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

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.

mosey | @mosey | Jul 24, 2018
In reply to @lioness "@mosey You have sure been sick Hi I'm Linda a retired nurse also believes in holistic..." + (show)
@lioness

@mosey You have sure been sick Hi I'm Linda a retired nurse also believes in holistic medicine In glad the holistic Dr made you feel better my question to you is why do you want to begin antibiotics? Sounds like your doing fine without them our bodies can heal themselves if we give them clean ,natural foods .Do you know the dangers of antibiotics and intestinal problem s The Dr. Will tell you that to many antibiotics can cause intestinal problems as well as other problems when you take to many Eating organic foods ,drinking good water ,going out in nature , getting your Vi t D from sunshine goes along way to healing the body Antibiotics are good when needed but you don't want to overdo them

Jump to this post

Thanks, Linda! Having a bit of a rough time now...cramps in upper abdomen returned along with nausea. So hoping it doesn’t signal a c diff return. Bowel movement fine but never had diarrhea to begin although sometimes constipated. Trying to eat more and relying on matzah and butter to add calories. Trying organic egg re-entry now, poached, and hoping the eggs nor the whole wheat matzo is causing a problem. Also started on brown rice with butter, along with my normal cooked veggies and chicken. Gas pretty severe two days ago, following the rice. What do you think is going on? Thanks so much for your input! Terry (Mosey)

REPLY
concerned mtn. mom | @concernedmtnmom | Jul 24, 2018
In reply to @lioness "@mosey You have sure been sick Hi I'm Linda a retired nurse also believes in holistic..." + (show)
@lioness

@mosey You have sure been sick Hi I'm Linda a retired nurse also believes in holistic medicine In glad the holistic Dr made you feel better my question to you is why do you want to begin antibiotics? Sounds like your doing fine without them our bodies can heal themselves if we give them clean ,natural foods .Do you know the dangers of antibiotics and intestinal problem s The Dr. Will tell you that to many antibiotics can cause intestinal problems as well as other problems when you take to many Eating organic foods ,drinking good water ,going out in nature , getting your Vi t D from sunshine goes along way to healing the body Antibiotics are good when needed but you don't want to overdo them

Jump to this post

I saw this post in the string and thought I'd offer what I learned when my daughter was sick. Her doctor explained that C. Diff. toxins can break off the cilia in your colon, so if you've been quite ill, you need to grow those back to ease back into health. The different parts along the length of the cilia, as he explained, absorb different nutrients (I'm sure this is way oversimplified, but bear with me). He said the broken off cilia are short, and at the base is where they absorb fats, so high-fat foods might actually be easier to digest at first. After a few days, when they start growing back, they can absorb more carbs and vitamins and minerals (middle part of the cilia) and after a few more days, they will be long enough to absorb proteins (far end of the now longer cilia), but start with easily digested proteins like milk and eggs. So your butter instincts are good, maybe wait a bit for rice, and then eggs last. He had us "upgrade" our menu every 3-4 days. It's not very scientific sounding, but it worked for us and she sure enjoyed the ice cream phase! I was just so happy to see her eat without suffering. Hope this helps.

REPLY
lioness | @lioness | Jul 24, 2018
In reply to @lioness "@mosey You have sure been sick Hi I'm Linda a retired nurse also believes in holistic..." + (show)
@lioness

@mosey You have sure been sick Hi I'm Linda a retired nurse also believes in holistic medicine In glad the holistic Dr made you feel better my question to you is why do you want to begin antibiotics? Sounds like your doing fine without them our bodies can heal themselves if we give them clean ,natural foods .Do you know the dangers of antibiotics and intestinal problem s The Dr. Will tell you that to many antibiotics can cause intestinal problems as well as other problems when you take to many Eating organic foods ,drinking good water ,going out in nature , getting your Vi t D from sunshine goes along way to healing the body Antibiotics are good when needed but you don't want to overdo them

Jump to this post

@mosey I really am unsure have you seen your gastroenterologist? I would start there ,he probably will do some testing to figure out your problem I gave you the treatment Dr had us use for diarrhea ,the BRAT diet but with what you,ve explained you better see your Dr.

REPLY
j8k1nw69 | @j8k1nw69 | Jul 30, 2018
In reply to @npkara "HI, Im 30 yr old female caught c diff from overuse of antibiotics for UTI.first symptoms..." + (show)
@npkara

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.

Jump to this post

Get rid of dairy ASAP!!! C diff feeds on sugar-specifically from dairy. I had it for 5 years recurring. I’m so sorry. It takes a long time to recover.

REPLY
claudiabrende | @claudiabrende | Jul 31, 2018

I've never done
this before but I just need some hope. Over a year ago I started feeling on and off nauseous and tested positive for acid reflex, a month later I started bleeding rectally did a colonoscopy and upper which showed an infection of the large intestines, a week later giardia, then a severe kidney infection that caused vaginal bleeding, a few weeks ago I tested positive for C-diff both A and B toxins. My health is declining at a fast rate, weight loss, sick after eating, bloating, rectal bleeding, bowel changes, bruise easily, I have a difficult time with getting my blood to stop bleeding after a blood test, abdominal cramping, pain, severe nausea. Please help me if you can. I don't get into Mayo till September and I'm scared.

REPLY
Kanaaz Pereira, Connect Moderator | @kanaazpereira | Jul 31, 2018

Hello @claudiabrende,

Welcome to Connect. I'm sorry to hear about your symptoms and can only imagine your worry! I'm so glad you joined this group. You may notice that I moved your message and combined it with this existing discussion. I did this because you mentioned testing positive for C.diff, and I thought it would be beneficial for you to be introduced to 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 conversation and can join in, meet, and participate with other members talking about their or their loved ones' experiences.

You might wish to view this discussion, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/c-diff-23fc30/ where @itsohard just recently posted her experience with c.diff as well.

@claudiabrende, you mentioned, "I have a difficult time with getting my blood to stop bleeding after a blood test..." Would you be able to share a bit more about this symptom? Have you been tested for other GI conditions like colitis/ulcerative colitis? How are you managing your symptoms?

REPLY
2 replies
Kanaaz Pereira, Connect Moderator | @kanaazpereira | Jul 31, 2018
In reply to @npkara "HI, Im 30 yr old female caught c diff from overuse of antibiotics for UTI.first symptoms..." + (show)
@npkara

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.

Jump to this post

Thanks so much for sharing your insight about dairy, @j8k1nw69 and welcome to Connect. May I ask if you were prescribed any medications that might have helped? Do you feel that you're fully recovered now?

REPLY
claudiabrende | @claudiabrende | Jul 31, 2018

@teresa
This all first started with just nausea but since February I started having rectal bleeding but no bowel issues until after the colonoscopy that identified a bacterial infection and within a week or two ended up catching parasite that I experienced diarrhea, mucus, and stinky stools. Not too long after that, I had a kidney infection that caused vaginal bleeding even though I had a hysterectomy, three weeks ago I started having terrible diarrhea and my GI doctor did a stool sample which showed C.Diff. When I get lab work done it takes 30 minutes for it to stop bleeding.

REPLY
2 replies
claudiabrende | @claudiabrende | Jul 31, 2018

I've been tested for food allergies, chrons, colitis, gallbladder, etc.. Nothing is showing up but I am continuing to lose weight, abdominal pain, cramping, etc.

REPLY
claudiabrende | @claudiabrende | Jul 31, 2018

When I went to do labs I had the wrapping on for 25 minutes and when I took it off blood started leaking down my arm.

REPLY
2 replies
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.