Will a scheduled colonoscopy cause a relapse of C-Diff?

Posted by minge @minge, Oct 5, 2021

Currently 3 weeks recovery from C-Diff after taking vancomycin . I have two questions.
I am scheduled for a routine colonoscopy in November (5 years since last colonoscopy). That will only be 2 months of recovery time from C-Diff. Will the colonoscopy create a relapse of C-Diff? Should I wait to have the colonoscopy since this is a routine 5 year check?
Second question is I am due for a tetanus shot (10 years since last one) Can I get the tetanus shot or will it create a relapse of C-Diff?
I do not want a relapse of C-Diff and I am only 3 weeks into recovery!

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@danab

I had cdiff in Jun of 2019 and the treatment worked as I have not had it since. But I have been on antibiotics both for a lung infection and for dental work. No relapse at all and the only antibiotics I'm on now is for dental work. My dentist prescribed amoxicillian which is safe for c-diff sufferers. As another note when I was on Doxycycline for my lung infection I was also put on Lactobacillus Acidophilus to help balance my good bacteria in my gut to keep the bad bacteria at bay and it worked as I was on the Antibiotics for about year and no c-diff. Be aware also to get the exact type of the Lactobacillus Acidophilus in that order as the dominate part comes first and you don't want the acid based type. Which seems to be more available than the lacto based type. I got mine on Amazon. Hope that helps.
Blessings

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I was just changed to Amoxicillian for my dental work and your post gives me hope that the C-diff won't come back. I appreciate your information. I've been terrified of taking anything since my horrible experience and being extremely ill with C-diff after taking Clyndamycin. I also am taking the probiotics in the order given above. My bottle says two a day, but someone told me you can't overdose on probiotics and maybe I should take four during the time I'm taking the antibiotics. What are your thoughts/experience on this? Thank you!

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@d13

I got c-diff from having chemotherapy treatment in May. Luckily I had already had my J&J vaccination in April. I am also over due for a tetanus shot. So that's good to hear that it won't bring on c-diff again. So what can trigger it, as far as medications are concerned?

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@d13 I screenshot this the other day.

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@ngorman25

@d13 I screenshot this the other day.

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Unfortunately, any antibiotic has the potential to cause C-diff, from my understanding. I am praying that the Amoxicillan will be safe for me and I can proceed with my oral surgery. At least the intense pain from my jaw has subsided now and I pray I don't relapse into C-diff. Someone on this site,who has had personal experience, and is a mentor, mentioned they did not have a relapse with Amoxicillan. "It is safe for C-diff." I pray so. I am taking a good probiotic to hopefully keep my "good bacteria" in good supply. Antibiotics wipe everything out, so I'm hoping to counteract that. And I know to absolutely stay away from Clindamycin!

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@euqcaj

Unfortunately, any antibiotic has the potential to cause C-diff, from my understanding. I am praying that the Amoxicillan will be safe for me and I can proceed with my oral surgery. At least the intense pain from my jaw has subsided now and I pray I don't relapse into C-diff. Someone on this site,who has had personal experience, and is a mentor, mentioned they did not have a relapse with Amoxicillan. "It is safe for C-diff." I pray so. I am taking a good probiotic to hopefully keep my "good bacteria" in good supply. Antibiotics wipe everything out, so I'm hoping to counteract that. And I know to absolutely stay away from Clindamycin!

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@euqcaj Gotcha! Praying for you. Keep me posted.

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@ngorman25

@d13 I screenshot this the other day.

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I hadn't had any previous antibiotics before getting c-diff. I'm going to ask the oncologist nurse this coming week at my appointment about what chemotherapy treatment drugs were used for my treatments, because I know that is what caused it. Thank you for the information.

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@danab

I had cdiff in Jun of 2019 and the treatment worked as I have not had it since. But I have been on antibiotics both for a lung infection and for dental work. No relapse at all and the only antibiotics I'm on now is for dental work. My dentist prescribed amoxicillian which is safe for c-diff sufferers. As another note when I was on Doxycycline for my lung infection I was also put on Lactobacillus Acidophilus to help balance my good bacteria in my gut to keep the bad bacteria at bay and it worked as I was on the Antibiotics for about year and no c-diff. Be aware also to get the exact type of the Lactobacillus Acidophilus in that order as the dominate part comes first and you don't want the acid based type. Which seems to be more available than the lacto based type. I got mine on Amazon. Hope that helps.
Blessings

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Hi This is Jacque again. I need some reassurance. I have now been put on Amoxicillian for dental pain, switching from Doxycyline. (It just wasn't getting rid of the jaw pain.) I have a deeply broken root. BUT my question is: In your reply above, you mentioned that Amoxicillian "is safe for c-diff sufferers." I pray this is true. I am terrified of a relapse. I was comforted by your statement earlier but I haven't felt great today and am fearful. I'm not really having any C-diff symptoms but I don't want any either. I am taking the probiotics that you mentioned. My insides just don't feel very good today and maybe that's because of the post infectious IBS I was left with from the horrible C-diff back in February. I know I have to stay the course but if you have any words of reassurance or any other guidance, I'd appreciate it. Thank you. Jacque

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@euqcaj

I was just changed to Amoxicillian for my dental work and your post gives me hope that the C-diff won't come back. I appreciate your information. I've been terrified of taking anything since my horrible experience and being extremely ill with C-diff after taking Clyndamycin. I also am taking the probiotics in the order given above. My bottle says two a day, but someone told me you can't overdose on probiotics and maybe I should take four during the time I'm taking the antibiotics. What are your thoughts/experience on this? Thank you!

