1. < Digestive Health

Clostridium difficile (Cdiff) and worried about weight loss

Posted by 5chances @5chances, Nov 25, 2020

I have cdiff and just finished 10 days of vancomycin. I’m down to 99lbs. I’m feeling better but very worried about the weight. Suggestions? What about starting back on vitamins?

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mhi | @mhi | Jul 13, 2022
In reply to @jengrantbate78 "Thank you again, I am still finding my weight an issue, although my doctor said the..." + (show)
@jengrantbate78

Thank you again, I am still finding my weight an issue, although my doctor said the blood tests were encouraging, but the fact that I had pneumonia back in April and C Diff throughout May, and still have the bug according to my stool test a few weeks ago, he says he has not expected me to put on weight. I am eating as much as I can, but I also have IBS so have to eat little and often….it is discouraging that I cannot yet see my weight improving and am wondering how long it will take? Every day I hope to see an improvement but I seem to be stuck. I’m getting very depressed about it. I am 78, and my GP said older people find it harder to put on weight owing to muscle loss which may be true but doesn’t really help. Thank you again so much for your encouragement and wisdom. Jennifer x x

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It will take time it took me over a year and a half to start putting weight on hang in there it will get better. It will take time for your gut to normalize. Just make sure you are eating lots of fiber and I eat lots of sauerkraut.

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jengrantbate78 | @jengrantbate78 | Jul 13, 2022

Sauerkraut. Do you make your own? I haven’t tried it yet. Maybe i will. Thank you again. 😄

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2 replies
mhi | @mhi | Jul 13, 2022
In reply to @jengrantbate78 "Sauerkraut. Do you make your own? I haven’t tried it yet. Maybe i will. Thank you..." + (show)
@jengrantbate78

Sauerkraut. Do you make your own? I haven’t tried it yet. Maybe i will. Thank you again. 😄

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I buy them

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5chances | @5chances | Jul 14, 2022
In reply to @jengrantbate78 "Sauerkraut. Do you make your own? I haven’t tried it yet. Maybe i will. Thank you..." + (show)
@jengrantbate78

Sauerkraut. Do you make your own? I haven’t tried it yet. Maybe i will. Thank you again. 😄

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If you buy, make sure it is in the refrigerator section and has NO vinegar. Most of the good ones will say “probiotic”. Kefir is also great if you can tolerate it.

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5chances | @5chances | Jul 14, 2022
In reply to @catherine1234 "Hello, I am replying from almost 10 months ago. I did get retested last fall and..." + (show)
@catherine1234

Hello,
I am replying from almost 10 months ago. I did get retested last fall and it was negative. However, my BMs have never been the same . They have never gone back to what they were before all of this. It is very concerning yet if I continue to worry my anxiety gets the better of me. It seems in the past, I was like most people and would put on weight pretty easily. Thankfully my weight has stabilized but I lose it much faster than I ever remember from before for no apparent reason except that my one BM a day is a lot, even after a year. And since my BMs are never normal I was diagnosed with IBD. It’s not the frequency at all, it is the volume and they are just not normal. The doctor knows all this but no one knows why…I assume my insides got messed up for life. I do not know what else to think. I use probiotics, eat better, drink teas, and attempt to not give in to the anxiety but it is a real struggle. I also clean with bleach a lot more than I ever did before and wash my hands too much probably. Lastly, I am very grateful I was negative after retesting. That is something to be so grateful for and I have to always remind myself to be positive. I hope all those that were kind enough to respond a while ago are doing okay!

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Hi @catherine1234 . Just want to jump in if that’s ok? Try dialing back on probiotic supplements if you’re comfortable with it. I cut them out completely at 3.5 months post vanco (with doctors advice) and for me, things started changing. Less bathroom trips, brain fog started getting better and stools began to improve. I did incorporate pro and prebiotics from foods, took benefiber and purchased some Banatrol. Recovery, healing, and probiotics are not a one size fits all. I’ve seen many in a couple other groups who had to discontinue probiotic use and it helped tremendously.
Hope things start to level out for you. I definitely agree with @mhi in that for some of us it takes quite some time.

