Antibiotics - lost power?

jj said:

I've been taking antibiotics (Cephalexin, 500mg also called Keflin) for the
past 5 days for a minor infection. On the second full day on them I ended
up cutting two minor hills off my route. On the third day on them I posted
the worst ride of the year, cutting my mileage in 1/2 and since then I've
only been able to cruise on the flats at reduced mileage.

I don't feel any systemic loss of energy, my motivation, though not great
is unremarkable. The legs feel just a touch of achyness which is not the
usual - even after the tougher rides (for me) my legs usually never hurt.

Just wondering if anyone else has experienced a loss of power from taking
this type (or any type) of antibiotics? I didn't find anything on google.

It could be the result of the extra stress the infection is putting on
your body.

--
Tom Sherman – Earth (Illinois)

On Sun, 13 Mar 2005 12:12:02 -0600, Tom Sherman <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

jj said:

I've been taking antibiotics (Cephalexin, 500mg also called Keflin) for the
past 5 days for a minor infection. On the second full day on them I ended
up cutting two minor hills off my route. On the third day on them I posted
the worst ride of the year, cutting my mileage in 1/2 and since then I've
only been able to cruise on the flats at reduced mileage.

I don't feel any systemic loss of energy, my motivation, though not great
is unremarkable. The legs feel just a touch of achyness which is not the
usual - even after the tougher rides (for me) my legs usually never hurt.

Just wondering if anyone else has experienced a loss of power from taking
this type (or any type) of antibiotics? I didn't find anything on google.

It could be the result of the extra stress the infection is putting on
your body.

Thanks for the input, Tom. I don't think this is the case. I had the
infection for about three days (it occurred on a Friday, late - isn't that
always the way? <g>😉. During those three days I rode as hard as usual and
had no problems. It was particularly bad on Sat and Sun and had no effect
on my riding.

I'll be sure to ask the doc on Monday if the Keflex can have that effect
when I have my last followup, b/c the infection is almost completely
resolved.

I finish the course of antibiotic on Thursday, so if my riding stays below
par and then picks up strongly next Sat or Sun, I think I'll have the
answer.

Appreciate the comment, though. Thanks!

jj

I heard that anti-biotics can also kill off friendly bacteria that help
in converting food to energy located in the small intestines. Also they
can inhibit certain enzymes that which also help in digestion.

Kenny said:

I heard that anti-biotics can also kill off friendly bacteria that help
in converting food to energy located in the small intestines. Also they
can inhibit certain enzymes that which also help in digestion.

yep I have had this problem for years. it really drains you.

--
Knight-Toolworks & Custom Planes
Custom made wooden planes at reasonable prices
See http://www.knight-toolworks.com For prices and ordering instructions.

jj said:

I've been taking antibiotics (Cephalexin, 500mg also called Keflin) for the
past 5 days for a minor infection. On the second full day on them I ended
up cutting two minor hills off my route. On the third day on them I posted
the worst ride of the year, cutting my mileage in 1/2 and since then I've
only been able to cruise on the flats at reduced mileage.

I don't feel any systemic loss of energy, my motivation, though not great
is unremarkable. The legs feel just a touch of achyness which is not the
usual - even after the tougher rides (for me) my legs usually never hurt.

Just wondering if anyone else has experienced a loss of power from taking
this type (or any type) of antibiotics? I didn't find anything on google.

Yes, antibiotics can be rough on your system as can being SICK. If you weren't
SICK you wouldn't be getting drugs like that. Some foreign pathogen has entered
your system where it is breeding and feeding and making you SICK. Of course
you're losing power on the bike. You're doing good to be riding at all when
you're SICK.

Look I'm just ribbing you with the "SICK" thing, but there's more than a little
truth to it. I mean what do you expect, you got a disease and you're taking a
powerful antibiotic (just check the powerful price) that is capable of taking
out anthrax and the bubonic plague and you're surprised that you're legs aren't
quite sharp?!?!

Give yourself a break.

Ron

On Mon, 14 Mar 2005 02:58:11 GMT, RonSonic <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Look I'm just ribbing you with the "SICK" thing, but there's more than a little
truth to it. I mean what do you expect, you got a disease and you're taking a
powerful antibiotic (just check the powerful price) that is capable of taking
out anthrax and the bubonic plague and you're surprised that you're legs aren't
quite sharp?!?!

