First Flagyl Experience

[CrohnsDaddy]

Hey everyone!

Been lurking for a while... thought I'd finally post a bit about an experience I had recently...

A couple years ago, I had some oral surgery that went bad. I had shattered two molars in my lower jaw (one on each side) from pain caused by foraminal stenosis at the C6-C7 level. Yup, gritted my teeth through the pain so hard I snapped a couple teeth. But it's not that bad... the following surgery was a breeze, and I was only left with a very minor loss of strength in my left tricep. But I digress; this thread's not about that, but rather something else...

The oral surgeon that performed the extraction on the left lower molar (they were extracted at different times by different surgeons) did a terrible job of the extraction and subsequent first-stage implant.

I kept getting recurring infections in my jaw.

Three months ago, I visited a new oral surgeon who insisted on putting me on Clindamycin until I could arrange my work schedule to accommodate the surgery necessary to repair the other guy's bungled work.

I was on Clindamycin for about 2.5 months straight. I noticed a remarkable decrease in Crohn's symptoms during this time.

After the surgery, he kept me on Clindamycin for yet another ten days. He stated that he was concerned about the possibility of me developing a C. Diff infection due to the fact that I had been on the Clindamycin for such an extended period of time (Clindamycin has a reputation for causing C. Diff infections, as it wipes the gut out of competing bacteria, allowing the C. Diff to spread unchecked).

So he put me on Flagyl to take along with the Clindamycin.

What followed were three of the most Crohn's free weeks of the last 30 years!

I had added S. Boulardi yeast to my anti-Chrons regimine a few months back, and it helped considerably.

But throwing in the Clindamycin/Flagyl combo was pure bliss.

Please pardon the candor, but... three weeks of no cramps, with the first formed stools I've had since I was a teenager. Wow!

But now that I've been off the combo of the two anti-biotics for over a month now, I find myself back to where I was before; each morning is a new adventure in stomach cramps and urgent BM's for the first few hours.

My GI is aware of my "morning routine", and has said that it's as close to remission as I was going to get. And granted, it is *much* better than where I was prior to beginning Crohn's treatment three years ago.

So what's the point of this rather long winded story?

The combination of the drugs in my sig, along with the Clindamycin/Flagyl treatment helped me so much, I'm really anxious to hear from others that have been helped by Flagyl by itself, or in combination with other antibiotics, how long you've been taking them, and what the general consensus is on how long you can safely take them.

I've read a few threads from people taking them long term to heal fistulas, and related issues, but haven't seen any posts/threads from people taking Flagyl strictly to maintain remission from primary Crohn's symptoms (to me that means stomach cramps, D, etc.).

Thanks for any information you can provide. I'd like to learn about this as much as I can prior to discussing the possibility of adding flagyl (and possibly another antibiotic) into my treatment regimen.

Hoping all your days are cramping free,

CrohnsDaddy.

 

[Mark63]

Hi,

I've often used Flagyl/Metronadizole of the last 6 years. Its a very effective antibiotic against infections caused by anerobic bacteria. My GI normally limits the course to 2 weeks and would not normally allow it to go beyond 4 weeks. There is a risk with long term use that you can sustain nerve damage that manifests it's self as numbness/tingling, particulary the hands and feet.

I'm sure others will say that they have used the drug long term without any issues, but this is something that you should really discuss with your GI.

Oh, I forgot to say welcome

Mark

 

[Astra]

Hi CrohnsDaddy
and welcome

Metronidazole (Flagyl) saved my life last year! I was blocked and infection had set in cos I ignored it!
My gastro told me to take some Metro (he gave me some when I left hosp) if ever I flare up with urgency and diarrhea. I have popped some now and then. I haven't taken it long term tho for remission, I can't stand the metallic taste in my mouth!
Also, my gastro mentioned 3mg of Budesonide (Entocort) to maintain remission, but only up to 3 months at a time.
A fellow Crohnie on here uses Flagyl reguarly when she flares too.
Enjoy the forum!
Joan xxx

 

[lamor32twigs]

I did the long term flagyl thing too, and it worked for a while. My GI had me do 4 weeks on, 1 week off for 4 months. It didn't work great for me and changed the way things tasted tremendously.
Maybe you can talk with your GI again about using it long term. There is plenty of data out there to show it does work.

 

[joshw2011]

Good to hear flagyl actually works for some people! Tried it twice, and didn't work either time. It actually made me feel worse... Needless to say I always opt for different antibiotics!

 

[Nytefyre]

I took 1000mgs of both Cipro and Metronidazole daily for 11 months and all I got was C Diff. Oh yeah, add oral thrush to the mix. And everything tasted tinny. Yeah, it sucked!

 

[ahng]

I have been on Flagyl on and off for many years. It works really well for me but of course I had a GI who wouldn't put me on it for very long (C. Diff precaution) and when I moved to California from Colorado I was on it a lot more from my primary doctor or my GI; who ever I could see first due to my insurance. I never had too much of a problem with Flagyl tasting terrible, either. Hmmm.

