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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Gary, Alumni Mentor | @gman007 | Feb 10, 2018

You mentioned you found some answers to your IBS at Mayo. I, too, have chronic pancreatitis and the slowing of gastric emptying along with effects of narcotics and diabetes, digestion is never anywhere close to normal. Was there anything you learned about your IBS in treating or minimizing at MAYO that you could share?

wendyw | @wendyw | Apr 16, 2018

In reply to @suez "It's fascinating reading about fecal transplant. Does anyone know if it's ever used in treating ulcerative..." + (show)

Yes there are trials with up to 50% success in curing UC. It’s very exciting.

wendyw | @wendyw | Apr 16, 2018

In reply to @elbb29 "Sorry to hear you are having issues @acres When I had taken to much antibiotics I..." + (show)

I have been researching Fecal Matter transfers for Ulcerative colitis and have read there is an up to 99% cure rate with C Diff

mpeters | @mpeters | Apr 19, 2018

In reply to @concernedmtnmom "Hi, @acres, I'm so sorry for all you are going through. C. Diff. is notoriously difficult..." + (show)

@concernedmtnmom

Hi, @acres, I'm so sorry for all you are going through. C. Diff. is notoriously difficult to get rid of and can persist through many treatments. Most people get it from a round of the antibiotics that end with -mycin, and Clindamycin in the worst offender. Flagyl and Vancomycin are horrible Rxs, but they can work (they probably gave you that weird taste in your mouth, but that could also be undigested food or activity in your gut doing that). If they DON'T work, however, you can try Rifaximin. Rifaximin has no side effects and makes you feel human again, and works well. Keep taking the Florastor, but take the max dosage. It is the probiotic yeast S. Boulardii and it kills C.Diff. and you can take it while on treatment because it's a yeast, so antibiotics don't kill it.

And the VSL3 can help restore other Flora killed by the antibiotics, but you need at least 3-4 pills/day. I don't know that taking them with Rifaximin will help, as they will be killed off by the mediciine, but right after you finish treatment, you need to load up your system with probiotics and VSL helps. Other natural sources include kefir (if you have dairy issues you can find a non-dairy one), Mountain High or Chobani yoghurt (not all yogurts have probiotics in them, but these two do...MHY has less sugar). A nutritionist can help you with finding other natural sources.

I had a family member with C. Diff. We went through it 4 times and Rifaximin helped the most--it was wonderful. It made a huge difference. A Mayo doc who gave us the Rx that took a while to get filled because it was tough to find and it was an off-label use, so try that but be prepared to persist.

Another approach is to taper off Vanco by skipping doses for a day or two to let the spores grow, then killing them off with the next dose. I wouldn't try that without a doc's supervision.

You must persist in finding relief, as gut infections are tough to conquer. There is a radical treatment called fecal transplant that is a miracle cure. Research that. there's a doctor in Canada who makes pills for this, I'll try to find his name in my notes later this week. If you can get treatment at Mayo, they are the best docs. You need support as losing weight and suffering is not an option. Good luck!

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I’m wondering if drinking Keifer might help some. I had recurrent uti’s and was on a series of different antibiotics. I drank a glass of Keifer every day to help with digestion. It took a while but it seemed to help normalize my digestion.

gstill | @gstill | May 11, 2018

I was diagnosed with cDiff in January, treated with Flagyl, which didn’t work and then hospitalized for two days and took Vancomycin for two weeks. I recovered, but developed symptoms on May 4 and am now back on Vancomycin. My Dr. recommends a colonoscopy with Fecal Microbial Transplant since I am turning 65 in June. Has anyone had this done? Is this the best option? What do I need to know?

Kanaaz Pereira, Connect Moderator | @kanaazpereira | May 11, 2018

Hello @gstill,

Welcome to Connect. I moved your message and merged it with this active discussion on C.diff. so that you can meet the many members who have discussed much of what you are concerned about.
If you click on VIEW & REPLY in your email notification, you will see the whole discussion and can join in, meet, and participate with other members talking about their or their loved ones' experiences.

