What happens after C.Difficile?

Posted by dn22 @dn22, Dec 6, 2018

I got C.diff back in October (early to mid). I had taken clindamycin for BV and it didn't react well for me. I went into the ER for intense pain, bloating, and diarrhea. They found out I had a severe case of colitis, my entire bowel system was extremely inflamed. But they didn't know what type of colitis it was until my 3rd day there. Then they did the colonoscopy, endoscopy, and biopsy. So they treated me with antibiotics. Sent me home with more antibiotics. And after finishing them, and giving it a few days I felt better.

I was still more aware of my bowels, which is saying something since I have IBS already. But other than awareness, and maybe some tenderness in a way, it was normal. Then Thanksgiving came, and I ate what my family made. I had immediate diarrhea and pain. I thought it was the dairy, bc I forgot to start taking my IBS meds again. They had me stop taking them for awhile after being diagnosed with c.diff. Then I tried the food the next day, after taking my IBS meds. Same issues.

So I decided no more thanksgiving food. But the pain, bloating, twisting feeling, and pooping didn't stop. And I would get the urge, but when I went to go, it'd be a lot of gas, that was hard put to come up. When I would poop, the stool itself was very hard, and not a lot would come out.
My mother bought me stool softener. It made the stool less dry and sandpaper-like. But I still wasn't getting any relief.
So last Friday she gave me some of her Super Colon Cleanse (about 3/4-5/8 of a scoop/serving) mixed with Metamucil in a water bottle. And I drunk half the mixture. I still haven't stopped pooping. I'm pooping for hours again, just like with c.diff. No blood this time though. And the stool is pellet like.
I keep waking up to poop, or try to poop. I can't eat anything. Especially not carbs or dairy. I feel like I'm dying, but in a very different way than when I had c.diff.
I don't know what's happening. If I should go to the hospital or not. Or if c.diff has different symptoms the 2nd time around. Or if, because it was such a severe case, that my bowels were damaged somehow. I'm really just not all right, and idk what to do.

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Wow, this is something new! Will check it out. By the way, can`t remember who posted about getting S. Boulardii,been taking it twice a day along with weaning off Vancomyicin and believe it or not but I`ve had 2 days where I felt human again. Fingers crossed!!!!

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@dilly69

Wow, this is something new! Will check it out. By the way, can`t remember who posted about getting S. Boulardii,been taking it twice a day along with weaning off Vancomyicin and believe it or not but I`ve had 2 days where I felt human again. Fingers crossed!!!!

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Good to hear you are doing well! I did mention it to you and yes I love this probiotic. Did you end up getting another brand other than the florastor? I am not doing well got tested again and waiting for the results fingers crossed.

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@lengel

After three months of alternating between one antibiotic and then another, my husband put his foot down and refused to take any more. The GI doctor finally prescribed Questran, an anti-cholesterol powder. My husband started with four scoops per day and gradually weaned down to none. After four months of agony, his gut was stabilized.

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Thank you for sharing this. Did he use Questran to treat C Diff?

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@mhi

Good to hear you are doing well! I did mention it to you and yes I love this probiotic. Did you end up getting another brand other than the florastor? I am not doing well got tested again and waiting for the results fingers crossed.

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Hi, the Florastor made me very nauseous. My stomach is probably overly sensitive but the one l'm taking now is called Renew life.boulardiiMax. l take it with food.

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@mhi

Thank you for sharing this. Did he use Questran to treat C Diff?

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Yes, although he didn’t have another stool culture after his last failed round of antibiotics. The diarrhea was unrelenting until he took the Questran.

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just got diagnosed with c diff vanomycin 125 did nothing on 250. not doing much better. pesistent nausea and diarrhea. cant eat much lost 20 pounds. Have pneumonia also which doesnt help. taking zirthomycin for it. Been to er twice already for low potasium etc. When do symptoms let up started vancomyin a week ago still no better stomach pain nausea, diarrhea . talk to doctor everyday. When will I feel okay again

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I contracted C-diff this February after taking Clyndamycin. It was awful! I am 69 years old. After reading some of these posts I feel like I'm very blessed and lucky. I am still not feeling like my insides are back to normal. I am athletic and have been my whole life. I've always had a flat stomach, lower abdomen. Now, three months later, May 2021, I'm having "bulging" in my intestines and it's very difficult to "hold my stomach in". I've been to all my appointments and have been diagnosed as in good health but with chronic constipation, which I've had my entire life. The Vancomycin cleared up my C-diff and I'm forever grateful. And although I still have the constipation which I continue to deal with by taking psyllium, fiber wafers, a stool softener in the form of a generic Mira-Lax, etc,. etc., I am distressed by this bulging which I've never had before. It comes and goes and is happening in different areas of my abdomen. I was told it's my gut moving, which is good. BUT why is it evident now, since the C-diff. What changed inside of me? I am also taking a pro-biotic, which I've never taken before but my gastroenterologist wanted me to take for two months after the C-diff. I'm almost done with that and I'm wondering if that is causing my dilemma? Or maybe the Miralax substance? I was hoping that I would heal and return to my original self.

