1. < Digestive Health

Trying to recover from a c. diff infection (Clostridium difficile)

Posted by acres @acres, Apr 12, 2016

I am trying to recover from a c.diff infection. This started with taking clindamycin in mid January and 3 days later I became ill with diarrhea and felt sick, loss of appetite etc...Went to the er twice, tested negative for c.diff on my 2nd visit. The Dr. told me to take imodium to rest my colon since I tested negative. That evening I had diarrhea and took the Imodium. Became constipated with pain lower right side. I went to a GI dr. pleading for help, I did another stool test and it came back positive for c.diff. I tried flagyl but could not tolerate the side effects. Tried vancomycin for 10 days. Did not work. Tested positive again, Went to a new gi doctor who prescribed dificid for ten days. I am 31 days post dificid and I have almost constant gut rumbling and urge to go. My 1st bm in the morning is usually semi normal, but after that they are always either pencil thin and or small pieces (2 to 5 times a day). This has been my routine since the vancomycin. I do not get dull blown diarrhea..... My dr. wants me to have a colonoscopy but I an scared that the cleansing will wipe out all my good flora. I currently take 2 florastor pills and 1/2 vsl3 per day. I eat fermented pickles for the probiotics as well..... I have many food intolerances since this whole mess began (fiber, many vegatables, dairy). I also have a strange taste in my mouth most of the time, have very little energy and fight with depression. My primary gave me Xanax .25 but I only take them at night when I cannot sleep...... Went to a nutritionist who put me on a no wheat, soy, dairy, gluten diet. Does not seem to be helping or hurting. I lost 20 pounds and cannot gain any weight (I weigh 120 at 5'7")... I am thinking it might be sibo, or candida but cannot find a dr. to test for these....I am in the right place for help or advice ? The urge to go is awful and limits my once active lifestyle.....
Thank you, Scott

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beckyt | @beckyt | Aug 23, 2022

Hi Jacque, How did you get rid of your cdiff? I too, am wondering why I am not gaining back my weight. I also caught it from antibiotic given to me for diverticulitis. It also attached my arm muscle and I needed physical therapy. Never realized they could actually harm the body, besides heal it too. Go figure...

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hardingv | @hardingv | Aug 23, 2022

Does anyone have experience with using Zinplava (a monoclonal antibody) during the treatment phase of a confirmed case of c-diff to help prevent recurring c-diff?

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1 reply
bleachistheword | @bleachistheword | Sep 21, 2022
In reply to @gina1963 "Has any one recovering from cdiff ever got red peeling .itchy skin on face what could..." + (show)
@gina1963

Has any one recovering from cdiff ever got red peeling .itchy skin on face what could this be i swear it is 1 thing after another

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Its a side-effect listed on the insert for the Dificid my husband has to start tomorrow. Is that the medication you're taking? Check the insert for your medicine to see if it's a side-effect. Hope it gets better for you.

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Valerie | @lacy2 | Oct 22, 2022

I just deleted my personal long long story of c.diff in 2018, my reactions to all antibiotics, and how it all led to taking over 120 i think VAncomycin and with other issues that year, unrelated, never recovered ... but some people get it, take the antibiotics, and all turns out well - I was just one of the unlucky ones who had the life sucked out of me with it all and the extreme diarrhea for months 24/7, fatigue, pain, isolation, due to already having ibs-d and you cannot take anti diarrhea meds with antibiotics. It seems that some people recover quickly and forever and some of us don't and if anyone wants to hear my sob-story , it was life changing...I am thinking that maybe there are different strains of the c.diff, or it's a person's immunity, or different reaction to c.diff/medications because why do some get better quickly yet some of us are still having issues? For some it's a short inconvenience and for some ends their lives!

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Valerie | @lacy2 | Oct 23, 2022
In reply to @arleen1972 "I hope you feel better soon." + (show)
@arleen1972

I hope you feel better soon.