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1 reply
jengrantbate78 | @jengrantbate78 | Jul 14, 2022

Thank you again @5chances. I’ll check the label. I’m taking loads of probiotics; Sach B , Lacto and a super one (pro bio), plus marine collagen (planet paleo), I’m hanging on in there and hoping that all the good nourishment will start to show on my scales soon…I don’t have a huge appetite so it’s pretty tough to be disciplined, but faced with weight loss we don’t have a choice, and it is depressing when the scales stay the same.. it’s encouraging that others here are experiencing the same struggles. I’m so grateful for your support, all of you. ❤️

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1 reply
catherine1234 | @catherine1234 | Jul 14, 2022
In reply to @5chances "Hi @catherine1234 . Just want to jump in if that’s ok? Try dialing back on probiotic..." + (show)
@5chances

Hi @catherine1234 . Just want to jump in if that’s ok? Try dialing back on probiotic supplements if you’re comfortable with it. I cut them out completely at 3.5 months post vanco (with doctors advice) and for me, things started changing. Less bathroom trips, brain fog started getting better and stools began to improve. I did incorporate pro and prebiotics from foods, took benefiber and purchased some Banatrol. Recovery, healing, and probiotics are not a one size fits all. I’ve seen many in a couple other groups who had to discontinue probiotic use and it helped tremendously.
Hope things start to level out for you. I definitely agree with @mhi in that for some of us it takes quite some time.

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Thank you for the comment. I appreciate it. It may be a factor.

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5chances | @5chances | Jul 14, 2022
In reply to @jengrantbate78 "Thank you again @5chances. I’ll check the label. I’m taking loads of probiotics; Sach B ,..." + (show)
@jengrantbate78

Thank you again @5chances. I’ll check the label. I’m taking loads of probiotics; Sach B , Lacto and a super one (pro bio), plus marine collagen (planet paleo), I’m hanging on in there and hoping that all the good nourishment will start to show on my scales soon…I don’t have a huge appetite so it’s pretty tough to be disciplined, but faced with weight loss we don’t have a choice, and it is depressing when the scales stay the same.. it’s encouraging that others here are experiencing the same struggles. I’m so grateful for your support, all of you. ❤️

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The weight is definitely tough. I was down to 96lbs at 5’4”. Forced myself to eat and lots of high calorie shakes. Would do two shakes a day anywhere from 800-1100 calories per shake. Anything my gut could tolerate that went well with a shake and had nutrients in it I put it in. That’s what really helped to get about 9lbs added in the first 8-9 months post cdiff. I still have trouble holding on to weight this far out but very thankful for the healing.
Keep at it, you’ll get there.

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jengrantbate78 | @jengrantbate78 | Jul 14, 2022

I’d be very interested to know what you put in your shakes if you have a moment. I’m off dairy since this, so oat or almond milk is fine. I add almond butter, banana, avocado, marine collagen powder, pro bio supplement, strawberries, coconut yogurt, oat milk. They re so much easier to digest than food. Thanks so much again.

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jengrantbate78 | @jengrantbate78 | Jul 18, 2022
In reply to @colleenyoung "@5chances, Good question. @dilly69 @pines @donnacarp @ngorman25 and @losthope may have some thoughts about weight loss,..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

@5chances, Good question. @dilly69 @pines @donnacarp @ngorman25 and @losthope may have some thoughts about weight loss, gaining it back and making sure you have all the nutrients your body needs as you recover.

This article suggests:
"Sometimes the diarrhea associated with C. diff may become chronic. If so, nutrient supplements that supply iron, B-12, and zinc may help. Talk to your doctor about taking vitamins and other ways that you can ensure you’re receiving adequate nutrition during this time."
- Clostridium difficile and Diet: Here’s What You Should Know https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/cdiff-diet

5Chances, do you still have frequent diarrhea?

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Thank you for this information. After reading it, I wonder if Dr Mona Morstein knows a physician in the U.K. ? It would be great to be treated by a specialist in this field as my doctor didn’t even recommend that I take probiotics. However, I am receiving advice from a naturopath, but would like to be in touch with someone who really understands more about C Diff.

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