Comments on: Antibiotics and gut health http://boingboing.net/2013/02/25/antibiotics-and-gut-health.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Mon, 20 May 2013 17:25:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Linda Mcp http://boingboing.net/2013/02/25/antibiotics-and-gut-health.html#comment-1669288 Linda Mcp Sat, 02 Mar 2013 13:04:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=215136#comment-1669288 OMG  I'm sorry for your misfortunes.  Many doctor's offices hire P.A.'s who take charge of our health care.  Mine prescribed AMOX first then CIPRO.  It didn't work.  I demanded to see my DOCTOR and he prescribed AUGMENTIN.  I'm still suffering from a lung infection.  I CAN TASTE the infection.  I've got another week to go on these horse pills and am eating loads of Greek Yogurt, Kefir, and prebiotics like Kimchi.  And acidophilus tablets.  Thank you for your post.   OMG  I’m sorry for your misfortunes.  Many doctor’s offices hire P.A.’s who take charge of our health care.  Mine prescribed AMOX first then CIPRO.  It didn’t work.  I demanded to see my DOCTOR and he prescribed AUGMENTIN.  I’m still suffering from a lung infection.  I CAN TASTE the infection.  I’ve got another week to go on these horse pills and am eating loads of Greek Yogurt, Kefir, and prebiotics like Kimchi.  And acidophilus tablets.  Thank you for your post.  

]]> By: Aaron Gilliland http://boingboing.net/2013/02/25/antibiotics-and-gut-health.html#comment-1666158 Aaron Gilliland Wed, 27 Feb 2013 08:55:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=215136#comment-1666158 And to you.  I started on garden variety Amoxicillin, moved to something else, and just finished Avelox (Moxifloxacin). *** TMI Alert *** Oddly enough, the... uh... bowel involvement... only happened once I was finished the moxifloxacin.  I highly recommend it to anyone who has "gastroenteritis" on their bucket list, if you'll forgive the pun. And to you.  I started on garden variety Amoxicillin, moved to something else, and just finished Avelox (Moxifloxacin).

*** TMI Alert ***

Oddly enough, the… uh… bowel involvement… only happened once I was finished the moxifloxacin.  I highly recommend it to anyone who has “gastroenteritis” on their bucket list, if you’ll forgive the pun.

]]> By: Geoff Robinson http://boingboing.net/2013/02/25/antibiotics-and-gut-health.html#comment-1665946 Geoff Robinson Tue, 26 Feb 2013 22:50:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=215136#comment-1665946 I'm one of many thousands who took a Fluoroquinolone - in this case Cipro, who wound up destroyed by the adverse effects which have got to be at least partly to do with gut biome havoc.  I was misprescribed it for a nerve impairment training injury (again like many others).  I didnt work for six months, it physically disabled my musculo-skeletal system, broke down my joints so they audibly crunched and clicked and slipped.  Shut down my digestive system - I lost 16kg in muscle mass over 4 weeks.  And wrecked my peripheral and central nervous system - full blown electrical meltdown, shocks across body, eyes, teeth, acid burning across skin like being plugged into mains socket and a host of other horrific stuff.  The FQ class of antibiotics are for some extremely toxic.  Look up FQ Toxicity.  There are thousands (possibly tens of thousands or more) permanently disabled from this class of antibiotic.  I suspect a lot of people diagnosed with chronic fatigue, ME, PTSD, anxiety etc may well be suffering from FQ toxicities.  Luckily over 2 years on, I'm functional but my former athletic life appears still a long way off since from the start I'm plagued with intense intra cranial pressure headaches which exercise still induces.  If your offered Cipro, Levaquin or Avelox I would steer clear, they operate unlike all other antibiotics. Some of the warnings are on the insert, though you always think you wont be the 1 to 10 in 10,000 they mention.  Perhaps because the real figure is much higher. I’m one of many thousands who took a Fluoroquinolone – in this case Cipro, who wound up destroyed by the adverse effects which have got to be at least partly to do with gut biome havoc.  I was misprescribed it for a nerve impairment training injury (again like many others).  I didnt work for six months, it physically disabled my musculo-skeletal system, broke down my joints so they audibly crunched and clicked and slipped.  Shut down my digestive system – I lost 16kg in muscle mass over 4 weeks.  And wrecked my peripheral and central nervous system – full blown electrical meltdown, shocks across body, eyes, teeth, acid burning across skin like being plugged into mains socket and a host of other horrific stuff.  The FQ class of antibiotics are for some extremely toxic.  Look up FQ Toxicity.  There are thousands (possibly tens of thousands or more) permanently disabled from this class of antibiotic.  I suspect a lot of people diagnosed with chronic fatigue, ME, PTSD, anxiety etc may well be suffering from FQ toxicities.  Luckily over 2 years on, I’m functional but my former athletic life appears still a long way off since from the start I’m plagued with intense intra cranial pressure headaches which exercise still induces.  If your offered Cipro, Levaquin or Avelox I would steer clear, they operate unlike all other antibiotics. Some of the warnings are on the insert, though you always think you wont be the 1 to 10 in 10,000 they mention.  Perhaps because the real figure is much higher.

