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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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I assume they gave you Vancomycin to get rid of the C-diff. That's what they gave me and it got rid of it but the recovery is slow.
Hi, I also had my gallbladder removed recently. I had mine removed in March this year. My gastroenterologist just told me I have C- Diff. I’ve been suffering terribly from it. I was 135 a month and a half ago I’m now104. I don’t know much about it except for what I’ve read on the web. Can anyone give me some advice, please. I’m so sorry you’re not feeling well. I truly hope you find some answers soon. Prayers to you.
You are right it does take lots of time to heal so we just have to be patient. I am on the opposite side seems I developed post-inf IBS and I do go more to the washroom since c Diff. Wishing you continue to get better and I am terrified of taking any antibiotic going forward!!
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1 ReactionI hope they can help figure out things,......a person can really feel helpless at times. You made a comment that C-diff destroys the body,.........and you wonder if the gut will ever be normal again. This terrifies me. But I understand that once the C-diff is gone your body begins to heal. Slowly. Slowly. Slowly. I'm in my fourth month of recovery and my bowels are not normal. I have to use Bisacodyl to have a BM. (I do have a tortuous intestine and a very slow transit, so that is part of the problem.) But I have to remind myself that it takes time to heal and I've come a long way with my energy levels since I was diagnosed. I truly thought I might die. It was awful. No more Clindamycin for me!
I really hope they figure out where your pain is coming from. How is your bowel? C Diff destroys the body and I always wonder if the gut will ever be normal again.
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2 ReactionsI know I'm responding to an old post, but it just rang so true with me. I had my gallbladder removed in October 2020. Up until then, I'd been losing weight without trying. In June 2020, I was 175. By August, I was 147 and from October to November, I'd lost another 30 pounds. After multiple ER trips, I was finally diagnosed with C. Diff and admitted to the hospital for a week. Since then, I wind up in the ER about every 4-6 weeks with crippling pains in my stomach. Every test comes back negative and I've been to doctors at 3 different hospitals and no one can figure out what's wrong. I've had a hiatal hernia that's been repaired three times and has reopened, however, the doctors say there's not enough tissue to repair it again. I'm at my wits end and I just pray that the doctors at Mayo can figure this out. Thanks for listening.
Saccharomyces boulardii is a yeast based probiotic and you can buy it in the pharmacy usually they sell Florastor or any other brand like AOR or renew life they have it. It is great to take it with antibiotic to protect your gut. Talk to your doctor. But you need to take it two to three hours before or after your antibiotic.
I am not a doctor. My plan is to take with any antibiotic I take. Here is a picture of mine.
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1 ReactionWhat is S Boulardii and is that the full name? Would it be taken with any other antibiotic prescribed?
Thanks for the timing tip!!
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