Antibiotics?

[AndiGirl]

I am a teacher who is about ready to start school again. I teach the little guys (2nd grade), so I feel that my environment is one of the more toxic environments. LOL! Every year I catch at least one, if not more infections that require the use of antibiotics. Here's my problem, I developed an allergy to penicillin, so that antibiotic is not in the picture anymore. The CD has caused me to have terrible stomach upsets and gastric reactions to most oral antibiotics. In addition to the penicillin and codeine warning on the front of my chart, my doctor has indicated that I will have a negative reaction to Erythromycin (usually the alternative to penicillin), and Sulfa. As a child, I totally hated getting shots. As an adult with CD, I'm sorry that more antibiotics can't be given via injection. It's wonderful to be able to bypass the gut.

Last year when I had developed an abscess in my elbow, of all places, I was given a huge shot of Rocephin. That worked wonders! It was fast acting and I had no GI symptoms related to it whatsoever! I know that Rocephin is considered a, "big gun," so doctors don't like to routinely use it. I am wondering what other types of antibiotics you would recommend. The pain factor is not an issue with me. I'd rather get stuck with a needle than heave up my guts and feel green for a week. The Z-Pack also works for me with little in the way of GI upsets. I really appreciate your help. I want to be armed with information before an infection strikes. Here's to a hopefully healthy school year!

 

[Jennifer]

Cheers to the school year!

I haven't had any issues with any antibiotics but have found the Z-pack to be the best/fastest out of the ones I have had. Stick with what works imo.

 

[Jennjenn]

I hope someone can give you some good answers to help you. I am very sensitive to antibiotics. Last one I took last fall started a lot of inflammation in places I did not even have before. I was hospitilized for a week last Thanksgiving. I thought I miss heard the doctor when she told me that I had inflammation in my esophogus, bottom of my stomach, duodenum, and my usual ileum. It usually is always in the ileum.

I am wondering the same thing of what to take just in case I cannot ride it out till its gone if I get sick again. I do not want to miss another important family holiday. I felt bad having to watch my mother and brother eat hospital deli turkey sandwiches on Thanksgiving while I sipped on broth.

 

[Tesscorm]

Sorry, Andi, can't help you. Hope you find something that works well for you!

But, just curious... are antibiotics commonly a problem for those with Crohns? Don't think I'd heard this before and just want to be 'prepared', if need be, for my son.

 

[mizgarnet]

Andi,
I usually do not have to take antibiotics but I did a couple of years ago. Bad results, really bad results. My chart says no oral antibiotics. There is a cephlasporin that is intramuscular. Other than the big guns and penicillin, that is all I know. Good luck.

Wendy

 

[AndiGirl]

Hi Jen, and thank you for your response. I'm sorry to hear about your Thanksgiving. I'm sure that your mom and brother didn't feel bad at all. You are more precious to them than any fancy Thanksgiving feast. They were with you, so to me, that proves it. There will be others to enjoy my sweet friend.

Hi Tessacorm! I have a very hard time with most oral antibiotics. Penicillin is a terrific drug, and besides to those who are allergic to it, it is one of the safer ones that produces the least toxic effects in the body. I was a nursing major before I switched over to get my teaching degree. I was able to learn a little about the various antibiotics. I was impressed with penicillin and the wide spectrum that it covers. I used to be able to take penicillin, but when I developed asthma as a teenager, my body decided to revolt against it. Most of the other antibiotics cause me to get terrible stomach upsets which include diarrhea and continuous waves of nausea. I wish they made more antibiotic shots. I know it sounds weird. There are a lot of people who are really weird about shots. Heck! I used to be one of them. When I do get antibiotic injections, I never have the nasty GI symptoms, on top of my CD symptoms. I now like shots because they bypass the gut. One of the nurses who was treating me said, "I can't believe you chose the shot. Ouch!" My response was, "If it means a sore butt for a day or two, versus running to the bathroom, puking up my guts, or feeling green for ten days; you bet I'll take the needle." Intramuscular injections are becoming easier to take in many ways nowadays. They can add Xylocain (or Lidocain) to Rocephin and Penicillin injections. My mom was a nurse and she said that back in her nursing days, they didn't add the lidocain. My guess is they didn't know they could. She gave plenty of penicillin shots. She warmed the injection in her hand before giving them. She also injected very slowly.

My advice would be to watch how your son reacts to oral antibiotics. If he's throwing it up, it's better to ask for an alternative, or for a shot. They don't give penicillin shots for strep throat as often as they did when I was a kid. My brother and I always seemed to get about three to four cases of strep a year. Randy had to act brave because he was usually stuck before me. I bawled and carried on way before I was even poked. My six year-old nephew had strep this past winter. My sister took him to the doctor, and even after explaining that he wasn't good about taking oral medications (he spits it out and it's hard to get him to take them) he was prescribed oral penicillin. The nurse that was helping out said, "Oh I don't think you want to put him through that kind of pain." My sister was upset and said, "Well, you don't know how hard it is to get him to take his medicine. My nephew couldn't keep the medicine down, so my sister brought him back for the shot. What an ordeal! Why must taking medication be so challenging for the young and older alike? I do think they need more options for those with touchy tummies, so many of those oral antibiotics can really tear up your stomach. Blech!

Hi Wendy! Thank you for the suggestion regarding the cephlasporin. If you come across any others, please let me know.

 

[KaLa]

Hi, Andi. I teach 2nd grade too! I know what you mean about all of the germs. Have you ever tried probiotics? I take them on a daily basis, and it seems to cut down on the amount of colds that I get. Even when my own kids are sick, I've noticed that I get sick less often since I have been taking the probiotics. I also get horrible GI symptoms if I have to take antibiotics. I avoid them like the plague!