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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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@nerofish My first test came back negative so I had to go another week prior to retesting. During that two weeks, I lost 10 pounds and was miserable. This was my 4th bout with C-diff so I knew, without a doubt, what it was. I've been off Dificid for 8 days now and pray it works.
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1 ReactionI’m sorry that you have this problem as well. The vancomycin failed and now the Dificid that I just finished does not seem to have worked either. The gastroenterologist said that I had to wait to be retested but did not indicate how long. This experience has been beyond frustrating and you wonder if this infection can be eradicated but seemingly you are always going to be colonized with the bacteria to some extent.
I think the next step will be FMT. That is why I asked about the FMT capsules. I'm still praying that the Dificid will work. I finished that RX one week ago.
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1 ReactionHello @pines and welcome to Connect. You may notice that I moved your discussion and combined it with a discussion titled, "Trying to recover from a c.diff infection." I did this so your message would be seen by the many members talking about this diagnosis and so that you could read through some of their previous posts. If you are replying by email, I suggest clicking on VIEW & REPLY so that you will be brought directly to the new location of your discussion.
@pines, it is my understanding that c diff can be difficult to get rid of and to stay rid of. Has your provider discussed with you why you keep relapsing and what your potential options are moving forward if your current treatment does not work?
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1 ReactionIn April, I took Clindamycin for a sinus infection. I took 4 a day for 12 days. Within two weeks from completing it, I had Cdiff. I was given Flagyl for 10 days, Within one week, Cdiff was back. I was then given Vancomycin for 10 days. Again, within a week, Cdiff was back. I was then given Vanco for 5 weeks and did the pulse and taper method. I felt great for 3 weeks and thought this method had worked. Unfortunately, Cdiff came back for a 4th time. One week ago, I completed 10 days on Dificid. I pray to God, this RX works. I've looked in to the FMT by capsules. Thirty pills taken at once and the price is $635. Has anyone done FMT using the capsules?
@nerofish yes I think your right but with research now they believe it is a bacterial ?All I know from the post here its hard to cure .Does Dr also recommend a probiotic for this now? as Lactobaccilus ,all of them puts the good bacteria back into your intestines?
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1 ReactionThat is quite interesting - I guess that the medical profession believed that c-diff was caused by a yeast infection rather than a bacterial one.
@nerofish that is what they used then but research has come along way since the 70,s
I thought that diflucan was for yeast infections.
@oh o.k.@nerofish thats new since I worked in hospital it use to be diflucan is what was ordered for c-diff.