Gut Health After Antibiotics

[iloveglee]

Does anyone know how long it takes to return the gut to health after taking antibiotics. i had a course of a week for a chest infection, in january, with no apparent problems. then in march, i took the same ones as prevention of malaria. i took these for just over 2 weeks and then started having real problems with my digestive system. problems being able to digest fat, lower abdominal pain and urgent visits to toilet, bloating and discomfort. I stopped the antibiotics and after a few days i bought some probiotics from the herbal shop, and things do seem to have improved. the pains and urgent visits have resolved, but i am still having bloating and difficulty digesting fat. i should say that i have had my gallbladder removed, so probably not gallstones. the dr wanted to exclude any nasty i might have picked up whilst in brazil, but given that there were four of us, all travelling together and eating pretty much the same thing, i think that is not so likely. i have had no result from a sample i sent, and would have thought that after a week if there was anything i would have heard. I presumed that stopping the antibiotics, and taking the probiotics things would have gone back to normal. am i expecting too much of the probiotics.

[Old_Geezer]

I've used pribiotic tablets after a courae of antibiotics. Maybe I was lucky but seemed back to normal in days. But it's possible that the probiotics are not surviving the journey to the gut. Perhaps your circumstances cause you to have more issues. If not sorted in a few days why not have a word with your GP ?

[Sqad]

It is a common mistake, as one often sees on AB to assume that one's symptoms are due to side effects of tablets.
This is often not the case.
In your particular instance, it might well be due to what is know as the "post cholecystectomy syndrome" which affects people after having the gall bladder removed (as it's name suggests). other conditions must be excluded e.g pancreatitis or IBS, before one can say that your intestinal problems are due to antibiotics.
Google "post cholecystectomy syndrome."
I am not so sure that probiotics have much to offer in your case.

[woofgang]

Have you asked at the docs about results from the sample, or asked for advice managing the problem? I get similar symptoms from IBS and have to say that probiotics don’t make a bit of difference.

[iloveglee]

interesting insights. i actually do suffer with ibs anyway, but have never had such extreme symptoms before. i have a further appointment for blood tests this week, so maybe something will come from those - or not. i will take a look at post cholesystectomy information as well. i have to admit, even though after i had the surgery i was told i could now eat 'anything', that has not proved to be the case. after speaking to a friend who has also had her gall bladder removed she still has some digestive problems, and has to be a bit careful what she eats. i am not at all sure that doctors really do get it regarding the absence of a gall bladder. hopefully this is something which will resolve, although as a sufferer of ibs, i dont expect things ever to be 100% normal anyway.