form a barrier, or desatin for babies diaper rash would do better. As for as it being yellow, when I dont take my prevacid, (for acid reflux) my stools get watery, foul smelling, and it is from the stomach acid passing through, and when your on antibotics, you need to stay away from dairy products, so they dont interfer with absorbtion of the antibotics. Ask your doc or pharmicist to be sure. Hope you get to feeling better soon.
   — wizz46

March 26, 2004
Jennifer I had a similar problem early on in my journey. STOP eating anything! Drink, drink drink, but don't eat. My doctor says that you should put nothing in your stomach for at least 24 hours after the last bowel movement. Changing meds might also help the problem. Good luck.
   — Denise J.

March 27, 2004
Hi, I recenlty had a uti and they put me on Liquid Bactrum. I happened to have a stomach flu at the same time, Prior to the Rx he gave me for the UTI. But my doctor told me to get some liquid Immodium to slow the diarrhea down. It did help. I almost wonder if the UTI and the Diarrhea were somehow connected, because the way you are describing things sure sounds familar. Anyway, good luck to you. And baby wipes or TUCKS pads are your best friend right now too!
   — Tammy O.

March 27, 2004
Jennifer! Call your doctor! It sounds like you have had a reaction to the antibiotic! There are hundreds of them out there that he can change you too. and the lab results of your urine test tells him what will kill the bugs in your urine. also continue to try and eat. people always think with diarrhea you should stop eating and it will go away but it actually needs something in your intestines to pull in the fluid that is causing the loose stool. we always started patients on some kind of metamucel type fiber. look at it this way you have a glass of water half full (diarrhea) you dont take anything it stays water- take metamucel type fiber it starts to pull up the water and turn into stool. talk to your doctor. there is also a tiny little pill called lomotil that he can prescribe to help stop it. I hope this helps. eat your protein and drink your water. blessings, cathy
   — CATHYSDAN

April 9, 2004
cipro 250 liquid--3x per day--i crushed acidilopus[sp]--mixed with water and drank about for caplets like this per day. i had little diarhea and ate normal. i was 1 1/2 wk out when this happened. good luck!
   — lc C.