Posted 11/14/2008 1:17 AM (GMT 0)
I got a c diff infection infection from visiting an assisted living retirement community. I was working with teens, and we did bi-weekly volunteer sessions at the center. I began showing c diff infection symptoms one month after my last time at the senior center. After spending months trying to get the c diff dxed correctly, I wound up losing 61 lbs. over 6 weeks, with constant bloody d, gas, and the usual lack of energy, plus urgent trips to the loo to get rid of the explosive, urgent, odoriferous bowel movements. By the time I was dxed, the c diff was fairly resistant to flagyll, and I ended up on 2 runs of vanco, and then a relapse 6 weeks later, which was taken care of by one round of vanco.
It was during my c diff infection that they did a c-scope that discovered my UC....talk about adding injury to insult. I had never even heard of UC, much less entertained the thought that I'd get it. But there it was staring me in the face. Life has not been the same for me since. It still irks me that I was UC free until after the c diff, and since then, UC has been basically ruled my life. All I want is to return to my pre-UC energy levels and desire, so I can get back into shape.
As stated in the article, c diff does form spores which are resistant to most disinfectants. Regardless of evidence saying other wise, I still use Purell after using the loo, and I wash my hands with antibacterial regularly. C diff can also be spread in households by people with poor hygiene, and by not sanitizing things regularly.
Hopefully everyone will stay c diff free. C diff made my UC look like a walk in the park, and I'd hate for someone to get infected. Follow sanitary bathroom habits, and when in hospitals or retirement homes, or even clinics, be sure to follow sanitation protocol.
Good luck all.