Daunted's antibiotic log
Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2005 8:41 am
As you may recall, I am not diagnosed with MS but a "clinically isolated syndrome"; I have positive VEPs and unremitting symptoms consistent with mild MS. I have had two negative MRIs. I am undergoing antibiotic treatment with the Vanderbilt protocol (Amoxicillin, Doxcycyline, Rifampin, and pulses of Flagyl).
I am in the middle of my first pulse of Flagyl. I am keeping a symptom log and when I am several months into this, I will summarize it here.
I spoke to Dr. Powell yesterday and have some information I would like to disseminate for those undergoing abx treatment or considering it. None of this should be considered medical advice, but it may give you some interesting points to discuss with your doctor.
1. Those of us who have read Sarah's story were probably struck by how dramatic her reaction to antibiotics was, immediately. We should keep in mind that not everyone will react in this manner. Some people have a very limited reaction until their 2nd or 3rd pulse of Metronidazole, at which point they may have a more "classic" bacteriolytic reaction.
2. If you do a good job of adhering to the protocol and take your supplements, B12 injections, and charcoal etc., that alone may minimize your reaction substantially. I highly recommend generous B12 supplementation as well.
I myself am taking about 2 grams of charcoal every night and 4 grams while I am on the metronidazole. A tip: Take lots of supplemental FIBER. I personally take 4-5 servings a day of a mix of Flax Seed/Rice Bran/Orange, Grapefruit and Lemon Peel & Pulp...Jarrow, among others, makes a good one called "Gentle Fibers". If you do this you will be getting around 30g of fiber a day, which is over 100% of the USRDA fiber requirement (not including fiber gained through diet!) and it will help minimize stomach problems.
Most importantly, It will also act much as the charcoal does to minimize porphyric reactions to the treatment.
3. In my treatment, the amount of metronidazole is being set by how well I tolerate it. I am tolerating it well, so I am going up to 1500mg a day instead of 1000mg a day.
Also, although the pulses are set at five days every three weeks, this can be expanded a bit if you can tolerate it. I'm planning to only wait two weeks between pulses and go for seven days instead of five. If I run into any problems with tolerating this, I will cut back to the original regimen.
4. There may be some value in re-running CPn serology after treatment has been ongoing for a while. The theory is that after two or three pulses of metronidazole, CPn starts getting killed, big-time, and the immune system is better able to recognize them and thus the antibody response increases. I think it is worth checking, anyway.
5. Rumor has it that the CPn bug doesn't like heat. Some patients have described a porphyric response after sitting in a sauna for an hour. This might be worth trying if you have access to such a facility (and AREN'T reactive to heat like many MS patients are- be conservative of course).
6. Some CPn patients have described that their joints begin popping after initiating antibiotic treatment. I've experienced this, as well as knee pain that I've never had before. Interesting!
7. I am not experiencing any fatigue as a result of treatment, but actually, increased anxiety and agitation. I have felt increasingly agitated over the past two years which has led many of my neurologists to say, "You can't have MS- you're too energetic." But it's hardly a good energy, if you know what I mean. This agitation has worsened considerably during treatment, especially since adding the Rifampin.
8. Oh well, might as well include this- I have experienced the following symptoms (most of them relatively mild in degree) since beginning treatment:
Consistent Symptoms:
Worsening of Restless Legs Syndrome-type symptoms (quite marked)
Agitation/Anxiety
Insomnia
Headache
Dizziness
Transient or temporary symptoms (lasting from a few seconds to days):
Temporary worsening of some specific neurological symptoms
Throbbing pain from the bladder (woke me at night, even! Saw urologist, all tests negative)
Blurry vision
Nausea
Mild (transient) tingling in extremities
Slurring words
Difficulty concentrating
Joint pain, joints popping
Metallic taste in mouth
Throbbing pain in extremities
None of this is all that bad, and in general I've been tolerating the treatment quite well!