@tammy1pike has shared so much about her son's experiences with regard c. diff. and Fecal Microbiota Transplant (FMT); if you scroll through this very discussion you can read her posts. I’m also tagging @concernedmtnmom @acres @momochan @citygirlannie @elbb29 @kyjeanne @dodgerblu818311 who may have some thoughts for you.
I think you might find some good information about FMT on the Gastroenterology & GI Surgery Page, too https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/gastroenterology-and-gi-surgery/

@gstill, how are you coping with this infection, at present? Have you tried taking any probiotics? What is your biggest concern about fecal transplant? We do look forward to getting to know you better.

gstill | @gstill | Jun 7, 2018

In reply to @kanaazpereira "Hello @gstill, Welcome to Connect. I moved your message and merged it with this active discussion..." + (show)

I underwent FMT by enteroscopy on May 25. Was well for a week and the symptoms returned. I then had a colonoscopy with FMT on June 5. June 6 & 7 I am still having the same symptoms I have had before. Has anyone else had FMT that didn't work?

npkara | @npkara | Jun 16, 2018

HI,
Im 30 yr old female caught c diff from overuse of antibiotics for UTI.first symptoms were just 1 or 2 loose watery D for few days and it stopped .After a week saw it again so did garlic enema to stop D.things turned upside down after the enema.I got severe lower right abdominal pain and severe nausea that I couldn't stand or sit.Ended up in the ER 2 times for the pain.But even then there is no severe D but my BM s are so different either C or D or mushy stools.
misdiagnosed for 1 month and finally tested positive for C Diff.was put on Vanco for 20 days, 4 x 250 mg for 10 days and 1 X 250mg for 10 days.(couldn't tolerate flagyl effects so switched to Vanco).now Im on 7th days of Vanco.

My Question is

1.How do I know that Im recovering from C Diff (my stools are mushy or D with 2
-3 BMs per day). is this normal while recovering.

2.I still have pain on my right side but subsided a lot.How long I will have this pain.

3.Nausea is gone and able to eat everything except got allergic to coconut water.

4.Im having excessive gas throughout the day.

5.Taking BIO k+ ,need suggestions on this.

6.im vegan and my diet contains usually fermented foods and yogurt ,fruits, diary and vegetables, but I still feel my diet is not helping me in recovering.

7.buzzing sound in rectum.

Any help is appreciated.This is really frustrating as me and my husband are TTC.Im really depressed and taking anxiety meds for this and literally crying all the day from 2 weeks and so sick of being sick.I want to be normal again asap.

Note: CT scan with ora contrast is done and normal,cbc is normal except slight increase in WBC,Haemoglobin is normal.ESR,CRP are normal, all stool tests for OVA Parasites is negative, no WBC or RBC in stool,PROmetheus IBD test is negative.
C DIFF is positive.

Kanaaz Pereira, Connect Moderator | @kanaazpereira | Jun 16, 2018

Hi @npkara,

I'm really sorry to hear about your symptoms, and can imagine how upset you must be!
You may notice that I moved your message and combined it with this existing discussion on C.Diff. I did this as I thought it would be beneficial for you to meet the many members who have discussed much of what you are experiencing.
If you click on VIEW & REPLY in your email notification, you will see the whole discussion and can join in, meet, and participate with other members talking about their or their loved ones' experiences.

Contrary to widespread belief that because it is natural it is safe, herbal remedies can carry major risks and produce serious side effects.
While we wait for members to respond, may I ask if you could share more about the garlic enema? Did you do it as a colon cleanse? Have you informed your doctor?

lioness | @lioness | Jun 16, 2018

In reply to @kanaazpereira "Hi @npkara, I'm really sorry to hear about your symptoms, and can imagine how upset you..." + (show)

@npkara do to have a rotten smell from your BM,s? Till this is gone you,'ll have C diff.as a retired nurse I can tell you this.Funny story.My Mom had a nephew 9,or so she gave him a garlic enema for parasites sure enough they saw them in the toilet so that worked for them but I wouldn't do one unless Dr.says so Has your Dr.done other testing for his Right side pain ?like ultrasound or x rays? There are certain herb you should not take on your on, when On warfarin in particular With all the bloating sounds like you have, you may need some good bacteria in your intestines like a good probiotic ask your Dr. Is this your PCP or digestive Dr. ,a gastroenterologist?