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Infection?!?!

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Posted 3/19/2011 4:25 PM (GMT 0)
Ok so my doctor took some stool samples a day or so ago and she had another doc call me and he left a voice mail saying that I have an infection in my bowel and that my doctor was going to prescribe me some antibiotics. I didn't get to talk to him so I have NO IDEA what this means. I've never had an infection in my bowel before. What do you think it could be.. or mean? How did I get it?

Does this mean it ISN'T my UC flaring even though I'm bleeding and have other symptoms of a flare?
Posted 3/19/2011 4:35 PM (GMT 0)
You could have c-diff. The symptoms are much the same as a flare.

Hopefully you can get more information from your Doctor on Monday?
Posted 3/19/2011 4:37 PM (GMT 0)
I have an appointment with her on Wed.

What exactly is C-diff? What causes it?
Posted 3/19/2011 5:09 PM (GMT 0)
www.mayoclinic.com/health/c-difficile/DS00736

It is a bowel infection. Tends to happen with us UCers - not sure why - same goes for the causes.

Have a look at the link. It can tell you more than I can.

Hopefully the symptoms will clear up soon with the antibiotics.

Take care.
Posted 3/19/2011 7:37 PM (GMT 0)
Well, that's one step to the mystery. There are different things that could cause an infection, c.diff is but one.

When you talk to your doctor request the specific infection and write it down so that you can do some research on it.

What antibiotics will you be on? and when do you start?

Hope this has you feeling much better soon after starting the antibiotics.

Keep us posted for sure!
q
Posted 3/19/2011 8:40 PM (GMT 0)
Well, he said it was C-diff. He said that he didn't want to prescribe me anything.. he said my doctor should get the fax with the info on it by Monday so she will call me hopefully. He did say she will probably give me Flaygel (not sure if the spelling is correct on that).

I asked him about my eyes. They are like blood shot and blurry and starting to turn a little bit yellow. He said the C-diff would NOT effect my eyes. Is this true? Could it do some damage to my colon especially since it's making me bleed really bad?
Posted 3/20/2011 12:34 AM (GMT 0)
Flagyl is the common antibiotic for C-diff. I don't think it would affect your eyes, but certainly mention that to your doctor on Monday.

I don't "think" it will do anymore damage than UC does, and hopefully it will clear quickly once you start the antibiotics.
Posted 3/20/2011 7:40 AM (GMT 0)
you need to tell your GI your eyes are looking a bit yellow...that's a red flag of high bilirubin in the blood..

Hope the meds work to get the c.diff controlled.

q
Posted 3/20/2011 11:34 AM (GMT 0)
I agree with quincy about talking to the doctor about any yellowing to the whites of your eyes. The top of normal range for bilirubin is about 20 and you cannot notice it in the eyes until it reaches about 40ish, so you may need a blood test to see what the rest of your liver function tests are doing at the moment.It could be something as simple as gallstones - but you do need to get it checked out.

Sue

Posted 3/20/2011 4:21 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all of the responses.

I'm getting worse and I can't talk to my doctor till tomorrow.

Have any of you gotten severely sick with C diff?

I've been bleeding for about a month and half with this.. it feels like someone is tearing my insides apart. When I use the bathroom all it is is blood.. dark blood with blood clots. If there is stool, it's very little and it's runny and very pale looking. I've never had that before.

My vision is getting worse too.. blurry and painful. I seem to feel this weird disoriented feeling too. Ugh I feel so bad. :(

Should I go to the hospital or wait to talk to my doctor tomorrow?
Posted 3/20/2011 4:48 PM (GMT 0)
I am sorry that you are feeling so badly. :(( You may need to go to the hospital. I am not sure that I would wait until tomorrow. With that amount of bleeding, and the problems with your eyes, I would probably go.

Is it a long wait at the ER where you are?

Good luck, and keep us updated.
Posted 3/20/2011 4:51 PM (GMT 0)
I agree. I think you should go to an Urgent Care or ER now. Do not wait. If you are weak and disorientated, your blood count might be quite low.

Good luck.
Posted 3/21/2011 3:54 AM (GMT 0)
Just came back from the ER. They said I have C-diff colitis. They gave me some IV antibiotics and told me to follow up with my GI. They said my WBC was double what it's supposed to be.

I'm really uncomfortable and in pain. I feel like they should do a CT scan to see if my bowel is swollen or something. Something just doesn't feel right.. but they don't like to listen to you.

I've also went from having a million bowel movements a day to one... with white stool and dark blood.. but still have the same symptoms only worse. I mean, I have been eating a little.. where is all the food at?

The doctor told me that my stool was white and clay colored because of the infection. I read online that it has something to do with your bile production.

I also like how the discharge papers say "seek immediate medical attention if you have pain and blood in your stools." Oh.. ummm.. that's what i came in for!!!!!!!!!

Post Edited (UCsince1999) : 3/20/2011 9:59:09 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 3/21/2011 4:15 AM (GMT 0)
What antibiotic did they give you?Flagyl did not work for me. Make sure to follow up with your GI ASAP. THe faster you treat it the less damage. I had to take Vancomycin in a liquid form while hospitalized then in a pill form when I went home.

This is a common hospital born infection. I caught mine I belive when I had an apendix surgery a few weeks before I had symptoms.
Posted 3/21/2011 4:29 AM (GMT 0)
They gave me Flagyl. I haven't picked it up yet though. I've been bleeding with this C-diff colitis for about 2 months. It feels like someone is tearing my insides apart. I feel like I need to be in the hospital with constant pain meds it's so bad. The doctors don't seem to believe me! It's so frustrating!!!!

Were you hospitalized after your appendix surgery just for the C-diff colitis?
Posted 3/21/2011 4:47 AM (GMT 0)
I had the appendix surgery about a month before I was hospitalized for the UC and C diff. They did give me pain killers in my IV. along with the Vancomycin. The longer the c-diff goes untreated to more damage it does. Get your prescription ASAP. ALso it is highly contageous so keep that in mind with people contact. The nurses would put on a new robe and mask every time they entered my room. Several people on my floor had it (they had me in the oncology ward) I think cancer patients get it frequently due to the week immune systooms.
Posted 3/21/2011 6:37 AM (GMT 0)

mom2panda said...
www.mayoclinic.com/health/c-difficile/DS00736

It is a bowel infection. Tends to happen with us UCers - not sure why - same goes for the causes.

Some of the medications used to treat UC make us more prone to infections. I got quite a few infections after being on pred.

As for bowel infection, it could be the cause of the colon inflammation.

Antibiotics should kill the bad bacteria that is causing the inflammation. However, it will also kill other strains of bacteria.

Fecal transplantation will put bacteria back into the colon, strains of bacteria that have been lost from antibiotics.
Posted 3/21/2011 1:18 PM (GMT 0)
I will have to look into that.

I'm in a lot of pain this morning. I've had diarrhea with this and now all the sudden I can't go to the bathroom. I haven't passed gas in a day and I can feel it building up inside me but I can't get it out. Is this normal? I haven't started any medicine for it yet.

In the ER they told me to see my GI today. Well, she isn't in and idk what to do. The doctors act like this is no big deal and just blow it off.

Post Edited (UCsince1999) : 3/21/2011 7:55:48 AM (GMT-6)

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