Diverticulitis with C.difficile

Posted by fpats17 @fpats17, Mar 20, 2019

hello all and I am glad I found this site. I was recently diagnosed with diverticulitis in August. Spent 3 days in the hospital, w/micro perforation put on liquid diet and IV antibiotics. Cleared up.. fast forward to January 2019 CT scan reveals I had MILD diverticulitis but no pain this time and only slight change in bowel habits. Back on low fiber and treated with usual cipro and flagyl. Now here we are March and follow up ct scan says diverticulitis again, But between January and March got C Diff along the way and then e coli while in Mexico. I demanded to be put on a different antibiotic so they gave me Amox/Clav but second culture still says I had c diff. Now I cannot tell if this is c diff or div. Doctor ordered me Deficid for the c diff since the amox/clav should handle the div. I am sure hoping that this is just the c diff and the deficid will take care of it! But at my wits end.

Based on what i read and on this site and others I have spoken to, the diverticulitis seems to come back even after surgery. I am seeing a surgeon next week but am very reluctant to get a resection if it is not going really solve the problem. Also, has anyone else dealt with both c diff and div at the same time? This is completely nuts! any guidance or insight would be helpful since this is driving me insane. thank you all. fpats17

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@beckyt

I developed diverticulitis and was given anti-biotics that then gave me C-diff. I enrolled in a study about FMT, fecal microbial transplant. Yep, they put in someone's healthy poo into you via enema. In about a couple weeks, my suffering ended. No more C-diff. So very grateful I found them, in Burr Ridge IL. And they paid me for participating in the study, lol.

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So glad to hear you have done well since your FMT. I had this done January 30th, 2023 and have done well. I am however , scared to death to take Antibiotics since that time. How long ago was your FMT done? Have you had to take antibiotics since that time? And were you told to be very cautious of taking any? I had to take some Antibiotics for Sinusitis in June, given me by my Primary Care Doctor. My Infectious Disease Dr put me on a course on low-dose Vancomycin for the course of the Antibiotic and 7 days past that. No problem. I just wondered how others who have had a successful FMT are handling needed Antibiotics ? Thank you.

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@beckyt

I developed diverticulitis and was given anti-biotics that then gave me C-diff. I enrolled in a study about FMT, fecal microbial transplant. Yep, they put in someone's healthy poo into you via enema. In about a couple weeks, my suffering ended. No more C-diff. So very grateful I found them, in Burr Ridge IL. And they paid me for participating in the study, lol.

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That is amazing news! Congratulations. I had never heard of FMT helping with something like that.

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I had my FMT done last year, June. I have not had any problems since then. But I am careful not to get constipated again to cause diverticulitis. I have not had to go on antibiotics and am very grateful cause I too am now scared of them. In addition to the C-diff, my arm became very sore and I could not raise it for a couple months. It went away after like 4 months. Nobody told me to be cautious of them but if I ever need them again, I will inform them of what happened. Glad to hear you are well too.

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@pixie1960

So glad to hear you have done well since your FMT. I had this done January 30th, 2023 and have done well. I am however , scared to death to take Antibiotics since that time. How long ago was your FMT done? Have you had to take antibiotics since that time? And were you told to be very cautious of taking any? I had to take some Antibiotics for Sinusitis in June, given me by my Primary Care Doctor. My Infectious Disease Dr put me on a course on low-dose Vancomycin for the course of the Antibiotic and 7 days past that. No problem. I just wondered how others who have had a successful FMT are handling needed Antibiotics ? Thank you.

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I had a FMT 9 years ago . With in 5 days I was feeling so much better. I had to search different states because nobody here in Texas did that according to all my Dr’s. The C DIFF I had was antibiotic resistant. I took Flagyl for 9 months and it kept me out of the hospital but didn’t cure me. I researched anything that could help me because my Dr’s could only give Flagyl. I found a Dr in Florida. I wasn’t able to travel so he sent everything I needed next day. God Bless Him. I won’t take another broad spectrum antibiotic and when I do have to take a antibiotic I drink Kiefer the entire time.

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@lexiebea - WOW! I had no idea the FMT was available 9 years ago. Sounds like they were quite rare. Also sounds like you had a very rough case of Cdiff! It was certainly very kind of the Florida Doctor to send you everything necessary Next Day. I am dodging Antibiotics every way I can! I certainly don't want another Broad Spectrum Abx either! I am very glad you have done well for so long after the FMT! I am going to have to check into the Kefer . I read a bit on it so far today, and its a better Probiotic than yogurt I understand.

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@pixie1960

@lexiebea - WOW! I had no idea the FMT was available 9 years ago. Sounds like they were quite rare. Also sounds like you had a very rough case of Cdiff! It was certainly very kind of the Florida Doctor to send you everything necessary Next Day. I am dodging Antibiotics every way I can! I certainly don't want another Broad Spectrum Abx either! I am very glad you have done well for so long after the FMT! I am going to have to check into the Kefer . I read a bit on it so far today, and its a better Probiotic than yogurt I understand.

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@pixie1960 I, too, had the fmt 5 years ago. It saved my life! I had been through 3 cdiff relapses and then got the fmt. I still take probiotics every day and recently had to have an antibiotic for a tooth issue. I was frantic! I did some research and found that Zithromax didn't seem to cause cdiff. I took that and prayed! It's been almost 2 months since and so far, so good.

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@ngorman25 - I'm glad you did well with your FMT! I will keep the Zithromax in mind because I am going to have tooth work done pretty soon. I too take a Probiotic daily. I pray you continue to do well! Thank you.

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@pixie1960

@ngorman25 - I'm glad you did well with your FMT! I will keep the Zithromax in mind because I am going to have tooth work done pretty soon. I too take a Probiotic daily. I pray you continue to do well! Thank you.

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@pixie1960 Good luck to you as well! Let me know if the zpack works for you!

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@pixie1960

So glad to hear you have done well since your FMT. I had this done January 30th, 2023 and have done well. I am however , scared to death to take Antibiotics since that time. How long ago was your FMT done? Have you had to take antibiotics since that time? And were you told to be very cautious of taking any? I had to take some Antibiotics for Sinusitis in June, given me by my Primary Care Doctor. My Infectious Disease Dr put me on a course on low-dose Vancomycin for the course of the Antibiotic and 7 days past that. No problem. I just wondered how others who have had a successful FMT are handling needed Antibiotics ? Thank you.

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Please explain FMT. What is it and what is done to you? I was told I have Diverticulosis and will just have to live with the pain on my right side that comes and goes because I'm too old to do anything. I have to be careful what I eat. Chicken, fish, zucchini, pasta with pesto sauce and come cheese are my new diet.

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It is a procedure where a Dr , usually via Colonoscopy route, implants healthy stool , that has been screened for disease, directly into your Colon. This is commonly done for patients who have had several episodes of Cdiff, and for whom other treatment has been unsuccessful.

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