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.

@terrazza

I'm having similiar problems .. I also have eosinophils ESOPHAGUS...chest hurts terribly also have HIATIAL HERNIA..can barely breathe after going up a flight of steps...do u go through this

Jump to this post

Im sorry to here you are sick with that my mother has it

REPLY

I do not know what c diff( is. Colonoscopy could show if fungal balls are attached to your colon wall (colony)..I have had to google read google read and almost treat myself. good flora can be reestablished in days by eating normally and taking probiotics. i take multidophilus 12 from Whole Foods. Sounds bad--best of luck. is you temp sub normal?

REPLY
@terrazza

I'm having similiar problems .. I also have eosinophils ESOPHAGUS...chest hurts terribly also have HIATIAL HERNIA..can barely breathe after going up a flight of steps...do u go through this

Jump to this post

No, thank God I don't. Between the chronic Bladder infection that I have. Which I have to use Gentamycin every day for by putting it directly into the bladder, with the worry of what is going to be used when this doesn't work anymore.....I don't think I could handle one more thing. If only the doctor would give me some answers instead of telling me, "We'll cross that bridge when we get to it" so I could at least have some peace of mind...I guess he doesn't know is all I can figure out. I wish he could understand the torment I live with every day not knowing what is going to happen when this infection becomes immune to this antibiotic. I take care of my 52 year old niece that has had a stroke. There is no one to care for her when I end up in the hospital urinating blood again.

REPLY
@musicflowers4u

I highly recommend
A learning, teaching, research facility like Mayo Clinic. Saved my life.

Jump to this post

That is where I have been going.

REPLY
@gina1963

I wish a mayo clinic was close to me

Jump to this post

I drive 4 hours one way to get there.

REPLY
@musicflowers4u

I highly recommend
A learning, teaching, research facility like Mayo Clinic. Saved my life.

Jump to this post

That is where I have been going. Going to other doctors has been like using Fred Flintstone. With me not being able to take antibiotics orally or intravenously for this chronice Bladdder infection complicates things.

REPLY
@rtg103

My diet before c diff was not good. I ate out a lot. Mostly fast food. I drank soda, ate cookies, snack cakes, and potato chips daily. After c diff my only liquid intake is water and kefir probiotic drink. I eat fruits, vegetables, and lean meats. I snack on sugar free candies. I have developed folliculitis on my face and scalp as well as the white patch on my tongue and c diff. I am on my last day of my first (and hopefully last) course of vanco antibiotics. I take klonopin 0.5mg for my anxiety. I'm thinking of going to an infectious disease specialist and a nutritionist to help get me back on track. I'm also going to talk with my pharmacist about additional probiotics and prebiotics to help.

Jump to this post

So i went to the doctors and i have follicitic the gave me kephex antibiot and im to up my vancomycin im so scared to take the kephlex ....dpnt want cdoff back i had it 4 months

REPLY
@rtg103

My diet before c diff was not good. I ate out a lot. Mostly fast food. I drank soda, ate cookies, snack cakes, and potato chips daily. After c diff my only liquid intake is water and kefir probiotic drink. I eat fruits, vegetables, and lean meats. I snack on sugar free candies. I have developed folliculitis on my face and scalp as well as the white patch on my tongue and c diff. I am on my last day of my first (and hopefully last) course of vanco antibiotics. I take klonopin 0.5mg for my anxiety. I'm thinking of going to an infectious disease specialist and a nutritionist to help get me back on track. I'm also going to talk with my pharmacist about additional probiotics and prebiotics to help.

Jump to this post

I cant bring myself to take this kephlex ...do you take vanco for the follitice

REPLY
@musicflowers4u

I highly recommend a learning, teaching center of excellence such as Mayo Clinic.

Jump to this post

I live in Pennsylvania

REPLY
@musicflowers4u

Ciclopirox (1%)shampoo cured my felliculitis. You need an Rx. Use one or two tsp. Lathers well. Use for 4 werks with 3 days between each use. I need this particularly in hot weather. Good luck.

Jump to this post

Did you have it on ypur face

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.