Side Effects of Antibiotics
I'm still recovering from my lung infection last month, or maybe it's more accurate to say I'm recovering from the side effects of the antibiotic, Amoxicillin Clav 875 - 125mg, which I took for 7 days, twice a day. It has turned into a case where the cure is worse than the illness. Yes, it did work to clear up the lung infection. But it totally wrecked my digestive tract, and two weeks later, it has been quite severe. I' have felt like a dying dog that needs to be put out of its misery since then, and Friday morning it was at its worst, so far. I can't recall side effects this severe ever before. I woke up at 0230 in extreme pain and came within an inch of calling for an ambulance. The last time I felt pain like that was when I had a perforated ulcer in high school from drinking. I nearly died that time, from internal bleeding. This felt as bad, seemingly. I got up, struggled into the kitchen, and got a glass of milk, which helped slowly. after an hour or so it had let up some. I was having no fun at all, so I did a breathing treatment. That helped a little too. Then, after another bathroom bout, I drank some more milk. Then it subsided, and by 0600 I was able to go back to bed. I have been almost completely unable to eat for days and have eaten little over the last week. This morning, a whole day later, it seems much better, like it is finally going away. I hope.
What an ordeal! I do need to lose a little ground pressure, but this is the hard way. I still don't feel like eating, but I had some oatmeal last night, with milk and butter, and it stayed down. So, hopefully I am able to move on now. Good. I'm exhausted. I have laid up in the bed or bathroom until I am weak and weary. I will have to force myself to eat something today, probably a sandwich, maybe.
Last fall when I had the cellulitis in my bad leg, I had severe side effects with that med too - Cipro. That one was also bad. With a capitol B. I was dizzy, nauseous, sick at my stomach, on a whole new level. It worked very well to clear up the cellulitis, but it really was no fun at all.
In my younger days, I never had these issues. But I sure do now. So, I really dread getting another lung infection any time soon, but worse, I dread any issue where I have to take antibiotics. For whatever reasons, for me, they seem to have become a cure that's worse than the illness.
I feel like a rag doll lying in a bar ditch, ruined. No, really. It seems like it is going to be harder to come back from the med than the infection. The experience has drained me, and I mean that literally.
Hi
I'm so sorry to hear that you haven't been feeling well lately. There are few things more frustrating than medicines that are supposed to make us feel better actually making us feel worse. I hope that this is going to pass fully soon and you will start to feel better. Knowing how communicative you are with your healthcare team, i'm sure you have spoken with them about the effect the antibiotics have had on you, have they offered another alternative or maybe something to prescribe with the antibiotics so these nasty side effects aren't as bad? All the best, Sam S. (COPD.net, team member). - I now have a nurse coming in the morning for a visit. I had a sandwich and it is okay so far. Will see how it goes and report back after. 
G'morning kloker (it's 9:10 am here on the East coast).
I'm so glad to hear you tolerated the sandwich well - perhaps you are starting to improve.
It's also good to hear the nurse will be stopping by today.
Looking forward to your next update.
Good luck and keep doing well!!
Leon (site moderator COPD.net)
Hi kloker - like my colleague,, I am sorry to hear this is happening to you with these antibiotics. I remember you had mentioned you were on the schedule for the physician to visit with you. I don't know if that happened before or after this antibiotic episode.
This post of yours is from 2 days ago and, as I recall, I don't believe we've seen you online since then.
Please do let us hear back from you and let us know how you're doing. We all have a genuine concern for your good health.
Looking forward to your next post here!
Leon (site moderator COPD.net)So, the RN was here. She says it's likely I now have an intestinal infection caused by the antibiotic I took for the lung infection, and that I will need to take another antibiotic, plus a probiotic, to clear it up. Aargh! Anyway, she called the Doctor's service, and they will be calling me back with instructions and probably another prescription. Crazy! But it makes sense, as I am not getting better. So, I should hear back today. Meanwhile, I think I need a nap. Later.
ugh! While I am glad she thinks she has found the cause and determined a treatment to get you started on soon, I am sorry to hear this is what you are going through. Hopefully, the new prescriptions come soon and you start to feel better. Please keep us updated. All the best, Sam S. (COPD.net, team member).
Hey kloker - glad to hear the nurse made the home visit with you today. It all does make perfect sense, medically! So now, with the lung infection on the mend, the new antibiotic medication can start to work on the gastrointestinal (GI) issue.
We are all with you as you work your way through this!
I do hope you enjoyed that nap, earlier today!
Keep at it, kloker - you'll get there!!
Leon (site moderator COPD.net)
Kloker - I’ve learned when taking antibiotic you can get C-Diff from it. I was on azithromycin 3 times a week for 5 months. It worked great. No lung issues, no prednisone. Then I got C-Diff. Bad bacteria from meds. Had to do stool check and it was positive. Stopped azithromycin and took Vanpro which I paid for out of pocket. C-Diff gone and I got sick lung infection, again. Exacerbation and back on prednisone. No antibiotic to help inflammation.
I’m not a happy camper. Azithromycin worked wonders, first time in years I wasn’t sucking down prednisone.
I agree with you meds make us sicker, they don’t agree with our older bodies.
In Minnesota to call your pulmonary doctor is a joke. Never happen. They’re all booked out for 6 months, nurses too. You have no recourse but to tend to yourself and hope your doing it correctly. Try doing video with doctor, Nurse and they’re booked out. We have urgent care but they’re not specialized in lungs. Good luck because I too am winging it. I may put myself back on azithromycin and take chance of getting C-Diff again. I’m my own doctor it seems.- Thanks, Lyn. The doctor is coming tomorrow morning, so I will get checked out. Now I just have to scrape my face and come up with the energy to take a shower, out of thin air. Hey kloker - sorry to hear this is continuing for you but, I'm glad to hear you are expecting the physician tomorrow. As you said - keep getting through the days, sticking to whatever routine you can muster, and take care of yourself.
Good luck with the doctor visit tomorrow! We'll look forward to that update as well.
Regards,
Leon (site moderator COPD.net)
