Connect
Trying to recover from a c. diff infection (Clostridium difficile)
I am trying to recover from a c.diff infection. This started with taking clindamycin in mid January and 3 days later I became ill with diarrhea and felt sick, loss of appetite etc...Went to the er twice, tested negative for c.diff on my 2nd visit. The Dr. told me to take imodium to rest my colon since I tested negative. That evening I had diarrhea and took the Imodium. Became constipated with pain lower right side. I went to a GI dr. pleading for help, I did another stool test and it came back positive for c.diff. I tried flagyl but could not tolerate the side effects. Tried vancomycin for 10 days. Did not work. Tested positive again, Went to a new gi doctor who prescribed dificid for ten days. I am 31 days post dificid and I have almost constant gut rumbling and urge to go. My 1st bm in the morning is usually semi normal, but after that they are always either pencil thin and or small pieces (2 to 5 times a day). This has been my routine since the vancomycin. I do not get dull blown diarrhea..... My dr. wants me to have a colonoscopy but I an scared that the cleansing will wipe out all my good flora. I currently take 2 florastor pills and 1/2 vsl3 per day. I eat fermented pickles for the probiotics as well..... I have many food intolerances since this whole mess began (fiber, many vegatables, dairy). I also have a strange taste in my mouth most of the time, have very little energy and fight with depression. My primary gave me Xanax .25 but I only take them at night when I cannot sleep...... Went to a nutritionist who put me on a no wheat, soy, dairy, gluten diet. Does not seem to be helping or hurting. I lost 20 pounds and cannot gain any weight (I weigh 120 at 5'7")... I am thinking it might be sibo, or candida but cannot find a dr. to test for these....I am in the right place for help or advice ? The urge to go is awful and limits my once active lifestyle.....
Thank you, Scott
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.
Connect
Glad to hear you were successful treated! This is what I am trying to do now just eat healthy and introduced lactose free kefir and eating sauerkraut and high fiber diet. What kind of diet did you do to repopulate your good gut bacteria?
Well.... prebiotics, and probiotics. I drink kefir (liquid yogurt drink). I’m Russian, so I love pickled foods. Like you, saurkraut and very few carbohydrates, other than fruit and veggies. Cooked beets. We Russians love our beets. Lots of water. I added a fiber drink in the afternoon and a fast acting laxative if I get backed up (lost a couple feet of colon , so not as much storage area) It works and then it doesn’t, so then I change it up. I’m lucky that I have been able to control with mostly food choices and supplements. I know that. But, always watching out for changes in how my body works.
@mhi vsl#3 was sued a few years ago. Now it's visbiome, same stuff. It's 112.5 billion, considered a medical probiotic. I alternate daily between Visbiome and s. Boulardii.
I love my pickles too and beets! Thank you for sharing! Do you take prebiotic supplements and probiotic or just from the food?
Thank you! Maybe I should try visbiome heard good things about it.
@mhi I am happy with it. But it is expensive here. I live in New Jersey and I pay just over $60 for 60 capsules. But because I alternate with s. Boulardii, I buy it every couple of months. I have a hard time finding it here, so I order right from Visbiome. It comes in a big box , kept cold, with a temperature control! No problem with it.
I have supplements that I take. Figured it wouldn’t hurt.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionGreat I will do the same will try to go on their website and order it! Thank you!!
Hi, l'm just weaned off vanco for the 4th., time. No more diarrhea but feel weak and nauseous most days. I'm going to an internist tomorrow to talk over issues. Does everybody feel weak for quite some time?
Thanks for the info