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My husband has had success with cholestyramine powder (requires a prescription) when he has an intestinal flare up. The c diff hasn’t returned for twenty years, but since the infection, his colon reacts to a variety of things. The cholestramine helps bind the material in his colon and calm down the spasms.

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@euqcaj

Hi This is Jacque again. I need some reassurance. I have now been put on Amoxicillian for dental pain, switching from Doxycyline. (It just wasn't getting rid of the jaw pain.) I have a deeply broken root. BUT my question is: In your reply above, you mentioned that Amoxicillian "is safe for c-diff sufferers." I pray this is true. I am terrified of a relapse. I was comforted by your statement earlier but I haven't felt great today and am fearful. I'm not really having any C-diff symptoms but I don't want any either. I am taking the probiotics that you mentioned. My insides just don't feel very good today and maybe that's because of the post infectious IBS I was left with from the horrible C-diff back in February. I know I have to stay the course but if you have any words of reassurance or any other guidance, I'd appreciate it. Thank you. Jacque

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@euqcaj Hi Jacque, yes I can assure you that I haven't had any cdiff type symptoms since Jun of 2019. I won't say I don't occasionally have a bit of what I call loose bowel but never close to the un controllable Bowel of cdiff proball onenof the most embarrassing times of my life. Now i was also having intestinal issues besides cdiff where the small intestine was inflamed and I did have stomach pain for a while like 6 months anytime I ate. So I was on antibiotics for that also. And even with all that the cdiff was not a factor. Praise the Lord(I also prey alot too).
But the answer my Gastro Doctor suggested was small frequent meals. So what I did was basically take a normal meal split it in half and eat every 2-3 hours instead of 3 meals a day about 5 hours apart. Plus small healthy snacks like fruit or vegetables. I'm a bit fan of celery and peanut butter or with a little ranch dressing. Cutties are great to small quick to eat. So basically become a snacker and avoid large meals. It helped but was not easy since I usually felt unsatisfied on the first n half of a meal . But got used to it. I did that for about 6 months and the inflamed bowel finally healed and I was back to a normal diet about 6 months latter . Not sure if that will help .
What did your Doctor have to say about all this? I hope you find relief real soon but there is a healing process.
Have a Blessed Day Jacque

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@danab

@euqcaj Hi Jacque, yes I can assure you that I haven't had any cdiff type symptoms since Jun of 2019. I won't say I don't occasionally have a bit of what I call loose bowel but never close to the un controllable Bowel of cdiff proball onenof the most embarrassing times of my life. Now i was also having intestinal issues besides cdiff where the small intestine was inflamed and I did have stomach pain for a while like 6 months anytime I ate. So I was on antibiotics for that also. And even with all that the cdiff was not a factor. Praise the Lord(I also prey alot too).
But the answer my Gastro Doctor suggested was small frequent meals. So what I did was basically take a normal meal split it in half and eat every 2-3 hours instead of 3 meals a day about 5 hours apart. Plus small healthy snacks like fruit or vegetables. I'm a bit fan of celery and peanut butter or with a little ranch dressing. Cutties are great to small quick to eat. So basically become a snacker and avoid large meals. It helped but was not easy since I usually felt unsatisfied on the first n half of a meal . But got used to it. I did that for about 6 months and the inflamed bowel finally healed and I was back to a normal diet about 6 months latter . Not sure if that will help .
What did your Doctor have to say about all this? I hope you find relief real soon but there is a healing process.
Have a Blessed Day Jacque

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Thank you so much Dana. The symptoms of inflammed bowel rang a bell with me. After C-diff my gastro said I most likely had post infectious IBS (irratable bowel syndrome). I had begun to get "better" and only two weeks of getting my bowel back to something I could live with, when I got an infection from a broken root in my tooth. I was so afraid to take ANY antibiotics. The Doxycycline didn't work so well to take the pain away and I'm now on Amoxicillan. I was so relieved to see your statement that you did not have a re-occurence of C-diff. I am praying also. (everyday for many things.) The pain has lessened now and I'm scheduled for oral surgery next Friday. My bowels are relapsing, I think because of the change in the meds and taking the probiotics. I know the Amoxicillan does not cause constipaiton, but I'm not sure how my body reacts to the probiotics. I remember after having the C-diff, taking the probiotics caused me some intestinal discomfort and I'm feeling that again. I am taking the probiotic in "the order" you had suggested. Meaning the Aciddophilus was listed second. I am taking four a day while taking the Amoxicillan.

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Also, Dana, I wanted to thank you again for taking the time to share your experiences with me. It gives me hope. Thank you. Jacque

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