HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

i think he "just" has c-diff

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 4/8/2011 1:53 PM (GMT 0)
so i hope chris just has c-diff still. the GI wont believe it because the stool tests keep coming back negative. she wants to treat him with steroids as if he has crohns even though there is no sign of crohns in the biopsies. so i called his surgeon, who was with us through the whole c-diff saga post surgery, and he got us some vancomycin. it's been a day and a half. he is still having D but all the other symptoms (no apetite, lethargy, smell, gurgly tummy) are gone. ya'll cross your fingers that this ongoing c-diff is the only issue. we are supposed to meet with the surgeon next week and then he wants to do a few rounds of FT when the vanc is over. so how do i tell the GI that i went around her without sounding like a know-it-all? i respect her but had to follow my gut on this one. i don't want to cause a rift.
Posted 4/8/2011 8:35 PM (GMT 0)
Hmmm...tough one. I suggest you just be honest with her, and tell her the truth. That you hope she is not offended, but you really felt strongly that Chris had c-diff based on previous symptoms, and that you consulted your surgeon for a second opinion. It will also help for her to know that he is improving.

If she is offended, then there is really nothing you can do. You had to follow your instincts, and that's all there is to it. You can reassure her that you really do respect her opinion, but you were just very wary of putting him back on prednisone.

Good luck!
Posted 4/10/2011 8:13 PM (GMT 0)
maybe suggest a trial of Flagyl and see if he improves?
Posted 4/10/2011 9:54 PM (GMT 0)
Are they using the 100% accurate test method at your facility?

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/733028
Posted 4/10/2011 10:02 PM (GMT 0)
I am sorry you're having so many problems getting to the bottom of this c diff. I too hope it's just c diff you're dealing with and that it clears up quickly with vancomyacin. You're probably going to have to be honest with the GI so she knows what's going on. I would say he was very ill and that the surgeon called to check up and you told him the situation and he recommended vancomyacin. Something along those lines probably won't make her feel insulted.
Posted 4/11/2011 12:08 PM (GMT 0)
5 days into the vanc and he's doing tons better. his poops are even starting to get more dense and form a little pile. we just gotta figure out how to kick this infection for good. we have a visit scheduled with the surgeon on wednesday and i'll just call the GI after that and let her know whats going on. she's reasonable and i'm sure it's not the first time someone has gone against her suggested course of action. i'll just blame it on that funny mother's instinct thing.

i don't know about the hospital's protocol for checking c-diff toxins, but i know it is faulty because he was in the hospital with full blown terrible c-diff and got false negatives.

thanks for the support, ya'll.

Posted 4/11/2011 2:48 PM (GMT 0)
It's hard to culture C-Diff, hence C-difficile. Someone here suggested flagyl, but Vancomycin is better, often not used because it's so expensive.
Posted 4/11/2011 4:33 PM (GMT 0)
they tried to treat with flagyl in the hospital, but it didn't do a thing. vancomycin is the way to go, but yeah, it is CRAZY expensive.
i think the surgeon's plan after the vanc is to do some FT in hopes of crowding the c-diff out. we tried with oral otc probiotics but they just slowed it down.
Posted 4/11/2011 6:12 PM (GMT 0)
I am happy to hear Chris is doing better. I've heard vancomycin is much better for treating C Diff as it is often resistent to Flagyl. I hope he continues to improve.
Posted 4/11/2011 6:24 PM (GMT 0)
Poor Chris. This is truly not fair. I hope he will be up and running around soon. Sending you and Chris hugs.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply