C. difficile – Are your guts ever normal again?

Posted by sue6408 @sue6408, Jan 27, 2019

Does anyone know any body that has recovered from c.diff (guts back to pre-c.diff status ) . I have been negative for a year and still have bloating every time I eat anything and sporadic diarrhea. I need maternity clothing to eat and be comfortable. I have 0 appetite since I was initially infected.I am on creon 36,000 . this helps some what with bloating,I take papya&pineapple enzymes not helping, and floraster 2xday not sure about that.I have tried the FODMAP diet, I avoid many foods on that diet. I am seeing an RD, just finished an elimination diet with her. If I eat I bloat there for I am. Bottom line...are my guts ruined forever ?

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@bluebanana

I'm suffered for 7 days with what I thought was a bad case of the stomach flu until I went to my family doctor and they requested a stool sample and found from that that I had c-diff I believe this is the sickest I've ever been in my entire life

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I drink a lot and am not dehydrated I just can’t tolerate aloof of foods. I work in healthcare and talk to the dieticians a lot and they seem to think it’s a fiber issue

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@bluebanana

I'm suffered for 7 days with what I thought was a bad case of the stomach flu until I went to my family doctor and they requested a stool sample and found from that that I had c-diff I believe this is the sickest I've ever been in my entire life

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hi You all, I just am having my first bout with C.Diff. It is quite an experience. I am feeling kind of paranoid about the spores from C. Diff which apparently linger on even after you are feeling okay. What do you all know about disinfecting your home? Do you all do a lot of this?My doctor thinks you can't reinfect yourself. Have you heard that? Would appreciate any help.

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@pines

@sakota Cdiff spores can live for months on things. You could have picked it up in a doctors office, nursing home or hospital while visiting someone. It's hard to tell. It is not airborne though. Hand washing is key to an infected person. I'm happy to hear that you have not relapsed. Stay well and yes, keep the faith as you battle lung cancer.

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Ah i see you talking about the spores. I am just in my first episode if C.Diff and right now what is upsetting me most is the fear that I could reinfect myself with the spores in my own apartment. Do you know if that is possible?

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@annapocono

Ah i see you talking about the spores. I am just in my first episode if C.Diff and right now what is upsetting me most is the fear that I could reinfect myself with the spores in my own apartment. Do you know if that is possible?

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@annapocono Cdiff spores can live for months on counters, light switches & etc. What's key is to clean with bleach and wash your hands really good after every trip you make to the bathroom. I had never even heard of Cdiff before I got it last spring after taking Clindamycin. Unfortunately, I went for almost two weeks before I went to the doctor. At first I thought I had the flu... and then I thought it was Ecoli. What RX are you taking currently? I took Flagyl, then two rounds of Vancomycin and finally Dificid after my 4th bout last October. It's a difficult thing to cure. And there is more than one strain of Cdiff. Are you also taking a probiotic? My gastroenterologist has me taking Florastor or any probiotic with S. Boulardii in it. S. Boulardii can survive the acid in our stomachs and goes to work in our GI tracts where the Cdiff spores thrive. I will take this for ever and really think it's helped me. Wishing you well and hope this is your first and last Cdiff episode.

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@bluebanana

I'm suffered for 7 days with what I thought was a bad case of the stomach flu until I went to my family doctor and they requested a stool sample and found from that that I had c-diff I believe this is the sickest I've ever been in my entire life

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I came across this subject and thought I'd pass on some information I learned when my husband had c-diff. I apologize if this has already been discussed. My husband was blind, had terminal cancer, and then contracted a very bad case of c-diff. It was a very difficult time for us, made worse by the high cost of the medication. He needed three separate courses of medication because it wouldn't clear up. Someone mentioned trying a compounding pharmacy and the cost was a small fraction of the other two courses. Hopefully someone else can save considerable money from my experience.

