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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@sbr270

I am on the same drug for chronic diarrhea. It got so bad I felt I could not leave my house. I have never had c-diff and although I was diagnosed with Crohns 50+ years ago, I have been on no medicine and healthy. My problem was the diarrhea from having all but 9 inches of my colon removed 50 years ago. Cholestrymine keeps it to a manageable level. BTW it was an internist, not a gastro that prescribed it and saved me.

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So thankful that your internist was able to help!

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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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Just now saw your post from Oct 10, 2021 - How did it go? In 2011 my Periodontist put me on Amoxicillin for 10 days and on the 10th day I got the famous diarrhea. Two days later I was recovered in the hospital for C-difficile. From what I understand all broad -based antibiotics pose a problem for c-diff. And Amoxicillin falls into that category and is known to cause c-diff. I have not taken antibiotics since. Thankfully, have not needed. I had a Dermatologist who wanted to give me an antibiotic for MOHs procedure, but I refused. I told the Dermatologist who had referred me, and she gave me an antibiotic cream to put on the site and I was fine

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Maybe this info will be of help to someone:
1. Got C-diff 8 days after I finished a round of Clindamycin for a dental procedure.
2. Took Vandocmycin for 10 days. C-Diff recurred within a week.
3. Did Vancomycin pulse and taper over 2 month period. Took Florastor probiotics, drank kefir (yuk) and ate kimchi and fermented foods.
4. The first 3 weeks after being off the Vancomycin were tenuous in the bathroom but returned to normal most days. It’s now been 2 months with no return of the C-Diff demon. I still take 1 Florastor capsule daily and added a 50 billion live cultures probiotic a few times a week.

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@nexus

Maybe this info will be of help to someone:
1. Got C-diff 8 days after I finished a round of Clindamycin for a dental procedure.
2. Took Vandocmycin for 10 days. C-Diff recurred within a week.
3. Did Vancomycin pulse and taper over 2 month period. Took Florastor probiotics, drank kefir (yuk) and ate kimchi and fermented foods.
4. The first 3 weeks after being off the Vancomycin were tenuous in the bathroom but returned to normal most days. It’s now been 2 months with no return of the C-Diff demon. I still take 1 Florastor capsule daily and added a 50 billion live cultures probiotic a few times a week.

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I, too, got cdiff from clindamycin almost 4 years ago. I relapsed 3 more times over a 6 month period and then got the fmt in March, 2019. To this day, I still worry about getting it again. I still take visbiome every other day. I still worry about getting sick and needing an antibiotic.

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What are the dietary restrictions once a C-diff infection has been healed? Can certain foods actually cause C-diff to relapse? I am currently recovering from my second bout of C-diff in 30 days.

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@arleen1972

What are the dietary restrictions once a C-diff infection has been healed? Can certain foods actually cause C-diff to relapse? I am currently recovering from my second bout of C-diff in 30 days.

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Hi- I am recovering from my 4th episode of C-diff in 18 months. My Infectious Disease Doctor told me eat a High Fiber diet, avoid greasy and spicy foods that would irritate the Intestional Tract. Basically, eat a Healthy Diet. Avoid Antibiotics if at all possible. Take a Daily Probiotic.

I guess I haven't done such a good job of following all this-but I honestly have tried. My Infectious Disease Doc did tell me the more times you have C-diff , the more likely you are to get it again. I'm sure I don't need to tell you-try to avoid this terrible disease at all costs if possible!
Best of luck to you!!

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@pixie1960

Hi- I am recovering from my 4th episode of C-diff in 18 months. My Infectious Disease Doctor told me eat a High Fiber diet, avoid greasy and spicy foods that would irritate the Intestional Tract. Basically, eat a Healthy Diet. Avoid Antibiotics if at all possible. Take a Daily Probiotic.

I guess I haven't done such a good job of following all this-but I honestly have tried. My Infectious Disease Doc did tell me the more times you have C-diff , the more likely you are to get it again. I'm sure I don't need to tell you-try to avoid this terrible disease at all costs if possible!
Best of luck to you!!

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Thank you, pixie1960.

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@nexus

Maybe this info will be of help to someone:
1. Got C-diff 8 days after I finished a round of Clindamycin for a dental procedure.
2. Took Vandocmycin for 10 days. C-Diff recurred within a week.
3. Did Vancomycin pulse and taper over 2 month period. Took Florastor probiotics, drank kefir (yuk) and ate kimchi and fermented foods.
4. The first 3 weeks after being off the Vancomycin were tenuous in the bathroom but returned to normal most days. It’s now been 2 months with no return of the C-Diff demon. I still take 1 Florastor capsule daily and added a 50 billion live cultures probiotic a few times a week.

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I’ve had pretty good luck with specific probiotics the more millions the better.

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I had a Diverticulitis flareup that started in the middle of February 2022. From that time until the middle of May I was on double antibiotics Flagyl and bactrim every three weeks. Just trying to get rid of it. Finally had a sigmoidectomy at the beginning of June 2022. The part taken out was still infected and abcessing. After the surgery while in the hospital I tested positive for c diff. I followed up with my colon surgeon and my gastroenterologist. They both told me to just eat yogurt or take Probiotics for three months after.
In early October 2022 I was put on amoxicillin for a dental issue. Approximately 10 days later I started with diarrhea and bleeding. Went into the ER to be told I had c diff colitis. I spent six days in the hospital and was released with Vancomycin and Florastor probiotic. This has not been fun especially since I thought I got everything fixed when I had surgery this past June. It sounds like this c diff is near impossible to get rid of. I am very frustrated that I will have to continue going on these protocols. Always eat as healthy as I can and worked out 4 days a week. Hoping for the best but from all I have been told and read nit as positive as I want to be. C diff is no joke.

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@p95

Oh my goodness. Terrible. How did you get rid of the C. Diff? Flagyl, Vancomycin, Deficid? Any of these work for you?

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I was initially put on Flagyl which failed, then failed on Vancomycin then Dificid which worked. I tested negative 3 times and was doing well for 2 months. Then I tested for C. Diff. and it came back positive. I was started on Vancomycin again which failed then 2 courses of Dificid. I have not retested since, but have not had diarrhea so I'm assuming it is gone. I was scheduled for a FMT on August 25, but the stool donor could not produce the required 50 ml of stool (only got out 20 ml) so I was sent home without having the procedure after spending 3 hours in pre-op at the hospital. At this point I am just keeping my fingers crossed because I do not want to go through another prep (which is the same as you do for the colonoscopy) for an FMT. The hospital I went to for the FMT is in the process of getting certified to do FMTs with frozen stool. If they do get certified, I would consider the FMT. But having to go through the prep aggravated my colon so much and it took weeks to recover from that, I would not do it again unless I could be assured the FMT would proceed as scheduled. I live in fear daily that it will come back or that I will have to get antibiotics for something else and will get C. Diff. again. It was truly the worst experience of my life and has left a very deep scar on my psyche. I wish you well.

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