IBS Study Shows Benefit From Targeted Antibiotics

Originally diagnosed with IBS approx 1993
Over the years was given all common medications inlcuding but not limited to Antidepresents.
Had many different controversal bacteria found in my stool over the years including Blastocystis Hominus, Fragilus Many times.
Over the many years being sick my question to doctors was " Hey doc, Why when you always give me certain antibiotics such as cipro,neomycin or yodoxin did my IBS diareah go away for a short time -approx 2 to 3 weeks?"
Every doctor has dismissed my question stating it was just coincidence!
Until i went to Mayo Clinic back in 2000 and was testing by Dr Conklin. He is now working out of Cedar Sinai with Dr Pimintel.
In 2000 when i had seen Dr Conklin he tested me possitive for the breath test.
At the time Rifaximin was not out yet so he had given me a combination of other antibioitcs which had given me releif for a few months.
Over the years i had always tried to just get by with immodium and or Bismuth.
Recently i was coincidentally diagnosed as having some various resistant strains of certain bacteria( C.Difficile & Cryptosporidium.)
Given Vancocyn and Alinia for aprox 3 weeks with 70% improvement to my diareah.
A local Gi who has showed much interest in my case and was also a Semi beleiver in the recent Pimitel bacteria overgroth thereoy has decided to put me a a trial of Rifaximin. I started it on Sunday March 12th 2006 400mg 3 times a day. It is now Tuesday march 14th 2006 i am hopefull. I highly suggest anyone who was given a COPOUT excuse by thier Gastroenterologist such as " IBS, its in your head, just learn to live with it etc etc etc.) You should keep looking for a Gastroenterologist who isnt full of BS =IBS.

Any doctor putting you on antidepresents for your IBS should look for a new proffesion in my opinion.

Thanks everyone for your info,I took the Breath test on the 24th of Feb,and it was possitive,My GI started me on Xifaxan 200mg three times a day for 10 days,then I start on Flora-Q capsules for a month,also i start on zinc 220mg and Zelnorm 6mg alone with the rest of my meds.so far no promblems.I will keep u posted.Jay4

dbab,

i forgot to mention that in my and many other cases with the IBS excuse
they are many many many cases that do have physical -visable illness signs
example: I was told i had IBS mine is-d
meanwhile at the same time they were all telling me i had IBS they would also state that
I had chronic inflamation of the lamina propria-for many years -unknownreason why
Chronic oportunistic strange infections of the Gi tract.
possitive breath test for suspicious bacteria overgrowth
malabsortion posstive in my stool tests many times.
slight anemia possive tests.
Plus no exuse as to why my diareah would temporarily improve with certain types of antibiotics for other common illnesses.

Keep in mind all of this above and then they tell me ""its just IBS and take this antidepresent and you should feel better""
later on another doctor said that my IBS is slowly turning into IBS and Chrowns together since the inflamation is getting worse.

ALL OF THIS HAS GONE ONE SINCE 1993 till now

PLEASE UNDERSTAND MY FRUSTRATION WITH ALOT OF THE GASTRO-MEDICAL COMMUNITY!!!!!!

I have been reading your posts about Xifaxan. I would like to share with you my experience with a little of a warning for those of you with IBS-C.

I saw my doctor for a bacteria infection of the stomach. I didn't go in with IBS-D so was a little surprised he gave me the drug since it's more for those with the runs. Also my test wasn't too conclusive if I had an infection or not, but since I had symptoms he suggested I go on a low dose; 3 days, 2 times a day. It felt like an excellent drug. For the first time in a long time my stomach felt pretty good, but after a few days of stopping it my bacteria infection symptoms came back. Extreme bloat, horrible gas cramps, nausea and over all ill feeling like you get when you have an infection. He decided I should take it for another 3 days only this time go for the full strength of 3 days 3 times a week. Both times it was 200 mg. After I finished what would now be 6 days the infection symptoms were gone, but now I was constipated with gas and bloat I never experienced before with my IBS-C it was different. He suggested I try Milk of Mag. This usually works well with me, but I had the shock of my life. The next day instead of working well I had an impacted stool from being so extremely constipated. Won't go into the gross details of that, but it scared me to death. I called the manufacturer of the drug who sent me forms to fill out. They are keeping a very close tab on reactions to this drug and were very interested in my experience. This was in August that I took Xifazan. It is now the end of Sept and I'm left with horrible gas pains, stomach extension and pebble movements all day. Excuse my graphic explanation. I'm very worried I'm going to be left like this. I was told I wiped out my good and bad bacteria and needed to take Probotics and yogurt. I did and it didn't help. Yogurt in large amounts is too much dairy for me anyway. I'm now left unable to really go the bathroom and feel like I've gained weight because of the stomach extension from the bloat. I'm so miserable. I read somewhere that it seems to help those with IBS-D and the lasting results can be up until 10 wks after you stop the drug. I'm hoping after 10 wks I go back to my normal IBS-C. The reason I'm posting this is be very careful if you have IBS-C and don't really have a bacteria infection that involves the runs. I think that's where I got messed up. It just plugged me up more. I hope I can help anyone the misery I am in now.