C. diff relapse?

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.

@minge did you ever end up getting the colonoscopy? Did it cause a relapse? I too am 2 months post antibiotics for cdiff and nervous of getting my colonoscopy because of that reason

I am also interested to find out if the colonoscopy or tetanus shot caused a relapse in the c diff. The majority of 2022 I was dealing with a flareup of diverticulitis that never went away after numerous double antibiotics. Ended up having a sigmoidectomy June 2022. At that time they said I tested positive for. C diff. I was not treated for that. Then I ended up taking amoxicillin in October for a dental issue. After 10 days the c diff reared its ugly head, and I ended up spending seven days in the hospital. Was treated with Vancomycin and florastor. Was released from the hospital on another 10 days of Vancomycin and Florastor. I have continued on once a day with the probiotic. And here I am at the beginning of March 2023. Scared to death to ever take another antibiotic. So I understand what you mean by it coming back. I am afraid to even take Tylenol. So afraid it will trigger the C diff again! It is always on my mind, but I am trying to move forward. Trying to stay as healthy as possible. Good luck out there. May we all keep away from this horrible c diff!