C Diff

Hi all,
2 weeks ago I went to ER w/ abdominal pain thinking it was a flare. Diagnosed w/ Diverticulitis, started on Flagyl and Cipro. Pain better quickly but meds made me sick. Feeling nausea, but very dizzy, spacey and difficulty finding my words at time. Day 5 stopped meds. Felt better so the next moring took one Flagyl and within an hour felt headache, spacey again. So doc said stop.

about 5 days later, started with Diarrhea. Had my Wellness visit and mentioned to to doc that I'd had it for 2 days. I started on probiotics the day before. She ordered test for C Diff, because I mentioned it. she didnt think I had it. By the next day Diarrhea gone. I didn't get the results until Monday and the test was Tuesday. The Diarrhea gone on the Wednesday. So I was SURPRISED to hear it was POSITIVE for C-diff. Her email said to start Flagyl if I was having symptoms. I called and awaiting a call back.

Meantime I called my GI doc. His nurse said I need to start Vancomycin even though no symptoms. The test from the lab said positive for C Diff but negative for toxins.

Ok, so I am afraid to take the Vanco if I don't really need it. The GI doc's nurse said even if I don't have Diarrhea that I need to take Vanco for 2 weeks. The pharmacy didn't have today. so I need to make a decision. If I hadn't mentioned it to my doctor she never would have tested me. It was just my wellness visit for work.

I'm very confused. Any thoughts?? BTW I have Crohns. Since 2009. No surgeries. Mostly in my rectum, and fairly well controlled.


Thanks all

False negatives from C Diff testing are common, that is why some people tested negatively for C Diff the first time but tested positive with a 2nd test. Ask your doctor if there might be a false positive here.

/medicine-matters.blogs.hopkinsmedicine.org/2016/03/one-minute-guide-to-clostridium-difficile-testing/
C. diff PCR is a highly sensitive test (90%).4 In fact, it is so sensitive that it may be positive and detect the C. diff toxin gene even when the gene is not actively producing toxin. This results in many patients who have a positive test and do not have C. diff infection

Thank you all so much for your response. I so appreciate it. I am a nurse in a major hospital. I see all the worst case situations in my role, management, meeting weekly on all the difficult cases.

So the fear is real. I met with the Infectious Disease nurse today. She reviewed my results and explained that I should have never been tested. But here I am. She explained that I am a colonizer, I think that was the term. My toxins were negative. So at this point the plan is to wait and see.

I also met with the employee health nurse who ran it by another physician and cleared me to work. My anxiety level is a little lower.

I'm considering looking for another job, less stressful and one where I am not exposed to not only germs but so much negative stuff. It didn't bother me as much until my Dad got cancer and loss the battle.

This forum is full of survivors and stories, that although they are difficult, you guys are continuing and supportive. I used to be on here years ago, can't remember my "handle" and don't use the old email. So just set this up.

Praying that this all works out well, with the C-Diff. I'm using bleach and precautions so my husband is safe.

Bless you all. and thanks!