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What if you need antibiotics while in a flare? Do you take them intravenously?

Hi...I went into a flare and got a sinus infection from all the dehydration. The ENT doc gave me a topical antibiotic for the sinus infection but it is just keeping the infection at bay. I certainly don't want to take oral antibiotics now (and they may have contributed to the onset of disease as I was taking them off and on for sinus infections). I'm wondering what other people have done. Intravenous antibiotics? Is that just as bad for your gut as oral? Thanks!
 

my little penguin

Moderator
Staff member
Ds has had crohns for 10 years now
Abx have not caused any flares
He has taken them more than a few times

his Gi always states it’s better to get the infection under control .
He has dx take prescription probiotics
So 2-4 hours after his last dose of abx for the day he takes a packet of visobiome
Then the next morning takes another abx dose
The theory is he is constantly replacing the good gut bacteria
Then he continues to take the probiotics after the abx are finished.
For him it works
Right now he still takes visobiome daily to keep his gut health in a good spot
We can’t explain why but it works for him

iv abx are only when he had a severe admitted to the hospital infection
Which has only happened once in 17 years
Ear infection that spread to the mastoid
 
Thanks! Has he had to take antibiotics while in a flare? This is what's happening to me now. I also think even with antibiotics the infection may not clear because of the prednisone. GI says they try not to give people prednisone that have an active infection, but we need to keep me on it for now!
 

my little penguin

Moderator
Staff member
What maintenance meds are you on ? Since pred helps calm down the flare the maintenance med takes over and then you can be off pred .

I don’t think he has been on pred for a flare and taken abx for an infection.

have you seen an immunologist to rule out immunodeficiency that mimics crohns ?
Since if your having a lot of infection sinus /ear etc...
That is the one thing they tested Ds for more than once since somehow the constant battling of infections due to immunodeficiency causes signs and symptoms similar to crohns

Ds didn’t have immunodeficiency (tested twice at two different university hospitals -but he also didn’t get a lot of infections )


he does take erythromycin daily for delayed gastric emptying and has been on pred while on that .
 

Lady Organic

Moderator
Staff member
Has the ENT proposed anything such as a nasal decongestant and nasal irrigation such as Sinus Rince?
You could ask your pharmacist what kind of off the counter you could take and how to take them in hope to clear out a sinus infection without the use of antibiotics and if this could be an option for you.
 
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What maintenance meds are you on ? Since pred helps calm down the flare the maintenance med takes over and then you can be off pred .

I don’t think he has been on pred for a flare and taken abx for an infection.

have you seen an immunologist to rule out immunodeficiency that mimics crohns ?
Since if your having a lot of infection sinus /ear etc...
That is the one thing they tested Ds for more than once since somehow the constant battling of infections due to immunodeficiency causes signs and symptoms similar to crohns

Ds didn’t have immunodeficiency (tested twice at two different university hospitals -but he also didn’t get a lot of infections )


he does take erythromycin daily for delayed gastric emptying and has been on pred while on that .
Thank you so much for this reply. I have been suffering terribly so have not been able to respond.
I just started Stelara last week. Was on sulfasalazine but off that since it made me feel terrible.
They did do some kind of screening for immunodeficiency Dec. 2019 but I never got the results although tried twice. Just wrote to DR to get them now that you mentioned it. It's just a blood test but no immune type doctor saw me, just the PCP. The ENT doctor wondered if I had some type of immunodeficiency due to all the sinus infections.
I have a sinus appt on Friday to see what the deal is. I am just shaking from the prednisone but have to stay on it. Need to find a ride to appt. Am on 25 mg but tapering to 20 today.
 
Has the ENT proposed anything such as a nasal decongestant and nasal irrigation such as Sinus Rince?
You could ask your pharmacist what kind of off the counter you could take and how to take them in hope to clear out a sinus infection without the use of antibiotics and if this could be an option for you.
Thank you for this advice. I have been doing everything in my power to keep this at bay and am even taking gentimicin for it. Thank you!
 

my little penguin

Moderator
Staff member
You definitely want an immunologist- not sure if you need a referral. We do not need one so that makes things easier .
There is bloodwork for primary immunodeficiency but normally that is done by an immunologist.
They can narrow down what us most beneficial.
Testing by pcp normally is not digging deep enough for ds .
We head straight to the specialist.

Stelara takes 8 months to be fully effective
Ds was on steriods for the full 8 months .

hopefully it will kick in faster sooner for you
 
You definitely want an immunologist- not sure if you need a referral. We do not need one so that makes things easier .
There is bloodwork for primary immunodeficiency but normally that is done by an immunologist.
They can narrow down what us most beneficial.
Testing by pcp normally is not digging deep enough for ds .
We head straight to the specialist.

Stelara takes 8 months to be fully effective
Ds was on steriods for the full 8 months .

hopefully it will kick in faster sooner for you
I just looked at the test results and the preliminary was all normal. I will talk to the ENT Friday about doing further testing, though. Thanks for your help.
 
Hi...I went into a flare and got a sinus infection from all the dehydration. The ENT doc gave me a topical antibiotic for the sinus infection but it is just keeping the infection at bay. I certainly don't want to take oral antibiotics now (and they may have contributed to the onset of disease as I was taking them off and on for sinus infections). I'm wondering what other people have done. Intravenous antibiotics? Is that just as bad for your gut as oral? Thanks!
Hello, blocked sinuses, earaches, sore throats are a headache at this time of year. I was watching a You Tube video recently which linked acid reflux to repeated sinus infections. Have you tried flushing them out daily using warm water and salts ? ( sold at chemists or online). Antibiotics are harsh on the stomach so you would need to boost your probiotic intake with live yoghurts or supplements.
 
Hello, blocked sinuses, earaches, sore throats are a headache at this time of year. I was watching a You Tube video recently which linked acid reflux to repeated sinus infections. Have you tried flushing them out daily using warm water and salts ? ( sold at chemists or online). Antibiotics are harsh on the stomach so you would need to boost your probiotic intake with live yoghurts or supplements.
Yes, I am pulling out all the stops with the sinuses and especially rinsing. I normally rinse every single day twice. Thanks for the advice on the antibiotics! I wondered about the acid reflux but don't have any symptoms of that, I don't think anyway. Maybe I need to check it out! Thanks.
 
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