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C. Diff Positive

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 2/5/2020 5:02 PM (GMT 0)
On January 31st I found out that I have C. Diff. This is my first time having it so I don’t have much knowledge about it. I’m on day 5 of Vancomycin and I feel like I’m not feeling any better. Does anyone have any experience with this? I’m getting super frustrated.

Thanks!
Posted 2/5/2020 5:15 PM (GMT 0)
Get yourself some bleach and clean everything you touch constantly. The spores are incredibly hardy and can re-infect you.
I had to go on a short course of prednisone to dampen the inflammation and it worked like a charm.
I would suggest taking florastor because it is a probiotic that won't be killed by the Vanco.
How long are you supposed to take the Vanco?
Posted 2/5/2020 5:21 PM (GMT 0)
It can take a week or two to start feeling better and it's not uncommon to need two courses of vanco. C diff. is notoriously hard to get rid of.

I disagree with the above suggestion of prednisone. Prednisone is not good to be on when you have an infection, and my doctor took me off of it immediately when it was discovered I had c diff.

Agree with the recommendation to clean everything in your house (and car) thoroughly. Clean everything with bleach; that's the only thing that will kill c diff. Wash your hands very thoroughly after using the bathroom and before eating or preparing food. C diff. can live on surfaces for up to 6 months, so do make sure you clean to avoid becoming reinfected once you are better.
Posted 2/5/2020 5:42 PM (GMT 0)
I had to rely on my mayo Docs to get me out of it. C-diff has to be taken seriously, especially if you have U.C., which in your case is untreated. Are you at least taking any kind of oral or rectal mesalamine? I was surprised they put me on pred but they knew what they were doing in my case, and I started to feel better right away, and then quickly tapered off the pred within a few weeks. Hopefully you have a competent medical team you can rely on for advice.
Posted 2/5/2020 6:23 PM (GMT 0)
I think adding florastor or some generic Saccharomyces boulardii equivalent might help. It will thrive in your digestive system and be an antagonist for the c-diff.
They will probably keep you on Vanco longer if it doesn't clear up in the 14 days. You could be having a U.C. flare too which of course complicates things as it won't go away once the c-diff is eradicated.
ER's usually have a GI doc on call to consult in such cases if you're not getting any better.
Posted 2/5/2020 8:13 PM (GMT 0)

C_G_K said...
I had to rely on my mayo Docs to get me out of it. C-diff has to be taken seriously, especially if you have U.C., which in your case is untreated. Are you at least taking any kind of oral or rectal mesalamine? I was surprised they put me on pred but they knew what they were doing in my case, and I started to feel better right away, and then quickly tapered off the pred within a few weeks. Hopefully you have a competent medical team you can rely on for advice.

Interesting about the pred.

OP: Hope it gets better soon.
Posted 2/6/2020 2:57 PM (GMT 0)
Good luck and don't give up on the Vanco. It took two courses for me, but it finally cleared. Have been taking Florastor probiotic since and doing well. Do as Sarah says and bleach EVERYTHING. LOL I wash my hands with a mild bleach/water solution and then with warm water and soap. C. Diff will definitely put the 'fear' of germs into your brain. LOL
Posted 2/9/2020 8:09 PM (GMT 0)
Agree with the advice of not getting impatient while on Vanco. It did nothing for my bad case of c diff over the first 12 days. Over the next two days my symptoms vanished. IMHO, bleach is good but pred should be avoided.

Good luck!
Posted 2/11/2020 6:51 AM (GMT 0)
Ask your doc about Dificid if Vanco doesn't work.
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