Transplant; C diff from antibiotics (Doxycycline)

@hello1234 Oh, no!

My husband got C. diff while he was in the hospital right after his kidney transplant Oct 2016. They treated him, and he has been fine since then. They definitely made notes all through his chart about the infection.

Here is an article that speaks to the C. diff infection, and causes by way of drug interactions. I hope this will answer some questions for you.
https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/186458-overview#:~:text=The%20primary%20risk%20factor%20for,ampicillin%2Famoxicillin%2C%20and%20clindamycin.
Are you feeling better now?
Ginger

Hi @gingerw 🥰
Thank you so much for letting me know about your husband's successful c diff treatment experience!
It really is comforting to know that after the treatment, the infection has stayed away! (The internet is full of "recurrent infection" stories that started to scare me). What does your husband do now regarding antibiotics? Does he still take amoxicillin before dental work, does he only take antibiotics during an active infection? Was he told to avoid certain antibiotics? Now that this happened, I am afraid of antibiotics but I know I am going to need them in the future.
How does your husband navigate that dilemma?
Thanks so much Ginger for letting me know about your husband's experience! Sooo helpful!!

He has taken antibiotics before dental appointments since his transplant, yes. It's a worthwhile precaution. Remember, antibiotics in general will kill the good bacteria along with bad! He hasn't been told to avoid certain ones, to my knowledge or his memory.
Ginger

Thank you Ginger! 😊 Do you remember which antibiotic your husband was given in the hospital when he developed C diff? I had a squamous cell carcinoma removed at the dermatologist. It got fiery red and unhappy so the nurse recommended 100mg Doxycycline twice a day. It really upset my digestive tract!

I don't recall which antibiotic it was.
I myself am on daily acyclovir to prevent shingles, and also Bactrim three times a week as a general antibiotic due to my blood cancer and immune issues.

Perhaps trying some active probiotic yogurt will help replace the good bacteria your gut needs?
Ginger

Excellent idea @gingerw 😊 I like the idea of buying some Activia yogurt. Love vanilla 🙂
Thank you again Ginger for comforting me that there is life after C diff and everything is going to be okay.

I was told that I could not take Doxycycline after my liver transplant. I did take it for my Rosacea, but not any more.
Kandi

Thanks for jumping in @kandidubrall 😊 It's very nice to meet you!
Do you remember why they told you to avoid Doxycycline? Were they concerned about C diff or damage to the liver?
Did liver transplant suggest you avoid any other antibiotics?
I am starting to learn about how these meds work. I never had a problem taking amoxicillin for dental work, but Doxycycline is definitely a different and stronger reaction!

Doxycycline interferes with some of your medication that you take.
I was always told never take new medication unless I speak to my pharmacies that has been assigned to me. I tell all doctors that I am transplant patient, and I will need to check with my pharmacies first before I take any new medications.
Kandi

@hello1234, I hope that you are feeling better by the time you get this. I have not had any experience with C-diff, so I am really happy that @gingerw and @kandidubrall have shared from their experience.
As I read your situation, it sounds like the nurse changed your medications. Was your skin doctor aware of your transplant and immunosuppressed status? Did the doctor approve this particular medication change? In my experience, health providers who are not familiar with transplant patient's needs, don't always make the best choices for us! Some want to be alerted and reminded; others don't care (I had one of those once). I make it a practice of always asking the attending doctor what is being prescribed, and if it is compatible with my transplant medications, and then , like @kandidubrall, I check it out.

Is your surgery healing ? Is the redness going away?