recovering from antibiotics

[dauphinette]

I have just realized after 2 1/2 years of ill health after the natural homebirth(with transfer of just me to hospital for placenta "complications") that I have what I now call 'antibiotic poisoning'. I know this is not a technical term, but it is what I feel like I have after being on IV antibiotics.

(The short story of my hospital stay: Had baby at home UC. Husband called 911 after because I was exhausted and the placenta had not come after several hours. Ended up waiting for the DR. to remove placenta for 8 hours in ER. Lost a lot of blood. Stayed in Hosp. for 4 days on IV antibiotics, refused transfusion. Don't remember if I was on antibiotics at home after)

None of this registered with me at the time, but just very recently I thoought "Hey, I wonder if those antibiotics caused all these health problems?"

I have been to the DR. for heart palpitations was checked for diabetes and thyroid, of course normal, had a complete blood count came back normal and have had regular periods.

Symptoms: severe head fog(has grown worse since going low carb), some slight dizziness, cold hands/feet, hot/cold alternately at night, used to have the heart palps, but those subsided after going low carb.

Basically you are a saint if you got this far, but I am wondering about you smart ladies thoughts on this and what I should, in your opinions be doing to restore myself?

Thanks and love to you for your help and thoughtful consideration!

[Magelet]

I think I'd start with easy to digest foods only and eat loads of pro-biotic food.

(it sounds like you're already low carb however if not) I'd only eat fermented grains. Not just slightly sourdough, not just soaked, but really really fermented grains, if any grains(grains in quantity are a comparatively new addition to human diet and aren't digested as well as meat and veggies and such)

Eat more meat, less grains. Lots of fermented veggies, fermented dairy etc. Broth is very easy to digest. Drinking sourkraut brine.

And if you've already been doing that I would absolutely try some pro-biotics (pills not just food).

[janinemh]

PrescriptAssist probiotics---- amazing stuff. The only probiotic I've heard of that can re-establish resident bacteria in the gut. Residents are what we are supposed to get from our mom's at birth--they help transient flora stay around longer and function better (all fermented foods and most therapeutic probiotics are transient).

These have been a miracle for me. They are a bit spendy but most folks only have to take one or two bottles. Guess I'm special though because I'm on my 3rd bottle and I still need them...

I would also recommend checking out the Nutritional Therapy Association website and looking for a Nutritional Therapy practitioner in your area. NTP's are educated in TF nutrition and we use specific testing techniques to determine exactly what your body needs for optimal health.

[dauphinette]

Thanks to both of you. I will up my intake of broths again, since it has been summer I let it fall off, but I will resume this week. I will also up my intake of ferments and cultured foods.
I will look into the probiotics you suggested as well, thanks for the thoughts and keep em comin!
~R

[LCBMAX]

If you've already considered the issues below, I have nothing to add to the good advice from other posters, and you should disregard my post.

PLEASE also consider the little discussed effects on the pituitary of significant blood loss peri-partum. In addition to the general blood work you've already done, and for a really thorough evaluation, a gyn or endocrinologist should order the testing of certain hormones. If your primary care doc is someone you really trust in the smarts department, you could ask them to do it too. A thyroid panel wouldn't cover this.

I have to bring it up in honor of a dear friend who had a similar course around a home birth.

[dauphinette]

I have a deep internal knowledge that my hormones have been affected, but I have had a panel done by a well-respected doctor who put me on a cream for progesterone and the side affects were unpleasant so I quit taking it. I don't know what else to say other than I am hoping that by losing weight, which I have been, exersicing, which I have been and then taking minerals/vitamins/coconut oil and anything anyone else can suggest I will be able to get my body back into tune.