Where to turn? Gastritis, Pancreatitis, IBS-C, diverticulitis, c-diff

I started taking more fiber for IBS. Chia seeds and flax grain on a daily basis in a smoothie with one banana, almond milk, plain yogurt, mango pieces and blueberries. Have not had an IBS bout in a long time. Also take a probiotic everyday. Good luck!

Hello.
I am a male, lifelong vegetarian, and 55 years old. Last July, I was diagnosed with diverticulitis, for the third time in 19 years. I was put on Augmentin to treat it. Within two days the diarrhea started and I ended up in the ER about 4 days later. The ER doc thought that I may have developed CDIFF because of the Augmentin. I was taken off this med right away and tested for cdiff, then sent home. The following morning, I got the results that I had cdiff and went back to the ER. They then gave me Vancomyacin. It worked and my diarrhea stopped.

However, a week after I finished the vanco treatment, the diarrhea started again and I went to urgent care. Again, tested positive for Cdiff and I went back on Vancomyacin. This worked, but for two more weeks, I had nausea, off and on diarrhea, and severe acid reflux. The reflux was so awful I thought my chest was on fire and I had to take an ambulance to the ER. They gave me esophagus coating medication which took a few days to work. I could not take a real acid reflux medication because that could increase the chances of Cdiff coming back. I also then had an upper GI and all was normal.

I did see several times an outstanding GI specialist who reassured me that I am okay and that it would take months for my gut to heal from the cdiff. I was also diagnosed with chronic IBS-D and this will never go away. There are certain foods I can never eat again and I am trying to go full vegan with the exception of lactose free yogurt and lactose free cheese. He also recommended a probiotic called Florastor that has real clinical research behind it. It is expensive but I started taking it and I really felt better. I did have the occasional bout with diarrhea if I was not careful with my diet.

In March of this year, I had a really bad bout of IBS D and this time they ran a Fecal Calprotectin test to check inflammation in my gut. Test results were normal.

Last Thursday and Friday morning, I had 6 very dark, watery bowel movements between 10pm and 7am. This freaked me out and I ran to urgent care. They ran very detailed stool panel. All results were normal except that they detected cdiff again. I went back in and they told me that I will probably always test positive for Cdiff going forward but as long as I don't have massive, watery diarrhea, the infection is not present...just the germ.

This is what the CDC site also says. People who get a formal diagnosis of Cdiff will always carry the bacteria though have no formal symptoms. Since last Friday, I have have not had any massive watery diarrhea and deal with my "normal" bouts of IBS. No fever, some random pains here and the in my abdomen which I have had for many years.

Finally, I can tell you that I may have anywhere from 2-4 bowel movements a day. At least 2-3 before noon and maybe one in the afternoon. During flare up weeks, I can have up 5-6 movements. My GI doc, who I really like and trust ( very patient, knowledgeable, and a great communicator) states that this is basically my IBS flaring up randomly. During my bout with diverticulitis and Cdiff last summer, I lost over 15 pounds in two months. All blood tests were normal and my doctors told me that I was at my healthy weight and should try to maintain it instead of gaining at all back.

Very frustrating and depressing. I literally avoid going out anywhere in the morning as I need to be near a clean toilet...which is basically my home.

Any thoughts or similar experiences?

Thank you for reading.

My gastro doctor recommended I take Align. I have now been taking it daily for 3 years. I buy it at Costco when it is on sale.

Hello.
I am a male, lifelong vegetarian, and 55 years old. Last July, I was diagnosed with diverticulitis, for the third time in 19 years. I was put on Augmentin to treat it. Within two days the diarrhea started and I ended up in the ER about 4 days later. The ER doc thought that I may have developed CDIFF because of the Augmentin. I was taken off this med right away and tested for cdiff, then sent home. The following morning, I got the results that I had cdiff and went back to the ER. They then gave me Vancomyacin. It worked and my diarrhea stopped.

However, a week after I finished the vanco treatment, the diarrhea started again and I went to urgent care. Again, tested positive for Cdiff and I went back on Vancomyacin. This worked, but for two more weeks, I had nausea, off and on diarrhea, and severe acid reflux. The reflux was so awful I thought my chest was on fire and I had to take an ambulance to the ER. They gave me esophagus coating medication which took a few days to work. I could not take a real acid reflux medication because that could increase the chances of Cdiff coming back. I also then had an upper GI and all was normal.

