Trying to recover from a c. diff infection (Clostridium difficile)

I have no answers only support to offer. I too started with a possible CDiff diagnosis two months ago after suffering from diarrhea for four weeks following a course of Clindimycin for a UTI. I have taken two rounds of Flagy,l which help but somehow I always seem to slide back to the semi solid stool stage. Not sure if I truly have CDiff. Gastro doctor thought I have SIBO and also had me go through CT scan of gut which was normal. Big relief but no answers. What I have found is that there is no linear or straight line recovery. I can do OK for one or two weeks and then have a couple of days when my gut becomes irritated and I go back to the diarrhea. I understand your frustration and depression. Iam following a low FODMAP diet, eating no gluten or dairy and sticking to what seem safe foods but have lost a lot of weight . My next step will probably be colonoscopy, though I had a normal one a year ago. Other theory is I may have something called microscopic colitis. I am trying to nourish my body, keep as normal a life as I can and try to not have dark thoughts. It seems to take a long time and trial and error to come up with a diagnosis or not. But it is hard for me not to feel at times like God is punishing me or has forgotten me. You need to find a doctor who listens and cares because this is a scary process without medical guidance. I also take Align, Florastor and slippery elm as supplements along with my fiber and vitamins. I take a loperidol after each loose BM and wait until next one to see if I need one. I am fortunate in that I am self employed and have a bathroom near my office. I rarely go out to eat with friends because I am afraid of restaurant food. Not sure how it is prepared. Don’t drink alcohol, sodas or caffeine. Never been a smoker and thought I was in fairly good health at 63 until all hell broke loose about four months ago. I found the story of the poster who is in his/her nineties inspiring. I aim to be that person. Don’t know if this post helps but I am here as much to give as to receive support. Getting to see the right doctor takes a long time, then getting a diagnosis takes much longer, etc. In meantime, we are miserable, losing weight, thinking we have cancer, etc.

I had cdiff for 5 months and i have colitice so this realy made my life a nitemare ...any help i can give you i will and i ask god why ...you no i was always told god only gives you wat you can handle ...so i said i guess he thinks i can handle alot ....because that was a lot

I totally understand your pain and desperation and cry when I read these posts. I have had some very dark moments and some very angry moments. My colitis started after a round of a broad acting antibiotic which should not have been prescribed for a UTI. I am very angry at my PCP who essentially caused my problem and then basically abandoned me or told me to go see a gastro doctor, which then took me another two months to get in. These become chronic or self reinforcing conditions because we have to keep eating and irritating the colon while it tries to heal. I can’t give you medical advice but try to eat things that are calming to the gut. Clear chicken broth, jello, etc. I take slippery elm pills between meals which is soothing to the lining of the gut. I am trying to eat small meals throughout the day and sometimes drink chicken broth instead of water. I have lost a lot of weight and I am struggling with this. I don’t have a firm diagnosis yet. I have some form of colitis but sure. I also take Florastor twice a day and one Align daily. You are not alone but I know it often feels that way.

To my knowledge a hospital must treat you if you go to ER. Otherwise try VSL probiotic and stay on it. Research probiotic foods and avoid sugary foods and gluten. Try any calming activity you can. I feel for you and have a brother without insurance having moved to another state. We need insurance in America to cover these situations.

One thing I can eat during the worst of flareups is organic chicken broth and jello. Have both at hand and consume them throughout the day. Drink broth instead of water if you can. I agree with poster above regarding avoiding gluten, lactose in milk and a lot of sugar. I take two Florastor and one Align daily. Two slippery elm capsules between meals. Not sure what the ER would do but at least they can stabilize you if you are dehydrated or in a great deal of pain. Otherwise I don’t think they will provide a comprehensive workup. I live in Texas and people here can go to the public hospital and apply for a discount card. I have found all sorts of gluten free crackers and dairy free products at the store. I rarely eat out. I now eat like a baby or like a geriatric patient. All bland basic food. Research Low FODMAP diet. It has not eliminated my diarrhea completely but certainly helps with gas, bloating and pain. If you have an overgrowth of bad bacteria, which can be a residual effect of the CDiff, these bacteria feed on certain foods that are high on certain types of sugars and carbs. These foods are not necessarily bad but just bad for us right now because the “bad bacteria” feed off them and cause the bloating and pain. There is so much I did not know but have had to learn over the past three months to advocate for myself. I have been given very little nutricional advice by doctors who tell you to eat everything or whatever you can tolerate. That creates a vicious cycle because food definitely irritates the colon and feed into these disorders or perpetuates them. I feel for you. I have insurance and am under the care of a GI doctor and there are days I want to pull my hair out. Can’t imagine not having medical attention or guidance. By the way, how were you diagnosed with CDiff and how do you think you acquired it? I think CDiff is now being over utilized. I was told I had CDiff, tested twice and both tests came back negative. I have taken two rounds of antibiotics anyway because the second theory is that I have SIBO. I don’t think that is clear either. Keep us posted.

@guthealth @musicflowers4u and others with cdiff the one thing you will notice is the smell its unlike anything you have. Like a sweet rotten potato thats the closes I can tell you as a retired nurse Dr put them on flagle ?sp.

I never had the smell but I don’t think I ever had CDiff either. That was the initial working diagnosis but both CDiff tests came back negative. I have read about nurses at hospitals mentioning the smell.

@guthealth maybe a good probiotic and fiber is what you may need just a suggestion .When I had gas,bloating ,diarreah this is what the Dr put me on it worked fine now I have a greek yogurt every day

What probiotic do you suggest. I take physillum fiber capsules, Align and Florastor now.

@guthealth Sorry for th e late answer. Ask your Dr about a good probiotic The one I took was Garden of Eden just make sure you get all the Lactobucilus ?sp in it .