1. < Digestive Health

Will a scheduled colonoscopy cause a relapse of C-Diff?

Posted by minge @minge, Oct 5, 2021

Currently 3 weeks recovery from C-Diff after taking vancomycin . I have two questions.
I am scheduled for a routine colonoscopy in November (5 years since last colonoscopy). That will only be 2 months of recovery time from C-Diff. Will the colonoscopy create a relapse of C-Diff? Should I wait to have the colonoscopy since this is a routine 5 year check?
Second question is I am due for a tetanus shot (10 years since last one) Can I get the tetanus shot or will it create a relapse of C-Diff?
I do not want a relapse of C-Diff and I am only 3 weeks into recovery!

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AnnieC | @annc999 | May 22 12:31pm
In reply to @cas924 "I had C. Diff in July of 2024, treated with 10 days of Vancomycin. Although I..." + (show)
@cas924

I had C. Diff in July of 2024, treated with 10 days of Vancomycin. Although I have not had a recurrence (yet) I do have PTSD from the C Diff and aftermath (developed post-infectious IBS, malnutrition, lost approx 30 lbs., possible leaky gut and possible fatty liver from the leaky gut) Probiotics turned things around for me and allowed me to start eating again (ProBioMed 250 (for a few weeks in the beginning), Visbiome (currently) and Florastor (currently)). I slowly had to reintroduce food and build up to normal amounts. My local doctors all say the same thing, “You’ll probably be fine as long as you don’t take antibiotics again, especially broad-spectrum antibiotics.” Great. I get frequent UTI’s that have to be treated with antibiotics. Therefore now I obsess about everything I put in my mouth and scared to death about needing antibiotics in the future. I read that it’s not just antibiotics we need to worry about, but also antivirals and antifungals. I started working with Dr. Sabine Hazan and her lab ProgenaBiome. She analyzes stool samples and gives me the breakdown of what good and bad bacteria is in my microbiome. This is quite pricey, but I feel that my life depends on fixing my gut. Dr. Hazan gave me a list of things to AVOID (for 18 months) while I am on her protocol of supplements improve my gut which include AVOIDING COLON CLEANSES, LAXATIVES & ENEMAS. In my personal case, I will not be doing any colon prep or colonoscopy in the near future, unless it is medically necessary. I just don’t think my microbiome has recovered enough to survive being washed out at this point in my recovery.

Prayers and best wishes to everyone who has suffered from this horrific infection.

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@cas924 thank you so much for sharing your story too. It does help to hear it from other people that we’ve been through the same thing. I am interested in learning more about probiotics because florastor did nothing for me during my hideous affliction with c diff which took about 8 1/2 months to get over fully after clinical trial.

I think FDA approved the fecal transplant pills so why can’t be an option for those of us with probability of recurrence from ever taking antibiotics???

I know there is a vaccine in progress with animal testing - not sure how it will work or when available.

Hang in there. Being scared of getting sick 24/7 is no way for any of us to live!!! 😊

REPLY
ksdm | @ksdm | May 22 3:36pm

C-Diff is a bacterial infection and if you took antibiotics for it two months ago, then you shouldn't have a problem with a colonoscopy. Just my opinion...

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Mentor
Janell, Volunteer Mentor | @jlharsh | May 22 4:49pm
In reply to @annc999 "I want medical research that shows a colonoscopy does not induce or cause risk for c..." + (show)
@annc999

I want medical research that shows a colonoscopy does not induce or cause risk for c diff. The prep does a number on your system. My doc wants me to also do a penicillin challenge to see if I am still allergic as I was as a child. It requires me to actually take 500 mg of it. His point is that penicillin has less risk of c diff than other antibiotics. What if that causes c diff? It did for my friend who had c diff again. He scares me every time is see him and I don’t need that reminder about how bad it’ll diff is.

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I hear you @annc999 . The unknown is so difficult. Dealing with possibilities and probabilities is tough. I get stressed and taken off guard when my body starts acting in new ways. There is something about dealing with what we know that at least it is comfortable in some way. Then…there is a horribleness with something that comes back. One provider told me each one of responds differently. Some take it in stride, “I’ve been here. I know what to do.” Others, “I’ve been here. I want no part of this.”

How do they do the penicillin challenge?
What do you think your next step is, or do you have any idea?

REPLY
blessedwildapplegirl | @blessedwildapplegirl | May 23 7:26pm
In reply to @annc999 "I want medical research that shows a colonoscopy does not induce or cause risk for c..." + (show)
@annc999

I want medical research that shows a colonoscopy does not induce or cause risk for c diff. The prep does a number on your system. My doc wants me to also do a penicillin challenge to see if I am still allergic as I was as a child. It requires me to actually take 500 mg of it. His point is that penicillin has less risk of c diff than other antibiotics. What if that causes c diff? It did for my friend who had c diff again. He scares me every time is see him and I don’t need that reminder about how bad it’ll diff is.

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I’m so glad you told me about not doing any colonoscopy prep because it could trigger c diff. I don’t think I have that as far as I know, although I don’t know what I have, but I know that my gut flora is all messed up because my horrible stomach issues were triggered by eating coconut milk yogurt. I’m scheduled to have a colonoscopy/endoscopy on June 9 and my intuition has been telling me not to do it. I don’t think I have colon cancer, although I know it’s a good idea to get screened for it occasionally and it’s been 12 years, so I’m probably due, but I sure don’t want to mess things up because if I lose more weight, I’m gonna die. My stomach is slowly getting better. And I don’t understand why your doctor wants you to do a penicillin challenge? I’m allergic to penicillin and lots of other antibiotics, and there’s no way in the world I would take one just to see whether or not I’m still allergic. That doesn’t make any sense to me. Like you, I would be worried that it was going to mess up my stomach even further. It’s so terrible not to be able to eat. I don’t have any more weight to lose! You probably don’t either. I’m getting so I don’t trust anybody because I’ve had so many doctors do such messed up things that it’s not funny. It’s sad that it’s this way. Take care of yourself and thanks for sharing because you’ve given me something to ponder. 💕

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blessedwildapplegirl | @blessedwildapplegirl | May 23 7:29pm

P. S. Have you ever tried chopping raw garlic into tiny pieces and swallowing it if your stomach will allow it instead of taking antibiotics? I was on several rounds of antibiotics years ago for a recurring UTI and it really messed up my stomach and then I discovered that raw garlic worked better than the antibiotics with no side effects. I can’t do it anymore because my stomach won’t take it, but I used to. You can also chop a clove up very fine and put it in some boiling water and steep it like tea and then strain the pieces out and drink it. I can’t do that anymore either, but I sure wish I could because it always knocked out any germ that I had, whether it was a cold or flu or bacterial infection. Just an idea.

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