The one thing I could NOT tolerate at all was the Clindamycin. It made me very, very sick. I took this by itself, however. It was because I had developed a severe case of mastitis and staph. Not MRSA, that came later...

 

[JohnnyRottenAppleseed]

I've been in remission since i did a 2 week course of Cipro and Flagyl @ 500mg/1000-1500mg a day. I wasn't able to handle 1500mg of Flagyl most days and only took 750 because it gave me such a bad taste in my mouth. I understand that this was the routine treatment used before the immunsuppresants and biologicals came on the scene. Anyways, i've also done a lot of other things since i came off the antibiotics. I take a probiotic regularly that has bifidus and acidiphilus, i take S. Boulardi, i strive to get good sleep, i try to anger less and manage my stress levels, i eat no packaged foods or anything GMO or non-organic, i rarely eat out and cook most of my own food, i take 8,000mg of Vitamin D a day, and 400mg absorbable Magnesium, 1000mg Vit C, 50mg Zinc, and lately i've been making homemade bone broths from grassfed meat.

I definately think the Flagyl is key and maybe in combination with Cipro, but definately begin and continue to supplement with probiotics and S. Boulardi. I'm usually one solid bowel movement in the morning after coffee unless i break the rules and eat too much gluten or sugar, even though i tested negative for gluten allergies.

 

[ahng]

to JohnnyO

Wow, you have a lot in common eating wise as well as your supplement intake as me! Also, you can feel better with the Flagyl-Cipro combo and be in remission that unfortunately, didn't happen for me. It helps, but only for a month max. So when I am on the antibiotics or off I also take Vitamin D with Calcium in the chewable form, because I need it as a woman and well, prednisone has reeked havoc on my bones I take potassium because I suffer from hypokalemia a lot. I have had some great improvements with omega-3 and Vitamin E orally with Vitamin B12 shots. Those three seem to increase my energy immensely.

One thing that bothers me is that I cannot seem to find a good product to use concerning the probiotics. Either they weren't fresh, had only one type, not enough in it or they just made me sick and gassy. I used to use this drinkable kind called Sachets. Have you used any drinkable OTC kinds?

I haven't tried the grassfed broth, that sounds really great! Thanks for the tip I love broth! Where do you get it from to make it?

I too don't drink anything that is GMO'd, non-organic. I also don't use anything that has been used with pesticides and hormones. If I can find any without dyes or bleach. I also do not eat gluten in large amounts or at all. I have been tested for Celiac's disease and allergy. I eat a lot of plain rice and sashimi when I can afford the fish. I almost always make the sashimi myself and I do not like sushi. I don't eat red meat a lot and when I do, it must be the best cut, grass fed, no pesticide used in the feed and NO hormones. Or if someone wants to BBQ ground beef, I pay the extra for 95% lean. I crave protein a lot so I usually drink a boost or ensure instead of breaking down and succumbing to red meat. I don't eat out a lot either and I prepare the food myself all of the time -- when I DO eat. I have appetite problems, always have.

I drink a lot of herbal teas and use raw, organic, non-bleached sugar cane granules. That doesn't bother me at all, have you tried that?

 

[JohnnyRottenAppleseed]

i use raw organic honey in place of sugar in my teas. do you get adequate rest and manage stress well? it took me awhile to get into remission. i was on 6mp until two months ago but it was causing too much weakened immune system and i kept getting infections. i also drank raw milk over the summer and colustrum which i think may have helped as it has immune modulators. it's hard to tell what exactly works but i try to cycle various things for 2 weeks at a time. The vit D and Mg has been a constant since the summer.

For broth i get organic grass fed marrow bones from Whole Foods and a beef knuckle bone. Use like 2lbs of marrow and 1lb or more of beef knuckle. The beef knuckle has a lot of gelatin which is soothing to the digestive system. You want to roast the bones for 45 mins at 400 degrees and then put them in big stock pot and pour a gallon of filtered or spring water. Add 3 TBSP of Apple Cider Vinegar to help leach out the minerals in the bones. Bring to a boil. Reduce and simmer on low for at least 20 hours. Add more water if needed. 3 hours before finishing throw in some carrots, celeray, 1 chopped onion, garlic and 2 bay leaves and some peppercorns. Cooke for 2 to 3 hours and then strain. Throw out the veggies. Take the marrow out and throw into the soup. Then put the soup pot in the fridge over night. The next day skim the fat and freeze it in tupperware. Take half the soup and freeze that too. Now you have a nice base to make the best french onion soup. For that saute sliced onions and caramelize, add 1/2 cup dry sherry and deglaze pan, then add the broth and add some of the fat back to the soup to taste. Bring to a boil, reduce to simmer for about half an hour and then salt to taste. Bam. Super healthy french onion soup. You can add croutons and cheese but it's amazing like this and super healthy. Google the health benefits of gelatin. The bones have a lot of minerals that are good for you.

 

[michaelb]

remission from Clindimycin with probiotics

moved to "Beware of Clindamycin" thread.