#antibiotics weight gain

[msfcatlover]

Guess who has a ✨jaw infection✨

[msburgundy]

if i knew for sure he was dying it would be fine, i don't mind holding onto him until he's no longer happy and then putting him down. but i'd hate to ignore something potentially treatable and do that

but what other choice do i even have

[biology-geology-beaches-india]

The Science Research Notebooks of S. Sunkavally. Page 214.

[medical-angel]

I'm afraid of people judging my new eating problems as a great "lifestyle change" because I'm "eating better" and "setting reasonable goals" and "learning and exercising coping skills for when my expectations aren't met" because uh. That is NOT what's going on here 😐

[froody]

There are two things wrong with Tommy, both very serious.

What I thought was a stuck third eyelid as the result of an injury is actually the result of increased eye pressure caused by either an infection behind her eye or a mass. The doctor is leaning towards it being an infection as she is diabetic and prone to developing infections. He gave her an injection of antibiotics and additional antibiotic drops to put directly in the eye. If it does not improve in the next two weeks, she’ll need imaging to determine if it’s a mass and maybe surgery (via the inside of her mouth) to drain the infection if it is one.

Secondly, the benign inflammatory growth that was removed from her lower jaw has grown back and needs to be surgically removed. Again. The doctor is waiting two weeks to see if the pressure in her eye decreases before attempting to remove the mass on her jaw that way he only has to put her under anesthesia once to do the jaw surgery, imaging and/or draining of the infection behind her eye.

Worst case scenario: My cat has a tumor in her head pressing up against her eye AND a growth on her jaw that needs removal.

Medium case scenario: My cat has a serious infection behind her eye that needs to be drained and a growth on her jaw that needs removal and may need removal again.

Best case scenario: My cat has a little infection between her eye that clears right up and a benign growth on her jaw that never returns after being removed a second time.

I’m devastated. I’m numb. I’m trying to ready myself for the worst case scenario.

The thing is, she had been doing really, really, really well before this. And she still is. Her glucose is perfect. She’s gained weight, she has a great appetite and she’s not obsessed with water, she’s active, she’s playful, she even tries to groom herself. She has been better in the last month than she has been in the last year. And now this. Fairly suddenly. I knew the growth in her mouth was slowly returning but the doctor hadn’t thought it was urgent before this because we were struggling with her insulin.

Today’s appointment was $400, for her insulin, syringes, two types of antibiotics and I’m sure hazard pay for the poor vet coming in on a Sunday to examine my little demon creature. I don’t know how much her surgery and possible additional imagining will cost. Please consider donating to my ko-fi.

[zer0pm]

Imagine Luis surviving his knife wound and you patch him up.

“¡Joder! That hurts, you know?”

“Don’t have anesthesia, I told you. Stop moving.”

“Right, sorry- ¡Ay, Dios! Are you stitching with a knitting needle or something?”

You had to hide your laugh under a scoff, thankful he couldn’t see your amused smile at his attitude.

Luis was leaning against a crate when you finally caught up to him and Leon. The latter informed you of their encounter with Krauser, the Spaniard’s injuries confirmed by pain-filled groans. Not wanting to waste anymore time, you had Luis moved to one of the metal tables near the mine’s exit and stripped him of his shirt and jacket. He weakly made a teasing comment about you using his injury to get him out of his clothes, but you ceased his attempts at jest by gently making him lay on his stomach and dove right into the task of treating the gushing wound.

Thanks to your meticulous efforts and the medicinal herbs that Leon keeps around in his case, Luis was stable in no time. Able to breathe a little easier, he instructed Leon to fetch the key from his jacket pocket, saying that the agent will need it to gain access to his laboratory on the island where he and Ashley will then use the surgical equipment to remove the parasites from their bodies. After assuring him that the both of you will be fine and will catch up after Luis is completely patched up and ready to go, Leon made his swift exit, leaving the both of you alone. Which brings you to this point in time- you suturing him.

“Should consider yourself lucky. Any deeper and the blade would have struck your heart. Then… well, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”

“You call it “luck”, my friend, but I like to look at it as divine blessing.” Here we go, this you have to hear.

Curiously you ask, “Oh, yeah? And how do you figure that?”

