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Is It Advisable To Take Rifaximin During Travelling?
Question: For Dr Rovena Murati.
Hope you will be fine. I am in many ways improved. like stomach and other muscle weakness type problem. i have no stomach pain or any thing like that and also i am feeling a proper appetite. i am in home on vacations so thats why i was busy in many other things and i felt i have reduced many problems caused by anxiety. my muscle twitching reduced. but the problem i have to discus is about stomach , after near about one week or 10 days i have soft stool that remain one or two days and then again normal. i have no continuous stomach pain. and i observe that when i have stomach pain my muscle twitching increased. my muscle twitching was near about finished from last two weeks but now i am again observing that. kindly tell me what should i do.
i am sending you a picture of pimple. such type of pimple are coming and going . now i have on my face near jaw line. before i have this on my stomach. giving me tension . what could be the possible reason. kindly check the picture.
i have found medicine Rifaximin with a brand name xifaxa. should i start that? can i take these with probiotics.?
and one more thing kindly tell me does this medicine rifaximin comes in drugs list that are not allowed in travelling? because i have to go to saudi arabia. where i could not found this medicine means this antibiotic was not in the list of ministry of health. my question is does this medicines is used as drug addiction type thing?
Hope you will be fine. I am in many ways improved. like stomach and other muscle weakness type problem. i have no stomach pain or any thing like that and also i am feeling a proper appetite. i am in home on vacations so thats why i was busy in many other things and i felt i have reduced many problems caused by anxiety. my muscle twitching reduced. but the problem i have to discus is about stomach , after near about one week or 10 days i have soft stool that remain one or two days and then again normal. i have no continuous stomach pain. and i observe that when i have stomach pain my muscle twitching increased. my muscle twitching was near about finished from last two weeks but now i am again observing that. kindly tell me what should i do.
i am sending you a picture of pimple. such type of pimple are coming and going . now i have on my face near jaw line. before i have this on my stomach. giving me tension . what could be the possible reason. kindly check the picture.
i have found medicine Rifaximin with a brand name xifaxa. should i start that? can i take these with probiotics.?
and one more thing kindly tell me does this medicine rifaximin comes in drugs list that are not allowed in travelling? because i have to go to saudi arabia. where i could not found this medicine means this antibiotic was not in the list of ministry of health. my question is does this medicines is used as drug addiction type thing?
Brief Answer:
please provide some details.
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
It is good to hear again from you and to know that your symptoms have improved.
I hope you are having a good time with your family.
The fact that your muscle twitching reduced and nearly gone,means that the most probable cause was anxiety and not a specific condition.
I would like to know something more about your gastrointestinal symptoms during the last months.
Apart the episode of soft stool for 2 days ,have you had abdominal pain,cramps ,feeling bloated and passing gas?Means you experienced only soft stool or you had other symptoms?
How often are you experiencing soft stool episodes referring last month (once in 1-2 weeks or more)?
I am asking these to know if it is necessary to take a treatment for IBS or the symptoms are mild and don't cause major discomfort.
Regarding the picture you send,it is just a common pimple.Seems folliculitis ,inflammation of hair follicle.
These are pretty common and in period of great stress can be more evident.
Having such pimples doesn't indicate a medical condition.Nothing to worry about.Probably dry skin,oily skin ,working and living in an polluted environment can trigger frequent pimples.
Sporadic pimples in face and body that come and go are common and not of concern.
Rifaximin is an antibiotics and there is allowed in traveling.It has nothing to do with drug addiction.
Waiting for your answer.
Take care,
Dr.Rovena
please provide some details.
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
It is good to hear again from you and to know that your symptoms have improved.
I hope you are having a good time with your family.
The fact that your muscle twitching reduced and nearly gone,means that the most probable cause was anxiety and not a specific condition.
I would like to know something more about your gastrointestinal symptoms during the last months.
Apart the episode of soft stool for 2 days ,have you had abdominal pain,cramps ,feeling bloated and passing gas?Means you experienced only soft stool or you had other symptoms?
How often are you experiencing soft stool episodes referring last month (once in 1-2 weeks or more)?
I am asking these to know if it is necessary to take a treatment for IBS or the symptoms are mild and don't cause major discomfort.
Regarding the picture you send,it is just a common pimple.Seems folliculitis ,inflammation of hair follicle.
These are pretty common and in period of great stress can be more evident.
Having such pimples doesn't indicate a medical condition.Nothing to worry about.Probably dry skin,oily skin ,working and living in an polluted environment can trigger frequent pimples.
Sporadic pimples in face and body that come and go are common and not of concern.
Rifaximin is an antibiotics and there is allowed in traveling.It has nothing to do with drug addiction.
Waiting for your answer.
Take care,
Dr.Rovena
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I want to say that a soft stoool i have one time in a week. And many times i have a mix type stool. Means near about two times a day. But i have no pain in stomach . Most of the time a light pain before stool. Such things i never observe in my life before. I have stomach gass. But it is less then before. But overall i dont have stomach pain. But when i have soft stool i observe more muscle twitching. And most of the time it is pulse type muscle twitching. It was very much reduced in last some weeks but now again i am oberving.
