Trying to recover from a c. diff infection (Clostridium difficile)

Posted by acres @acres, Apr 12, 2016

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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ngorman25 | @ngorman25 | Sep 17, 2021

In reply to @minge "I have not vomited with C-diff. Are there any others that only had diaherra and mucus?" + (show)

@minge I never vomited with cdiff. Just diarrhea and plenty of mucus!

catherine1234 | @catherine1234 | Sep 17, 2021

In reply to @ljh02 "I am taking a 30 billion probiotic, a prebiotic, florastor and 1tb of sauerkraut daily because..." + (show)

Hello, can you take Florastor with for example, Good Belly Probiotic (I take this in the morning for vitamins since I’ve limited my diet)? I want to take the Florastor 1x in AM and 1X at night but I’m unsure if I can take it at same time in AM with the other probiotic. I’m struggling right now after going off Vanco 3 months ago. Take care and thank you.

kjt1951 | @kjt1951 | Oct 23, 2021

In reply to @minge "Did you have C- diff from an antibiotic? If so what antibiotic where you on?" + (show)

Clindamycin post op at the end of January I guess. But I didn't start having diarrhea will May so I'm a little stumped.

psychsaver | @psychsaver | Dec 5, 2021

In reply to @ngorman25 "@minge I never vomited with cdiff. Just diarrhea and plenty of mucus!" + (show)

I only have diarrhea and loss of appetite

merribea | @merribea | Aug 19, 2022

So sorry you are going through this. Almost sounds like me. My c-Diff started back in June when I was hospitalized for pneumonia. Got it at the hospital, they sent me home when my tummy settled a bit, but 2 weeks later had to call 911 from the extreme pain non stop diarrhea. I've now been here going on 3 weeks this time. The depression and anxiety from wondering if I'll ever live a normal life again is getting worse.
I'm sending prayers and positive thoughts up for us both

JerryP | @jfperrone | Aug 20, 2022

I'm no Doctor but taking vancomycin for 10 days seems to be on the short side.
I took it for 2 weeks 3x a day; then 2weeks 2x a day; then 2 weeks 1x a day.
all 250mg. Outcome so far seems good, but keeping my fingers crossed.
There seems to be a fairly frequent amount of reoccurrence.

beckyt | @beckyt | Aug 21, 2022

I found that the only cure for cdiff is a FMT. I was so lucky to have found a place, Metro Infectious Disease Control office, in Burr Ridge IL, where they are running a trial. I have been cdiff free for almost 3 months. No pain, nothing whatsoever. I am back to normal, eating anything, after losing 30 lbs. Best thing is that I am getting paid for the trial.

ngorman25 | @ngorman25 | Aug 22, 2022

In reply to @beckyt "I found that the only cure for cdiff is a FMT. I was so lucky to..." + (show)

@beckyt I agree 100% with you. I took enough vancomycin over 6 months to kill a horse! And I still kept relapsing. So, in March of 2019, I had the fmt and I believe it saved my life. I had gone down to 86 lbs. and still can't gain any weight back but feel ok. Also, once you have had cdiff, your chances of getting it again are high. So, any time my stomach acts up, I get very nervous. To this day, I continue to alternate taking visbiome and saccharomyces boulardii every day. If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask.

beckyt | @beckyt | Aug 22, 2022

In reply to @ngorman25 "@beckyt I agree 100% with you. I took enough vancomycin over 6 months to kill a..." + (show)

Yes, I get nervous too when I have tummy aches but its not cdiff and they Dr said if it ever comes back they will do the FMT again. But they told me not to take the Florastor. He said why mess with the good flora that is in there already. They don't want any imbalance so I don't take any pro or prebiotics anymore. As long as I eat right it's ok. Glad you are doing well now too. I have not gained my weight back either but feel great.

euqcaj | @euqcaj | Aug 22, 2022

Reading these comments I feel extremely grateful and lucky. I also had C-diff and it was horrible. I have recovered but it took time. My strength was gone and my husband was afraid he was going to lose me. I was on IV's and I was praying to God. I truly wondered if my time was up. I am 70 years old, fit and active. I take care of this body I've been given. But it was Clyndamycin that resulted in me developing C-diff. My dentist prescribed it and I didn't have a clue that it had a propensity for this negative, and potentially, life threatening result. I was wondering, after reading all these comments, why is it that we did lose weight and are keeping it off? I basically eat the same way as I did before C-diff. Not that I'm complaining but also puzzled as to why. Jacque