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

Totally agree with your post. That is exactly what happened to me. Clindymycin destroyed my intestinal flora and I am now working to repair the damage done to my gut.

To all of you, I am still battling CDiff. I’m now on vancomycin. I had 3 rounds with Flagyl which seemed to help at the time, until I was off about 3 days. Then HORRIBLE diarrhea set in again. If I even sipped a drink of water I had better be sitting on the toilet. I had not eaten lots during the last couple of weeks because of being sick. Mostly soups & potatoes. I’m very tiny anyway so I’m not a big eater anyway. I’m 71 & have lost 20 pounds. I only weighted 105 at the beginning so I’m at 85. I have a heart issue called Afib & hypertension also. I’m doing well with those due to a wonderful cardiologist. After the 3rd relapse with this awful Cdiff I was getting in a panic. I never knew it was possible to have that much diarrhea & mucus come out of one tiny person. One night my husband said around 40 times. I had IV fluids & was sent home on Flagyl. Now I still have a week left on the vancomycin. As the time grows closer to being off I feel in a panic. My body can’t take another set back as bad as the others. I feel that my Dr is just going to wait & see if I do. I guess that’s all he can do. There are lots of foods that still hurt me, so I’m eating carefully. The diarrhea is gone except for one loose BM in the morning. Last time I got off the Flagyl I went 5 days without a Bm. Them boom. I don’t won’t to die like this after all I have been through with my heart & have mostly conquered that. I have made lots of notes from all these discussions from here. I’m going to ask my GI about all this. He doesn’t like to be questioned, but if he can’t listen I’m walking out & going somewhere else. I’m just not up to all these tests all over again I can’t even walk trough the grocery store alone. I’ll have a good day & think “YAY” then get up cramping of feel like my legs are rubber. With all the medical technology it seems like they should be able to help peopl like us. Oh, I think I forgot to say that I got it from clindamycin also for a severe sinus infection. I also have a compromised gut anyway due to diverticulosis & I had an episode with ischemic colitis about 10 months ago I know this is long, but I’m getting desperate. Any other ideas other than what I’ve read in these discussions? I’m open to listening to anything.

So sorry to hear about your problems. Have you tried elemental drinks? I drink something called EleCare Jr. which is an elemental formula designed for children and it is very mild. Comes in different flavors. I dropped twenty pounds in three months and these elemental drinks are helping me to put weight back. I could drink them even during my worst flares with diarrhea. Nutrients are broken down to enzymes so your body absorbs them very quickly. It is manufactured by Abbott and you can purchase the cans through their website. Comes in a powder you mix with water. Highly recommend them. I could not each much of anything for weeks and these elemental shakes stopped my weight loss. Hope you feel better soon and perhaps others can also give you advice regarding how they dealt with the weight loss. By the way, I am in my sixties. Reason my nutritionist recommended this particular brand is because even very young and sick children can tolerate it.

Thank you so much for replying, guthealth. I’m going to my GI dr next week. I have several things to talk to him about. It seems to me that they aren’t taking this as seriously as it is. I have a few decent days & then a week of the nightmare. I’m going to check out getting thus drink. I’m desperate. I feel I won’t live long if I don’t get help. I can’t tolerate this horrible CDiff coming back a few days after I get off the antibiotics. I’m weak too. There has to be something to help me recover. I’m definitely going to try this drink. Again THANK YOU.

Don’t give up and see if you can get a referral to a nutritionist. I consider myself a fairly smart and educated person and trust me when I tell you I was clueless about the diet to follow for these infections. I was relapsing all over the place and losing weight at an alarming rate. I was truly desperate. I had read about low FODMAP and SCD diets but was making all sorts of mistakes on how I implemented the diet. Those elemental shakes have been extremely helpful. Sounds like you need more support and attention than what you are presently getting from your health providers. Keep us posted.

I have had Cdiff for over 5 weeks. I’ve been treated with Flagyl. I think it gone then after about 4 days it’s back. Now I’m on vancomycin. I’m 71 & tiny. I have lost 20 pounds. I weigh 85. I seem a little better with diarrhea only about 3 a day. I’m really weak & generally feel awful. I’m worried that it won’t be gone this time either. I also have heart rhythm problems ( Afib). I’m getting desperate. Any advice

Hello @sandyabbey,

You may notice that I moved your discussion and combined it with this existing discussion on C. diff. so that you can be 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 discussion and can join in, meet, and participate with other members talking about their or their loved ones' experiences.

@sandyabbey Our situations are very much the same, even our age, as I am 70. Except I need to take off 40 or 50 pounds. I lost 10 pounds with my 4th bout of Cdiff but put it back on when I started feeling better. Are you doing the pulse and taper method with the vancomycin? I did one round of Flagyl, 10 days of Vanco. And after the 3rd bout of Cdiff, I did the pulse and taper method of Vanco and in October, after my 4th bout, I took Dificid (fidaxamycin). My insurance asked if I had used Vanco before they would approve the Dificid. I went for 3 weeks and 2 days after the last round of Vanco. I'm out over a month since ending the Dificid. I continue to pray that this last med works. I will do the fecal transplant if I relapse again. I've even checked with the Open Biome capsule form of doing it. Less invasive and the cost is $635. Not sure my gastroenterologist will approve. My cardiologist also suggested I try Inulin as it feeds the good bacteria. You want to start out with a very small amount as too much will give you Cdiff symptoms with cramping. I will never take Clindamycin again. I can sure relate to everything you're going through.

my daughter has C Diff and we are looking for a doctor in the NYC, Philly area, who administers Fecal pills. Can anyone help with names?

@bonniedeely If you google Open Biome you will find the site where your doctor can order the capsules. The cost is $635 for 30 capsules. I've had 4 bouts of Cdiff and I've decided I'm doing the fecal transplant if I have another relapse. I finished Dificid on 10/26. I started with Flagyl, then two rounds of Vancomycin. I'm hoping the Dificid (fidaxamycin) will work. If not, I'm going to ask my gastroenterologist for the capsules. Less invasive. Have you tried the other drugs first?