]]> By: Linda Mcp http://boingboing.net/2013/02/25/antibiotics-and-gut-health.html#comment-1665102 Linda Mcp Tue, 26 Feb 2013 01:07:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=215136#comment-1665102 I'm on my 3rd bout of antibiotics, too, Aaron.  First Cipro and now Augmentin.  And this bug in my lungs is still lingering.  I bought Kimchi, acidolphilus, 3 qts. of Kefir and 6 lbs. of Greek yogurt.  Good luck with your journey.  I’m on my 3rd bout of antibiotics, too, Aaron.  First Cipro and now Augmentin.  And this bug in my lungs is still lingering.  I bought Kimchi, acidolphilus, 3 qts. of Kefir and 6 lbs. of Greek yogurt.  Good luck with your journey. 

]]> By: Aaron Gilliland http://boingboing.net/2013/02/25/antibiotics-and-gut-health.html#comment-1664904 Aaron Gilliland Mon, 25 Feb 2013 21:45:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=215136#comment-1664904 If anyone has some gut bacteria to spare, I'm passing a hat around. I just finished my third course of antibiotics in 2 months and the bug still isn't dead. If anyone has some gut bacteria to spare, I’m passing a hat around.

I just finished my third course of antibiotics in 2 months and the bug still isn’t dead.

]]> By: welcomeabored http://boingboing.net/2013/02/25/antibiotics-and-gut-health.html#comment-1664878 welcomeabored Mon, 25 Feb 2013 21:32:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=215136#comment-1664878 The question I'll be putting to my doc is will my insurance co. object to paying all or part of the costs, if I supply the poop donor and the transplant takes place, say, in the process of doing a routine colonoscopy?  I mean, as long as he's already there taking a peek... The question I’ll be putting to my doc is will my insurance co. object to paying all or part of the costs, if I supply the poop donor and the transplant takes place, say, in the process of doing a routine colonoscopy?  I mean, as long as he’s already there taking a peek…

]]> By: welcomeabored http://boingboing.net/2013/02/25/antibiotics-and-gut-health.html#comment-1664870 welcomeabored Mon, 25 Feb 2013 21:28:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=215136#comment-1664870 Like a nanobot overmind?  I have 'The Second Brain' on my nightstand now; the author, Michael Gershon, is credited with discovering that there are *two* mostly separate and largely independent nervous systems in our bodies.  I'm persuaded at this point to think that if our microbiome does have an effect on one nervous system over another, then it's the enteric (gut), rather than the brain/spinal cord, and that this rules our thoughts and feelings far more than we're aware, gut over head rather than the other way round. Like a nanobot overmind?  I have ‘The Second Brain’ on my nightstand now; the author, Michael Gershon, is credited with discovering that there are *two* mostly separate and largely independent nervous systems in our bodies.  I’m persuaded at this point to think that if our microbiome does have an effect on one nervous system over another, then it’s the enteric (gut), rather than the brain/spinal cord, and that this rules our thoughts and feelings far more than we’re aware, gut over head rather than the other way round.

]]> By: chilismaug http://boingboing.net/2013/02/25/antibiotics-and-gut-health.html#comment-1664821 chilismaug Mon, 25 Feb 2013 20:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=215136#comment-1664821 Guts affect the mind, not just metabolism. The vagus nerve, the peptides, all kindsa nervous system related things going on down there, largely mysterious. Who knows which feelings, leading to thoughts, are steered by those li'l critters down there... Guts affect the mind, not just metabolism. The vagus nerve, the peptides, all kindsa nervous system related things going on down there, largely mysterious. Who knows which feelings, leading to thoughts, are steered by those li’l critters down there…

]]> By: novium http://boingboing.net/2013/02/25/antibiotics-and-gut-health.html#comment-1664790 novium Mon, 25 Feb 2013 20:29:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=215136#comment-1664790 Well, I guess I'm screwed, I was an antibiotics from about age 7 through 12 or 13.  Well, I guess I’m screwed, I was an antibiotics from about age 7 through 12 or 13. 

