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Just diagnosed with C Diff

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Posted 9/30/2011 8:42 PM (GMT 0)
Been in a flare since March, but my GI decided now to do stool samples and found out today I have C Diff. No idea for how long.

Starting vacomycin (sp?) today, 4xs daily for 1 month. Any advice? Could my "flare" have been C Diff all this time or I just got hit with both?
Posted 9/30/2011 9:05 PM (GMT 0)
If you have C-diff, then I urge you to try fecal transplantation:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fecal_bacteriotherapy

It's a very simple procedure that just might cure your C-diff.
Posted 9/30/2011 9:22 PM (GMT 0)
I've read up on it, but have no idea where to begin. Have to do more research, but it is definitely something I would consider.

Right now I only have 2-3 BMs a day, but with blood and mucous...sometimes formed, sometimes not. Very, very mild cramping if any. I'm on Prednisone though. Need to read up more...very caught off guard with this diagnosis.
Posted 9/30/2011 10:40 PM (GMT 0)
I'm glad to hear that. I'm actually not sure what the best way to go about it is for you because I did it at home on my own. Although my method is quick and inexpensive (less than $5), it comes with risks and is less promising since the feces don't go all the way up. It still worked for me though, and it worked amazingly well. First you need to decide on a donor. Pick someone who is having well-formed poos and who is close to you. A blood relative is probably best. If you want to get it done in a doctor's office, then you will need to find a GI who will go along with the procedure. I didn't really have that opportunity. So I did it on my own. But the was some four? years ago, and I used my six-month old granddaughter's poo. I was quite sure her poos were safe. But just in case, you should get the poo tested for infections and then have a scope to put the feces material further up the butt.

There have been many posts on this forum about fecal transplantation, including how it's done, do a Google search for:

UC fecal transplantation site:healingwell.com

to find some of the posts.

Let me know if you have more questions.
Posted 10/1/2011 7:10 AM (GMT 0)
Im with subdued!! you should really try fecal transplant!! Steriods mask the symptoms while on them but as soon as you get to a low dose, they all come back. Well thats me anyway. It may or my not help your UC but its pretty likely to get rid of your C-Diff!
Posted 10/2/2011 1:52 AM (GMT 0)
mamabee,

Does your doc want you on vancomycin as well as prednisone? I had the opposite situation--I was on vancomycin for a few days after my doc thought I had c-diff, and the the stool test was negative as well a c-scope biopsy and then I was put on pred. Obviously, you have to taper the pred, but if its Cdiff, do you need to be on both? Just wondering.

And bravo to those of you who have done fecal transplant(and have been helped by it), I know I just can't get past the ick factor of it...
Posted 10/2/2011 10:48 AM (GMT 0)
I am tapering the Prednisone now. Tomorrow I'll be down to 30mg...doing a slow taper. I've been on it since August unfortunately and now being diagnosed with C Diff (which I know I've had since before he put me on Prednisone based on my symptoms then) I feel like I never needed to be on it :( Oh well, can't go back now, just really discouraged at this point.

I know C Diff can be easily overlooked bc the symptoms are so similar to a flare up, but the stool samples should have been done as soon as I started to flare, not after I was put on Prednisone and talked about following up with Imuran (not going on at this point).

This disease and doctors can be so frustrating at times! I am really looking into Fecal Transplant at this time. On LDN, but that doesn't help with C Diff, so I'm really interested!
Posted 10/2/2011 1:06 PM (GMT 0)
The thought process is that the c diff causes a flare. The pred you are on is actually a bad thing, because you're stopping your immune system from making antibodies against the c diff toxins. You don't really have a choice though if you have been on it long term, so tapering is the right approach.

You should probably start to feel better by day 4-6 with the vancomycin though. Also, if you are going to do the fecal transplant at home, you should do it 1-2 days after your last day of vancomycin. This way, all the c diff is dead or hibernating + the vancomycin won't kill the good guys you are transplanting in. Most doctors will ask you to also do a prep to clean out the colon as well (on either your last day of vancomycin or the day right after), but I am not sure if it's required if you're gonna do it yourself.

