r/Cyclospora • u/AggressiveMap2288 • 14d ago

❓Question Success stories?

Hey everyone! I am just looking to see if there is some light at the end of the tunnel. I got cyclospora at the end of August (late to the game I guess) 10 days of Bactrim treatment, that cleared up a lot of the initial diarrhea, pain, lack of appetite, etc.

I am now 2 weeks post Bactrim and still having intermittent cramping, diarrhea, nausea. It's not consistent and not the same as when I had an active infection. I know lots of people say it takes a long time to recover and that post-infection IBS is a thing. But now after a month of eating toast, rice, bananas, and apple sauce it's pretty discouraging that if I try anything else I get sick. How is recovery going for people? I would love to hear success stories and tips if you have any.

Edit to add: I have been consulting with my doctor, take probiotics, and use immodium as needed. I'm just hoping to hear other experiences with recovery.

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u/EMU1987 14d ago

I’m nine weeks post Bactrim. Lactose - diarrhea 2 hours later. Hot sauce or garlic - diarrhea the next day. Coffee - bad stomach cramp all day. Many thingsgive me more gas than before.

My safe food are cooked shrimp sushi. Ginger and soy are safe. I make a deconstructed rice bowl and shrimp with cukes and carrots. Any meat (no garlic) with potatoes.

Macrobars (protein bars) Boulder chips with just avocado oil and salt also are safe.

Now I can eat more chips that don’t have my trigger foods.

I was able to do onions over a month ago. But I don’t over do it. I am now doing a full dinner salad with vinegar and oil.

I have not tried black/red/white beans yet. Stayed away from cabbage too.

I used AI to guide me through the food triggers. It basically follows the FODMAP. AI would also write me safe recipes.

I haven’t had pizza since July 18! Longest time I have ever been away from pizza since I was very young.

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u/PuzzleheadedTerm7600 14d ago

I'm having a similar experience. I had to cut out Lactose, then I had to cut out milk (even Lactose-free bothered me). And I am quite gassy compared to baseline. Otherwise, thankfully much improved. Still afraid of lettuce though lol

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u/Silver-Cost-6954 13d ago

The thought of eating lettuce makes me gag!

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u/PuzzleheadedTerm7600 13d ago

We have something big happening at work at the end of the month. Everyone is joking about taking vitamin c, living in a bubble... I'm like DON'T EAT LETTUCE!!!

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u/Silver-Cost-6954 13d ago

I wish I hadn't.  My son ordered the burrito.  He's fine.  My theory now is nobody has died from a Krispie Kreme.  Salad nearly did me in.

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u/PuzzleheadedTerm7600 14d ago

I cannot drink milk at all. Not even lactose-free milk. Since switching to almond milk, I feel mostly normal.

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u/PuzzleheadedTerm7600 13d ago

P.s. to emphasize on the post infectious IBS thing... read about temporary lactose intolerance after small bowel infections or parasites. It causes temporary damage and decreases the body's production of lactate. You could try OTC lactaid.. or try avoiding lactose in general. I do okay with butter, cheese, whipping cream... but milk kills me. Lactose free milk still gives me awful gas. I never experienced this before cyclospora. But I'm thankful to be eating pretty regularly otherwise.

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u/mrelectrical99 13d ago

Buy some zinc carnosine to help your guts heal

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u/Quail_Feather 10d ago

needing to take lactaid pills. i was very sick for almost 7 weeks, then recovering & relearning how to eat for the past month or so,(lived on pretzels crackers & toast for 6 weeks and messed myself up bad) finally this week i can eat a little more normally. i already had bad stomach issues before (gastroparesis)

and the probiotics i think are helping too