Sarah and others, feel free to chime in.
Discussion is welcomed!
I'm of course just reporting my personal, individualized treatment under the care of a doctor, only for educational purposes. You should consult your doctor regarding your own treatment.
I am in the middle of my first pulse of Flagyl. I am keeping a symptom log and when I am several months into this, I will summarize it here.
I spoke to Dr. Powell yesterday and have some information I would like to disseminate for those undergoing abx treatment or considering it. None of this should be considered medical advice, but it may give you some interesting points to discuss with your doctor.
1. Those of us who have read Sarah's story were probably struck by how dramatic her reaction to antibiotics was, immediately. We should keep in mind that not everyone will react in this manner. Some people have a very limited reaction until their 2nd or 3rd pulse of Metronidazole, at which point they may have a more "classic" bacteriolytic reaction.
2. If you do a good job of adhering to the protocol and take your supplements, B12 injections, and charcoal etc., that alone may minimize your reaction substantially. I highly recommend generous B12 supplementation as well.
I myself am taking about 2 grams of charcoal every night and 4 grams while I am on the metronidazole. A tip: Take lots of supplemental FIBER. I personally take 4-5 servings a day of a mix of Flax Seed/Rice Bran/Orange, Grapefruit and Lemon Peel & Pulp...Jarrow, among others, makes a good one called "Gentle Fibers". If you do this you will be getting around 30g of fiber a day, which is over 100% of the USRDA fiber requirement (not including fiber gained through diet!) and it will help minimize stomach problems.
Most importantly, It will also act much as the charcoal does to minimize porphyric reactions to the treatment.
3. In my treatment, the amount of metronidazole is being set by how well I tolerate it. I am tolerating it well, so I am going up to 1500mg a day instead of 1000mg a day.
Also, although the pulses are set at five days every three weeks, this can be expanded a bit if you can tolerate it. I'm planning to only wait two weeks between pulses and go for seven days instead of five. If I run into any problems with tolerating this, I will cut back to the original regimen.
4. There may be some value in re-running CPn serology after treatment has been ongoing for a while. The theory is that after two or three pulses of metronidazole, CPn starts getting killed, big-time, and the immune system is better able to recognize them and thus the antibody response increases. I think it is worth checking, anyway.
5. Rumor has it that the CPn bug doesn't like heat. Some patients have described a porphyric response after sitting in a sauna for an hour. This might be worth trying if you have access to such a facility (and AREN'T reactive to heat like many MS patients are- be conservative of course).
6. Some CPn patients have described that their joints begin popping after initiating antibiotic treatment. I've experienced this, as well as knee pain that I've never had before. Interesting!
7. I am not experiencing any fatigue as a result of treatment, but actually, increased anxiety and agitation. I have felt increasingly agitated over the past two years which has led many of my neurologists to say, "You can't have MS- you're too energetic." But it's hardly a good energy, if you know what I mean. This agitation has worsened considerably during treatment, especially since adding the Rifampin.
8. Oh well, might as well include this- I have experienced the following symptoms (most of them relatively mild in degree) since beginning treatment:
Consistent Symptoms:
Worsening of Restless Legs Syndrome-type symptoms (quite marked)
Agitation/Anxiety
Insomnia
Headache
Dizziness
Transient or temporary symptoms (lasting from a few seconds to days):
Temporary worsening of some specific neurological symptoms
Throbbing pain from the bladder (woke me at night, even! Saw urologist, all tests negative)
Blurry vision
Nausea
Mild (transient) tingling in extremities
Slurring words
Difficulty concentrating
Joint pain, joints popping
Metallic taste in mouth
Throbbing pain in extremities
None of this is all that bad, and in general I've been tolerating the treatment quite well!
Sarah and others, feel free to chime in.
Discussion is welcomed!
I'm of course just reporting my personal, individualized treatment under the care of a doctor, only for educational purposes. You should consult your doctor regarding your own treatment.