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@arleen1972 thank you but its now been 3 yrs of not well most days and honestly i cannot believe it, as have written before c.diff,glaucoma,change in long term zoloft use; 4 friends dying, then next year dr took me off another med been on 15 yrs and put me back on one i took myself off cos of glaucoma etc. etc. on top of ibs. then got fecal incontinence and the list goes on... i see a dr for first time and start the conversation and as i talk about my list can see them almost shake their head...currently only have nurse practitioner and at 79 and as i volunteer saying, have had enough... and yes i do realize it could be worse but my limit has been reached and i am not ashamed to say that but do feel sad about it, but there comes atime when enough is enough. am getting phone and zoom counselling but where is someone today with my eustachian tube pain, bowel issues, whole body hurts.. and cannot take many meds due to narrow angle glaucoma, just feeling sorry for myself but being realistic also, husband ill and tired of listening to me... but i apprciate your kind thoughts. i should have insisted and persisted in help over the years but where i live and then covid, year or two wait even to see ent and then dr suggets meds i cannot take, or risk vision.. and so it goes on, i cherish the hours, not days, that i may feel almost normal... but today is bad. hope you are ok and thanks again and everyone on here is so helpful, hugs xxx

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1 reply
Valerie | @lacy2 | Oct 23, 2022
In reply to @lacy2 "@arleen1972 thank you but its now been 3 yrs of not well most days and honestly..." + (show)
@lacy2

@arleen1972 thank you but its now been 3 yrs of not well most days and honestly i cannot believe it, as have written before c.diff,glaucoma,change in long term zoloft use; 4 friends dying, then next year dr took me off another med been on 15 yrs and put me back on one i took myself off cos of glaucoma etc. etc. on top of ibs. then got fecal incontinence and the list goes on... i see a dr for first time and start the conversation and as i talk about my list can see them almost shake their head...currently only have nurse practitioner and at 79 and as i volunteer saying, have had enough... and yes i do realize it could be worse but my limit has been reached and i am not ashamed to say that but do feel sad about it, but there comes atime when enough is enough. am getting phone and zoom counselling but where is someone today with my eustachian tube pain, bowel issues, whole body hurts.. and cannot take many meds due to narrow angle glaucoma, just feeling sorry for myself but being realistic also, husband ill and tired of listening to me... but i apprciate your kind thoughts. i should have insisted and persisted in help over the years but where i live and then covid, year or two wait even to see ent and then dr suggets meds i cannot take, or risk vision.. and so it goes on, i cherish the hours, not days, that i may feel almost normal... but today is bad. hope you are ok and thanks again and everyone on here is so helpful, hugs xxx

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...almost deleted this as sound like whining... especially when i read others' experiences with severe illness, but it's how i feel and just cannot cope, plus some other unmentioned issues, again, thank you for support.

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1 reply
epm | @epm | Oct 23, 2022
In reply to @lacy2 "...almost deleted this as sound like whining... especially when i read others' experiences with severe illness,..." + (show)
@lacy2

...almost deleted this as sound like whining... especially when i read others' experiences with severe illness, but it's how i feel and just cannot cope, plus some other unmentioned issues, again, thank you for support.

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I've been that way for 1 1/2 yrs. No fun.
Have you taken Vancomycin, Rifaxan or FMT capsule?

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1 reply
Valerie | @lacy2 | Oct 24, 2022
In reply to @epm "I've been that way for 1 1/2 yrs. No fun. Have you taken Vancomycin, Rifaxan or..." + (show)
@epm

I've been that way for 1 1/2 yrs. No fun.
Have you taken Vancomycin, Rifaxan or FMT capsule?

Jump to this post

....given over 100 vancomycin for cdiff 2018,,, during which time could not take anti diarrhea meds, not allowed, lost 15 lbs etc. just never seemed to bounce back.... J.

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Valerie | @lacy2 | Oct 25, 2022

oh no up through night twice with bm.s and today not the same 'textue' diarrhea hope not c.diff back again..... was on Keflex last month for uti ... didnt take a pro biotic with it as keep reading how good they are then that not proven to help... wish me luck... nausea diarrhea and i put some bm in a little water and test with urine stick and shows blood - i did that when had c diff 2018. i took 2 little paper cups, water in both an din one put a little bm on a q.tip... the one with bm showed blood on the urine test strip; HAS ANYONE ELSE USED A URINE TEST STRIP THIS WAY? thanks ugh here we go again

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