UC + C. Diff + hemmorhoids + breastfeeding = fml

Hello darlings,

I'm waiting for my GI to call and tell me if he'll let me go on Prednisone, just thought I'd seek your expert help to see if I should ask for anything else as well.

I've been flaring for months but was caught off guard by my twins coming prematurely. Anyway, at the hospital I found out I have c.diff - no idea where that came from (taking Flagyl for that). The pregnancy brought on my first hemmorhoids, which made my flare all the more "enjoyable"! And to top it off I'm breastfeeding (x2) now so my options are limited.

Please help me out of my misery and tell me there's something I can do.. I'm on Lialda, having tried Asacol, Imuran and what seems like billions of other drugs to no avail. My only supplements are fish oil and a prenatal, having tried slippery elm, metamucil, probiotics, aloe vera, cinnamon, turmeric, etc. etc. etc. and every food elimination program I've found (eliminating milk products, fiber, sugar, alcohol, etc. etc. etc.) and nothing ever worked except prednisone.

Le sigh.

I agree with the enema idea, although it might not be the most pleasant thing with hemmies and post-partum. Did you deliver vaginally or C-section?

If you think prednisone will get you over the hump, then I hope the GI will agree. But don't stay on it long (although I know as a mom with babies you are going to love the extra energy it gives you). But keep up your oral mesalamine and add mesalamine enemas, too.

Hey there. I flared after both my pregnancies. I empathize with how overwhelming it can be to look after newborns while flaring. Cant imagine two - two that came early, are they very premature?.

I used pred for the first time after my first birth because it works fast and I couldnt imagine flaring for too long. Also, I has a fairly good safety profile while nursing. At least there is a significant amount of research about pred and nursing. I felt it was alot less safe to really up my mesalamine or use alot of cort enemas. Actually, I consulted Dr hale about using two cort enemas daily - I think they totaled 40mg of hydrocortisone - and he said he thought is was too much for the baby so I asked my doc for pred.

Hope you start to feel better soon. jo

Most GIs won't consider doing an FT for cdiff without several relapses from the standard meds (flagyl and vanco) first. If this is the case with your GI, Do NOT continue to play with meds if you relapse more than 2 times. From our personal experience and Dr. Borody's comments....."if a UCer relapses with Cdiff, it will be near impossible to get it under control with meds alone".....hence the need for FT to eradicate the infection. This combo is nothing to sneeze at, it will wipe you out for sure. The good news is FT for Cdiff is almost 100% successful. You also have decent odds that it will help your UC symptoms as well. FYI: There is a new Cdiff med that came out this year that supposedly is as good or better than Vancomycin, its called...Fidaxomycin. Anyway, I'd start talking to your GI about FT.

Good advice, s boulardii is great. You may be able to take it during the Flagyl though, as it is a yeast and shouldn't be killed by abx.