Brief Answer:
detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
As I have told you before ,IBS is a chronic functional condition of the gastrointestinal tract that requires long-time management.
Your symptoms are pretty mild since you have episodes of soft stool once a week and they are not associated with abdominal cramps, excessive gas ,feeling bloated etc.
You can manage your symptoms with simple diet, lifestyle modifications and managing your anxiety.
You can continue probiotics.
Usually an antibiotic like Rifaximin is recommended in IBS when symptoms are moderate to severe and doesn't improve from above measures.
Considering your actual symptoms ,it is not necessary to take Rifaximin.
The fact that your muscle twitching increase when you have a soft stool ,suggests that the cause is more likely to be anxiety and stress.
Since you are home now ,I would suggest to consult a physician there for physical examination and run the tests we have discussed ,just to put your mind at rest.
-Complete blood count
-Electrolyte levels
-metabolic profile
-Thyroid function tests
If the above tests and physical examination is all normal ,you should focus more in managing your anxiety and stress (relaxation techniques, meditation,Yoga etc can help.)
Take care,
Dr.Rovena
detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
As I have told you before ,IBS is a chronic functional condition of the gastrointestinal tract that requires long-time management.
Your symptoms are pretty mild since you have episodes of soft stool once a week and they are not associated with abdominal cramps, excessive gas ,feeling bloated etc.
You can manage your symptoms with simple diet, lifestyle modifications and managing your anxiety.
You can continue probiotics.
Usually an antibiotic like Rifaximin is recommended in IBS when symptoms are moderate to severe and doesn't improve from above measures.
Considering your actual symptoms ,it is not necessary to take Rifaximin.
The fact that your muscle twitching increase when you have a soft stool ,suggests that the cause is more likely to be anxiety and stress.
Since you are home now ,I would suggest to consult a physician there for physical examination and run the tests we have discussed ,just to put your mind at rest.
-Complete blood count
-Electrolyte levels
-metabolic profile
-Thyroid function tests
If the above tests and physical examination is all normal ,you should focus more in managing your anxiety and stress (relaxation techniques, meditation,Yoga etc can help.)
Take care,
Dr.Rovena
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
thanks for reply. doctor does this test complete blood count related to hiv?
And one more thing... from last near about 2 months i have stopped searching on internet . But the things that i have searched already are still stuck in my mind, eg these pulse type muscle twitching gives me a tention of nurological problem, which i have studied is a sign of hiv Infection. Because i have a visible muscle weakness . I knw my risk was less but this hep and hiv thinking is still there. and i told you before i have a gland that is near about half cm. Or 5mm. I was having no pain but now again and again checking and touching i have a slight irritation now. Thesr all things start comming in mind after stomach upset
And one more thing... from last near about 2 months i have stopped searching on internet . But the things that i have searched already are still stuck in my mind, eg these pulse type muscle twitching gives me a tention of nurological problem, which i have studied is a sign of hiv Infection. Because i have a visible muscle weakness . I knw my risk was less but this hep and hiv thinking is still there. and i told you before i have a gland that is near about half cm. Or 5mm. I was having no pain but now again and again checking and touching i have a slight irritation now. Thesr all things start comming in mind after stomach upset
Brief Answer:
detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again XXXXXXX
Complete blood count is a test that evaluates the blood cells (Red blood cells,Hemoglobin ,White blood cells etc).It can tell if you have anemia related to Vit B12 deficiency or not, or some other problems.
It is a common test ,it is not related to HIV.
HIV requires a specific test called Antibody HIV test that identifies the presence of antibodies against HIV virus in blood.It is a simply test,you can have the results the same day of test.
I would recommend it ,just to ease your mind.This way you would stop thinking about HIV and this will help with your anxiety.I am sure it will be negative but having the test done may help you not to think anymore about this.
Regarding the swollen lymph node ,it is very small (near 5 mm ) and hasn't increased in size ,so it it not of concern.We all can have such swollen lymph nodes that doesn't indicate any conditions.
Take care,
Dr.Rovena
detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again XXXXXXX
Complete blood count is a test that evaluates the blood cells (Red blood cells,Hemoglobin ,White blood cells etc).It can tell if you have anemia related to Vit B12 deficiency or not, or some other problems.
It is a common test ,it is not related to HIV.
HIV requires a specific test called Antibody HIV test that identifies the presence of antibodies against HIV virus in blood.It is a simply test,you can have the results the same day of test.
I would recommend it ,just to ease your mind.This way you would stop thinking about HIV and this will help with your anxiety.I am sure it will be negative but having the test done may help you not to think anymore about this.
Regarding the swollen lymph node ,it is very small (near 5 mm ) and hasn't increased in size ,so it it not of concern.We all can have such swollen lymph nodes that doesn't indicate any conditions.
Take care,
Dr.Rovena
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
You are right i should have this test but problem is i am fearing from the test . From last one month my mind was not thinking such things i was near about out of these things but my stomach an muscle twirching gives me trouble and i start thinking again.
Brief Answer:
detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
I can understand that you fear the result of the test but you don't have to.
