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Positive cdiff GDH/PCR/Toxins -no symptoms
Hi I’m a 35 year old female. I started my cdiff journey in may. I was originally treated with 7 days of Flagyl, but they changed me to 7 days of vanco when it wasn’t doing anything. I was good for a a month and it came back horrible. They put me on a 6 week vanco taper followed by Dificid for 10 days. I’m not 14 weeks out, have some Ibs symptoms. A little stomach discomfort occasionally, and some foul gas every now and then. 2 weeks ago I must have had a stomach bug because it resolved after a few days, but I had got retested because it made me nervous. I had 6 BMs on that sunday, all were solid but I had cramping and some nausea and just didn’t feel good. The next day BMs decreased, still felt off for a few days after. My BMs returned to normal after that. However, my tests came back positive. Positive GDH, PCR and toxins. My pcp says to treat with Dificid. My GI says no because I’m not having diarrhea, and my infectious disease dr said it’s impossible to test positive unless you have it, and that I must have cleared it out naturally. I have no clue at what to do. I don’t know if I’m contagious, I don’t know if I should get a second opinion. I understand you can be colonized, but I thought you don’t test positive for toxins. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
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@cmt25, your case certainly is confusing. Where do you go for answers if not from the medical experts. I'm tagging a few fellow members who have experience with c-difficile who may be able to suggest what questions to ask or what to do next, like @euqcaj @ngorman25 @catherine1234 @kjt1951 @lauren915 @mhi @bvanderb and @mandyhope
While you wait for others to chime in, I think this article might offer some insight:
- C. diff Diagnosis versus Detection: Why Tests Remain Ambiguous: https://asm.org/Articles/2019/January/C-diff-Diagnosis-versus-Detection-Why-Tests-Remain
Thank you! I hope one of them responds
Hello I am sorry you are dealing with all this stress of C Diff. I had it in June 2020 and what a nightmare it took my body over a year to recover. I had one relapse but continued to have symptoms even after being tested negative for CDIFF the toxin test. Never did a PCR. I was diagnosed with post infection IBS. I am still very careful with my diet zero sugar and only all the good carbs no white bread completely gluten free multigrain. Stay away from the sugar and bad food as it feeds the bad bacteria and it triggers CDIFF. I have heard of people getting a positive test for PCR but not the toxin. People can continue to have a positive PCR even after a year but I would repeat the toxin test if I were you. It all depends on how you feel.
Are you taking Saccharomyces Boulardii? I took S Boulardii along with probiotic. I stopped the S Boulardii after 6 months but I continue now to take probiotic 50 billion per day. And I eat very clean. Make sure to eat sauerkraut and drink kefir I buy the coconut one no dairy I completely switched to dairy free and gluten free.
Please ask away and wishing you a speedy recovery. Please keep us posted and good luck!
I had CDiff last year. What probative are you taking? I am taking Florastor.
I am taking probiomed by designs for health. I keep switching everything 6 months when I feel it stops working. As for florastor check with your doctor if it is ok to continue taking boulardii everyday for a long period of time. I only took boulardii if I can remember for a hour 8 months. I still keep it in my fridge whenever I feel my stomach are acting up I take two pills.
I was told by my pharmacist VSL / probiotic …needs rx and refrigation and is expensive is the best to take when having problems.
Most scientific evidence from Monash Hospital who leads the study of IBS says probiotics are only effective 20 % of the time.
Floristor has lactose in it so many stay away from that. Yet it worked for my husband with activia which has dairy as well. So keep trying …one thing does not work for all.
If it means going thru 5 GI ‘s keep switching till you find one that cares and knows and listens. It’s a pain to switch but you deserve it!