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C. diff relapse?
How many have had a relapse. I finished my two weeks of vancomycin and believe I still have it. Did a stool sample Friday, so I guess I’ll see. Tired of isolation, Clorox and mood.
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My hubby suffered with c-diff, and his story is quite different. He was diagnosed with Ulcerative colitis last year September. He was put on prednisone and asacol and did really well until March this year,2021. He was feeling a bit of gastritis so we went to the Dr who put him on antibiotics - after taking the antibiotics he flared and the Dr put him on steroids again, after tapering the steroids he would flare again, even though his diet remained the same. The Dr would put him back on steroids and he would flare again. Since march this year, he flared every time they tapered him off steroids. So in total, he flared 7 times. Eventually got so bad , he ended up in hospital. He was tested straight away with c - diff being positive. They treated him in hosp for this and then tested again out of hospital which the results came back positive again, only this time making him extremely sick almost felt like he was flaring. So the Dr put him back on steroids treating it as a flare even thou he did not have full blown flare symptoms. He finished vancomycin for the 2nd time and was re-tested. Thankfully the c -diff was negative. His inflammation was also the lowest its ever been since last year. I pray for everyone going through such horrible diseases. Btw, the previous dr did not test my hubby for c-diff while having numerous flares. Thank god, the dr on duty at the time in hospital did otherwise he would've kept going on steroids thinking it was a flare yet it was c-diff that was present for months. Love to all who are suffering, there is always light at the end of the tunnel.
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2 ReactionsI contracted C-diff after taking Clyndamycin for a dental issue. It was horrible! I truly thought I was not going to make it and neither did my husband. It has taken months to recover thoroughly. I am normally an active person who exercises 6 days a week and tries to stay healthy. This set me back immensely. I was weak for quite a while. Gradually I've improved to the point where my life has returned to "my normal". I also have a "tortuous intestine" (more intestine than needed for a person my size), which has caused me grief and constipation all my life. And actually, through this site, and sharing, I found Prunelax that has helped me more than I can say. I would never want C-diff again but I'm grateful for finding this site. When I was recovering I took pro-biotics for two months along with Miralax, (which did nothing) stool softener, etc. Nothing worked like the Prunelax. I still make sure I'm getting the proper fiber, water intake, and I am taking magnesium but I plan on dropping that when I finish the bottle. It's always a learning process and adjustments need to be made that work best for you as an individual. But as far as recovering from C- diff it took me 9 months to almost get back to the real me. I have lost 10 pounds that I can't seem to gain back and that puzzles me but I'm doing well. I hope that everyone finds what works for them. I know it can be scary and very frustrating to go through this. And initially I was just trying to survive so I understand the fear. Best wishes to all! Merry Christmas! Jacque
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2 ReactionsHi, I 'm new here. I have a question about whether my C. Diff. is gone or not. I have had IBS for 10 years and the symptoms are the same except my C. Diff stool has a sickening sweet smell still. I was diagnosed with C. Diff on 1-28-22 and my GI doc started me on Flagyl (metronidazole) for 14 days. After 11 days, the cramping had stopped, but I still had diarrhea with belly distension and smelly stool so I called my GI doc and he ordered Vancomycin 250 mg 4 times a day for 14 days. I started the Vanco on 2-11-22 and am now on the 10th day of that. I had a couple of days where my first stool of the day was formed but the 4 movements afterward were diarrhea. Today, I'm back to very loose stools all morning. So basically, I've been on antibiotics for 3 weeks and have morning diarrhea with that sickening sweet smell. Usually, with my IBS, the diarrhea would stop by noon and I was fine the rest of the day until the next morning, but my stool was not that sickening sweet smell. My IBS always vacillated between diarrhea and constipation so I'm wondering if I still have the C. Diff. since now, I'm done with the diarrhea by 11 am, but my diarrhea still has that sickening smell. Anybody else experienced anything like this?
Welcome @p95,
I think you might appreciate these related discussions:
- C. difficile – Are your guts ever normal again?
- Living with High-Risk C-Diff and Preventing Re-Infection
- What happens after C.Difficile? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/what-happens-after-c-diff/
@ngorman25 @foxx67 @mhi @jond @cece55 @ken82 @woogie @minge @sue6408 @snail may be able to share experiences with you.
You could ask your doctor to test for the bacterial toxins in a stool sample to determine whether you still have the c difficile bacterial infection. Have you talked with your GI specialist about how to distinguish between IBS and C difficile?
Good morning. I recently had a bout of C Diff. I have UC for the past 18 years. There is definitely a different smell between the two. With the loose stools it could be from the high doses of antibiotics that your taking. Definitely speak with your GI DR. Best of luck.
Thank you!
I too am currently on Vanco same dosage 250mg 14 days. This is my first reoccurrence after initial diagnosis 12/8. I was on Vanco then Dificid initially. Am devastated that it has come back even tho this episode has not been as bad as first. I am 73, female and never experienced anything this awful. I feel sure this will come back again based on the odds. Feeling like FMT is my last hope. My GI has had 100% success rate with it but wants to wait till 3rd reoccurrence. Don’t know if I can do this again and not sure why I have to wait. Anyone have experience with that?
@p95 - I have IBS but am not n antibiotics - and have the same problem as you do: normal first bowel movement and one or two diarrheal movements within the next couple of hours - all (including the first) accompanied by cramping pains (feel like labour pain each time!) then I am okay the rest of the day. No abnormal smell, though.
All good thoughts. Thanks. I try those suggestions.
Wondering if the Vancomycin failed and that's why they put you on the Dificid. Is that correct. I'm on my 3 round of antibiotics; i.e., 1st 14 days on Flagyl, 2nd 14 days on Vancomycin and started a 3rd round of Vancomycin that I'm now on day 6 of 14 and it still hasn't stopped the diarrhea and that tell-tale smell. Did the Dificid work for you?