Your risk for contacting HIV during that encounter is very very low.
Since you are thinking over and over again about HIV and this causes you great anxiety ,doing the test is the only way to convince yourself that you don't have HIV.
I am sure that the test will be negative but I suggest to do it and put your mind at rest and don't thinking anymore about it.
Let me know if you need further help.
Take care,
Dr.Rovena
detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
I can understand that you fear the result of the test but you don't have to.
Your risk for contacting HIV during that encounter is very very low.
Since you are thinking over and over again about HIV and this causes you great anxiety ,doing the test is the only way to convince yourself that you don't have HIV.
I am sure that the test will be negative but I suggest to do it and put your mind at rest and don't thinking anymore about it.
Let me know if you need further help.
Take care,
Dr.Rovena
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
You are right dr. But i am not in a position psychologically to do this test. The fear that gives me more tention increased when i check this neck gland because i have already studied about these neck glands and hiv relation, i am not sure that i have this gland before or not. May b i have this from many years and now i am checking this more.many of my problems related to anxiety but dr these pulse type twitching gives me a fear of nurological problem. I was out from all these things but now again i am thinking.
Brief Answer:
detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
Apologize for the delay.
I can understand your fear but not knowing for sure is always going to cause you anxiety and all type of symptoms related to it.
You can't continue like this,you need to run the tests we have discussed ,consult a physician for a physical examination.
It is very unlikely for the small lymph node in your neck to be due to HIV because HIV can present with swollen lymph node but only during the acute infection means up to one month after the exposure.
Most likely this lymph node has always been there and anxiety makes it more evident.
As I have said before, a lymph node under 1 cm that doesn't change in size is not of concern.
Regarding the muscle twitches and pulse type sensations ,they are very characteristic for anxiety induced symptoms.
Neurological disease usually don't cause such sensations.They cause symptoms of numbness,pain,pins and needles sensations ,burning sensation etc.
If they was due to a neurological condition ,they would be persistent and progressive.In you case it seems that such symptoms flare up only when you start thinking again about health,disease or HIV.
I would really suggest to consult a physician and get the tests done.This way you can be reassured that you are fine.Probably this will help you to overcome your anxiety and live your life without worrying for every benign ,small change in your body.
Please let me know how I can help you further.
Take care,
Dr.Rovena
detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
Apologize for the delay.
I can understand your fear but not knowing for sure is always going to cause you anxiety and all type of symptoms related to it.
You can't continue like this,you need to run the tests we have discussed ,consult a physician for a physical examination.
It is very unlikely for the small lymph node in your neck to be due to HIV because HIV can present with swollen lymph node but only during the acute infection means up to one month after the exposure.
Most likely this lymph node has always been there and anxiety makes it more evident.
As I have said before, a lymph node under 1 cm that doesn't change in size is not of concern.
Regarding the muscle twitches and pulse type sensations ,they are very characteristic for anxiety induced symptoms.
Neurological disease usually don't cause such sensations.They cause symptoms of numbness,pain,pins and needles sensations ,burning sensation etc.
If they was due to a neurological condition ,they would be persistent and progressive.In you case it seems that such symptoms flare up only when you start thinking again about health,disease or HIV.
I would really suggest to consult a physician and get the tests done.This way you can be reassured that you are fine.Probably this will help you to overcome your anxiety and live your life without worrying for every benign ,small change in your body.
Please let me know how I can help you further.
Take care,
Dr.Rovena
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
thanks for reply dr. i am agree with you in many aspects. most of my problems are due to anxiety . but one question that i have is why i have muscle weakness. twitching may b due to anxiety but muscle weakness how related to anxiety?
i am at home and soon i will return to my job . i should visit the doctor . when i came home i was out from all these things . but i was feeling stomach upset a little bit. but when stomach upset increased everything start again.even now a days i am observing muscle twitching in my stomach . your suggestions always gives me relaxations . i will inform you later on. thanks
i am at home and soon i will return to my job . i should visit the doctor . when i came home i was out from all these things . but i was feeling stomach upset a little bit. but when stomach upset increased everything start again.even now a days i am observing muscle twitching in my stomach . your suggestions always gives me relaxations . i will inform you later on. thanks
Brief Answer:
detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
There are many possible causes for muscle weakness including :
-Anemia
-Hypothyroidism
-Electrolyte imbalance
-Vitamin deficiency
It is important to know if you are feeling muscle weakness in a specific area or in all your body?
It would be a good idea to consult a doctor over there because physical examination would clarify some things.
I would appreciate of you keep me informed about the result of your tests and the opinion of the doctor after examining you.
I will be here ,if you need me.
Wish you all the best.
Take care,
Dr.Rovena
detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
There are many possible causes for muscle weakness including :
-Anemia
-Hypothyroidism
-Electrolyte imbalance
-Vitamin deficiency
It is important to know if you are feeling muscle weakness in a specific area or in all your body?
It would be a good idea to consult a doctor over there because physical examination would clarify some things.
I would appreciate of you keep me informed about the result of your tests and the opinion of the doctor after examining you.
I will be here ,if you need me.
Wish you all the best.
Take care,
Dr.Rovena
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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