Give yourself a break.

Ron

OK, ok... ;-)

I'm just saying that during the worst part of the infection (last Fri.,
Sat. and Sun.) I was riding with my usual exhuberance. So, even though I
get your drift, I don't think it's the illness so much as some side effect
from the antibiotic.

Today's ride was a little better. I was able to spin up and sprint three or
four times, but was still pushing an easier gear than usual.

I guess what I'm hoping is that it's not my age catching up with me or my
conditioning - thing is I've been doing so well up to this point and was
hoping or expecting my breakthrough of 2/20/05 to continue. Had been seeing
steady improvement from 2/09, fairly strong serial improvement on 2/20
through 2/22, each day being progressively stronger.

Then suddenly as of 3/09 started seeing a serious slump that lasted until
today. This co-incided with the starting of the antibiotic on 3/07.
Motivation was fine (unlike when I'm really sick), but surprisingly, legs
were just not there.

jj

jj said:

On Mon, 14 Mar 2005 02:58:11 GMT, RonSonic <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Look I'm just ribbing you with the "SICK" thing, but there's more than a little
truth to it. I mean what do you expect, you got a disease and you're taking a
powerful antibiotic (just check the powerful price) that is capable of taking
out anthrax and the bubonic plague and you're surprised that you're legs aren't
quite sharp?!?!

Give yourself a break.

Ron

OK, ok... ;-)

I'm just saying that during the worst part of the infection (last Fri.,
Sat. and Sun.) I was riding with my usual exhuberance. So, even though I
get your drift, I don't think it's the illness so much as some side effect
from the antibiotic.

Could be. Could be you were running on reserves that are now depleted. In any
event I don't think you are going to be hurt by this in any long term way.

Quoted message said:

Today's ride was a little better. I was able to spin up and sprint three or
four times, but was still pushing an easier gear than usual.

I guess what I'm hoping is that it's not my age catching up with me or my
conditioning - thing is I've been doing so well up to this point and was
hoping or expecting my breakthrough of 2/20/05 to continue. Had been seeing
steady improvement from 2/09, fairly strong serial improvement on 2/20
through 2/22, each day being progressively stronger.

Then suddenly as of 3/09 started seeing a serious slump that lasted until
today. This co-incided with the starting of the antibiotic on 3/07.
Motivation was fine (unlike when I'm really sick), but surprisingly, legs
were just not there.

I'd say relax and recover and get back on form once you're well. Don't know what
sort of training cycle you're on, but I'd chalk this up as an easy week, even if
it means having an extra one, and then get back on the rivet. Sickness,
antibiotics and stress can all take something out of you and seeing how you're
pretty well there with all three it's probably a better time for a recovery
phase than an overload phase.

Ron

You probably know this, but don't you think you may be setting
unreasonable expectations if you expect your progress to be a constant
"steady improvement," without ups and downs, especially over the course
of just a couple of weeks? You're going to have good days and bad days
and won't always be "progressively stronger," with no apparent
explanation. --Roy Zipris

Roy Zipris said:

You probably know this, but don't you think you may be setting
unreasonable expectations if you expect your progress to be a constant
"steady improvement," without ups and downs, especially over the course
of just a couple of weeks? You're going to have good days and bad days
and won't always be "progressively stronger," with no apparent
explanation. --Roy Zipris

Thanks Roy. I realize the progress won't be a steady progression. What
usually happens is I have a base-line ability then I get sudden improvement
to where I'm able to do the same hills in two gears lower (harder), then I
stay at this new level for a week or so. Following that (looking at my
Excel spreadsheet) I usually have a couple lack-luster days, then I have a
good day and I level off at a higher level of ability and the pattern
repeats. I ride 7 days a week.

What's strange with this period (late Feb) is that I had a -much- better
improvement than usual - hills I normally had ridden in 48x19 I was riding
in 52x17 (different bike) and I had the ability to try new, harder routes.
This improvement persisted for about a week, then I went on the
antibiotics. Two days later my ability seemed to drop to about half-normal.
I couldn't ride any of the hills and had to cut my mileage in half!