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@bluebanana

I'm suffered for 7 days with what I thought was a bad case of the stomach flu until I went to my family doctor and they requested a stool sample and found from that that I had c-diff I believe this is the sickest I've ever been in my entire life

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Good morning. I was diagnosed with c-diff yesterday, after about 8 months of symptoms, but i never went to the dr. I feel that i got it from all the UTIs that I have had. I have also had strep twice this last year. They started me on vanco 125 mg for 10 days. I've only taken two doses thus far. But I'm fearful of recovering and what damage I have caused to my gutt and colon. I am 46 and hate to think I have to deal with all the repercussions I've caused. I'm hoping this will heal me, then i need to go to Dr to find out why I am getting so many UTIs.. i haven't get cipro for them. I have had them bad enough they turned into a kidney infection. I appreciate all the stories and comments, helps to know I'm not alone.

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@bluebanana

I'm suffered for 7 days with what I thought was a bad case of the stomach flu until I went to my family doctor and they requested a stool sample and found from that that I had c-diff I believe this is the sickest I've ever been in my entire life

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Welcome to Connect, @femalegolfer. Here is another discussion where many members have shared their experiences and insights as well:
– Trying to recover from a c.diff infection https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/i-am-trying-to-recover-from-a-c-diff-infection-this-started-with/

I’d also encourage you to view this post, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/gastroenterology-and-gi-surgery/newsfeed/c-difficile-care-at-mayo-clinic/ on the Gastroenterology & GI Page on Connect.

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@serenityva

@pines This has all been so helpful to me! I also had the gel like puss but didn't know about this website at the time and was really alarmed...My bowels are now starting to look a bit more normal (sigmoid colon removed on Nov 27, with first C-Diff bout in late October and second after the surgery). I started out with Vancomycin and this time I am on the tapered down Vancomycin, which will carry me through the first week in Thailand. I am hoping upon hope that I will get through last week there without a third bout. I am not sure right now about how vigilant I need to be about changing bedsheets, etc., I usually do once a week but am doing every other day now, along with using the medical grade Clorox to wipe things down. So afraid I am going to miss something and re-infect myself. After reading so many posts on this site, I am counting my blessings...grateful that so many of us can find suggestions/answers/ideas on this site. Thanks for sharing your experience, strength,and hope!

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@serenityva I've been thinking about you and wondering how you are doing and if you were healthy during your visit to Thailand.

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@femalegolfer

Good morning. I was diagnosed with c-diff yesterday, after about 8 months of symptoms, but i never went to the dr. I feel that i got it from all the UTIs that I have had. I have also had strep twice this last year. They started me on vanco 125 mg for 10 days. I've only taken two doses thus far. But I'm fearful of recovering and what damage I have caused to my gutt and colon. I am 46 and hate to think I have to deal with all the repercussions I've caused. I'm hoping this will heal me, then i need to go to Dr to find out why I am getting so many UTIs.. i haven't get cipro for them. I have had them bad enough they turned into a kidney infection. I appreciate all the stories and comments, helps to know I'm not alone.

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@femalegolfer I too have had UTI's all my life. And now my daughters and one granddaughter suffer with them. I had one during a Cdiff episode last year. If you can take Microbid instead of Cipro, I would do that. Also my doctor asked if I was using a PH balanced soap like Vagisil. I was not and have started using one after she mentioned it. My gastroenterologist also suggested I start taking Florastor. There are also other brands just look for one with S. Boulardii. This probiotic will survive the acid in your stomach and reach your GI tract where Cdiff spores thrive. I had never even heard of Cdiff prior to getting it last spring. And like you, I didn't go to the doctor right away. I thought it was a bad case of the flu. And then I thought it was Ecoli since I eat a lot of romaine lettuce. Finally went to the doctor after I read about Cdiff from taking Clindamycin which I had taken for a sinus infection the prior month. I would start on the Florastor right away and also use a PH balanced soap. Wishing you well.

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@pines

@serenityva I've been thinking about you and wondering how you are doing and if you were healthy during your visit to Thailand.

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Pines@pines, thank you for remembering me. I did beautifully in Thailand, loved every day my time away...did great on the long flights. I arrived home on the 23rd, and had mild diarrhea the last two days, once a day. I am monitoring it, terrified it may be back. I am seeing Dr on Wednesday...scary, but I know I am not alone...

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