I did see several times an outstanding GI specialist who reassured me that I am okay and that it would take months for my gut to heal from the cdiff. I was also diagnosed with chronic IBS-D and this will never go away. There are certain foods I can never eat again and I am trying to go full vegan with the exception of lactose free yogurt and lactose free cheese. He also recommended a probiotic called Florastor that has real clinical research behind it. It is expensive but I started taking it and I really felt better. I did have the occasional bout with diarrhea if I was not careful with my diet.

In March of this year, I had a really bad bout of IBS D and this time they ran a Fecal Calprotectin test to check inflammation in my gut. Test results were normal.

Last Thursday and Friday morning, I had 6 very dark, watery bowel movements between 10pm and 7am. This freaked me out and I ran to urgent care. They ran very detailed stool panel. All results were normal except that they detected cdiff again. I went back in and they told me that I will probably always test positive for Cdiff going forward but as long as I don't have massive, watery diarrhea, the infection is not present...just the germ.

This is what the CDC site also says. People who get a formal diagnosis of Cdiff will always carry the bacteria though have no formal symptoms. Since last Friday, I have have not had any massive watery diarrhea and deal with my "normal" bouts of IBS. No fever, some random pains here and the in my abdomen which I have had for many years.

Finally, I can tell you that I may have anywhere from 2-4 bowel movements a day. At least 2-3 before noon and maybe one in the afternoon. During flare up weeks, I can have up 5-6 movements. My GI doc, who I really like and trust ( very patient, knowledgeable, and a great communicator) states that this is basically my IBS flaring up randomly. During my bout with diverticulitis and Cdiff last summer, I lost over 15 pounds in two months. All blood tests were normal and my doctors told me that I was at my healthy weight and should try to maintain it instead of gaining at all back.

Very frustrating and depressing. I literally avoid going out anywhere in the morning as I need to be near a clean toilet...which is basically my home.

Any thoughts or similar experiences?

Thank you for reading.

Hello.
I am a male, lifelong vegetarian, and 55 years old. Last July, I was diagnosed with diverticulitis, for the third time in 19 years. I was put on Augmentin to treat it. Within two days the diarrhea started and I ended up in the ER about 4 days later. The ER doc thought that I may have developed CDIFF because of the Augmentin. I was taken off this med right away and tested for cdiff, then sent home. The following morning, I got the results that I had cdiff and went back to the ER. They then gave me Vancomyacin. It worked and my diarrhea stopped.

However, a week after I finished the vanco treatment, the diarrhea started again and I went to urgent care. Again, tested positive for Cdiff and I went back on Vancomyacin. This worked, but for two more weeks, I had nausea, off and on diarrhea, and severe acid reflux. The reflux was so awful I thought my chest was on fire and I had to take an ambulance to the ER. They gave me esophagus coating medication which took a few days to work. I could not take a real acid reflux medication because that could increase the chances of Cdiff coming back. I also then had an upper GI and all was normal.

I did see several times an outstanding GI specialist who reassured me that I am okay and that it would take months for my gut to heal from the cdiff. I was also diagnosed with chronic IBS-D and this will never go away. There are certain foods I can never eat again and I am trying to go full vegan with the exception of lactose free yogurt and lactose free cheese. He also recommended a probiotic called Florastor that has real clinical research behind it. It is expensive but I started taking it and I really felt better. I did have the occasional bout with diarrhea if I was not careful with my diet.

In March of this year, I had a really bad bout of IBS D and this time they ran a Fecal Calprotectin test to check inflammation in my gut. Test results were normal.

Last Thursday and Friday morning, I had 6 very dark, watery bowel movements between 10pm and 7am. This freaked me out and I ran to urgent care. They ran very detailed stool panel. All results were normal except that they detected cdiff again. I went back in and they told me that I will probably always test positive for Cdiff going forward but as long as I don't have massive, watery diarrhea, the infection is not present...just the germ.

This is what the CDC site also says. People who get a formal diagnosis of Cdiff will always carry the bacteria though have no formal symptoms. Since last Friday, I have have not had any massive watery diarrhea and deal with my "normal" bouts of IBS. No fever, some random pains here and the in my abdomen which I have had for many years.

