Stool consistency while on vancomycin and its significance

Posted by wty2020 @wty2020, Jan 17, 2021

I apologize up front if this is not the right “board” to ask this question, but can anyone share with me what I should expect regarding my stool consistency while on vancomycin? I am on my second course (actually in the first week of a four week taper right now) and the consistency of my stools seem to have regressed back to what they were after I had been on vancomycin a few days. When I started the vancomycin, my stools were watery diarrhea with small flecks in it. After a few days, I had formed but very soft loose stools that did not stay intact when flushed. Then they progressed to firmer but still soft stools that partially stayed intact. After I started Florastor (saccharomyces boulardii) 10 days into that 14 day course, my stools started firming up to well-formed small stools (usually three or four at a time). I thought that was a sign of curing cdiff. Then I read that saccharomyces boulardii can cause constipation, and figured that could be the cause of the firm stools. I was dejected. Then about the time I started on the taper, I started having softer looser, stools, like a step or two better than watery diarrhea. Then a couple days of firm stools, then back to very loose, soft “stools” nearly the consistency of diarrhea. Is this a sign of recurrence? If so, how can that be when I am still on vancomycin, albeit a lesser dose?

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@mhi

Hope you will get better after Vancomycin. You won’t know until you are done the antibiotic. My stool is still loose now formed but loose and looser at times even 5 months after finishing antibiotic and testing negative for c Diff toxin. This will take time to regulate.

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Thank you, I’m hoping and praying too. So glad you are over the cdiff infection. That’s encouraging, as this has gotten me way down. I feel defeated constantly and often that there is no out. I have never really had health problems before and dealing with this and trying to figure this out has consumed me. Interesting that your stools are not back to normal, but everything I read says it can take up to months maybe even years for that to “return to normal,” and quite a few say they simply acquired a new normal. You have to really be encouraged by the negative test! Would you mind sharing your meds, dose, taper pulse, and your diet during those, including probiotics, and after you finished the meds as well?

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@dilly69

We seem to be in the same boat.l've also eliminated sugar and saturated fats. Take ginger for the nausea. It seems to help. No alcohol but do have a joint every other day just for anxiety as l find stress is not good. Lots of fruit and cooked veggies. Take Florastor for probiotic but there's no proof that probiotics really do any good.l had complications with UTI's and more antibiotics. That has prolonged the C Diff. Just want my life back and some strength in my body

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I agree re stress not being good, especially with this disease. I think a moderator (Roy?) posted an article (I have read so many threads I can’t tell you whether it was recent or not) on the connection between gut and brain. I am trying to find it to read it, but I suspect it’s consistent with what I’m being told now, which is stress is not just manifested in loose stools ( which we’ve all probably experienced pre cdiff), but also in negatively affecting the gut microbiome, allowing bad bacteria to grow. Whereas the opposite (no stress, even euphoria) has the opposite effect. Don’t know if science supports it, I’m not a half full guy, so this going to take some hard work on my part.

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@wty2020

Thank you, I’m hoping and praying too. So glad you are over the cdiff infection. That’s encouraging, as this has gotten me way down. I feel defeated constantly and often that there is no out. I have never really had health problems before and dealing with this and trying to figure this out has consumed me. Interesting that your stools are not back to normal, but everything I read says it can take up to months maybe even years for that to “return to normal,” and quite a few say they simply acquired a new normal. You have to really be encouraged by the negative test! Would you mind sharing your meds, dose, taper pulse, and your diet during those, including probiotics, and after you finished the meds as well?

Jump to this post

Oh absolutely of course I would share. It took over 20 days for them to diagnose me with c Diff. I was put on vancomycin for 10 days and 4 days later diarrhea came back. My doctor put me on metronidazole for 14 days. Diarrhea was gone but had loose stools formed at times but very very soft and sometimes not even formed but no watery diarrhea. Since then I had some scares when my stool would look weird and smelly got tested for c Diff toxin and came back negative this was two weeks after I finished the metronidazole. I was nauseous for almost 3 months after and had lots of bad days and like you was doing my homework and reading a lot. While I had c Diff i was eating bland food like rice bananas potatoes but heard this is bad. I worked with a nutritionist and was put on a meal plan lots of fibre fruits and she stated me on raw vegetables (but I had cooked vegetables before for almost 3 months before starting raw). I am still not feeling well now I am doing a low FODMAP diet as I heard people can develop ibs post c Diff. Only been a week on this diet so will see. Looks like I cannot eat gluten anymore this is causing me very loose stool so I stopped gluten and read that you can be gluten intolerant after c Diff and I am only eating lactose free dairy just started that. I got tested again for c Diff toxin in December and got negative results. I have lots of anxiety still and fear. My doctor told me c Diff won’t recur at this point unless I go on antibiotics this will put me at high risk for getting it. I am still dealing with the after c Diff and trying to find a new normal. I feel for you guys and what you are going through I myself too healthy otherwise and took antibiotic originally for a sinus infection that led me to c Diff. I am still taking probiotics 60 billion 1 capsule per day. I took Boulardii in addition to probiotic for almost 3 months and stopped the Boulardii and now only probiotics. Please ask away this is the only was we can help each other’s and get some answers.

