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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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My husband is a retired clinical pharmacist (which means he worked in a hospital for years,.....quite different than a retail pharmacist at Walgreens or Rite Aid. He worked with the doctors and patients, including in ER situations.) He wonders also why this drug, Clindamycin, is still being used. It is KNOWN for causing problems.
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1 ReactionYes! I think the company that makes Clindamycin needs to send an alert to every physician and dentist.
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2 ReactionsI agree! I had CDiff in 2019 and last week the dentist wanted to put me on Clindamycin and I said no. I did agree to take penicillin but am scared about getting CDiff again. However, thanks to this site I learned about S Boulardii and am taking that along with it. I am hoping that will help me avoid it!
I have told all my healthcare providers now that I am allergic to Clindamycin so I am never given it again!
Great suggestion. I am going to list it as an allergy, too.
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2 ReactionsGood luck with your antibiotic and hope all goes well. Please keep us posted how you make out after. Boulardii is good make sure you are taking it two to three hours apart from the antibiotic so it doesn’t get killed by it. Good luck and keep us posted!
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2 ReactionsThanks for the timing tip!!
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3 ReactionsWhat is S Boulardii and is that the full name? Would it be taken with any other antibiotic prescribed?
I am not a doctor. My plan is to take with any antibiotic I take. Here is a picture of mine.
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1 ReactionSaccharomyces boulardii is a yeast based probiotic and you can buy it in the pharmacy usually they sell Florastor or any other brand like AOR or renew life they have it. It is great to take it with antibiotic to protect your gut. Talk to your doctor. But you need to take it two to three hours before or after your antibiotic.
I know I'm responding to an old post, but it just rang so true with me. I had my gallbladder removed in October 2020. Up until then, I'd been losing weight without trying. In June 2020, I was 175. By August, I was 147 and from October to November, I'd lost another 30 pounds. After multiple ER trips, I was finally diagnosed with C. Diff and admitted to the hospital for a week. Since then, I wind up in the ER about every 4-6 weeks with crippling pains in my stomach. Every test comes back negative and I've been to doctors at 3 different hospitals and no one can figure out what's wrong. I've had a hiatal hernia that's been repaired three times and has reopened, however, the doctors say there's not enough tissue to repair it again. I'm at my wits end and I just pray that the doctors at Mayo can figure this out. Thanks for listening.