Transplant; C diff from antibiotics (Doxycycline)

Hi @rosemarya 😊
It's always so great to hear from you!
I am happy to report that everything is improving. The swelling and redness around the wound is calming down nicely. The area is still a little sore, but definitely going in the right direction.
After my local dermatologist's nurse called in the prescription, I called the pharmacist to double-check that my current meds were compatible with Doxycycline. According to their computer, there was no problem with interactions. But I think with any antibiotic, especially being immune suppressed, there is always the possibility of developing c diff or other antibiotic caused reactions. Before my transplant, I never experienced a reaction from antibiotics.
When I go for my annual visit, I will definitely discuss this with the transplant nephrologist to see if there are antibiotics that I should stay away from moving forward.
Do you take amoxicillin or an antibiotic before dental work or if you are having any type of surgery?
I may have to avoid taking antibiotics prophylactically and just take certain approved ones if there is an active infection.
Otherwise, I fear that I am actually causing an infection like c diff, instead of preventing an infection.

@hello1234 I am sorry to hear you have CDiff. 2/14/22 I had both C Diff and Norovirus at the same time. Too sick to go to Dr with vomiting due to Noro and then the C Diff at other end. I did eventually get a stool sample which tested positive for both and Difficid after about 4-5 days, which worked well along with a very bland diet like plain rice, mash potatoes, toast and 7-up. In retrospect I probably should have been in the hospital being a transplant patient. My PCP should have given me more days of Difficid, but I survived. I hope you get fast treatment and feel better. Hugs my friend!

Hi @jennifer0726 😊
You are my hero!
No matter what comes your way, you deal with it and come out the other end with a successful outcome!
It's amazing that you had C diff AND Noro at the same time.
Do you think you caught both at the same time? How long did it take to feel better?
Do you have to avoid certain antibiotics or meds in the future due to exposure to c diff or is everything back to normal?
I am so happy to hear that you had a successful outcome with all that going on.
I know you had surgery recently. How are you feeling now?
Jennifer, thank you so much for jumping in to comfort me with your personal experience.
It definitely makes me feel better that the medication, your bland rice and mashed potatoes diet and rest did the trick!

@rosemarya I recently had cataract surgery. The surgeon directed me to use three different eyedrops, which I chose to have compounded into one drop. But, I also made sure I cleared it all with my oncologist to make sure there wouldn't be any negative interaction. I realize transplants and blood cancer are two vastly different animals, but anyone with immune system issues need to be aware of drug interactions! By the way I was told there was no problem.
Ginger

My husband had a bone marrow transplant in February and just recently got graph vs host disease and at the same time got cdiff. So he not only had to worry about his elevated liver enzymes so was started on steroids but cdiff doesn’t like steroids so he was started on prednisone and currently weaning off and then at the same time he is taking vancomycin for the cdiff and will be taking it for awhile. We haven’t been told anything about future antibiotics but we aren’t there yet. But yes my pharmacy knows of his transplant and he is only being seen still by the bone marrow clinic doctors.

Hi @jrwilli1 😊
It's so nice to meet you! I am sorry to hear that you and your husband are dealing with all of this added stress.
Was your husband's c diff caused by antibiotics or something else?
Has your husband started to see some improvement since starting his treatments of both prednisone and vancomycin?

Ginger, I am scheduled for my 1st cataract surgery in 2 weeks. My opthamologist has contracted with a compounding pharmacy to compound the 3 medicines for his patients. It was delivered yesterday, along with an eye patch and a pair of sunglasses that I am supposed to take with me on the day of my procedure. I like your reminder to check with my pharmacist about the drops. It hadn't occurred to me because I already take nightly eye drops and I have also been treated with eye injections by retina specialist with no issues. My transplant team is aware of those. I will call the Mayo Specialty Pharmacy and speak to a pharmacist on Monday. I'll let you know what I find out.

@jrwilli1, It sounds to me like you and your husband are getting excellent care and follow-up by his bone marrow doctors!
I had a liver and kidney transplant in 2009 at Mayo Rochester, and I receive(d) excellent follow-up care, even today at a distance of nearly 800 miles, I feel safe and secure because my PCP knows that he can contact them if there are any liver or kidney issues to be resolved.

I was taking a small dose of prednisone many years after my transplant, and when research showed that my condition did not require it, I weaned off. I had some struggles with that, but my PCP came to my rescue and offered some suggestions. How is your husband doing with weaning off the prednisone?

@hello1234 and all, My medicine requirements are unique to me, so I don't usually share my medicine information. Be sure to follow your own doctors advice because we each have different health histories 🤍
I do not take antibiotics before routine dental visits. However I was prescribed one prior to a root canal to assure that there was no infection present or Endodontist would not perform the procedure. She even called Mayo to be sure that I could take the one, and asked about the one she wanted to prescribe! I wish all health providers were like that!

So far so good. I too feel blessed that we have such good care and fortunate for us the clinic and hospital are just 30-40 minutes away. Yes what meds work for one doesn’t always work for each of us. Prayers are being answered for sure.