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Folks, I know this thread has to do with serious issues, I've been following for a couple of days! What I'm trying to find out about help with just (regular) constipation! It started with me a while ago! I'm 74,male and have always had regular bowel movements.
My problem is twofold! First I take Oxycodone for pain from bursitis and from Lyme Disease/Fibromyalgia. Second, is the Lyme Disease/fibromyalgia! Both of which causes internal issues!
I started with a couple of laxatives a couple of times a week. I have found now I am needing one at night now.
I have been taking 25 mg of Sennosides USP a day. Is this safe? I get it in the laxative aisle at Wally World!
Just need some advice!
Thanks,
Sundance(RB)

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I've tried do many things over 7 months and still don't feel great. Looking for miracles

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@mhi

Oh absolutely of course I would share. It took over 20 days for them to diagnose me with c Diff. I was put on vancomycin for 10 days and 4 days later diarrhea came back. My doctor put me on metronidazole for 14 days. Diarrhea was gone but had loose stools formed at times but very very soft and sometimes not even formed but no watery diarrhea. Since then I had some scares when my stool would look weird and smelly got tested for c Diff toxin and came back negative this was two weeks after I finished the metronidazole. I was nauseous for almost 3 months after and had lots of bad days and like you was doing my homework and reading a lot. While I had c Diff i was eating bland food like rice bananas potatoes but heard this is bad. I worked with a nutritionist and was put on a meal plan lots of fibre fruits and she stated me on raw vegetables (but I had cooked vegetables before for almost 3 months before starting raw). I am still not feeling well now I am doing a low FODMAP diet as I heard people can develop ibs post c Diff. Only been a week on this diet so will see. Looks like I cannot eat gluten anymore this is causing me very loose stool so I stopped gluten and read that you can be gluten intolerant after c Diff and I am only eating lactose free dairy just started that. I got tested again for c Diff toxin in December and got negative results. I have lots of anxiety still and fear. My doctor told me c Diff won’t recur at this point unless I go on antibiotics this will put me at high risk for getting it. I am still dealing with the after c Diff and trying to find a new normal. I feel for you guys and what you are going through I myself too healthy otherwise and took antibiotic originally for a sinus infection that led me to c Diff. I am still taking probiotics 60 billion 1 capsule per day. I took Boulardii in addition to probiotic for almost 3 months and stopped the Boulardii and now only probiotics. Please ask away this is the only was we can help each other’s and get some answers.

Jump to this post

Thank you! There is a lot of info in your msg, and the similarities as well as the differences are helpful. Similar in that it took 3 weeks for me to figure out I had cdiff, that I had vanco first and metronidazole second, and eating a very bland diet during it all. Different in that you were cured after metronidazole, and I’m on my third round (2nd vanco). Similar in that I hired a dietitian a few days ago familiar with cdiff who has me eating veggies with fiber both soluble and insoluble but slowly increasing the soluble, little to no fat, protein (primarily chicken/turkey breast, salmon, very lean red meat (tho, I haven’t tried that yet), slowly introducing fruits, all while watching stools to see if there is a difference. Water or Smart Water, but no milk, tho i do have Almond milk once in awhile, and I’ve stopped cheese, which I ate a lot of during first two courses of meds. All my veggies are steamed or roasted very well done(easily mushed). And I just started raw cucumbers without the skin. I am starting sauerkraut but just a tablespoon a day to see how it affects me. I might try kefir and miso next week if things go well. Did you use the nutritionist while you had cdiff or after? Did you use sachromyces Boulardi or a bacteria based probiotic while you took both medicines?

