Morning visit with the GI specialist. I 'splained my symptoms, their duration and how I'm not sure if my PCP's office really did test for giardia and cryptospiridium like I asked (or which donated substances they performed tests on).
She listened sympathetically and said she'd review the test results. They'll do more testing if needed; a lot depends on the testing lab's capabilities and parasites are not necessarily shed in every stool.
In the meantime, she gave me a 5-day course of antibiotics to take before my next appointment. When I Googled it, I found this drug is used to treat giardia and crypto. If I have either of those things dwelling in my gut, it should make short work of them.
Only it might be a rough 5 days. After the first dose, I became nauseated and gassy. I calmed the nausea somewhat with the crystallized ginger I keep in my desk drawer ( as vending machine repellent). Shortly after that, however, the drug I'm taking to treat the diarrhea GAVE ME diarrhea.
Go figure.
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on stay-at-home-mom tv during the day there are quite a few ads for IBS or, irritable bowel syndrome, which, honestly I know nothing about except they advertise it a lot when they know us gals are watching. could this be you?
I'm not sure. My PCP says that even sudden, pinpointable onset of symptoms can be IBS or Crohn's or ulcerative colitis or lots of fun things. I'm at That Age he says when stuff like this can just Start Happening. What a comfort.
I'll see what the antibiotics do. Or see if I can stay on them if the nasty side effects continue.
I've been anticipating another round of ill effects from this afternoon's dose of drugs...except that I forgot to take them until a few minutes ago. I guess I'll have a case of delayed shatification.
well one thing we will know from the antibiotics is that you are now suffering from IGS...(irritable gal syndrome..hee hee) but that may have been diagnosed in you for years now.... :-) jk!
Even a diagnosis of IBS might not mean much in terms of what you can do about it. My gastroenterologist says most people of a certain age have something that might be termed some kind of IBS.
Here's hoping the antibiotics clear it up! And then maybe some probiotics, and don't forget about the fiber (my doc recommended Citrucel, which doesn't cause gas and comes in easy-to-take caplets).
Probiotics--good idea so I don't wind up infected with something else...
On day 3 with the meds and so far no repeat of the Best of Craigslist style dumptacular (minus the airplane ride, regrettable second burrito or night of drinking beforehand).
The drugs make me perpetually queasy, so I'm not exactly at the top of my game. Hoping to feel better by the weekend and see what the dr says next week.
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