“Es obvio, ¿no?” he gestures with a wave of one of his hands that he was using to rest his head on. “An angel is healing me.”

You couldn’t stop your eyes from rolling, but there was no denying the warm flutter in your heart at his suave words. “Sweet talker.”

Luis doesn’t respond, but you can tell the man was grinning ear to ear from your remark. Aside from a few more Spanish curses and colorful complaints about the pain, the rest of the procedure went smoothly. Once the final stitch was made, you gently applied antibiotics over the freshly closed wound before covering it with a clean bandage. You notice the man shiver under your touch when you placed a hand upon his broad back to keep him steady.

“There. Now try to sit up. Slowly,” you sternly advised. “Don’t want you opening that up doing something insane.”

Luis mutters under his breath, “Supongo que no debería saltar sobre más gigantes…”

“What was that?”

“¡Nada!” He jolts upright into a seated position, wincing at the sudden move that surely aggravated his injury. You would have been incensed if you weren’t so concerned for his wellbeing. After a careful reassessment to ensure that the stitches didn’t tear under the cloth, you proceeded to secure them by rolling more bandages around his torso. Your hands glided against the firm muscles of his defined chest and back as you did this.

You stood within the cage of his legs as you worked and can feel the heavy weight of his eyes on you. There was a concentrated look you tried to maintain to quell the nervous energy beating inside at your close proximity to him, but it was a losing battle. Luis’ body was radiating with an inviting warmth and a musky spice that delightfully filled your senses. You want nothing more than to drown in him, but willed yourself to keep your distance, internally conceding to give him space to recover from his near-death experience.

“This is nice,” Luis comments, breaking the comfortable silence.

You meet his eyes with an inquisitive look. “You find receiving treatment from an almost fatal stab wound to be pleasant?”

“I was not stabbed, the knife was thrown. There is a difference.” the man corrected with snark grin and you would have returned the witty remark had he not continued with his line of thought aloud. “Just thinking that it’s been awhile since it was only the two of us. Leon is good company, mind you. Pero, uh, he lacks your appeal.”

A snort escapes you, secretly giddy from his praise. “Think you’re so charming, huh?”

Mild amusement glints his grey eyes. “Have I not been this entire time?”

You shrug playfully, “Your game could use a little work.”

He returns your jest with an exaggerated pout, “¡Ay, mi orgullo! Your words cut deeper than the knife that struck me.”

Your chest heaves in hearty laughter. You shouldn’t have found it hilarious, but Luis had this innate ability to make a grave situation something to poke fun about. It’s what makes him so endearing. While you try to catch your breath, you missed the look of pure adoration he wore as he took in the sight of your smiling face. His usual coy smirk gently curving into something softer. Eventually you finish patching him up and help him back into his shirt and jacket. The man grumbles that the fine leather was now ruined, earning you another heartfelt chuckle.

Once he was presentable, he beholds you , “Gracias. Guess, uh, I owe you one, ¿si?”

“Your life, I’d say.” you nod, tone cheeky and good-natured.

It was his turn to laugh under his breath. He takes your hand in his, relishing in the feeling of touching you again. Soft determination flashes in his gaze as he mentally mulled over your words with newfound hope.

“Take it then,” Luis says. “It’s yours.”

[dionysianchub]

I'm so sorry I've been absent. I came down with a nasty bug in late November and am still sick. The last few weeks have been rough, easily the most sick I've ever been in my adult life; and the worst part is, I have had almost zero appetite to the point of food aversion. 😭 Thankfully I finally got Kaiser to give me antibiotics and I'm starting to bounce back, but still recovering. I'm very eager to start packing on weight again, and hope I have the appetite to do a little weekend eating challenge to start gaining back the couple pounds I lost.

However, with Christmas and recent vet bills (got a new kitten!), money is a little tight. If you'd like to help a poor fat boy feast this weekend, you can send donations via Cash App or PayPal. Just be sure to DM me after so I can send you some thank you content! 🙏

Cash App: $DionysianChub

PayPal: @CupcaeCommissions

[sidetongue]

I had to say goodbye to one of my sweet babies on Friday. I was so optimistic about them both, and it broke my heart to see her go. Crackle was being treated for suspected aspiration pneumonia (no intake x rays were performed). Her first night was horrifically rough, but she pushed through and on her antibiotics began to thrive. Her chest still crackled and she still sounded snuffly, but she was bright, active, eating and gaining weight. On Friday I was not worried in the slightest. Out of boredom more than concern, I did a “sneaky X-ray” at my place of work just to see how her lungs were looking. It was more out of curiosity’s sake. Well, my little friend was hiding megaesophagus.

