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Flare up vs C Diff

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 6/3/2015 1:23 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, I've been scouring the boards reading through all the C Diff threads and I can't seem to find one that answers my question, which is:

How do you differentiate between a flare up and a c diff infection?

For all those who have had c diff, how could you tell it wasn't just a regular flare up symptom? Please be as specific as you can. Thanks!
Posted 6/3/2015 1:37 AM (GMT 0)
the severe bloating is always my tell tale c diff sign. i've had it 4x and i look for the pregnant belly.

i also have straight up watery diarrhea. i usually don't have this with my UC flares- i tend really strain to poop small amounts of bloody poop but c diff diarrhea just shoots out of my butthole.
Posted 6/3/2015 1:40 AM (GMT 0)
Yes it's very watery stool with less blood than a normal flare. It has a horrible smell- like nothing you have ever smelled before. It's also almost yellow color - the liquid and stool. And stringy.
Posted 6/3/2015 1:43 AM (GMT 0)
I have the same diarrhea you describe, I've gone 6 times this past hour. I have stomach pain and if I move my stomach a certain way I have to rush off to the toilet asap. Imodium doesn't help either. Do these sound like C diff symptoms to you?

I've had similar symptoms in my flare ups but something feels slightly different this time.
Posted 6/3/2015 1:46 AM (GMT 0)
Yes, I was going to say - my stool is yellow. And there's a lot of yellow. But there's also mucus. Is mucus a sign of C diff? I haven't noticed a particularly strong smell though...
Posted 6/3/2015 1:46 AM (GMT 0)
Yea sounds like it. Can u call the doc and gets stool sample done? It'll take a day or two to process but it's the only way to tell, from what I know. Sorry- keep drinking. Pedialight or Gatorade or anything! U don't want to get debydrated. Were u on antibiotics ?
Posted 6/3/2015 1:47 AM (GMT 0)
c diff feels like a colonoscopy prep. going six times in an hour is exactly what happens with me. it's like a complete cleansing.

you can get a c diff stool test to check for sure.

c diff "pain" feels like cramps to me. my UC pain is pure devil burning.
Posted 6/3/2015 1:54 AM (GMT 0)
No haven't been on antibiotics for almost 2 years. I was just getting out of a flare, had 2 weeks of remission where I went to the gym and then one day I just woke up with these symptoms.

I thought it was the flare up coming back because I didn't give myself enough time to rest but it doesn't quite feel like a flare up to me. The first indicator was that my gut was tender when pressed all over. And I had a lot of gas. And the lack of effectiveness from the Imodium. And no certain food makes it better or worse.

I generally feel fine except for the diarrhea and pain. I have noticed that before each diarrhea attack, I get a sharp pain in my abdomen. Did that happen to you?
Posted 6/3/2015 1:58 AM (GMT 0)
bananagirl - that sounds exactly like my symptoms. I think I will call my GP tomorrow and order a stool test. I just want to get better before my brother's wedding in a month :/
Posted 6/3/2015 2:12 AM (GMT 0)
Question for you guys: should I go to the A&E and get seen to ASAP or is it okay to wait a few days while the GP gets my sample and sends it off for testing?

I've had these symptoms for about 4 weeks almost. Does C-Diff get worse the longer it is untreated? At what stage would you go to the A&E for this?

Sorry for the barrage of questions, just a little worried
Posted 6/3/2015 2:19 AM (GMT 0)
In my opinion c diff can get bad real fast, but it also comes on fast too- so idk if it's been that long you've been having symtpoms then it might not be c diff? Not sure. If u feel really bad go to the ER. If u can hold until the am, call ur doc and ask for the stool test. Also ask if u should go to the ER. Maybe the doc can fit u in tomorrow and u don't have to go to the ER, wait around and pay a copay for the ER. They'll tell u straight up if u should go in or not, having taken into consideration your history with your disease etc. good luck and keep hydrated.
Posted 6/3/2015 2:31 AM (GMT 0)
My exact symptoms and these aren't my usual "flare" symtoms.. I've had all the stool tests. All clear. Frustrating
Posted 6/3/2015 2:41 AM (GMT 0)
The only way to know is to have a stool test and those aren't 100% accurate.

Depending on the test it can take a few days for the final results to come back, so the sooner you are tested the better off that you'll be.

My GI would always have me tested any time I started to flare or my flare symptoms got worse.

If have c.diff I'd recommend asking for Vanco or Dificid since they are more effective in treating c.diff than Flagyl.
Posted 6/3/2015 2:45 AM (GMT 0)
I don't have a fever or a particularly bad/strong smell when using the bathroom. These two factors are making me question whether or not it is C-Diff...
Posted 6/3/2015 2:53 AM (GMT 0)
you need stool testing however. if it is c-diff, there will be one medication. if not, you will need to change/sronger other medications.

going to ER will not make the lab get the culture done faster, but it may get it in the lab 12 hours sooner. do you want ER fees to get a 12 hour jump. You will still wait 3-5 days for result.

only other reason to go to ER is if D is so bad you are dehydrated. you usually have to be vomiting too to get seriously dehydrated.

Post Edited (DBwithUC) : 6/2/2015 10:38:22 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/3/2015 2:55 AM (GMT 0)
Firstly, stop taking Imodium it can make c diff worse and even help cause mega colon. If it's c diff you want to expel everything and not keep it in. Secondly there are more than one c diff tests one takes a couple hours but there are a significant amount of false negatives. One takes a few days
Therefor you should ask your doc to order both.
Make sure to drink plenty of water and also alternating hot and cold on your belly helps with the pain
Hope you feel better soon
Posted 6/3/2015 2:59 AM (GMT 0)
I should probably mention I'm from England. So going to the A&E is free. Also, we generally get our test results back in 2-3 days. Sometimes quicker. But I agree I need a stool test. I will see how I feel tomorrow and decide whether to go the GP or A&E route. Thanks for the help guys!
Posted 6/3/2015 3:23 AM (GMT 0)
Maybe you should "Go" ( I couldn't resist) to the a and e so that they can do the test and than your GP will have them
Feel better
Posted 6/3/2015 3:26 AM (GMT 0)
I would but it's 4.34am here and I have work tomorrow. The wait alone would take hours. But if I get worse later today I will. If not I will just go the GP route.
Posted 6/3/2015 6:40 PM (GMT 0)
How are you feeling? any better?
Posted 6/3/2015 10:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hey, so the weirdest thing happened today. I went to sleep at 5.30am and then went to work and didn't need to go to the toilet until 10pm in the evening. And it wasn't yellow like last time but brown and had hardly any smell. The stomach cramps have subsided a bit too.

I have no idea why I had a turnaround in symptoms but I'm going to monitor myself tomorrow as today could have just been a weird fluke!
Posted 6/4/2015 4:55 AM (GMT 0)
awesome! hope it stays that way
Posted 6/4/2015 6:29 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks, me too!
Posted 6/4/2015 10:50 AM (GMT 0)
Hopefully it's that you've had some sort of food poisoning that has cleared itself. Campylobacter is rife in the UK at the moment for instance. If you get this sort of symptom again it is good to get to the GP early and have a stool test for pathogens. C Diff is not easy to get tested. It's fragile and by the time the sample has sat at the GP surgery and been transported to the lab, it's often too late. My hospital tests for it 4 days in a row. However, as you haven't had the horrendous smell, hopefully wasn't c diff.
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