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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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Has anyone had the Bezlotoxumab Infusion?
Thanks for your input.
Where did you have the FMT procedure done? At Mayo in MN?
Do you know if the fecal matter came from OpenBiome in MA? (They have had issues since 2020. Prior to that seems to have been great.)
OR did you have a relative or friend donor?
Thank you for allowing me to openly ask questions.
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1 ReactionMy husband (89) just had a bout of C.Diff and had to be in the hospital for two days (they wanted to keep him a third day but he insisted on coming home). Several more days of diarrhea. Then normal stools - BUT - along with his urine incontinences he also has no control over BM.
He has a lot of side issues, CKD, CVI, some mild calcification of the aorta valve, cyst on the pancreas, nodules on lung, etc.
Last few days his feet are showing slight signs of swelling - especially right that suffers from CVI. Since his feet are almost always elevated he hasn't had the CVI swelling for about a couple of years (he lives in his recliner).
Bill has upcoming follow up doctors appointment on Friday. He has a lot of different "mild" conditions.
Currently on the Vancomycin.
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2 Reactions@epm I, too, had reoccurring cdiff in 2018. After the 4th one, I got the fmt. Best thing I ever did! Although, I still have not gained the weight back, I am doing ok. I know my body will never be the way it was before cdiff, I make sure to take probiotics every day! If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me! Good luck!
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4 ReactionsRe: C-diff.
(New to this posting.)
Have had 5 recurrent C-diff infections in past 1 yr. 4 mos.
Had Vancomycin, DIFICID, Vancomycin again and again, and now a recomendation to combine VAN w/Xifaxan (Rifaximin).
Next suggestion is IV infusion of Bezlotoxumab (a human monoclonal antibody) along w/antibiotic. Has anyone had these last two procedures? Successful? Negative side effects?
2) Has anyone considered FMT (Fecal Microbiota Transplant)?Or used the FMT Pill? Successful? Negative side effects?
Thank you,
Getting Desperate
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2 Reactionsoh no up through night twice with bm.s and today not the same 'textue' diarrhea hope not c.diff back again..... was on Keflex last month for uti ... didnt take a pro biotic with it as keep reading how good they are then that not proven to help... wish me luck... nausea diarrhea and i put some bm in a little water and test with urine stick and shows blood - i did that when had c diff 2018. i took 2 little paper cups, water in both an din one put a little bm on a q.tip... the one with bm showed blood on the urine test strip; HAS ANYONE ELSE USED A URINE TEST STRIP THIS WAY? thanks ugh here we go again
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1 Reaction....given over 100 vancomycin for cdiff 2018,,, during which time could not take anti diarrhea meds, not allowed, lost 15 lbs etc. just never seemed to bounce back.... J.
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1 ReactionI've been that way for 1 1/2 yrs. No fun.
Have you taken Vancomycin, Rifaxan or FMT capsule?
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2 Reactions...almost deleted this as sound like whining... especially when i read others' experiences with severe illness, but it's how i feel and just cannot cope, plus some other unmentioned issues, again, thank you for support.
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5 Reactions@arleen1972 thank you but its now been 3 yrs of not well most days and honestly i cannot believe it, as have written before c.diff,glaucoma,change in long term zoloft use; 4 friends dying, then next year dr took me off another med been on 15 yrs and put me back on one i took myself off cos of glaucoma etc. etc. on top of ibs. then got fecal incontinence and the list goes on... i see a dr for first time and start the conversation and as i talk about my list can see them almost shake their head...currently only have nurse practitioner and at 79 and as i volunteer saying, have had enough... and yes i do realize it could be worse but my limit has been reached and i am not ashamed to say that but do feel sad about it, but there comes atime when enough is enough. am getting phone and zoom counselling but where is someone today with my eustachian tube pain, bowel issues, whole body hurts.. and cannot take many meds due to narrow angle glaucoma, just feeling sorry for myself but being realistic also, husband ill and tired of listening to me... but i apprciate your kind thoughts. i should have insisted and persisted in help over the years but where i live and then covid, year or two wait even to see ent and then dr suggets meds i cannot take, or risk vision.. and so it goes on, i cherish the hours, not days, that i may feel almost normal... but today is bad. hope you are ok and thanks again and everyone on here is so helpful, hugs xxx
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