Antibiotics Induced Colitis: Can it mimic IBS? Please help. I'm crying here. - Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Message Board

jilliscool · 12-22-2005, 07:29 PM

I've taken monodox antibiotic for acne for 5 months. A month ago I got horrible cramps and then a week and a half ago diarreah started. So last monday I went to a doctor(she's not a gastroenterologist) and I got put on flagyl. No tests were taken but she seemed sure it was my antibiotic(needless to say I got off that). I read on the internet that it can take about 12 days for it all to go away. I thought I was getting better. I don't get those horrible cramps anymore. I do feel an urgent need to go, and my poop was normal yesterday and this morning but tonight at dinner after eating spaghetti and a little tomato sauce I had to urgently leave the table and I had some diarreah. Not as bad as it has been but it is so discouraging. and then I had to go another time like 20 min after that and just now I let out a tiny bit more out. I felt fine this afternoon. Very recently I've been burping more than usual. I used to never burp. It's not bad just noticable. Celiacs also runs in my family. I read that this is a sign of celiacs. And also I think I've lost weight because last year I was 98 lbs and when I went to the doctor I was 93. I have not changed my eating habits. IBS shouldnt make you lose weight. I also, very recently, have felt bloated. It's not that I don't feel finished after going to the bathroom. It's just that my stomach feels bloated.

I pray pray to god that I don't have IBS. I'd seriously would rather have Celiacs. At least you KNOW what can be done. How can I live my life. I'm 20 and how am I going to get a boyfriend if I have to urgently go to the bathroom at dinner? How am I going to have a sex life. I'm crying so hard. I hope I really do have antibiotics induced colitis because that can go away if you treat it. IBS never goes away. please help me. My doctor said if I don't get better in 10 days she'll refer me to a gastroenterologist. I'm waiting til after the weekend. I want my life back. I just want to be normal. I have a feeling I'm going to have to go to a Gastroenterologist. and I really thought I was getting better.

tatootie · 12-23-2005, 02:54 AM

First off, you have to relax, and dont panic ! That will make it so much worse. IBS isnt so bad once you learn how to live with it. You actually can end up healthier because you realy have to eat and drink right. You will get it all figured out - just takes a little time.
peace

danimal15 · 12-27-2005, 01:45 PM

I agree - try to relax. If you eat the proper diet and don't get too stressed out, you can live an almost normal life. Plenty of people with IBS get married and have kids. I'm a guy, and I've dealt with my wife's minor health problems over the years and she with mine. She doesn't have IBS and neither do I, but I'm sure if that had been the case with her it wouldn't have stopped me from falling in love with her and wanting to marry her. I'm sure things will work out fine.

Fizzickle · 01-09-2006, 05:52 PM

Jill

I'm guessing you're still dealing with a touch of c.difficile colitis. I had it about six months ago, the result of taking a broad spectrum antibiotic for another problem. I had to take two rounds of flagyl. If flagyl hadn't worked, the gastroenterologist said he would have gone to vancomycin.

So don't panic. c.diff is difficult to eliminate (no pun intended), and it certainly causes one to question the indiscriminate use of broad spectrum antibiotics because of their tendency to cause c.diff. colitis.

This isn't going to keep you from having a social life. Even if this is IBS, you can work around most any physical problem if there is mutual attraction between a couple..

Good luck,
Bill

hake · 01-10-2006, 06:43 AM

I wouldn't worry about it being permanant. I have IBS anyway but several months back I had antibiotic induced colitis. My gastrenologist said it can take a few months for the colon to get back to normal. Mine took about 4 months but I had a very severe case.