Q: My husband is a 36-year old healthy CF male. He takes Tobermycin daily as part of his inhalation; and when he has an infection he takes Cipro (750 mg twice a day), plus Azithromycin. The Cipro however causes severe stomach upset, diarrhea etc. - making it quite unpalatable to take and usually resulting in him taking it for just a few days because he just can’t tolerate it. Is there something else that could work as effectively as Cipro to control occasional lung and sinus infections?

A.H., Canada

A: I do not know if there is an alternative to Cipro, this matter should be discussed with your clinic doctor. However, I have had a number of patients who have had similar experiences to your husband that have benefited by taking live yoghurt or similar products. Presumably this works by helping to re-establish healthy gut bacteria that are being killed by the Cipro. I hope this helps.

Kind Regards,
Sue Wolfe, Nutritionist

Q: Is it possible that CF (particularly when the symptoms are intestinal) could be missed diagnosed as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)?

Anonymous, USA

A: It is very unlikely that a GI presentation of CF would be misdiagnosed as IBS as you would not get the severe symptoms of fat malabsorption with IBS. If there are overt signs of fat malabsorption or poor nutritional status or a history of recurrent chest infections the possibility of CF should be investigated.

Kind Regards,
Sue Wolfe, Nutritionist