Bacterial Overgrowth

[Newbee]

I saw the doctor today to discuss the results of my ttg iga. He wasn't bothered that at 6 months on the gluten-free diet I was still positive (score of 33). He was concerned that I wasn't seeing changes in my symptoms yet. I asked if other food intolerances could be causing this. He didn't think so. I asked if the elevated ttg iga may be because I have other autoimmune conditions (I know I have Raynaud's and it has been bothering me, not sure if I have anything else). He didn't think this was the problem. He suggested perhaps I had bacterial overgrowth and prescribed me a strong antibiotic (Metronidazole) to take for 2 weeks. I asked if I had been tested for H. pylori when they did the biopsy and he said no. I've heard H. pylori can cause issues for people with celiacs disease. Does anyone know if the antibiotic I'm taking would kill that if I did have it? Or have any other advice?

[burdee]

  On 2/17/2012 at 1:39 AM, Newbee said:

I saw the doctor today to discuss the results of my ttg iga. He wasn't bothered that at 6 months on the gluten-free diet I was still positive (score of 33). He was concerned that I wasn't seeing changes in my symptoms yet. I asked if other food intolerances could be causing this. He didn't think so. I asked if the elevated ttg iga may be because I have other autoimmune conditions (I know I have Raynaud's and it has been bothering me, not sure if I have anything else). He didn't think this was the problem. He suggested perhaps I had bacterial overgrowth and prescribed me a strong antibiotic (Metronidazole) to take for 2 weeks. I asked if I had been tested for H. pylori when they did the biopsy and he said no. I've heard H. pylori can cause issues for people with celiacs disease. Does anyone know if the antibiotic I'm taking would kill that if I did have it? Or have any other advice?

Unless you get a diagnosis from a stool test which can identify your specific bacterial (or parasitic or fungal) overgrowth, taking an antibiotic can do more harm than good. Metronidazole is prescribed for bacterial vaginitis, clostridium difficile and several other infections. However, it is not (and there is not) an all-purpose antiobiotic. Moreover, that drug (commonly known as flagyl) gives most patients horrible side effects (nausea, cramping pain, bloating and a strong, unpleasant metallic taste which stays in your mouth all the time you take flagyl). Unless you know you have a bacterial infection which is sensitive to (killed off by) flagyl, do not take that drug. A good lab test will identify your specific infetion and then tell you which drugs can treat your specific 'gut bug'. Taking antibiotics w/o a lab test diagnosis just destroys all your good bacteria and leaves you vulnerable to more (or worse) infections.

I had 8 idfferent gastrointestinal infections during the 4 years after I was diagnosed with celiac disease. Actually one of my preCD dx misdiagnoses (gastritis) and wrong treatment (acid blocking drugs) made me vulnerable to all those infections, because I didn't have enough stomach acid to kill food born bacteria. Also taking antibiotics w/o taking enough probiotics made me vulnerable to subsequet infections.

[Newbee]

  On 2/17/2012 at 2:41 AM, burdee said:

Unless you get a diagnosis from a stool test which can identify your specific bacterial (or parasitic or fungal0 overgrowth, taking an antibiotic can do more harm than good. Metronidazole is prescribed for bacterial vaginitis, clostridium difficile and several other infections. However, it is not 9and there is not) an all-purpose antiobiotic. Moreover, that drug (commonly known as flagyl) gives most patients horrible side effects (nausea, cramping pain, bloating and a horrible metallic taste which stays in your mouth all the time you take flagyl0. Unless you know you have a bacterial infection which is sensitive to (killed off by) flagyl, do not take that drug. A good lab test will identify your specific infetion and then tell you which drugs can treat your specific 'gut bug'. Taking antibiotics w/o a lab test diagnosis just destroys all your good bacteria and leaves you vulnerable to more (or worse) infections.

