BellaOnline Forums Health and Fitness Stomach Issues Antibiotics - When Did You Last Take Them?

Excellent point about the mineral depletion, holly. And how scary was that about the near catastrophic kidney failure!

Great tips on self health care too. I absolutely agree that some sort of certified practitioner should be contacted before relying on home remedies, but for most people they work beautifully.

What also works well for ear infections is garlic steeped in warm olive oil. But, I would like to add that if you are still getting the occasional infection it probably means your previous encounters with antibiotics have taxed your immune system. I totally sound like a probiotic sales person here (which of course I'm not!) but they undo the damage that antibiotics create and you will most likely find that you get far fewer infections as you take them daily. The recommended dose is 2 per day, but I take 3. I have not been sick at all in over 2 years.

Shay

My biggest culprit is sinus infections. I've been fighting with my ENT for years trying to get a FESS done, because I have a deviated septum (even I can see it on the Xrays), and I know that has a lot to do with why I can't get rid of them.

So at least twice a year, spring and fall allergy seasons, I'll wind up on antibiotics. I start eating yogure as soon as I start taking them and thast usually helps.

But this past winter, when my oldest wound up in the hospital, because of all the stress and lack of sleep - my sinus infection spread to bronchitis, spread to pneumonia - and I was on antibiotics for almost 3 months (different ones - I think there were 4 different kinds). Plus steroids and breathing treatments. And Diflucan became part of my "diet", too.

On the other side of the board - my 16 yr old son has only had antibiotics 5 times in his entire life. 1 of those times was for preventative when he had dental surgery, and another was when his appendix ruptured. He has had 1 ear infection, 1 sinus infection, and 1 case of bronchitis. That's it! Of course he has only had the flu twice and has had the chicken pox, He just doesn't get sick. I've often wondered if the CDC would take him away and study his immune system.

Hi Michelle!
Thank you for sharing your story. I've heard ENT can do wonders, but it may not be enough. When ever I hear someone mention multiple infections, I always go back to the ultimate cause being a depleted immune system which is caused by antibiotics. Also, when it comes to sinus infections most are initiated by a high sugar diet. Do you by chance have a sweet tooth?

I know what you mean about having a deviated septum and the sinus problems it causes! I have one too - my nose actually visibly veers off to the right and I get allergy symptoms every time there is a change in the weather. Which here in Vermont is practically every day!

But I haven't had a sinus infection ever since I started taking probiotics which was about 5 years ago. But I was taking a very low dose, so I did get the flu twice since then. But since I've amped up my intake to 3 per day, I have not been sick in over 2 years!

Did you get a chance to read my latest article on antibiotics? If you get the chance to look at it you may find it interesting:
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I had to give my daughter some antibiotics a couple years ago for a strep throat she couldn't get rid of. The doctor said the antibiotic might cause severe diarrhea. I told her we never had trouble with that as we always ate yogurt when on antibiotics to replace the "good germs"

She said "Oh, that's a good idea." Like she'd never even thought of it before. I'm certain she never tells her patients that!

The past few years, I've worked on building up our immune systems so we have no need for antibiotics because we don't get sick in the first place.

Excellent, Green! I love to hear stories of all kinds concerning health issues and it is good to hear from you that you work toward a healthy immune system for yourself and your family. Congratulations on your good health and for being an inspiration to others!

Shay

Excellent, Green! I love to hear stories of all kinds concerning health issues and it is good to hear from you that you work toward a healthy immune system for yourself and your family. Congratulations on your good health and for being an inspiration to others!

Shay

Shay,

I do have a bad sweet tooth, eating is my comfort. But...

I had gastric bypass surgery about 2 1/2 years ago, so I do not eat sweets the way I used to. They make me physically ill (as do white pasta and rice).

My infection rate is about the same, but my stress level is WAY higher than it used to be - so I think that is the main killer of my immune system. That and the fact that I suffer from chronic insomnia. Lack of sleep and lots of stress = bad immune system.

I will note that my level of UTIs have gone way down. I used to get one or two of those a year. And I cannot remember the last time I had one. And that probsbly is directly related to the amount of sugar I am no longer taking in.