Good luck!
Posted 10/2/2011 6:39 PM (GMT 0)
NiRo,

That was my thought process with being on Prednisone while having C Diff all this time. Really frustrated, but at this point, I have no choice :/

Thanks for the info for the fecal transplant! I have to speak to my GI about everything on Monday.
Posted 10/3/2011 4:21 AM (GMT 0)

aquafly79 said...

And bravo to those of you who have done fecal transplant(and have been helped by it), I know I just can't get past the ick factor of it...

It's really not that icky. I found it so much more icky having accidents (I've had two), spraying diarrhea all over myself and the toilet, seeing mucus on my poo, and seeing blood clots in the toilet.
Posted 10/3/2011 4:23 AM (GMT 0)
I found some links on Healingwell about fecal transplantation that are a little bit old and thus might not show with a Google search:

3/2008 https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=1068548
2/2009 https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=1394029
3/2009 https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=1428425
7/2010 https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=1856519
7/2010 https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=1535233
10/2009 Part1 https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=1612467
11/2009 Part 2 https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=1647007
12/2009 Part 3 https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=1662417
8/2010 Part 4 https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=1865200
Posted 10/10/2011 12:34 AM (GMT 0)
Dad has c-diff and on his 2nd bout. He is 75, lost much weight and very weak. We just brought him home from his hospital/rehab stint as we felt we could administer meds and change diapers just as well in his home environment, where he can heal better and get outside for fresh air and sunshine (he's been in c-diff isolation for 6+ weeks). Hope we can get him well! This week will consult with his GP, who will consult with GI (the GP is coming to his house tomorrow night...such a nice man!).

Question 1: Has anyone taken Ensure while with c-diff? He needs nutrition, and when he eats - it goes in one end and out the other!

His first treatment was with oral Vanco - returned on day 3 after completion of treatment. Next, 4 wks of Flagyl. Just finished a few days ago, but feel the test results will show he still has active c-diff.

Questions 2: Anyone know how risky it is to have the fecal transplants done? They sound so promising, yet I understand there's a risk factor. He is 75, after all. Didn't know if it was riskier for elderly?

So glad I found this site for support. I appreciate comments and guidance!
Posted 10/31/2011 4:28 PM (GMT 0)
You guys, there's no way I have C Diff, right? I had ZERO symptoms since February (really since December, but I had gum surgery in Feb and took a small amount of antibiotics and it looked like I might be about to flare so I doubled up my probiotic and it went away).

Now I went into this flare about 10 days ago, prednisone isn't helping, my symptoms have been getting worse -- I think they leveled off this weekend, but they got worse for the first 4 or 5 days I was on prednisone + steroid enemas + mesalamine + double probiotic. I also have had abdominal pain for the first time in a flare, and I don't think I've had a fever but a time or two I've felt a little sweaty like a low fever just broke.

I assume that the C Diff test is (a) to cover all bases and (b) because of the worsening symptoms even on prednisone, but wouldn't you guys say it's unlikely I have C Diff?

Thanks for all thoughts. You know, this board is a life saver. Until I started coming here, I didn't realize that my doctor was a participant in my disease. I thought he called the shots. Coming here, I realize that he takes direction from me as much as I do from him. That has made my life SIGNIFICANTLY better, so thank you all!
Posted 11/2/2011 2:45 PM (GMT 0)
Cdiff stool tests are notorious for showing false negative results. That is why they have you bring in 3 samples. My son has had many negative test results while having cdiff all along. I recommend if you suspect cdiff that you recommend a O&P (ova and parasite) stool test....this is usually shipped out to Mayo and only needing one stool sample. Much more reliable than the 3 sample basic test.

Yes, if you have responded to drugs in the past for UC and now they are not working despite flare looking symptoms.....you need to be tested for cdiff.

IF you relapse after cdiff meds (flagyl, vanco), then try Dificid (new this year) or fecal transplant. After several recurrances/relapses, you can have a doctor perform a fecal transplant for you (90% success rate).  Or, bypass the drugs, time, money, suffering, etc., and do a FT at home (see subdued).

Post Edited (trojen) : 11/2/2011 8:51:12 AM (GMT-6)

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