Trying to recover from a c. diff infection (Clostridium difficile)

Same thing happened to me - I had diarrhea and stool sample was positive for Yersinia - which my PCP treated with Bactrim - which made it
better and then it got worse again -and that proved to be C-Diff - And Vancomycin cured that. What an ordeal.

I was given Augmentin, a penicillin type antibiotic. I think doctors should warn patients about the possibility of C-Diff when taking antibiotics. I never heard of C-Diff until I got it.

"Yersiniosis is an infection caused most often by eating raw or undercooked pork contaminated with Yersinia enterocolitica bacteria."
So first you tested positive for Yersiniosis and then later positive for C-diff? What a mess!
Bactrim is considered to have low risk for C-diff.

Google search:
Clindamycin and fluoroquinolones are some of the worst offenders. The list of antibiotics that could cause C.Diff includes:
• cephalosporins
• clindamycin (Cleocin)
• ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
• levofloxacin (Levaquin)
• moxifloxacin (Avalox, Vigamox)
• amoxicillin (Amoxil)
Which antibiotics are less likely to cause C.Diff?:
• azithromycin (Zithromax, Z-Pak)
• clarithromycin (Biaxin)
• doxycycline (Oracea, Vibramycin)
• erythromycin (Eryped)
• fidaxomicin (Dificid)
• minocycline (Minocin, Solodyn)
• metronidazole (Flagyl

So…. After I finished the course of antibiotic for Yersenia and then for C -Diff, the diarrhea didn’t stop and by that point it had been going on for six months. So based on a hunch of the GI doc, I had a colonoscopy with random biopsies taken - and learned I had something called collagenous microscopic colitis. That was resolved with almost 4 months of a steroid that is processed in the colon so no systemic effects - although I had symptomatic relief only days after starting it.

GI doc thinks the stool sample showing Yersenia was a red herring because so many people are carrying it around with no symptoms. And of course the C-Diff was triggered by the treatment for Yersinia. So almost a year to get proper diagnosis and treatment but it has taken some people longer.

That is so interesting. I just had a colonoscopy at Mayo and the GI besides removing polyps also noted that mucous was granular so he took biopsies throughout the entire colon for possible microscopic colitis. Fortunately I was negative for it.
And what I now tell everyone is that even if you are near "aging out" from colonoscopies, do them!!! In 2010 I had 2 10mm precancerous polyps, but in 2013 and 2018 I only had 1 and 2 polyps found and they were not precancerous. So that period was eight years and no cancerous polyps.
Then in 2024 - 14 years from 2010 and 5+ years from last colonoscopy, they find 3 polyps - each a different type and all precancerous!!! And one even 12mm!!!

Am also impressed that Bactrim caused you C-diff as I have been given it more than once with the statement that it is relatively safe.

I’ve had it before myself. But this time was different for unknown reasons. Perhaps because my colon was so inflamed at that point.

Get the colonoscopy. You may have microscopic colitis and they can only diagnosis with random biopsies from colon.

Are you 75 years or older? If not, will you continue colonoscopies after age 75?

I had cdiff from december came back twice on vanco 4 weeks, dificid, 2 weeks, still positive. i did get the VOWST,the fecal transplant drug, so far its been 2 weeks and I tested negative, but still have diahrea, sometimes watery, but more like greenish color mug or strips of dirty rag. The smell is putrid. Im nausiated and also pain in the lower right. Im trying to get to another gi expert in NY to see. Perhaps you can try the Vowst. Ask your GI.
I feel for you, You cant go anywhere unless you have a toilet bowl under you. My doctors are puzzled why like you the right lower pain. and nausea. Take some pedialyte or gatorade so you dont dehydrate. Good luck to you. You all are in my prayers. This is the pits. Cdiff

I am 82! And Mayo just told me to come back in 3 years. I will be 85. The Guidelines on when to come back are based on what they find.
I first did consult at Mayo to see if the risk vs reward given my polyp history in 4 previous colonoscopies and my new health issues warranted doing my five-year surveillance colonoscopy. They reviewed everything and noted I had a history of advanced neoplasia (in 2010 - two 10mm precancerous polyps). I was therefore scheduled for colonoscopy in hospital (given my age and breathing issues - other places also send elderly to hospital).
I was shocked that they found and removed three precancerous polyps each a different type and one was 12mm tubulovillous adenomas (20% to 25% harbor a malignancy).
I have multifocal lung cancer which can be managed, and one can live many years ....so I do not want another cancer which could also compromise my treatment options for my existing cancer. I tell my doctors to think strategically. I don't want to be locked into something because of the wrong choice. For example, I discovered I had a heart problem when I found out I had lung cancer. If they had put in a stent first, I would have had to take Plavix for 6 months to a year and then I would not have been able to do my lung surgery. Luckily, I knew about the need to take Plavix for stents and on the table when the Cardiologist shouted "blockage" I said "and what about my lung biopsy appointment?" So they immediately responded "we can medicate" and four weeks later I had lung surgery which found and removed a stage 1b cancer! "b" because it was bigger! Who waits on that????
And four months later I did the stent.