]]> By: ohbejoyful http://boingboing.net/2013/02/25/antibiotics-and-gut-health.html#comment-1664788 ohbejoyful Mon, 25 Feb 2013 20:28:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=215136#comment-1664788 I have nothing to add but my best wishes. I have nothing to add but my best wishes.

]]> By: Jerril http://boingboing.net/2013/02/25/antibiotics-and-gut-health.html#comment-1664779 Jerril Mon, 25 Feb 2013 20:23:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=215136#comment-1664779  Yet.  Yet.

]]> By: welcomeabored http://boingboing.net/2013/02/25/antibiotics-and-gut-health.html#comment-1664758 welcomeabored Mon, 25 Feb 2013 20:11:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=215136#comment-1664758 When I was a small child, I got a lot of ear infections.  From about ages 2-7, I was prescribed many rounds of penicillin.  By the time I was teen, I couldn't take penicillin at all (allergic) or any penicillin-like drug.  I would also find out when I had my wisdom teeth removed(age 17) that I can't take opiates either, or anything opiate-like.  Obesity runs through my father's side of the family.  At 55, I'm unable to lose weight.  When I diet (medically supervised, journaling every bite, with regular exercise, blahblahblah...), I  *gain* weight, as though eating between 1200-1500 cal. (high protein) a day were some sort of signal to my metabolism to go even slower.  Added to this gut problem, I suspect, was three rounds of chemo nine years ago and every other drug that my oncologist added to that toxic soup, *just in case*. Now THAT'S a genade I'm looking for answers but have very few avenues left to explore.  I'm cranking out leptin like crazy and was told by an endocrinologist, 'Yeah, we don't know what to do with those numbers, though I can tell you your leptin level is high for your weight..... so?'  She was bein' all uselessly Tough Love.  Me and my spouse will be participating in the American Gut Survey.  If we find, as I suspect we will, that my husband's gut is much more diverse than mine, I may approach my GI doc for a fecal transplant.  But that is not considered *routine* by any medical insurance company. When I was a small child, I got a lot of ear infections.  From about ages 2-7, I was prescribed many rounds of penicillin.  By the time I was teen, I couldn’t take penicillin at all (allergic) or any penicillin-like drug.  I would also find out when I had my wisdom teeth removed(age 17) that I can’t take opiates either, or anything opiate-like. 

Obesity runs through my father’s side of the family.  At 55, I’m unable to lose weight.  When I diet (medically supervised, journaling every bite, with regular exercise, blahblahblah…), I  *gain* weight, as though eating between 1200-1500 cal. (high protein) a day were some sort of signal to my metabolism to go even slower.  Added to this gut problem, I suspect, was three rounds of chemo nine years ago and every other drug that my oncologist added to that toxic soup, *just in case*. Now THAT’S a genade

I’m looking for answers but have very few avenues left to explore.  I’m cranking out leptin like crazy and was told by an endocrinologist, ‘Yeah, we don’t know what to do with those numbers, though I can tell you your leptin level is high for your weight….. so?’  She was bein’ all uselessly Tough Love.  Me and my spouse will be participating in the American Gut Survey.  If we find, as I suspect we will, that my husband’s gut is much more diverse than mine, I may approach my GI doc for a fecal transplant.  But that is not considered *routine* by any medical insurance company.

]]> By: GawainLavers http://boingboing.net/2013/02/25/antibiotics-and-gut-health.html#comment-1664696 GawainLavers Mon, 25 Feb 2013 19:07:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=215136#comment-1664696 Understanding gut bacteria, even obliquely, will probably be the next big panacea in medicine.  The scope of the problem is certainly daunting, though.  Daunting enough that researchers have accepted limits on their ability to enumerate the organisms, much less even begin to map their interactions, and generally treat the community as a single organism with percentages of gene expression, black-box style. Understanding skin bacteria will be the next big cash cow... Understanding gut bacteria, even obliquely, will probably be the next big panacea in medicine.  The scope of the problem is certainly daunting, though.  Daunting enough that researchers have accepted limits on their ability to enumerate the organisms, much less even begin to map their interactions, and generally treat the community as a single organism with percentages of gene expression, black-box style.

Understanding skin bacteria will be the next big cash cow…

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