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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I started with Floraster 8wks. ago some slight decrease in bloating.I start the day off with a flat belly ! drink h2o ,I start bloating. By the time I have finished my dinner I look and feel 10 months pregnant. Some nights I don't think I will make it to the morning with all the pressure and pain. Even the mayo clinic told me they could not help me. I have eliminated dairy, beans, and cabbage family. I only drink h2o,don't chew gum. I wish I could find a Dr. to help me.
I have had no bad reaction from it and it helps bulk up stools.
@guthealth I've not tried Nutrisource.
According to my nutritionist guar gum fiber does not ferment like the others. It is a product called nutrisource made by Nestle. No prescription needed.
Have you made any changes on your diet? That seems to have done the trick for me following antibiotic. Clindymycin killed my intestinal flora. Low carb, low fructose, low fermentable food is what has helped me post antibiotic use.
@sandyabbey We have a lot in common. I also got Cdiff after taking Clindamycin for a sinus infection this past April. Within 2 weeks of finishing the RX, I had Cdiff. I took 10 days of Flagyl. Five days after finishing that, Cdiff returned. I then did 10 days of Vancomycin and again, 5 days after finishing the med, Cdiff returned. I then did the pulse and taper Vanco for 5 or 6 weeks. I thought that might have worked. But 3 weeks after ending the pulse and taper, Cdiff returned. After my 4th bout, I took Dificid for 10 days. It's a pricey med. $5,000 for 20 pills. My co-pay was almost $1,000. I finished that med on 10/26. So far, so good. If Cdiff returns, I'm doing a fecal transplant. I've looked in to the pill form from Open Biome. It's $635 for 30 pills and you take them all at one setting. I haven't discussed this with my gastroenterologist so I'm not sure how he feels about the pill form. He has me taking Florastor. Are you taking a probiotic with Saccharomyces Boulardii. It's the best for Cdiff since it doesn't dissolve with stomach acid and goes to work in your intestine.
@sue6408 did you use it with a probiotic thats the way he told me to use it .Some veggies will cause gas ,bloating especially the cabbage family but good idea to see a nutritionist.
Thank you
Thank you . I have added fiber lax. But it didn’t help my bloating which occurs daily.
Thank you, I will have to find a nutritionist.