The other puzzling part was that my motivation seemed fine - my legs just
lacked the normal 'pop', and they were slightly sore. That soreness -never-
happens, even if I'm doing two-a-day workouts, or when I have several days
of increased ability and harder-than-normal rides.

My performance seems to have several components - motivational energy,
systemic energy level, leg energy, and upper body energy. When all of these
are working together, which happens about every three weeks, I have a large
surge in ability as measured by my gearing, and hill climbing ability.

So my thinking is the antibiotics affected the Leg energy and the Systemic
energy level, and resulted in a very large drop in ability.

Today my infection is completely cleared up, so I'll be interested in
seeing how well I ride. Yesterday's ride was marginally better than usual.

I do realize the need to have 'recovery days', but up to this point I
haven't really needed to incorporate them - I'm not training at a high
enough level to requre them, imo. I'll be having my last doctor's visit
today and I'll be sure and ask him if the antibiotics could be having this
effect.

Thanks for the input!

jj

I experienced the same thing with a sinus infection some time ago.
The antibiotics took away more energy than the sinus infection had.
Yes antibiotics kill off the friendly bacteria in the gut but that doesn't
knock down my energy.

After that I tried experimenting with herbal remedies for minor stuff.

On Tue, 15 Mar 2005 04:21:18 GMT, "JP" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I experienced the same thing with a sinus infection some time ago.
The antibiotics took away more energy than the sinus infection had.
Yes antibiotics kill off the friendly bacteria in the gut but that doesn't
knock down my energy.

After that I tried experimenting with herbal remedies for minor stuff.

Thanks, JP. Uh, next questions is, I guess, do you remember how long it
took you off the antibiotics to return to normal riding ability?

I asked the Doc about it and he was puzzled and said he'd never heard of
this happening. Of course it might be because the energy loss is about 20%
of one's ability in fairly strenuous activites and that might not be
noticeable unless you're pushing yourself everyday. When I'm off the bike I
don't notice any energy loss - don't feel tired and motivation is still
good. That makes it all the more surprising when you hop on the bike and
end up struggling over familar terrain.

jj

Didn't take long to get it back, about a week.
There were no long term effects.
I was pushing it at the time, I didn't ride then,
running, stairclimbing, and weights were my daily gym workouts,
pretty high intensity.
I don't think it would be noticeable in "normal" activity.

Your doctor, and most people would not understand.
Takes a particular type to push to the edge on a daily basis.

Anyhow take the Rx to the end like they say and don't worry,
you'll get it all back.

JP

"jj" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Tue, 15 Mar 2005 04:21:18 GMT, "JP" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I experienced the same thing with a sinus infection some time ago.
The antibiotics took away more energy than the sinus infection had.
Yes antibiotics kill off the friendly bacteria in the gut but that

doesn't

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

knock down my energy.

After that I tried experimenting with herbal remedies for minor stuff.

Thanks, JP. Uh, next questions is, I guess, do you remember how long it
took you off the antibiotics to return to normal riding ability?

I asked the Doc about it and he was puzzled and said he'd never heard of
this happening. Of course it might be because the energy loss is about 20%
of one's ability in fairly strenuous activites and that might not be
noticeable unless you're pushing yourself everyday. When I'm off the bike

I

Quoted message said:

don't notice any energy loss - don't feel tired and motivation is still
good. That makes it all the more surprising when you hop on the bike and
end up struggling over familar terrain.

jj

On Wed, 16 Mar 2005 04:50:32 GMT, "JP" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Didn't take long to get it back, about a week.
There were no long term effects.
I was pushing it at the time, I didn't ride then,
running, stairclimbing, and weights were my daily gym workouts,
pretty high intensity.
I don't think it would be noticeable in "normal" activity.

Your doctor, and most people would not understand.
Takes a particular type to push to the edge on a daily basis.

Anyhow take the Rx to the end like they say and don't worry,
you'll get it all back.

JP

Thanks for the kind comments, JP. After having some marginal recovery of
form on Sun and Mon, yesterday was about the worst ride ever. Only got 20
minutes at 15mph and packed it in. Quite a contrast from my riding at the
end of Feb where I was full of energy and sprinting up the hills. Might
take today off. Tomorrow will be the last day on the antibiotics, thank
gawd. ;-/

jj