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Probiotics: Which ones are you taking and where are you getting them from?

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Posted 10/2/2010 4:41 AM (GMT 0)
I may start Rocephin next week and I was wondering what probiotics did you take while on rocephin?
Thanks!
Posted 10/2/2010 11:34 PM (GMT 0)
I've not been on Rocephin, but I do take a probiotic made by Jarrow called "Yum-Yum Dophilus" (it's for kids, but it works well for me). I usually chew 3 tablets at a time, 1-2x/day. The directions say to take it half hour before or after eating, so I usually try to take it before breakfast and my second dose after dinner, but I'm going to have to change my schedule now that I'm trying oral abx....
Posted 10/3/2010 1:50 AM (GMT 0)
Razzle:

Weren't you on the feeding tube and IV antibiotics? Did you solve that, and starting orals?
Thanks for the info, I will look it up. I made the mistake in turning down probiotics when I saw my LLMD, he had them at his office, and now I am scared to go on Rocephin without them, since I think is a stronger drug. I was on amox for almost 5 weeks and now on 2 different abx for 2 weeks. Kefir worked out for me well, I didn't even take it in big quantities bec I keep forgetting, no stomach or any other problems from the abx so far.

Thanks and glad you are better, I hope my memory is accurate about your picc lines, if I made a mistake, please forgive me...
Posted 10/3/2010 2:11 AM (GMT 0)
Simela,

You're doing well to remember I have the feeding tube & IV abx. Yes, I was on IV abx, but was getting increased swelling all over my body from them so we've just switched me to oral antibiotics specially compounded to go through my feeding tube (can't put a pill through the tube...has to be liquid to go through) to see how I do with that.

I'm trying hard to get off all the IV stuff (fluids, TPN, meds) as soon as I can...my liver is over-stressed by it all, which is partly why I'm so swollen up (liver problems = low albumin = fluid leaks out of blood vessels into tissues = swelling). It has been over 2 years since I started needing the IV nutrition & fluids, so I'm more than eager to get off of it (time consuming to set up & deal with daily, the pumps & bags are heavy to lug around, etc.).

I still have swallowing problems with liquids, but am ok most of the time with solids (sometimes they trigger the spasms like the liquids do, but not often enough to keep me from eating a little).

Take care,
Posted 10/3/2010 3:45 AM (GMT 0)
Good luck Razzle! It is such a struggle for the rest of us to get approved my med ins to get on the IVs, but reading your story I realize there is no fun, either way! I really hope it works out for you and will be able to do orals! What a pain!
Posted 10/3/2010 6:56 AM (GMT 0)
I was on Rocephin for nearly two months, and was told today by my LLMD to restart ASAP.

I take two different types of probiotics: one is a product called Florastor, which consists of capsules containing Saccharomyces Boulardii Lyo. My rheumy said that if I was planning to take a lot of abx I HAD to take a probiotic with that particular strain, because it's supposed to be very helpful at preventing C. diff, among other great properties.

I also take a 6-strain powdered blend of L. Acidophilus, L. Salivarius, L. Plantarum, L. Rhamnosus, B. Lactis and B. Bifidum from a company called Custom Probiotics. This is *really* pricey stuff, but I've read a lot of good reports so I thought I'd try it. I used to use their capsules which are cheaper, but the powder has been working better for me.

Florastor doesn't need refrigeration but the powder does.

Plus I eat Greek yogurt, which has helpful bacteria too.
Posted 10/8/2010 2:26 AM (GMT 0)
I did all the big hitters for a while and found this one to be as good as any

66 billion and cant beat the price

http://www.swansonvitamins.com/SWL008/ItemDetail
Posted 10/8/2010 3:25 AM (GMT 0)
Steelbone:

How many pills do you take a day? Tks
Posted 10/8/2010 3:29 AM (GMT 0)
Nasalady:

How many do you take per day? Tks
Posted 10/8/2010 10:42 AM (GMT 0)
Simela

I take about 10-12 pils a day.

working with a new ND from CA that tests your salvia and figures out whats wrong with you. My immune system is shot and i am super low in minerals and of course have a high bacteria load...
Posted 10/9/2010 5:26 PM (GMT 0)
I hope your health will improve soon, steelbone! That's a lot of pills! I hate taking pills, but I guess those will be the good ones! My blood work always comes fine, except for the thyroid and lyme.
Posted 10/9/2010 9:06 PM (GMT 0)
I use kefir, it has something like 10 or so different strains of probiotics. I make my own, but Kefir can be purchased at most large grocery stores - in their health food sections- or most any health food stores.

