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
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Between the antibiotics I took that led to C Diff, the C Diff toxins and Vancomycin that I took to kill the C Diff, it felt like my gut was destroyed. I developed temporary post-infectious IBS, could not eat much, lost 30+ lbs, was malnourished, etc. I found that eating foods on the low FODMAP diet helped a lot while I recovered, as did the probiotics that a Gastro doc recommended: Florastor and Visbiome.
Check out CDiff.org (Peggy Lillis Foundation); The “C Diff Queen” Dr. Sabine Hazan’s book “Let’s Talk Sh!t” and her lab ProgenaBiome.com; and Michelle Moore’s book “C. Difficile Treatments and Remedies” and website C-Difficile-Treatment.com.
I pray you find relief soon.
I had cdiff in 2017
Took vancomycin of and on for over a year. 2018 had fecal transplant. It changed my life. Had couple bouts after transplant but they were resolved with Vancomycin. Very careful with antibiotics and no cdiff since 2021.
Hi, becareful with calcium. It could be what is causing u to feel so. I have read calcium could make c diff worse. You can check this on google
I had this as well and the hospital put me on vancomycin and it did work but it took a long while for me to get regular bowel movements. It’s a very strong antibiotic !
I’ve had recurring cdiff for around 9 months been on every cdiff med available. Flagyl and difficid didn’t help and most of my time has been on vanco with multiple long term doses including a four month taper I just stopped on Monday due to a Rebyota fecal transplant yesterday praying it helps keep the cdiff away. I have post cdiff IBS with chronic coloretcal pain, abdominal pain, nausea, bloating, etc. and my diet has been very limited else it triggers diarrhea. I keep a food log to help identify what I can tolerate. Find nutritious liquids that work for you, I drink v8 peach mango and pressed juices I dilute with water. I take multiple probiotics including Saccharomyces Boulardii I get from Pure Encapsulation as well as one I get from the Wellness Way integrated medicine doc and have taken Florajen Digestion. Check out Visceral pt it works on the colon and organs in the abdomen and I also do colorectal/pelvic floor pt. I too
avoid sugar, gluten, dairy, and artificial sweeteners. I eat Forager organic cashew & coconut milk yogurt to avoid dairy and tolerate it ok. I also found Manuka Honey has many health benefits comes in varying doses and higher doses have antibacterial properties but can be expensive so I by some higher and some lower and alternate depending on symptoms. It can be a long journey hang in there!