What happens after C.Difficile?

When did you have cdiff? How long ago? Do you still take probiotic? And what kind?

I recently posted for the first time this past weekend. I was recently diagnosed with C Diff but I have a feeling that I have had it for a much longer time and was not tested for it. The doctors tested for parasites and infections but not C Diff. My internist said that I couldn't have had it earlier because my white blood cell count would have shown a substantial increase and it did not.

I am on my 6th day of Vancomycin and my stomach cramps are not as bad. I have extreme anxiety like you and am curious as to the term "stomach dumping". What does it mean? I am having multiple bowel movements daily and am wondering if this is part of C Diff, the antibiotic or the term you are referring to. I am not having loose stools.

I am so grateful for the groups on this Mayo site and all of your input. When I find myself anxious or depressed I try to count my blessings and all of you are counted. 🙂

Well, I`m living your nightmare. I get reoccurring bladder infections(E Coli), and sure enough 2 weeks after off vancomyicin, I get one. I`m getting limited to what I can take as your body gets resistant to antibiotics. Well, started antibiotic for bladder and sure enough on comes the C Diff. First day is always the worst. I`ve lost a total of 30 lbs., so far, just can`t eat. Definitely the worst illness I`ve ever been through. Have to stay positive cause it`s very easy to get depressed with this. Hang in there and reach out when you have to

Thank you for sharing. Where you able to put back any weight on? Are you still loosing? How far ago you had cdiff? I know what you mean it can easily make you depressed and worst sickness.

@mhi I had cdiff from September, 2018 thru March, 2019 when I got the fmt. I alternate boulardii and Visbiome every day taking one capsule.

Moderator, I’m new to this. Wondering what foods reduce the effectiveness of vancomycin and what foods help its effectiveness. I want to know what to eat WHILE TAKIMG VANCOMYCIN. Can you get me to the right forum if this is not the correct one?

I was diagnosed with cdiff after surgery (to remove a polyp in neck of appendix where it connects to colon; surgery was needed because they could t get it without taking part of the colon). Surgery went well. Except three days later developed severe diarrhea. I thought it was my colon reacting to surger, as everyone kept telling me. After a couple weeks of watery diarrhea with flecks, I realized something else was going on. Doctor tested for cdiff, which was positive.

I tried a ten day course of vancomycin 125mg qid, but it did not get rid of the infection. It slowed the frequency of movements, and it changed the movements from watery flecks to semi soft (soft serve ice cream consistency), but after 9 days off of it, the stools started loosening, and frequency increased, and flecks started to show up. They wanted to start vancomycin again, but I complained about pain in urinary tract (prostatitis type symptoms) while on vanco, so they instead tried 10 day course of metronidazole. That did the same thing — toward end the frequency/consistency improved, but 4 days off of metronidazole the watery diarrhea with flecks returned worse than the return after vanco ended.

I’m waiting to hear what they are going to try next, and if it’s vancomycin, I want to make sure I don’t eat foods that take away from its effectiveness.

I took Metronidazole first and it did not work for me. Then I did Vancomycin for 10 days and that did not work. Then I did Vanco pulse and taper for 5 or 6 weeks and that did NOT work. My GI finally put me on Dificid and that worked. It's expensive and my insurance would not pay for it until I had taken Vancomycin. And even then, the co-pay was high. But it worked. Ask your physician about Dificid. I've been C-diff free since November, 2018. And I knock on wood every time I say that. Wishing you well.

Thank you for your input. It’s encouraging that Dificid worked!

I apologize up front if this is not the right “board” to ask this question, but can anyone share with me what I should expect regarding my stool consistency while on vancomycin? I am on my second course (actually in the first week of a four week taper right now) and the consistency of my stools seem to have regressed back to what they were after I had been on vancomycin a few days. When I started the vancomycin, my stools were watery diarrhea with small flecks in it. After a few days, I had formed but very soft loose stools that did not stay intact when flushed. Then they progressed to firmer but still soft stools that partially stayed intact. After I started Florastor (saccharomyces boulardii) 10 days into that 14 day course, my stools started firming up to well-formed small stools (usually three or four at a time). I thought that was a sign of curing cdiff. Then I read that saccharomyces boulardii can cause constipation, and figured that could be the cause of the firm stools. I was dejected. Then about the time I started on the taper, I started having softer looser, stools, like a step or two better than watery diarrhea. Then a couple days of firm stools, then back to very loose, soft “stools” nearly the consistency of diarrhea. Is this a sign of recurrence? If so, how can that be when I am still on vancomycin, albeit a lesser dose?

I was sick for 8 months also due to Clindamycin. I was treated with vancomycin for 4 months or longer. I tried every probiotic there is. I was given the name of one on this group called florastor and it was a game changer for me. My cdiff got better which may have also have been the vanco for so long but I take it and I (thank God) have been ok. I can’t eat ground meat or corn or any ruffage but it’s ok as long as I never go through that again. I wish you the best❤️Hope this helps.