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

You are absolutely right doctors don’t tell you much about c Diff and I had to figure everything out on my own. When did you have c Diff how long ago? Did you have to go on antibiotic again for other reasons since you had c Diff?

I'm happy to hear you're going to have another C-diff test. It will bring some answers and hopefully a bit more peace of mind. I would love to know what they tell you. Ask as many questions as you can. I will be thinking of you and hoping for the best. I hope you get through the weekend more comfortably.

I've had the same concerns/worries about having to take another antibiotic down the road. And I agree that the doctors don't tell us enough about recovery from C-diff. Don't they know? I find that even if I ask direct questions I do not get direct answers. Maybe part of that is because every person heals differently, I don't know. I originally thought that once I felt better from the initial awful experience of C-diff, I would get better, just like any other infection but I've found this to be different with C-diff and it's a slow recovery as we've all talked about. AND the long -term effects are still a question to me. But we'll all keep the faith and be our own best advocate.

That’s great to hear that you will be repeating the c Diff test it is important to rule it out and make sure it’s gone. I developed a PI-IBS although I am feeling better but nowhere near normal prior to C Diff and I am 10 months into recovery. It does take a long time. I still take probiotic and too afraid to stop. Hang in there and listen to your body. It will take a long time to know what bothers your stomach. I went through a lot of scares thinking c Diff is back but thank God no. I am too afraid That I will get sick and need antibiotic I wonder if having c Diff before put us at high risk everytime we take antibiotic and I read as well that you develop antibodies for it and chances of getting it again is low once you are healed…. Who knows. It is a nightmare and I don’t wish it on anyone in this world. Please keep us posted on the results. All the best to you.

Thank you very much for your reply. Your words comforted me. I really wish they would explain the healing process more to patients. It’s not right. My stomach was angry last night after some chicken and rice. It was very bizarre. My pcp wanted to see me today. She ordered another cdiff test along with other tests on the stools as well. I won’t be able to do those until Monday though because of the weekend. She put in a referral for me to see a GI and a therapist. So hopefully I will find out what’s going on. I hope it’s just PI-IBS.

I had wondered about that mucous also. I had it and it has disappeared for the most part and I'm 4 months into recovery. After I took the Vanco they tested me again to make sure the C-diff was gone, which it was. I was hoping they did a follow-up test on you also. That, to me, would seem very important. Even though the C-diff is gone, it is a slow recovery. I'm exhausted from taking Bisacodyl every three days just so I can eliminate waste. I have always had a slow transit time due to a longer intestine and the gastro doctor wants me to continue using the Bisacodyl for now. If you are able to "go" on your own, that is wonderful. In my experience, that mucous you are seeing will disappear eventually. So patience, take care of yourself as best you can, rest when you need to, (this was a difficult one for me but so important because you are healing and I'm sure you're energy levels are not the same as before C-diff), and trust you will get better. I hope you get/had a follow-up test for C-diff. And after that, just remember this is a slow recovery. I wish someone had told me that.

I think you are making good decisions. Even when the c-diff is gone, it can take a long time for the gut to stabilize. Many years later, my husband’s gut still reacts to differences in diet or challenges to his immune system because of the changes c-diff caused to his colon. Overall though, he has learned to manage it and live normally. Hang in there!

Thank you. I made an apt with the GI in town; but they couldn’t get me in until aug 19. I take florastor twice a day and I added a colon/immune system rescue one once a day. So hopefully it will help. I called my pcp and they said the mucus can just be inflammation but they won’t test for cdiff until watery diarrhea is back.

I think “normal” is hard to define after c-diff. If you can pay attention to how your diet and a probiotic like Align affect your stools, you can help the GI doctor make a treatment plan. From the reading I’ve done, the balance of the many different bacteria in the gut, beneficial and harmful, is wiped out by antibiotics and it takes time to restore a healthy combination.

Hello,........my name is Jacque. I am about 4 months into recovery. It took over 8 weeks to get my strength back. I have been athletic all my life and exercise 6 days a week. I couldn't believe what C-diff did to me. I have gained my energy back, mostly. In the beginning of recovery I had bulging in my intestines that I never had before. It frightened me. I've always had a relatively flat stomach and when I ate, or even when I didn't, I would experience this and I didn't seem to have the muscles to "pull it in". I was thinking that I might be resigned to wearing flowing tops from now on. 🙁 The good news is that has gotten much better, and as I mentioned I am about 4 months into recovery. But I have not been able to have BM's on my own. I also have a "tortuous intestine", which means I have more intestine than I should for a person my size and that creates a very slow transit time which has caused me difficulties with constipation all my life. I developed a system of care that helped but it wasn't perfect. So now, life recovering from C-diff involves 100 fl. oz. of water a day, a couple cups of coffee and 1 diet soda thrown in the 100 fl. oz, 8mg of psyllium powder sprinkled on my oatmeal everyday, Metamucil crackers every other day, Miralax daily, and the first two months of my recovery i took a pro-biotic. I found that after I stopped the pro-biotic the bulging lessened. My gastro Dr. said I needed the pro-biotic after C-diff because the C-diff wipes everything out of you. But two months was enough. I take 3 Bisacodyl to stimulate my bowels every third day. Two work but not completely. Compared to what I felt like in February and March of this year, I'm feeling so much better. Be patient with yourself and keep the faith. Just yesterday I asked my gastro Dr. if it was such a good idea to keep taking the Bisacodyl and she tole me to continue with my regimen because it takes a long time to heal and recover. I have read on this site of people who are 10 months into recovery and still having issues. I understand your tears,.............I've had some also. It did get better and I hope that it does for you too. Be gentle with yourself and rest when you need to. I had trouble accepting that because I'm not a sedentary person. But in the beginning of recovery, I had no choice. I had no energy or strength. Then it slowly got better but I needed to take it in stages. And now I'm back to my normal exercise routine and can get through the day without a nap, although occasionally I make time for one. Sleep in important. I wish you all the best and I'm happy to "talk" with you anytime. Jacque Janik