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@dilly69

I've tried do many things over 7 months and still don't feel great. Looking for miracles

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Is the vanco helping at all?

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@wty2020

I agree re stress not being good, especially with this disease. I think a moderator (Roy?) posted an article (I have read so many threads I can’t tell you whether it was recent or not) on the connection between gut and brain. I am trying to find it to read it, but I suspect it’s consistent with what I’m being told now, which is stress is not just manifested in loose stools ( which we’ve all probably experienced pre cdiff), but also in negatively affecting the gut microbiome, allowing bad bacteria to grow. Whereas the opposite (no stress, even euphoria) has the opposite effect. Don’t know if science supports it, I’m not a half full guy, so this going to take some hard work on my part.

Jump to this post

Yes, sticking to knky eating organic veggies, no red meat. Mostly chicken and fish, eggs. Amazingly cottage cheese works for protein. Keep trying to stay positive.

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@wty2020

Thank you! There is a lot of info in your msg, and the similarities as well as the differences are helpful. Similar in that it took 3 weeks for me to figure out I had cdiff, that I had vanco first and metronidazole second, and eating a very bland diet during it all. Different in that you were cured after metronidazole, and I’m on my third round (2nd vanco). Similar in that I hired a dietitian a few days ago familiar with cdiff who has me eating veggies with fiber both soluble and insoluble but slowly increasing the soluble, little to no fat, protein (primarily chicken/turkey breast, salmon, very lean red meat (tho, I haven’t tried that yet), slowly introducing fruits, all while watching stools to see if there is a difference. Water or Smart Water, but no milk, tho i do have Almond milk once in awhile, and I’ve stopped cheese, which I ate a lot of during first two courses of meds. All my veggies are steamed or roasted very well done(easily mushed). And I just started raw cucumbers without the skin. I am starting sauerkraut but just a tablespoon a day to see how it affects me. I might try kefir and miso next week if things go well. Did you use the nutritionist while you had cdiff or after? Did you use sachromyces Boulardi or a bacteria based probiotic while you took both medicines?

Jump to this post

I used the nutritionist after I should have before but I didn’t. I took sachromyces Boulardii and lactobacilis strains probiotic. I too am having almond milk with my steel cut oat in the morning. I ate lots of sauerkraut for almost couple of months but stopped it now because I am on a no salt diet no onions no garlic and low FODMAP. I am eating lots of salmon white fish and chicken. I found red meat is not sitting well with me anymore. Eating lots of fruits and lactose free cheeses and lactose free 2% Greek yogurt. What probiotic are you on?

REPLY
@mhi

Oh absolutely of course I would share. It took over 20 days for them to diagnose me with c Diff. I was put on vancomycin for 10 days and 4 days later diarrhea came back. My doctor put me on metronidazole for 14 days. Diarrhea was gone but had loose stools formed at times but very very soft and sometimes not even formed but no watery diarrhea. Since then I had some scares when my stool would look weird and smelly got tested for c Diff toxin and came back negative this was two weeks after I finished the metronidazole. I was nauseous for almost 3 months after and had lots of bad days and like you was doing my homework and reading a lot. While I had c Diff i was eating bland food like rice bananas potatoes but heard this is bad. I worked with a nutritionist and was put on a meal plan lots of fibre fruits and she stated me on raw vegetables (but I had cooked vegetables before for almost 3 months before starting raw). I am still not feeling well now I am doing a low FODMAP diet as I heard people can develop ibs post c Diff. Only been a week on this diet so will see. Looks like I cannot eat gluten anymore this is causing me very loose stool so I stopped gluten and read that you can be gluten intolerant after c Diff and I am only eating lactose free dairy just started that. I got tested again for c Diff toxin in December and got negative results. I have lots of anxiety still and fear. My doctor told me c Diff won’t recur at this point unless I go on antibiotics this will put me at high risk for getting it. I am still dealing with the after c Diff and trying to find a new normal. I feel for you guys and what you are going through I myself too healthy otherwise and took antibiotic originally for a sinus infection that led me to c Diff. I am still taking probiotics 60 billion 1 capsule per day. I took Boulardii in addition to probiotic for almost 3 months and stopped the Boulardii and now only probiotics. Please ask away this is the only was we can help each other’s and get some answers.

Jump to this post

So many contradictions, l was told to only eat cooked veggies. Anyone doing research on diet for C Diff??

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