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@reallywells

just got diagnosed with c diff vanomycin 125 did nothing on 250. not doing much better. pesistent nausea and diarrhea. cant eat much lost 20 pounds. Have pneumonia also which doesnt help. taking zirthomycin for it. Been to er twice already for low potasium etc. When do symptoms let up started vancomyin a week ago still no better stomach pain nausea, diarrhea . talk to doctor everyday. When will I feel okay again

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I'm sorry to hear about what you are suffering. I'm new on this site. Does anyone ever reply? I see you posted 10 day ago!

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@euqcaj

I'm sorry to hear about what you are suffering. I'm new on this site. Does anyone ever reply? I see you posted 10 day ago!

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Hello @euqcaj, Welcome to Connect. It sometimes takes awhile for members to reply to some questions. I think this may be because unless we have similar symptoms or can answer another members questions we might delay posting hoping that another member will jump in and respond to your question.

While I don't have C-diff, I do struggle with chronic constipation and have used Mira-lax, stool softeners and prebiotic fiber. Lately I have been having cramps in my left lower stomach area but have not noticed a bulging. I do think this may be related to the amount of fiber and stool softeners I take daily. I read where another member has used Align probiotic supplement and it helped their constipation issue. I do think mine also is related to gut health and so may give that a try. I also have been working on exercising the pelvic muscles which can play a part in chronic constipation according to some information I found on the Mayo Clinic website.

Excerpt from link below: "Difficulty with the muscles involved in elimination:
Problems with the pelvic muscles involved in having a bowel movement may cause chronic constipation. These problems may include:
-- The inability to relax the pelvic muscles to allow for a bowel movement (anismus)
-- Pelvic muscles that don't coordinate relaxation and contraction correctly (dyssynergia)
-- Weakened pelvic muscles"
Constipation - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/constipation/symptoms-causes/syc-20354253

Have you discussed your the constipation and bulging symptoms with your doctor?

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@johnbishop

Hello @euqcaj, Welcome to Connect. It sometimes takes awhile for members to reply to some questions. I think this may be because unless we have similar symptoms or can answer another members questions we might delay posting hoping that another member will jump in and respond to your question.

While I don't have C-diff, I do struggle with chronic constipation and have used Mira-lax, stool softeners and prebiotic fiber. Lately I have been having cramps in my left lower stomach area but have not noticed a bulging. I do think this may be related to the amount of fiber and stool softeners I take daily. I read where another member has used Align probiotic supplement and it helped their constipation issue. I do think mine also is related to gut health and so may give that a try. I also have been working on exercising the pelvic muscles which can play a part in chronic constipation according to some information I found on the Mayo Clinic website.

Excerpt from link below: "Difficulty with the muscles involved in elimination:
Problems with the pelvic muscles involved in having a bowel movement may cause chronic constipation. These problems may include:
-- The inability to relax the pelvic muscles to allow for a bowel movement (anismus)
-- Pelvic muscles that don't coordinate relaxation and contraction correctly (dyssynergia)
-- Weakened pelvic muscles"
Constipation - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/constipation/symptoms-causes/syc-20354253

Have you discussed your the constipation and bulging symptoms with your doctor?

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Thank you so much for responding. Yes, I have discussed all this with my doctor. The constipation is chronic and I've learned how to manage it over the years,..............it's not ideal but much better than it was. The C-diff episode was scary and unexpected. It was a result of taking Clyndamycin for a dental issue. I was terribly ill. I've recovered from the C-diff but it has left me with this bulging I've never had before. I did mention it to my doctor but I feel it wasn't really seriously addressed, although I also had a follow up MRI and apparently everything looks good and there wasn't any serious damage to my intestines from the C-diff infection. I was extremely grateful for all this news, especially after I understood what could have happened with C-diff. I am almost 70 years old and I understand this could have been a much worse scenario. So I am grateful. BUT I still would like to "go back to my normal". The extra "bulging" is uncomfortable. As I mentioned in my other email, it comes and goes, fluctuates in different areas, and can make my clothing tighter. I don't like that. But apparently I'm healthy. It's only been three months since I contracted the C-diff, maybe it will just take time to get "back to normal". I really don't know, but I hope this isn't permanent. And I will bring it up with my doctor again if it doesn't go away. I also thought your comment on the pelvic muscles was very interesting. Never in all my years of going to doctors has this been mentioned! I never knew that could lend to constipation. Thank you for the information. Jacque

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