What is this C-Diff?

I am curious about this C-Diff and how you would know you have something like this? I know I saw something about this on here. I was on a antibiotic, Ciprofloxacin for 7 days for a urinary tract infection. And my infection is still not gone so they have me on another round but not Ciprofloxacin. I don't have abdominal pain nor cramps, no diarrhea, had fever on and off with the urinary tract infection but have had none in several days. This is making me scared to take another round of this antibiotic as I do not want this condition. I was diagnosed this morning with dehydration at the hospital. I feel totally fine in my colon, other than gas and acid reflux. Having normal stools.

I have felt flushed feeling, had hot feeling skin and have always drank plenty of water. It would be the diarrhea that would cause the dehydration am I correct? How sick would one be with this condition? I have not been in the hospital, other than this morning for a heart workup as I was having chest tightness and pressure.The only bacteria they found in my urinary tract was the klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria as it had gotten out of my intestinal tract, found by the gynecologist.

I cannot even imagine ulcerative colitis being a cause of dehydration. I didn't need to see this.  

Thanks Irish_Mom, I have none of that. BTW, I like your user id.

A good way to help prevent c. diff overgrowth when you're taking probiotics is to take a good probiotic. That helps to replace the normal healthy bacteria in the colon so it's less welcoming to c. diff. Our members use products such as Culturelle, VSL ##, Primadophilus Reuteri or a variety of others. You should be able to get a good probiotic preparation at your drugstore or health store. Be sure to take the probiotic at least 2-4 hours after the antibiotic.

I did unfortunately notice yesterday evening some loose stools and this morning also. Both after eating raisin bran with milk. I read that a dehydrated person should not consume milk or fiber when dehydrated due to that causing diarrhea. I have had none before that. So I am going to lay back off the fiber and milk and see if it changes. I have only taken Ciprofloxacin once for 7 days and I don't think that one time would cause that bacteria. I've been on that drug before due to a urinary tract infection about a year and a half ago. Nothing happened then. I am starting back on my probiotics.

Irish_Mom said...

Wit

Thanks for the comment about my user name. It's fun living in a household with three stubborn Irish men. LOL  I'm glad to hear that you don't have any of the symptoms of C. diff. We occasionaly have a patient get it, but it's usually one of our quad patients. They get bladder infections quite frequently, so the antibiotics will sometimes give them C. diff.