Will a scheduled colonoscopy cause a relapse of C-Diff?
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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So thankful that your internist was able to help!
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
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.
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.
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.
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!!
Thank you, pixie1960.
I’ve had pretty good luck with specific probiotics the more millions the better.
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.
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.