Will a scheduled colonoscopy cause a relapse of C-Diff?

I had C-Diff. It was bad. Any time I need to take an antibiotic (I try not to) I take a probiotic. No specific kind, just from the drug store, or from Amazon. It works for me.

I take probiotics any time i must take an antibiotic. C-Diff is horrible.

Dana,
It is interesting that you say your doctor suggested a specific probiotic for you. When I was in the hospital they had me taking the probiotic Florastor three times a day, along with the Vanco. When I was released from the hospital, I had to take the Vanco for 10 more days and with that I continue taking a probiotic Florastor. I have since continued taking that same probiotic one time a day at night. If I feel a little loose, then I take one during the day. I have not felt right about venturing out and trying any other probiotic since this is the one they put me on. I am interested in what you said that your doctor recommended to you and I will remember that. Have not had to take any antibiotics since the time in October 2022 that ‘woke’ up the horrible C Diff. It has almost been five months. And I am careful, so as not to get sick or be in any need of antibiotics. Thank you so much for your comment. Hopefully we will all not have to deal with this. The infectious disease doctor that saw me in the hospital was telling me that if I can go one year without having an issue then I would probably be OK. One year. !!!! Well one year seems like an awful long time but I will inch my way there and hope for the best. Stay well.

Hi BBarbiee I can relate also as after my first bout with it in 2019 i worry also. But i do take an antibiotic every time i have dental work and so far no reoccurrence. I can suggest that when I was last on Vancomycin my PCP Doctor put me on a probiotic that worked well for me. He was very specific that it had to be Lactobacillus Acidophilus and not to take the one that had the acid part first. Now i would definitely check with your doctor as because of my transplant drugs I'm on they will only let me take it when I'm on a longer term of antibiotics since it plays with my other meds and that the one-day I'm on Amoxicillin for dental work is not long enough to cause cdif and I'm now 3 years of twice a year dental cleaning and no problems with cdif. Hope that helps. Let me know what you find out as I too would not want to wish that disease on anyone.

I am also interested to find out if the colonoscopy or tetanus shot caused a relapse in the c diff. The majority of 2022 I was dealing with a flareup of diverticulitis that never went away after numerous double antibiotics. Ended up having a sigmoidectomy June 2022. At that time they said I tested positive for. C diff. I was not treated for that. Then I ended up taking amoxicillin in October for a dental issue. After 10 days the c diff reared its ugly head, and I ended up spending seven days in the hospital. Was treated with Vancomycin and florastor. Was released from the hospital on another 10 days of Vancomycin and Florastor. I have continued on once a day with the probiotic. And here I am at the beginning of March 2023. Scared to death to ever take another antibiotic. So I understand what you mean by it coming back. I am afraid to even take Tylenol. So afraid it will trigger the C diff again! It is always on my mind, but I am trying to move forward. Trying to stay as healthy as possible. Good luck out there. May we all keep away from this horrible c diff!

@minge did you ever end up getting the colonoscopy? Did it cause a relapse? I too am 2 months post antibiotics for cdiff and nervous of getting my colonoscopy because of that reason

I was initially put on Flagyl which failed, then failed on Vancomycin then Dificid which worked. I tested negative 3 times and was doing well for 2 months. Then I tested for C. Diff. and it came back positive. I was started on Vancomycin again which failed then 2 courses of Dificid. I have not retested since, but have not had diarrhea so I'm assuming it is gone. I was scheduled for a FMT on August 25, but the stool donor could not produce the required 50 ml of stool (only got out 20 ml) so I was sent home without having the procedure after spending 3 hours in pre-op at the hospital. At this point I am just keeping my fingers crossed because I do not want to go through another prep (which is the same as you do for the colonoscopy) for an FMT. The hospital I went to for the FMT is in the process of getting certified to do FMTs with frozen stool. If they do get certified, I would consider the FMT. But having to go through the prep aggravated my colon so much and it took weeks to recover from that, I would not do it again unless I could be assured the FMT would proceed as scheduled. I live in fear daily that it will come back or that I will have to get antibiotics for something else and will get C. Diff. again. It was truly the worst experience of my life and has left a very deep scar on my psyche. I wish you well.

I had a Diverticulitis flareup that started in the middle of February 2022. From that time until the middle of May I was on double antibiotics Flagyl and bactrim every three weeks. Just trying to get rid of it. Finally had a sigmoidectomy at the beginning of June 2022. The part taken out was still infected and abcessing. After the surgery while in the hospital I tested positive for c diff. I followed up with my colon surgeon and my gastroenterologist. They both told me to just eat yogurt or take Probiotics for three months after.
In early October 2022 I was put on amoxicillin for a dental issue. Approximately 10 days later I started with diarrhea and bleeding. Went into the ER to be told I had c diff colitis. I spent six days in the hospital and was released with Vancomycin and Florastor probiotic. This has not been fun especially since I thought I got everything fixed when I had surgery this past June. It sounds like this c diff is near impossible to get rid of. I am very frustrated that I will have to continue going on these protocols. Always eat as healthy as I can and worked out 4 days a week. Hoping for the best but from all I have been told and read nit as positive as I want to be. C diff is no joke.

I’ve had pretty good luck with specific probiotics the more millions the better.

Thank you, pixie1960.