1. < Infectious Diseases

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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5chances | @5chances | Feb 1, 2021
In reply to @mhi "I know what you mean about taking new supplements it is risky and you want to..." + (show)
@mhi

I know what you mean about taking new supplements it is risky and you want to keep building your gut bacteria. Not sure why people develop IbS post cdiff. I am on this low FODMAP been couple of weeks and will see if it will work. I do get anxious introducing something new but that’s the the only way of knowing what work and what doesn’t. Yes I did take like a powder that had slippery elm and L glutamine for almost 3 months after c Diff and I still have it if I feel inflammation sometimes I would take it.
Are you eating any raw vegetables or only cooked? And what kind? And what about fruits? What kind are you eating?

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Still afraid to try too much but I’m slowly stepping out. I’ve tried the blackeye peas a couple times. Still not quite sure on those so I’ll try again later. Yellow squash seems to be working ok. Sweet potato, carrots, greenbeans, avocado.
Red grapes, banana, blueberries, apples. Tried kiwi a month ago, wasn’t well tolerated. I will be trying clementines again soon, just trying to get more veggies tried first. No raw veggies as of yet.

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mhi | @mhi | Feb 1, 2021
In reply to @5chances "Still afraid to try too much but I’m slowly stepping out. I’ve tried the blackeye peas..." + (show)
@5chances

Still afraid to try too much but I’m slowly stepping out. I’ve tried the blackeye peas a couple times. Still not quite sure on those so I’ll try again later. Yellow squash seems to be working ok. Sweet potato, carrots, greenbeans, avocado.
Red grapes, banana, blueberries, apples. Tried kiwi a month ago, wasn’t well tolerated. I will be trying clementines again soon, just trying to get more veggies tried first. No raw veggies as of yet.

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Yes that’s how I was at the beginning but after seeing the specialist he asked me to start eating raw vegetables to introduce more diverse bacteria to my gut because the more diverse the quicker you built your gut. I need to cut back a bit maybe on raw and maybe this will help firm up my stool a bit. Will see it is so confusing and it is such a struggle with the diet and I wish someone could give you a straight answer. With this low FODMAP diet I am on I was told it is good to healing the gut and starting from scratch so will see. Good luck to you seems you are on your way to recovery and I do hope you keep healing. You know your body best to keep listening to your gut to make decisions and take control of your health. Do you still experience nausea??

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dilly69 | @dilly69 | Feb 1, 2021
In reply to @mhi "@dilly69 how are you doing after being off vanco?hopefully you are feeling good." + (show)
@mhi

@dilly69 how are you doing after being off vanco?hopefully you are feeling good.

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Hi, didn't do well. Back on 7 week weaning off of Vanco. Feel good on this stuff,weird isn't it. Having more problems of hemorrhoids and fissures mostly. It's never ending. Can't wait for Spring to get here and can be outside again

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artist01 | @artist01 | Feb 1, 2021
In reply to @mhi "@5chances sorry you asked me about my weight I am still not able to gain but..." + (show)
@mhi

@5chances sorry you asked me about my weight I am still not able to gain but I am not loosing. How about your weight? Are you stable? How do you know when you add things to your diet if it is working or not? Still working with a nutritionist?

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Hello @mhi. I've been losing weight too - 21 lbs. since mid-November. However, that's when I was taken off Prednisone and Actemra (GCA) because my WBC and neutrophils were too low. I'm back on Actemra, every two weeks now, but still losing weight. I'm also being investigated for UC/Crohns, etc. so doctors are unsure which is causing what.
While I'm delighted to be losing some of the 50 lbs. I gained while on Prednisone, it's a bit of a worry too. Has anyone else experienced that much weight loss after stopping Prednisone? Would love to hear from you! My best, Laurie

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mhi | @mhi | Feb 1, 2021
In reply to @dilly69 "Hi, didn't do well. Back on 7 week weaning off of Vanco. Feel good on this..." + (show)
@dilly69

Hi, didn't do well. Back on 7 week weaning off of Vanco. Feel good on this stuff,weird isn't it. Having more problems of hemorrhoids and fissures mostly. It's never ending. Can't wait for Spring to get here and can be outside again

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My heart goes out to you. I am sure it is a lot to go through but I am sure you will pull through this and you will get better!

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mhi | @mhi | Feb 1, 2021
In reply to @artist01 "Hello @mhi. I've been losing weight too - 21 lbs. since mid-November. However, that's when I..." + (show)
@artist01

Hello @mhi. I've been losing weight too - 21 lbs. since mid-November. However, that's when I was taken off Prednisone and Actemra (GCA) because my WBC and neutrophils were too low. I'm back on Actemra, every two weeks now, but still losing weight. I'm also being investigated for UC/Crohns, etc. so doctors are unsure which is causing what.
While I'm delighted to be losing some of the 50 lbs. I gained while on Prednisone, it's a bit of a worry too. Has anyone else experienced that much weight loss after stopping Prednisone? Would love to hear from you! My best, Laurie

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Hello I have been struggling with the weight gain but I had cdiff and lost the weight and having a hard time putting it back on and was told it is normal not to be able to gain quickly after c Diff. Did you have cdiff? Can a colonoscopy diagnose UC/crohn’s or a CT?