I called my rescue coordinator and told her of my discovery, already knowing what the outcome would be. Despite my little baby being bright eyed and bushy tailed, despite her massive improvement in only 5 short days, I needed to send her off to heaven. I cried over her little body as she drifted off to sleep. I cry now writing this.

I’ve said goodbye to sick neonates before, and often feel a sense of peace and relief when they get to pass over peacefully. It was different for Crackle because she was not actively suffering. She had such a will to live. But the reality is, even if she coped well with her disease - she was a puppy in a rescue system and would not/could not be adopted with such a significant illness.

I’ll grapple with the guilt and sadness for a while longer while she gets to rest, hopefully breathing easy for once in her little life.

[macgyvermedical]

Hey babe, wanna hear something hot? *whispers* history of metformin

Ok okay I'll talk

So metformin is commonly thought of as the most boring of diabetes drugs. Like, everyone who has ever thought about maybe having type 2 diabetes is taking it unless it gives them diarrhea, and even then their doctor still probably wants them to take it. But it's a first line because it's old, it's cheap, it doesn't often cause hypoglycemia, and it has relatively few side effects compared to other diabetes drugs. Also, like a lot of older drugs, it does way more than it says on the packaging. And a lot of stuff we're still learning about.

In order to talk about metformin, we have to talk about a plant called goat's rue. Goat's rue is a plant native to Europe, Africa, and Asia, and currently grows just about everywhere. In ancient times it was used as an anti-parasitic, a plague remedy, and to relieve the excessive urination caused by what might have been diabetes. In 1918 it was found to contain a chemical called galegine, which did lower blood sugar. Galegine as an anti-diabetes medication is probably too toxic to use long term. However, with a few chemical tweaks, it could become a drug that lowered blood sugar without the toxic effects. Metformin was born.

Metformin came out in 1923 and is a type of drug called a biguanide. it's actually the only type in it's class still available as an anti-diabetic agent, because the other drugs in it's class that came out in the 1920s and 30s caused lactic acidosis and liver problems (similar to the types of reactions seen with galegine), and were taken off the market.

Metformin (and pretty much all oral antidiabetic agents in development at this time) didn't do well initially, probably because they came out the same decade as insulin, and insulin was a lot more effective at treating any kind of diabetes.

It fell out of use extremely quickly, and didn't get picked up again until the 1940s, when US access to antimalarial drugs was cut off, just as a war in the pacific was ramping up. Metformin was evaluated as an antimalarial during WWII, and while noted to have some anti-malarial properties (particularly as a malaria preventative) it also was noted to significantly lower blood sugar in diabetic patients- while not lowering blood sugar very much at all in non-diabetic patients.

This effect, rather than it's antimalarial properties, was what got scientists really interested. Unfortunately, it would not be until 1957 in France that metformin had its first major studies to determine that it did, indeed, work against diabetes. Metformin lost the race to the "first" (successful) oral antidiabetic agent by a year, to a different drug that was found while looking for a new antibiotic- Diabenese.

Metformin became a commercial success in France, while Diabenese became successful in the United States. Metformin would actually not be approved for use in the US until 1995.

But now we get to talk about what metformin does and why it's so freaking cool.

Type 2 Diabetes- lowers A1C (a measure of blood sugar control) by 1-2 full points

Prevents/reverses weight gain due to antipsychotics

Prevents and treats malaria

Makes the flu shot work better

Decreases severity of respiratory illness and complications related to the flu

Changes gut microbiome for the better

Regulates periods and reduces other symptoms in people with PCOS

Lowers risk of breast, colon, and prostate cancer

Lowers risk of dementia

Lowers risk of stroke

May increase lifespan

[smileymaste]

a tie :0 thank you everyone who voted sparta appreciates it

[natreninc]

The Challenge of Multiple-Strain Probiotics

Multiple-strain probiotics blend different beneficial strains, offering broader health benefits. However, ensuring that each strain is delivered in an effective dose can be a challenge. These probiotics may provide comprehensive coverage, addressing various digestive and immune concerns. It's essential to consult a healthcare professional to determine which strains best suit individual needs.

