www.incontinentsupport.org

I had a knee replacement a few years ago, and so I have to take a strong dose of broad spectrum antibiotics every time I have my teeth cleaned. Shortly after that, I get a case of the runs that lasts several weeks, until my gut bacteria can rebuild. So over the Christmas break, I had a minor accident and tore a tendon in my hand. Of course, part of the treatment involved a heavy dose of broad spectrum antibiotics. One again, I must stay within 30 feet of the bathroom for the next 3 weeks or so, but I'm back to flying for work. We'll see how well this works out. (end of griping)

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- Tom

Bummer, Tom. I hope you feel better soon. Can you either: (1) Take Kaopectate, or (2) Appeal to your supervisor's maturity/understanding (if they exist) and tell him/her that you're dealing with a temporary medical issue and ask if you can stick close to the office (read bathroom) and/or telecommute for a few days (if you're a white or grey-collar worker)?

Wetters

Tom,

If you fly for work, are you a pilot? Or must you commute by air? Either way, diarrhea can be a bummer. If you can explain that this will be a temporary situation that you have dealt with before, you may improve your odds. Good luck.

Wetdad, I so feel for you, having been in your shoes on several occasions. How miserable. I hope you are back to normal soon.

--John

Thanks for all your concern folks. I'm not a pilot, I just travel a lot - about 3 weeks a month. My trip next week will be cut short so that I can have corrective surgery for my injury. As some of you know, bowel incontinence is manageable even if it's not pleasurable. What's the phrase? Oh yeah "shit happens".

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- Tom

"Amen" to that!

--John

Tom,
I totally understand, every surgery I have had. What they pour into that I.V. ends up plowing my diaper. Yes messes happen and for me the saying is, O well !! clean up and keep going.

The surgery went very well and now I begin PT. The antibiotics continue, yippee, but it has settled into a regular schedule for my bowels. The travel schedule has lightened up for the moment as my firm is having a crisis of budgets. (smile)

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- Tom

The best thing to counter antibiotics is real greek yougurt. Yoplait "greek style" yogurt and the such won't cut it, but something like Chobani will. It is filled with the good probiotic bacteria that your gut needs to avoid diarrhea. I highly recommend it, and to eat the yogurt about 2-4 hours after taking the antibiotics for a quick replenishment.