News Taffy

Have you ever been prescribed antibiotics to cure one illness only to find yourself sick to your stomach because of the antibiotics? It is not a pleasant feeling as I can testify from recent experience as you can end up feeling worse than the original malady.

Unfortunately antibiotics can kill the normal “good” bacteria in your intestine and allow the C. difficile bacteria to proliferate. We normally have as many as a 1000 different types of bacteria in our gut but when antibiotics or some other cause upsets the balance, havoc results. C. difficile releases toxins that attack the lining of the intestines causing nausea, weakness, stomach pain or diarrhea. Once this happens, it can take a few days to get things back in balance.

There are a few things you can do to prevent this from happening in the first place. When you are prescribed antibiotics, always, always follow the doctor or pharmacist’s instructions. Some medicine should be taken with food which protects your stomach against the antibiotics while others are meant to be taken on an empty stomach so they are absorbed more quickly. Some antibiotics will cause stomach pain when taken with certain foods like dairy. Take the correct amount each time or each day so you are not underdosing or getting a double dose.

While you are taking antibiotics, try to help out the good bacteria in your intestines as much as possible. Eat extra foods that contain probiotics or good bacteria such as yogurt with live, active cultures, buttermilk, kefir, kombucha tea, or sauerkraut. At least take some probiotic supplements. You also need to eat fiber filled foods that your good bacteria need to thrive such as bananas, garlic, onions, legumes and greens. Most any vegetable will do. Avoid processed foods and sugar which feed the C. difficile bacteria. Ah, this is where eating that healthy diet makes a big difference.

If you’ve had a problem with a certain drug in the past, ask your pharmacist to make a note to remind you if you are ever prescribed it again. Tell your doctor what drugs you’ve had problems with so he or she can give you an alternative. If you ever develop a rash or start itching after starting an antibiotic, call your doctor right away as it may be an allergic reaction.

If you are unlucky enough to develop stomach pain like me, try drinking chamomile or ginger tea which can soothe your stomach and quell the nausea. A heating pad can also help you relax and feel better. Your Mom knew best; chicken soup really does make you feel better especially if it was made with chicken bones. Bone broth contains lots of minerals and amino acids which can actually help repair the lining of your gut. Who knew you can actually buy bone broth at Truck Patch? I can testify that while it was not delicious, it wasn’t bad tasting. I found it curiously soothing and it really did make me feel better quickly.

Above all, take good care of yourself and appreciate the days when all is well with your body!