lesser of 2 evils

[dyann]

As those of you who know I have had issues with the Perma-cath getting infected and already have had 3 pulled, I had now developed a staph infection of which they think I got at work as I work in health care and we have had a lot of residents with c-diff and mersa at this time.  anyway I am getting I.V. vanc which I have received many times in the past, but this time I ended up having a reaction to it, my skin broke out in a rash, I started itching all over,  I looked as if I had been in the sun and got burned.  but they cont' to give me the med as my reaction was tolerated, I know vanc also gives one well loose stools, but I have to say it is so bad I am sick all day I even get the dry heaves, because I feel so bad I am no longer that hungry.  Is there anything i can do to easy this while still taking the vanc.  Davita has not really been much help they are like well we have to do this to get rid of the infection.  I am not stupid I know that, but we give our residents that are on vanc meds to help with the loose stools and the cramping, plus they get check for low levels d/t the loose stools, I have had none of this and I am so tired and just want to sleep.  sorry for going on and on,  I just want to feel better.

[galvo]

And I hope you do feel better. Really soon!

[jbeany]

Do you have a GP you can call?  Maybe he can offer some real help that you aren't getting from the D center.

[billybags]

dyann, That sounds awful, hope you are feeling much better now.

[Rerun]

Imodiom for the shits and Nepro (it is like Boost) so you can sip on something that has protein and some nutrients.  I hope you feel better soon.

[Maker]

Can they switch you from vanc to ancef (cefazolin)?  I have been chronically infected for months and have gotten both with dialysis...not that either has really worked because I am still chronically infected  I

[dyann]

I spoke with the Doctor and he was going to change me, but realized the staph infection I have is only sensitive to the vanc-  I only have one more treatment so hopefully the cultures will come back and i will be cleared and I can get on with feeling better.  Thank you all for the information and just being there

[greco02]

I don't know if this applies to you but I do know that strong antibiotics kill the good and bad bacteria.  You have good bacteria in your bowels.  I was told to eat yogurt to help with the 'bowel' issues.  There is also a capsule you can take with live bacteria.  I just can't remember what it is called but your pharmacist could help you find it. 

As for the yogurt, a lot of people don't like it but you don't have to eat a full serving for it to help.  A couple spoonfuls could make a difference.

[Stoday]

Yogurt won't help to reestablish the colony of bacteria that normally live in your gut because the yogurt bacterium is Lactobacillus. The one that grows overwhelmingly in your gut is Escherichia coli (although a little lactobacillus does too).

Just give it a couple of days and the bacteria will reestablish themselves. Babies get their colony within about 40 hours of birth.

[RightSide]

If you have a life-threatening infection but you're allergic to the antibiotic, they can suppress the allergic reaction with IV antihistamines or steroids.