Ulcerative colitis ATM/AFM combo
Hello everyone! I was diagnosed with mild-moderate uc almost 6months ago. I have about 3-4 bowel movements a day (sometimes with blood, sometimes without). It’s either diarrhea or constipated stool. My doctor prescribed me Mesalamine (oral and rectal) and it worked for a while but now it’s pretty useless. Now she wants to try immunosuppressants on me. I am skeptical about that kind of medicine as i am about corticosteroids and other bs which harms your body without any guaranteed benefits.
I saw a study from Japan which involves an antibiotic combo “ATM” and it’s upgrade “AFM”. It is a combination of 3 antibiotics: amoxicillin, tetracycline, metronidazole. Tetracycline may be substituted with fosfomycin. The study shows a pretty nice outcome. Most of the participants had their condition improved and a significant percentage achieved remission. As i understood, the evidence suggests that your microbioma is primarily involved in what causes UC.
Did someone tried that antibiotic bomb? Could you share your experience?
I have a feeling that it could be the cure to my condition because i was diagnosed with UC 5-6 weeks after i came back from a trip where the food was not cooked well and it’s quality was questionable. In general, my diet was not well balanced in the last few years.
Thank you in advance and i am waiting for your responses and advice!
Have infliximab. Its the only thing that worked for me for a bit. I had to have a j-pouch after a few years.
Hello fellow UC sufferer.
Firstly, all treatments for UC that any doctor would give you have been approved by health care professionals and governed by strict safety laws. And it is worth keeping in mind that you can always stop taking any medication once you have it, but getting hold of it when you are desperate is often very difficult or impossible.
Personally, if you have a choice, before trying the only immunosuppressant for UC (Azathioprine/6MP), I would recommend trying the slightly less poisonous treatment called "Adalimumab", which is an at home TNF blocker injection pen. (This is what I did)
The only medication that I really would try to avoid for long periods of time is systemic Corticosteroids (Prednisolone tablets for example), even in very low dosages.
I have read many studies on gut microflora in UC. The biggest factor that changes your gut microflora is the percentage of the different food groups that you currently eat (60% Carbohydrates, 30% fats, and 20% proteins for example). Changing these percentages massively affects your gut microflora overnight, so this is a powerful tool that is certainly worth trying.
There are also a handful of known food intolerances that can cause UC, these are foods that are worth avoiding or challenging your body with for a few weeks. (milk, red meat, alcohol, potato, etc...)
I have also seen studies on pro-biotics, and pre-biotics, both with good results, but changing your actual diet has been shown to have good results anyway.
Regarding trying ATM/AFM, in my experience, finding an IBD doctor who is willing to prescribe a non-approved treatment for UC is not going to happen. At least not until you have tried all of the approved treatments first.
What you could try instead, without the need for a doctor's prescription, is taking that stuff that you take before a colonoscopy, which almost completely empties your colon, then try a course of Vivomixx High Potency Microbiotics to get you going. (this has also been proven to help)
Send me a direct message if you would like to keep in contact, I have been playing the UC game for over 5 years now, and I am currently in need of becoming friends with anyone who has a high Calprotectin level in their bowel movements. And from the symptoms in your post, this could be you.
Bought apple cider vinegar mother's yesterday, aloe, pre/probiotics. I feel much better. Still gasey
Great to hear. I hope you continue to feel better. -Elizabeth (team member)
Sorry you are going through these symptoms. This info you have shared is so interesting. I believe too that the microbiome is key to healing our diagnosis. I have not tried this treatment however, I have read studies for amazing results with FMT (Fecal Matter Transplant) done in Australia. I have been interested to do that. -Elizabeth (team member)
