i feel like i'm losing my mind! i noticed a change in bowel habits about 7 weeks ago where i had some diahhrea, then it went away for a few days, the came back for a bit and then i was persistently going to the bathrroom ALL the time, sometimes it was just loose, somtimes watery amd very often flaky so that it would actually come apart into almost a "powder" when i'd flush. this went on for a couple of weeks til finally i saw a GI. he took a stool sample which came back negative. my symptoms persisted so i saw a different GI who sent me for a more sensitive stool test (he said it tested for the "dna" for parasites") and he told me i tested positive for a parasite- entomeba hystolitica. great. took flagyl for 10 days and though for some short periods i thought i felt a bit better (maybe also because i was taking immodiam before bed time), ultimately the loose and often stools came back thought it did seem that the mucuous in my stool lessened. but overall it didnt seem to work. now i am on the "second wave" or antibiotics--- paramomycin, and again i am taking immodium at nights and my stool seems better early in teh day (sometimes i even feel "constipated") but then gets looser and more often as the day goes on. though, i have to say, i have not seen any mucous lately at all. but why am i not getting better????? could my symptoms be totally unrelated to the parasite? is that LIKELY at this point? does it just take a long time for bowel symptoms to dissapear even after antibiotics (i am amlost done with the paramomycin)? i am at a loss and scared that i have something serious. does anyone recognize what i have or have any advice? i am scheduled for a colonoscopy next wed, but am freeakin out now.......any words would be so appreciated esp if you had a similar experience.
thanks,
jeff

Jeff,
Many times a strong antibiotic kills off the good intestinal bacteria along with the bad type -- causing diarrhea.

The friendly bacteria may have to be replaced with a probiotic supplement and eat yogurt w/ multiple bacteria cultues present to re-establish the friend intestinal flora. You may even have developed a intestinal yeast infection that may need to be treated.

I wish you well---Harry

Yes, I agree with Harry. As I've said before on these boards, I took a probiotic with enzymes and it really worked (I had the same thing going on as you). The product I took is called Digestive Advantage IBS and you can get it in a drugstore It took about 4 days to notice a change, but by the 7th day, everything was fine. Hope you get better soon!
--Gregzgirl :wave:

I use a probiotic supplement PB-8. It is OK but there are many others on the market that are good.