Vancomycin for C-Diff

Posted by terridrag @terridrag, Jan 23, 2019

Getting very frustrated one more day on vancomycin and still having stomach pain extreme bloating and lots of rumbling in my belly I pray that it’s caused by the meds I am taking 3 Florastor a day I’m so over this I quit smoking 6 months ago I figured I would be healthier 😩

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@ngorman25

@btc46 I have been eating normally. However, I have not been able to gain any weight! Very frustrating!

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How many cycles of Vancomycin did you take before being able to return to a normal diet?

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@btc46

No, not able to eat normally I am almost half way through the second 10 day cycle of Vancomycin. Still having stomach rumbling. cramping and numerous episodes of diarrhea per day.
Frankly, it doesn’t appear to be working nearly as well this time. Last time by this point, about halfway, my diarrhea was gone.
I made it about 8 or 9 days after the first cycle before the it returned.
I would like to know how long you and others who have made improvement stick with a careful controlled diet after going off Vancomycin?

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While I was on Vanco I continued to have diarrhea between 3-5times per day with lots of rumbling, etc. My doc was only concerned if diarrhea episodes were 6 or more times per day). It seemed to get worse after I ate anything, therefore I ate a very limited amount of food, dropped weight too fast and felt weak. I continued to have up to 5 episodes of diarrhea for 10 days after completion of Vanco. My doctor was still not concerned (unless it was 6 or more) because he said the antibiotic itself could be causing the diarrhea and would be in my system for up to 10 days after completion. I learned from watching C. Diff survivors on YouTube that some benefitted from eating a low FODMAP diet temporarily. Another doctor recommended a very strong probiotic. Once I started the low FODMAP diet and started the strong probiotic I was able to tolerate more foods and felt much better, although I can only tolerate a small amount of food and continue to lose weight. The diarrhea stopped a few weeks ago, unless I eat more than my gut can handle, and in that case it goes right through me - it’s unpredictable. I will see a gastro doc tomorrow. Hopefully he can help me with my food/weight issue.

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Thanks very much for the info. Really helpful. During my first 10 day Vanco cycle, the diarrhea went away after the first three days, and only returned 8 or 9 days after I finished the cycle. This second cycle, it disappeared after 2 days, but came roaring back on day 4 and hasn’t stopped.
It’s good to know that the Vanco may actually be causing it.
One question: Were you ever on two meds Vanco and Dificide at the same time?
My pharmacist said if the first one fails, it’s common to prescribe it again along with a second med.
Seems like a lot of antibiotics.

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@btc46

How many cycles of Vancomycin did you take before being able to return to a normal diet?

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@btc46 I took vancomycin for 4 cycles. Then my doctor said I needed the fmt, that the vancomycin wasn't working cause cdiff kept coming back. As for a "normal " diet, once I had the fmt, I pretty much could eat whatever. Although, not as much food each meal.

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@ngorman25

@btc46 I took vancomycin for 4 cycles. Then my doctor said I needed the fmt, that the vancomycin wasn't working cause cdiff kept coming back. As for a "normal " diet, once I had the fmt, I pretty much could eat whatever. Although, not as much food each meal.

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@ngorman25 that’s understandable as your stomach would have shrunk after not being able to eat for such a long time …

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