Connect
← Return to Trying to recover from a c. diff infection (Clostridium difficile)
Discussion
Trying to recover from a c. diff infection (Clostridium difficile)
Digestive Health | Last Active: Apr 11 12:22am | Replies (545)Comment receiving replies
Can anyone help me?
I got C.diff back in October (early to mid). I had taken clindamycin for BV and it didn't react well for me. I went into the ER for intense pain, bloating, and diarrhea. They found out I had a severe case of colitis, my entire bowel system was extremely inflamed. But they didn't know what type of colitis it was until my 3rd day there. Then they did the colonoscopy, endoscopy, and biopsy. So they treated me with antibiotics. Sent me home with more antibiotics. And after finishing them, and giving it a few days I felt better.
I was still more aware of my bowels, which is saying something since I have IBS already. But other than awareness, and maybe some tenderness in a way, it was normal. Then Thanksgiving came, and I ate what my family made. I had immediate diarrhea and pain. I thought it was the dairy, bc I forgot to start taking my IBS meds again. They had me stop taking them for awhile after being diagnosed with c.diff. Then I tried the food the next day, after taking my IBS meds. Same issues.
So I decided no more thanksgiving food. But the pain, bloating, twisting feeling, and pooping didn't stop. And I would get the urge, but when I went to go, it'd be a lot of gas, that was hard put to come up. When I would poop, the stool itself was very hard, and not a lot would come out.
My mother bought me stool softener. It made the stool less dry and sandpaper-like. But I still wasn't getting any relief.
So last Friday she gave me some of her Super Colon Cleanse (about 3/4-5/8 of a scoop/serving) mixed with Metamucil in a water bottle. And I drunk half the mixture. I still haven't stopped pooping. I'm pooping for hours again, just like with c.diff. No blood this time though. And the stool is pellet like.
I keep waking up to poop, or try to poop. I can't eat anything. Especially not carbs or dairy. I feel like I'm dying, but in a very different way than when I had c.diff.
I don't know what's happening. If I should go to the hospital or not. Or if c.diff has different symptoms the 2nd time around. Or if, because it was such a severe case, that my bowels were damaged somehow. I'm really just not all right, and idk what to do.
Replies to "Can anyone help me? I got C.diff back in October (early to mid). I had taken..."
Connect
Sorry you are going through this and this is what I have learned from my own experience with GI infections. When you suffer from CDiff or any other gut infection, the lining of your intestines is irritated, damaged and compromised. It may take weeks and months for your GI to get back to normal. Nobody told me food is an irritant. I went to the GI doctor who put me on several rounds of antibiotics. I would improve and he would then encourage me to eat normal because I had lost 20 pounds. I would eat “normal” and start suffering from diarrhea in a few days. This vicious cycle continued for me until I started to do my own research and ran into information about SCD and Low FODMAP diets. My efforts to implement these diets on my own were a similar disaster but I could see some improvement in symptoms if I avoided certain foods. I finally begged for a referral to a nutritionist whom I have now seen three times only but she has totally changed the quality of my life. I have gained seven pounds and not suffered diarrhea or colic for nearly three weeks. This is going to be a slow healing process for me. I will not be eating a “normal” diet for months. Eating the proper foods after infections and antibiotic use is essential to long term recovery. I was in despair two months ago. Now I feel hopeful. There are many complexities to each of our cases but I would suggest to start keeping a food diary and get a referral to a nutritionist. Idea is to avoid foods that are high in fructose, lactose and complex carbs. Hope this helps.