Health food stores also usually will carry a 'Kefir starting kit'.
Posted 10/9/2010 10:10 PM (GMT 0)
Trav:

Do you think Kefir is enough? Did you go on IV Rocephin at any point, on your journey?
Posted 10/9/2010 11:47 PM (GMT 0)
Nope, no IV's, no Rochephin. For me the kefir seems to be enough.

My gp put me on a Z-pack, and I have been drinking my kefir & seem to be doing okay. I'm not happy at having to go back to abx - I was in the middle of my fall liver cleanse & had to stop due to the abx. I will have to start all over again once I finish the Z-pack. :(
Posted 10/10/2010 1:31 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks, Trav! Yes, I have been using Kefir, I was wondering if I need to get something else on top of that. I am sooooooooooo nervous! The PICC line people called on Friday and told me I was approved for Rocephin for 28 days. They will call back on Monday to make an appointment for me with my local hospital to have the line put in. I hope I am making the right decission. What is the Z-pack and why are you going on abx? Are you feeling worse? Did your GP do any tests for you?

What I am hoping to accomplish is to kill enough bacteria and end my abx within a few months. I will probably start treatement for Bartonella next month. Hope you will get better soon!
Posted 10/10/2010 3:44 PM (GMT 0)
I am so happy for you getting approved!!! I believe I would be nervous as well, but surely you will do just fine. From what I know of you, I'm sure you have read up on Rochephin, so you'll most likely will do just fine.

The "Z-pack" is a 7 day course of Azithromycin - only it's done in only 5 days. I had to use this abx because I 'found' a growth in the back of my throat. My gp messed around with it & determined that it was most like a skin tag - only this one was on the inside of my throat!! My gp commented -tongue-in-cheeck - "leave it to you to have a skin tag inside your throat!!" He just doesn't quite get that it's not just me, it's being a Lymie that does those things! That's okay - he tries to understand.

Anyway, so he thought he should put me on abx because while messin' around with my little growth, it started to bleed and a little chunk of it came off. It was a 'just in case' issue.

Of course I wish you all the best on getting healthier!!! :) :) :)
Posted 10/10/2010 5:19 PM (GMT 0)
Oh, sorry you have to deal with this! Funny, my sister and my husband have a cough that doesn't go away and their doctors gave then 5 days of Azithromycin!

Thanks for your well wishes! By the way, I asked my sis to look up in her big book (she is a nursing student) for Rocephin and I did not like the warnings, so I will stop BF. So strange that her first book said is OK, second book warned about bleeding gums, bloody stools and urine in babies from this meds. My LLMD, said it is up to me. HUH??? THere were no warnings in his book! Ah, no, I don't want my baby bleeding, so I won't BF! I just wish docs would know what the heck they are talking about! Pediatrician also said it's ok to BF.

My husband's friend is a chemist and he said not to do it, after he looked up the formula. He said that a developing baby should not be exposed to dangerous drugs or anything that may harm them down the line, 20-30 yrs later. Sad that I have to stop BF! I love to keep my baby close and give her something that tastes good! She spits out the formula and keeps giving me a look, like, stop giving me this junk, I don't want it!
Posted 10/10/2010 8:04 PM (GMT 0)
Simela, please know that I am saddened that you must stop BFing!!! I know that when I was BFing, I felt that enormous bond with my child as well.

I am afraid you are right about docs not knowing what they are really prescribing. I have had to stop meds before because I hadn't done my research on it & just 'trusted' my doc to know - not any more!

I hope that you find that it was all worth it & you have a dramatic turn around!

