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Trying to recover from a c. diff infection (Clostridium difficile)
I am trying to recover from a c.diff infection. This started with taking clindamycin in mid January and 3 days later I became ill with diarrhea and felt sick, loss of appetite etc...Went to the er twice, tested negative for c.diff on my 2nd visit. The Dr. told me to take imodium to rest my colon since I tested negative. That evening I had diarrhea and took the Imodium. Became constipated with pain lower right side. I went to a GI dr. pleading for help, I did another stool test and it came back positive for c.diff. I tried flagyl but could not tolerate the side effects. Tried vancomycin for 10 days. Did not work. Tested positive again, Went to a new gi doctor who prescribed dificid for ten days. I am 31 days post dificid and I have almost constant gut rumbling and urge to go. My 1st bm in the morning is usually semi normal, but after that they are always either pencil thin and or small pieces (2 to 5 times a day). This has been my routine since the vancomycin. I do not get dull blown diarrhea..... My dr. wants me to have a colonoscopy but I an scared that the cleansing will wipe out all my good flora. I currently take 2 florastor pills and 1/2 vsl3 per day. I eat fermented pickles for the probiotics as well..... I have many food intolerances since this whole mess began (fiber, many vegatables, dairy). I also have a strange taste in my mouth most of the time, have very little energy and fight with depression. My primary gave me Xanax .25 but I only take them at night when I cannot sleep...... Went to a nutritionist who put me on a no wheat, soy, dairy, gluten diet. Does not seem to be helping or hurting. I lost 20 pounds and cannot gain any weight (I weigh 120 at 5'7")... I am thinking it might be sibo, or candida but cannot find a dr. to test for these....I am in the right place for help or advice ? The urge to go is awful and limits my once active lifestyle.....
Thank you, Scott
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My best advice is avoid popcorn, seeds, nuts, skins, corn. Child probiotics.
I had horrible tinnitus while in Vanc, and had a hearing test and had hearing loss. After getting off of vanc, I was tested again and it’s better.. plus the ringing is better. I think vanc by IV is worse for hearing than the capsules. I took capsules. I read it can be permanent. I’m hoping I don’t have to go back to the ear doc again.
@pibacher My gastroenterologist also suggested taking Florastor after my 3rd bout of Cdiff. I started taking it and after my 4th relapse, I took it along with Dificid (fidaxamicin) which seems to have killed the Cdiff spores. I continue to take Florastor or another brand of S. Boulardii every single day. I truly believe it has helped in my recovery.
Anyone with C. Diff or even chronic diarrhea really must try Florastor. It is a yeast Saccharomyces boulardii (S. boulardii) and I've talked to two different people with Chrohn's disease who use. I used after I had to be on several different antibiotics and could not get rid of irritable bowel in which I had painful diarrhea which would empty me out once a week. Most doctors do not know about it. FLORASTOR!
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1 Reaction@pines Well, I asked my doctor what happens if the fmt doesn't work? His answer was "we do it again"! And I thought that doesn't sit well with me! So, I don't know anymore. I am so disgusted.
@ngorman25 I too did great while I was on vancomycin and also on the vanco taper for 6 weeks. Even when I was taking it every other day. But three weeks after ending it, I had my 4th relapse. That's when I took Dificid last October. I've never been through so much. Cdiff was so debilitating. I certainly hope the FMT works for you. I had decided to do the FMT if Dificid didn't work.
@pines I have been on my second vancomycin taper since early February. I seem to do well on vancomycin until I stop using it. I will be down to one pill a day by the 25th. I will definitely keep you posted after it's done. I am so not looking forward to it.
@ngorman25 Is there a reason they're waiting until March 25th? I feel so sorry for you if you have to battle Cdiff most of March before you get help. Or will you be on vancomycin until the 25th? Please keep us posted how you do after the FMT. I've read it has a 85% cure rate.
@femalegolfer So happy to hear you were given Dificid. I did the 10 days Vanco, relapsed and then the Vanco taper but nothing worked until I did the 10 days on Dificid. I took the last one on Oct. 26, 2018. I'm still worried on days when I eat the wrong foods, like yesterday. Cabbage seems to do a number on me. I've heard that some doctors no longer prescribe Flagyl for the first occurrence and go straight to vancomycin. I wish more doctors would prescribe Dificid with the 2nd occurrence. It's terrible we go through so much before we get the one that seems to kill the Cdiff spores. My next step would have been the FMT. Please keep us updated how you're doing.
@femalegolfer I hope it works for you! Funny story, when I was first hospitalized in September and diagnosed with cdiff, the first time a gastro doctor visited me he said, "I see you have the 'bastard bug'"! Never having heard of cdiff before, I was stunned! Little did I know how right he was! I am scheduled for a colonoscopy and fmt on Monday, March 25. I am not looking forward to it. Please let me know how you do on dificid. Best of luck!
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