Finally, I can tell you that I may have anywhere from 2-4 bowel movements a day. At least 2-3 before noon and maybe one in the afternoon. During flare up weeks, I can have up 5-6 movements. My GI doc, who I really like and trust ( very patient, knowledgeable, and a great communicator) states that this is basically my IBS flaring up randomly. During my bout with diverticulitis and Cdiff last summer, I lost over 15 pounds in two months. All blood tests were normal and my doctors told me that I was at my healthy weight and should try to maintain it instead of gaining at all back.

Very frustrating and depressing. I literally avoid going out anywhere in the morning as I need to be near a clean toilet...which is basically my home.

Any thoughts or similar experiences?

Thank you for reading.

Hello all! I have posted here before and I appreciated all the information. I am providing and update and seeking more assistance.

I was diagnosed with my third bout of diverticulitis in July 2022 and my life has not been the same since. I was given Augmentin to treat the issue, but that led to a CDIFF infection and of course, the nasty effects of it. I was put on Vancomyacin twice to treat the Cdiff and I started taking Florastor probiotic.

I still have bouts of severe diarrhea and end up in urgent care. My gastro doc has run many tests: Fecal Calprotectin (normal), CT scans ( normal), Upper GI: Normal. I had a colonoscopy 2.5 years go and that was fine. My other blood work in the past came up fine too.
I am 56, vegetarian..almost vegan with the exception of lactose free yogurt.
I do suffer from chronic anxiety and depression and will be seeing a therapist to discuss medication in a few days.

Right now I am going through another bad flare up with my IBS, second time this year. I can have anywhere from 4-6 bowel movements per day. Some are normal, some of small pieces, some are loose. I have lost weight because I keep having to have bowel movements. I feel like I have to have a bowel movement many times a day even through nothing comes out or it is a very tiny amount. So frustrating!

I have followed the Low Fodmap diet to the best of my ability and it is not very sustainable for the long term.

I am not sure what else to do as I have become very despondent over the frequent bowel movements. My gastro keeps telling me that it is chronic IBS due to the damage done by the Cdiff. I am also a CDiff carrier as I will always test positive for it even without and active infection. I do not qualify at the moment for a fecal matter transplant though I am pushing my gastro to consider. Main thing is insurance may not cover it and the gastro docs may not even do it. I have tried Levsin. It works to reduce bowel movements but I get tired from it.

Not sure what else I can do?
Do any of you amazing folks experience what I am going through?

Thank you!
RR 1967

Hello all! I have posted here before and I appreciated all the information. I am providing and update and seeking more assistance.

I was diagnosed with my third bout of diverticulitis in July 2022 and my life has not been the same since. I was given Augmentin to treat the issue, but that led to a CDIFF infection and of course, the nasty effects of it. I was put on Vancomyacin twice to treat the Cdiff and I started taking Florastor probiotic.

I still have bouts of severe diarrhea and end up in urgent care. My gastro doc has run many tests: Fecal Calprotectin (normal), CT scans ( normal), Upper GI: Normal. I had a colonoscopy 2.5 years go and that was fine. My other blood work in the past came up fine too.
I am 56, vegetarian..almost vegan with the exception of lactose free yogurt.
I do suffer from chronic anxiety and depression and will be seeing a therapist to discuss medication in a few days.

Right now I am going through another bad flare up with my IBS, second time this year. I can have anywhere from 4-6 bowel movements per day. Some are normal, some of small pieces, some are loose. I have lost weight because I keep having to have bowel movements. I feel like I have to have a bowel movement many times a day even through nothing comes out or it is a very tiny amount. So frustrating!

I have followed the Low Fodmap diet to the best of my ability and it is not very sustainable for the long term.

I am not sure what else to do as I have become very despondent over the frequent bowel movements. My gastro keeps telling me that it is chronic IBS due to the damage done by the Cdiff. I am also a CDiff carrier as I will always test positive for it even without and active infection. I do not qualify at the moment for a fecal matter transplant though I am pushing my gastro to consider. Main thing is insurance may not cover it and the gastro docs may not even do it. I have tried Levsin. It works to reduce bowel movements but I get tired from it.

Not sure what else I can do?
Do any of you amazing folks experience what I am going through?

Thank you!
RR 1967

It seems risky to have diverticulitis surgery while I still have c diff. Am I wrong about this? I would think it would be better to get rid of the c diff before surgery. Thanks for any suggestions you may have.

It seems risky to have diverticulitis surgery while I still have c diff. Am I wrong about this? I would think it would be better to get rid of the c diff before surgery. Thanks for any suggestions you may have.