[thebibliosphere]

So, I'm just going to pre-emptively throw this out there, but please do not comment on my weight during or after @theayesphere streams either this week or in the coming weeks.

Despite having finished my antibiotics, I am still rather ill at the moment, and I am struggling to eat solid foods.

My body just isn't handling them well right now, and I'm having to throw all my MCAS-safe foods into the soup blender to keep my nutrients up. (I am NOT asking for advice, I am doing everything I can for myself with the approval of my medical team.)

I don't think I've lost enough weight for it to show in my face, but it likely will in a few weeks if this doesn't resolve--which it might not without medical intervention. I'm waiting to see the GI, which is a 6-8 week wait. So, yeah.

Be kind. Please.

I know you were all super happy and excited when I finally gained weight. This is just a minor setback due to infection.

The good news is, I was able to gain weight, so I'm not immediately losing muscle mass like I used to, so y'know. Silver lining.

Anyway. See you in roughly 40 minutes for @theayesphere.

[mindblowingscience]

Microbes living in our guts ooze a substance that could help protect us against excessive weight gain, according to observations in mice. The bacteria-derived compound may explain why early exposure to antibiotics can play a role in childhood obesity, a condition which is rising globally. Vanderbilt University biochemist Catherine Shelton and colleagues discovered this by giving young mice a high or low fat diet, with or without exposure to antibiotics. Mice only given penicillin antibiotics did not gain weight, but those also on a high fat diet did.

Continue Reading.

[arthropodboy]

Help save the adorable Miss Margles

A friend of mine from High School is trying to save his new senior kitties life, but he doesn't have the funds. I thought I'd try sharing this here because Tumblr is the only place I have even a little bit of reach.

Donations and/or reblogs would be greatly appreciated

"Hello! My name is Jay and I recently adopted Margles back in the beginning of July. This senior girlie was found wandering around downtown Tacoma in really horrible condition. When she was found, she was severely underweight, dehydrated, and seemed to be ill - it was very clear that someone had dumped her, or maybe everything went wrong and she ended up alone long enough to deteriorate on the street. My homie MJ fostered her for a while until I was able to adopt her!

Despite her condition, she is one of the most affectionate and trusting cats I've met in a long time, and after bringing her home she loved hopping into bed with me in the morning and licking my face to wake me up to feed her. She also absolutely loves getting brushed/groomed. She has quickly become good buddies with Tommy as well (our other senior kitty) who had been showing signs of wanting a companion before we got her.

This past month has been a lot of back and forth to the emergency vet clinic and our primary vet clinic as we've tried to figure out what's going on with her. She has been having bloody vaginal discharge, been unable to get comfortable, urinating inappropriately, vomiting daily, has had a steadily declining appetite, and could never seem to get enough water. We treated her for a UTI, however her symptoms returned as soon as her course of antibiotics finished.

However, we finally were able to figure out what's going on with her!! She has a severe urinary tract infection with two different types of bacteria that require a longer course of special antibiotics. Miss Margles was also diagnosed with kidney disease, pancreatitis, low potassium, and low phosphate. She is also severely underweight at 4.5lbs (but has been steadily gaining weight since coming to us). Thankfully, all of these conditions are easily manageable through treatment, medication, and supplements, and Meegles should be able to recover and live out her golden years in comfort with Tommy after we get her balanced out.

Although, as someone who is currently working paycheck to paycheck at minimum wage, the bills are quickly becoming more than I can handle.

With appointments averaging around $650, recurring medications about half of that, starting a specialized kidney diet, and the costs of supplements + daily fluid therapy (and of course urine + vomit cleaning spray...) I've reached a point where I've decided to seek out financial support in mutual aid. I am very hopeful that she will make a recovery from her current condition, but I fear that if these bills become too much I will have to try to find her a new home, which is already hard enough for senior kitties, let alone a high medical needs senior cat. I don't want to have to put her through a whole life transition again; especially since I have veterinary assistant experience and work in the animal care field, and am confident with giving her specialized care in my daily routine.