((((hugs)))
Posted 10/10/2010 8:46 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks, Trav. I wish I told my doc to wait until december bec my sis would be out of school and she could come and help with the kids. My mother in low is not working but never comes to help with anything, she does not offer and I do not ask--the only time that my husband asked her to come for a few hours was when I had my appointment with my LLMD which is 1 hour away and I did not want to drag the baby with me for that long, back and forward; plus: I wanted my husband to be in the room with me. She said she will come, but she did not--she did not even call. My husband called her when it was time to leave and she said she has a stomach virus--she did not even bother to let me know she won't come! So, I won't ask her for anything, she is so selfish and not willing to do anything for her son or grandchildren or me. If it was about a trip or a vacation, she would be the first one in line! I am nervous to start now, with no one to fall back on, if I need help with the kids...
Posted 10/10/2010 9:16 PM (GMT 0)
Simela, I believe you to be quite a strong woman & maybe you aren't giving yourself enough credit. I really do understand the uncertainty you might be feeling though. There have been many times - before I knew I was dealing with tick-borne infections - that I wasn't convinced that I would survive long enough to see my kids grow up & go to college. I really thought I wasn't going to make it that far. That was over 15 years ago & I'm still around! I'm not saying it'll be a breeze either though.

I am sooo sorry to hear of your situation with your mother-in-law. That's truly sad and I really can't understand those who are like that. At least you know before hand that you don't want or need her in your house to 'help' & then find out she is like that.

Hopefully you will do okay & not get too ill while on the Rocephin.
Know that you are in my heart & in my prayers...
Trav
Posted 10/12/2010 2:45 AM (GMT 0)
Trav:

You are right, I am strong, I am a Libra and I bounce right back, stronger, no matter how low I get to at times, but as you know, this is not just about me, and that is what I am more concerned about. It is about the kids, that are quite naughtly, can open the doors and ran out a few times (yes, without permission), in the street, and whatever else crazy ideas they get. Last year, after my car accident, they (4 and 5 then) thought it would be really "funny" to go on the second floor, open the windows and climb on the roof of the porch! By the time I made it to the second floor--I could not walk--they were both running on the roof, which is about 2 stories high, bec. we have steps to go to the porch and the house is on a hill. And now I have the baby, too! She is climbing and crawling everywhere! She also loves to open drawers and repetition didn't teach her by now that if she closes the drawers while her little fingers are in, she will get hurt LOL So I have to watch her constantly, if I put her in the crib, she gives me the guilty look and starts crying and she calls me! She can scream very loud, and it irritates my poor hurting already ears, that I give up pretty quickly!

By the way, it seems that the spirochets feed on iron and the biofilms feed on magnesium. I can't fint the article that the other posted posted here, but I found something similar--quite good to read bec. it presents both sides; the comments are interesting, also:
http://lymenaide.wordpress.com/2010/03/13/magnesium-friend-or-foe/
Posted 10/12/2010 3:20 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Simela!! Good link.

I'm beginning to get the picture now with your children!! My kids are adults now and thanks to the Lyme & what it does to the memory, I have trouble remembering what that stage was like with my own kids!
Posted 10/12/2010 4:08 AM (GMT 0)
They are good kids, Trav. They get bored and don't understand I have other things to do or simply I can't do what they want to do all the time. I will be 39 this year, and I don't have the energy I have had in my 20's and because of Lyme, I have less than I would have had otherwise, regardless of age. My son is doing well in school, he reads a lot more than he should, so as long as I give them a good start in life, the rest is up to them. Next year my daughter will start KG, so for a few hours, I will be only with the baby. I honestly did not plan on this baby, I was diagnosed with lyme before she was conceived. By the time I read the fine print on abx (eg you may get pregnant while on them), the nature took its place. I just hope she is healthy and did not get lyme!
Posted 10/12/2010 10:15 PM (GMT 0)
I know about kids getting bored!! I ended up homeschooling my kids because they were too bored in the classroom. Don't get me wrong - I'm not against public schooling - I'm a product of not only public schools, but my mom was a teacher in public schools as well.

Be sure to do whatever you can to help with the load of toxins that may come from the use of this abx, drink plenty of water, get as much rest - not even necessarily sleep, but rest as much as you can & so on.

and never forget - we are here for you!
Posted 10/12/2010 11:40 PM (GMT 0)
Simela, I am so sorry you're dealing with so much. As for what I think of your mother-in-law, I'm afraid they would kick me off the forum if I posted my thoughts on that...lol! So many of those I considered my closest and dearest friends and family have surprised me beyond belief since becoming sick....and not in a good way.

Some things I research to death and other things I just do as I'm told...not sure why! I'm glad you looked into rocephin and breastfeeding.

Anyway, when I was on iv rocephin I was taking Culturelle and am now taking Theralac.

You sound like a very strong woman and a fantastic mom. Your children are lucky to have you as their Mom!

Good luck!
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