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1 reply
artist01 | @artist01 | Feb 1, 2021
In reply to @mhi "Hello I have been struggling with the weight gain but I had cdiff and lost the..." + (show)
@mhi

Hello I have been struggling with the weight gain but I had cdiff and lost the weight and having a hard time putting it back on and was told it is normal not to be able to gain quickly after c Diff. Did you have cdiff? Can a colonoscopy diagnose UC/crohn’s or a CT?

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Hello again @mhi. I don't have cdiff, and have had MRI and CT scans recently. My GI would like to do a colonoscopy but wants me to be stable first. I have Giant Cell Arteritis, have had recent blood clots, etc, as well as the many GI issues. I'm 85 years old, although young for my age, I'm always told! lol. My GI has me on a water/Metamucil/Lax-a-Day protocol which I've explained in earlier posts, and he'll phone me in a month to see how I'm doing. I've had persistent diarrhea since last summer.
I'm not concerned about gaining weight, just concerned whether losing 21 lbs. since mid-November is the result of stopping Prednisone, or if it's something more ominous. I was hoping to hear from any members with similar weight-loss after Prednisone to hear whether that much loss was sometimes experienced after stopping Prednisone. I'll soon know more from my GI's investigations, but just wondering...!
Thanks so much for your reply, and you are in my thoughts as you work toward a healthy weight gain! Warmest wishes, Laurie

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1 reply
mhi | @mhi | Feb 1, 2021
In reply to @artist01 "Hello again @mhi. I don't have cdiff, and have had MRI and CT scans recently. My..." + (show)
@artist01

Hello again @mhi. I don't have cdiff, and have had MRI and CT scans recently. My GI would like to do a colonoscopy but wants me to be stable first. I have Giant Cell Arteritis, have had recent blood clots, etc, as well as the many GI issues. I'm 85 years old, although young for my age, I'm always told! lol. My GI has me on a water/Metamucil/Lax-a-Day protocol which I've explained in earlier posts, and he'll phone me in a month to see how I'm doing. I've had persistent diarrhea since last summer.
I'm not concerned about gaining weight, just concerned whether losing 21 lbs. since mid-November is the result of stopping Prednisone, or if it's something more ominous. I was hoping to hear from any members with similar weight-loss after Prednisone to hear whether that much loss was sometimes experienced after stopping Prednisone. I'll soon know more from my GI's investigations, but just wondering...!
Thanks so much for your reply, and you are in my thoughts as you work toward a healthy weight gain! Warmest wishes, Laurie

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Thank you for your warm wishes. And wishing you a speedy recovery too!

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jeanniesroom | @jeanniesroom | Jun 19, 2021

Almost a month after being treated with Vancomycin oral in the hospital for a few days I started running a low grade fever and skin was burning hot as was my mouth. Psychiatrists at my hospital said that because of my age, 73, that the infection and what led up to it had brought on a psychosis. I was very anxious.
The month prior I had a sebaceous cyst removed and was put on cefdinir plus clindamycin (evidentially the culprit here) and shortly thereafter developed symptoms of C-diff.
Currently on my first full day of the second course of Vancomycin. Following the recommended diet to a tee which I didn’t do the first time! Had too much fiber and sugar. Bowel movements are not loose but soft. Very little abdominal pain, lots of gurgling. On a low dose of Zyprexa for a sound sleep and I pray a lot.
Question is: I’m being treated by the ER doctors since I have no specialist and my family doctor. Should I ask about this “tapering off” of Vancomycin and what does it mean? I was also told by one ER doctor to not waste my money on probiotics. I think they are necessary.

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1 reply
Moderator
Amanda Roe | @amandajro | Jun 20, 2021
In reply to @jeanniesroom "Almost a month after being treated with Vancomycin oral in the hospital for a few days..." + (show)
@jeanniesroom

Almost a month after being treated with Vancomycin oral in the hospital for a few days I started running a low grade fever and skin was burning hot as was my mouth. Psychiatrists at my hospital said that because of my age, 73, that the infection and what led up to it had brought on a psychosis. I was very anxious.
The month prior I had a sebaceous cyst removed and was put on cefdinir plus clindamycin (evidentially the culprit here) and shortly thereafter developed symptoms of C-diff.
Currently on my first full day of the second course of Vancomycin. Following the recommended diet to a tee which I didn’t do the first time! Had too much fiber and sugar. Bowel movements are not loose but soft. Very little abdominal pain, lots of gurgling. On a low dose of Zyprexa for a sound sleep and I pray a lot.
Question is: I’m being treated by the ER doctors since I have no specialist and my family doctor. Should I ask about this “tapering off” of Vancomycin and what does it mean? I was also told by one ER doctor to not waste my money on probiotics. I think they are necessary.

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Hello @jeanniesroom and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Thank you for joining to share your journey with members. Connect is a community of members, like you, looking to support one another along healthcare journeys.

You will see that I have moved your post into an active discussion on Vancomycin so you may more easily connect with members like @dilly69 @mhi and @5chances who have all mentioned weaning and/or going off Vancomycin.

What are your concerns with staying on it and what do you feel you should potentially be doing instead?

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