I am currently giving her 4 medications a day + 2 supplements, and subcutaneous fluid therapy once or twice daily. She is also getting monthly Solensia injections for her severe arthritis due to having very low muscle/fat content. Due to the sedative effects of some of these medications, Margles is experiencing extreme muscle weakness and needs assistance getting to the litterbox in time, grooming herself after eating or peeing/pooping, and will only eat via spoon feeding for now. Its quickly become a labor of love, and I know that Margles would be better off remaining in my care as she rides out her golden years.

Any financial support for her medical needs to ensure that she gets to remain in my care would be greatly appreciated! Even like $5 goes a long way. The goal amount is based on what I've spent so far and am estimated to be spending on the next follow up appointment. I will return to working at a vet clinic soon (I am currently working with zoo animals) and should hopefully get some discounts for her lifelong fluid therapy, arthritis injections, kidney disease management, and senior wellness exams in the future, so this is just to help us through the next few visits. Times are rough for us all right now, if you aren't able to donate please boost if you can!

Thanks for taking the time to read ‍⬛ I will post updates as they come

- Jay"

[thisisthinprivilege]

Background: for the past 2 years or so I've been dealing with some health issues, that have progressively been getting worse. I've been tired all the time, sleeping for 12 hours isn't enough, weak, had pain in all my joints and muscles (top to bottom), when I get home from work I lay on the couch until I get the strength to get ready for bed, and my most noticeable symptom is weight gain. Over the last 2 years I've gain almost 100 lbs in bursts, meaning I'll gain 50 lbs in 3 months, 2 months later I'll gain 70 lbs in 4 months, etc. obviously this isn't normal and I needed medical attention. Experience with doctors: over the past 2 years I've gone to about 5 doctors for these issues. They've refused me blood tests because these are all "symptoms" of weight gain, completely ignoring that my weight gain is a symptom. I even had a doctor refuse to treat me until I lost 75 lbs, he literally said he would even give me antibiotics for an infection if I didn't lose weight! The same guy also told me "of course your joints hurt, you're getting fat." Then, about 6 months ago I started getting horrible, can't get out of bed, crying all the time depression and decided to seak mental health services. My psychologist is wonderful (we've talked about fat phobia and she told me she knows sometimes bigger people are worried about talking over these issues with her because she's tiny, but she always tries her best to reassure us she is not a bigot and wants to help no matter what - she's the best). My psychologist thought I could use some meds, so she referred me to a psychiatrist, who is also amazing and probably the best doctor I've ever been to. We started talking about mental and physical symptoms and he asked me why I hadn't been to a doctor about the symptoms I was having, I told him the story, he became visibly angry, and said those people shouldn't be doctors if they don't want to help people! The psychiatrist tested my blood for everything, I had to give 5 tubes. Last week, after 2 years, I got the results. It turns out I have a significant vitamin D deficency, which cause all of these symptoms, both physical and psychological. All I needed were supliments that you can buy anywhere. I've only been taking them a week and I already feel amazing, including less hungry, no sugar cravings, and way more energy. There are good doctors who will treat you, unfortunately some of us have to live with horrible pain for years before we can find them. I can't help thinking that if I had started at 100 lbs instead of 180, I wouldn't have had these problems getting treatment.

[froody]

Tommy is not dying, not eminently! The vet thinks there is a good chance we’ll be able to bounce back, that her quality of life and potential to get well is so that euthanasia is not a reasonable option. Unfortunately, her blood sugar was 500 which is extremely high. She was also dehydrated and needed subcutaneous fluids again. She’s up to 12 units of insulin a day and I’m going to get a glucometer to check if she’s hypo or hyperglycemic when she’s acting unwell. But, she gained .3 of a pound since last week so that’s good!

She’s having her piss sent to Virginia Tech to be cultured to see if she has a lingering UTI and what antibiotics would be best for her. If she has some sort of lingering UTI, that might explain her yo-yoing blood sugar levels. If the upping insulin dose dose doesn’t work, we’re going to have to change insulins. But overall, the end is not near. Once her diabetes is under control, the vet has faith her quality of life will be fine and I’ll have her for many more years. Which is an incredible weight off my shoulders.