I had 8 idfferent gastrointestinal infections during the 4 years after I was diagnosed with celiac disease. Actually one of my preCD dx misdiagnoses (gastritis) and wrong treatment (acid blocking drugs) made me vulnerable to all those infections, because I didn't have enough stomach acid to kill food born bacteria. Also taking antibiotics w/o taking enough probiotics made me vulnerable to subsequet infections.

Thanks for your reply. For the infections you had did you actually feel like you had an infection? I don't. My biggest symptom is I still have loose stools all the time.

[burdee]

  On 2/17/2012 at 2:51 AM, Newbee said:

Thanks for your reply. For the infections you had did you actually feel like you had an infection? I don't. My biggest symptom is I still have loose stools all the time.

I only had really loose stools when I had c-diff. Most of the time I just had bloating, cramping pain and constipation. However, the constipation was caused by undiagnosed Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Even when I got contaminated by one of my 7 allergens, I never got diarrhea UNTIL after I was treated for Hashimoto's and had normal stools.

I think your other ideas (autoimmune diseases or other allerges) were more correct than 'bacterial overgrowth' for causing your elevated Ttg. I'd consider a second opinion from a more knowledgable doctor (esp. a holistic or naturopathic doc with an MD degree).

[T.H.]

Wow...just pass out the antibiotics without even testing? Goodness!

You can ask to be tested for SIBO, if you would like to be certain of the diagnosis. There's a breath test that you can do to test whether or not you have this. We just had it done for my daughter. Just a few hours of fasting, drinking a solution, and breathing into a tube periodically for a few hours. That's all it takes.

And for H. pylori, it's frequently antibiotic resistant now and typically needs some heavy duty antibiotics to clear it out. You can get a blood test for it; however, the blood test just tells if you HAVE had it at some point within the last...year or so, maybe longer? You can actually have overcome the infection and still get a positive blood test for it, so it's not as useful as if the doctor had actually checked for it when he was inside.

[YoloGx]

It may be you are still getting cross contamination from gluten somehow. Its also possible you have developed sensitivities to possible food allergens due to leaky gut caused by damaged villi in the intestines (from celiac or severe gluten intolerance). Common culprits are milk, corn, citrus, soy, tomatoes, potatoes and peppers, coconut, nuts in general, yeast, sugar, various fruits etc.

I agree, your doctor was just being lazy. Not scientific at all, while avoiding the obvious probable consequences of dysbiosis from taking a broad spectrum antibiotic like Fagyl.

He clearly knows little about real digestive issues it would seem, especially celiac or severe gluten intolerance.

As far as H. Pylori goes, my understanding is that a variety of supplements and dietary changes can help cure it quickly. With no antibiotics at all. I suggest you check it out on the Internet and consult with a naturopathic doctor about it, if it does turn out you actually have this condition.

Bea

[Skylark]

I hope you're not eating oats? Some celiac react to the gluten-like protein in oats and it will cause elevated TTG. It's possible that you are still getting traces of gluten too. I haven't run across Raynaud's as a cause of elevated TTG in my reading.

Many, many celiacs cannot tolerate dairy and a lot of us have issues with soy or corn. I don't know that these foods can elevate TTG but they can sure keep you feeling sick.

I would go on an elimination diet before I took a course of a strong antibiotic on doctor's wild guess.

[ndw3363]

This is why regular doctors scare me. Here take this super potent antibiotic on a hunch that I have - no I'm not going to run any tests first - this IS the test. UGH!!! It's that kind of thinking that got me started with this whole journey 4 years ago! I thought I had a UTI so went to the dr. He said, no infection could be found but here take this antibiotic. I had no reason not to trust him and I've had tons of UTI's and the symptoms were identical (and I was desperate for it to go away). A week later it was worse so I went back...oh here take this stronger antibiotic. Nope! That just caused unbearable yeast problems that I'm still dealing with 4 years later.

Sorry for the tangent...I would definitely ask for some tests to be run before you kill all the good bacteria in your system. If you're already taking it, I would suggest a very strong probiotic to go along with it. Hope you feel better soon!