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C-diff but no symptoms?

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Posted 8/18/2014 11:51 AM (GMT 0)
I went to see Dr. Shen last month thinking I had pouchitis, but it turned out to be c-diff. I took vanco for 2 weeks. I got retested about 3 weeks after finishing the vanco and it came back positive. I was surprised because I am not having the pain and urgency I had the first time. Dr. Shen put me on Deficid, which is a new drug specifically made for c-diff. It's not cheap! Anyone have experience with positive c-diff tests but no symptoms?
Posted 8/18/2014 12:30 PM (GMT 0)
I used to post under the Crohn's forum but after a second opinion at Cleveland Clinic it was determined that I had severe ulcerative colitis and had first surgery for J-pouch in June. Feeling great! I had 3 bouts of C-diff this spring. It's amazing to me that you would not have symptoms with C-Diff. I took Dificid too after C-Diff came back after taking vanco and flagyl. Dificid did absolutely nothing for me. I ended up having a fecal trasplant that did cure the C-Diff. Good luck to you!
Posted 8/18/2014 3:00 PM (GMT 0)
C diff is one of those bacteria that live all the time in most everyone's gut. Just because one has a colonozation of C Diff, does not automatically mean that they have the infection. It is very common for tests to come back positive after treatment because there is likely still some C Diff living in your gut, it's just not making you sick anymore. My GI told me that retesting for it after my infection was kind of pointless. If you are feeling 100% better, I would rely more on that that a test, to tell you that the antibiotic DID in fact work.
Posted 8/18/2014 7:42 PM (GMT 0)
I am wondering if I have C.diff with my j-pouch too; I am having really really bad painful gas and D with a smell but no urgency for the last 5 days, yesterday it did start to improve some but it is still an issue. I went back to a bland diet a couple of days ago. I'm less than 2 months from my reversal.
Posted 8/19/2014 4:01 AM (GMT 0)
I am really surprised that Dr Shen retested you and put you on Dificid without symptoms -- you can't retest for C. diff after less than six weeks, it will always come back positive whether the first course of antibiotics resolved the infection or not. I've had two bouts of C. diff with my j-pouch and was never retested after treatment, we just went by whether I felt better or not.

My first bout cleared up with vancomycin but the symptoms came back about two months later. The second time the vancomycin didn't help and I took Dificid, which helped VERY quickly and I've been symptom free for almost four months now (knock wood). I don't know if it hurts to take the Dificid but I guess I don't really see the point if you're not having symptoms anymore.
Posted 8/19/2014 4:03 AM (GMT 0)
Here's a document from UCLA about C. diff: http://www.asp.mednet.ucla.edu/files/view/guidebook/CDiff.pdf

On p. 3 it says: "Do NOT send follow-up C. difficile toxins to document resolution of disease, as the test
can remain positive for weeks following successful treatment."
Posted 8/19/2014 9:40 AM (GMT 0)
I don't know much about c diff but I was just thinking about you the other day so it's nice to see you around. I wish it wasn't for c diff :(
Posted 8/19/2014 11:09 AM (GMT 0)
I got retested through my primary care doctor since Cleveland is three hours away and she told me the same thing, that the test can remain positive for months after treatment. Dr. Shen told me to wait two weeks after I finished the vanco then get retested. When I first told him about about my results he immediately jumped to fecal transplant. If I am not having symptoms I am not doing that, so I got the deficid. He is suppose to be a smart guy so I didn't want to argue. As long as I am asymptomatic, I think I will avoid getting retested again.

Notsosicklygirl: Besides the "positive" c-diff test I am doing really well. I just got a new job at the Detroit Medical Center on a cardiac unit and I work a couple days a month at a nursing home. I'm also finally planning my wedding after a 3 year engagement. I don't plan on anymore surgeries!
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