C DIFF.....HELP!

In December I went to several doctors that said my abdomen pain was NOTHING and I should take some Ibuprofen and I would be fine! FINALLY on January 3rd I went to the Emergency room where a CAT scan showed inflammation. I then went to a Gasterenterologist and had a Colonoscopy that eveything came back ok! A month later when I went in to my primary care in February, they FINALLY did a stool sample which shouldnt that have been the first test anyone did???

The found that I had toxins in my colon and said it was C. Diff.

I was put on Flagyl and felt better a week later! THEN a week after I felt better, I was sick all over again......and I have been re-infected 3 times since then!!!! Last week they wanted to do another stool sample, but at the time I was on anti biotics and I felt pretty good and my stool was back to normal or pretty close to normal. As 3 days ago, I got sick all over again, but they told me my results were negative from last week, but in my mind, I think it was because I was on anti biotics and feeling better that it showed negative. But right now I would be willing to bet my life that its back!!!!

I have an appointment tomorrow because my doctor is concerned since I havent been keeping food down!

 

Should I ask for ANOTHER stool sample, AND another blood test to test my white blood cell count? Im sure it's elevated like it has been the other 3 times?!

If I'm right and it is back.....This will be the 4th time in 5 months!!!!!!!

I dont know what to do at this point! I'm in so much pain, I'm sick of vommiting, and the going to the bathroom has become annoying! This just wont seem to go away!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you!
The immfalmation was in the lower portion of my colon back in January. They told me vommiting with C diff is normal, im just annoyed with it!!

What makes me even more mad is that I did the stool sample when I was feeling better and was on anti biotics at the time, so when the nurse called me today and said the test was negative I wanted to slap her and say "well sure its negative, i was tested just over a week ago and it was when i was on meds."

I've heard about other meds being used when Flagyl doesnt completely get rid of this, and I want to know if anyone else has switched meds and had better luck with the new ones?? Flagyl makes me feel better but it always comes back about 5-10 days after I have stopped the meds.

I think having c-diff makes you a candidate for FT. (fingers crossed) A possible cure? (fingers crossed)

Good luck, I hope you feel better soon!

We're waiting to hear how it goes, please post back.

Try saccharamyces boulardii 300mg three times a day for the prevention of recurrence of c diff. Im so sorry you are going through this this is hell!!

Hi there - sounds like you have been through the ringer. So frustrating not to hav had a stool sample requested earlier and having ibuprofen (of all things!) prescribed. grrrr!

As well as vancomycin you should dose up on the probiotic Saccharomyces.Boulardii (aka. S.Boulardii) I think Florastor is one of the trade names it goes by.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saccharomyces_boulardii
this is teh particular reference to S.Boulardii being useful for c-diff http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?volume=271&issue=24&page=1913

You might really want to consider cutting all sugar out of your diet while you're trying to get rid of c-diff - has any doctor mentioned that? Sugar will feed c-diff so by cutting it you will help starve it out.

Thank you all for the information!I hadnt heard anything about not eating sugar, but my doctor did put me on a liquid only diet for about 7 days. From January 3rd to now, I've dropped a total of 21 pounds. And for me, losing weight is super difficult! I work out and it wont go away, yet i get sick and it falls off. At this point I barely eat. A few bites here and there is all I can manage to get down. The thought of food makes me want to vomit.

I am ABSOLOUTELY going to demand ANOTHER stool sample, as well as a blood draw. And he said last time that he may wanna do another CAT scan if it came back, so maybe thats whats in store for me tomorrow or in the next few days. I just need something to work and quickly because my body is so weak. This has turned in to complete torture. And I cant stand my family watching this happen.

If my doctor cant seem to figure something out quickly, Im going to seek a specialist. The one that did my colonoscopy didnt find a darn thing, so I will have to look for a different one. But the thought of a second colonoscopy makes me cringe. I am a 21 year old female that is getting ready to start Medical Assisting school, I dont have time for this!

Don't bother with any more meds at this point.  Schedule a fecal transplant with a GI via scope ASAP!  It is almost 100% effective and you'll be back in stride within a day or two.  My son relapsed 8 times with cdiff over a year span and we almost had to have his colon removed because of it.  Insurance will cover the cost of the colonoscopy.  Good luck, please take my advice.    

 

AND with my stool sample it has to be liqiud, or very loose, I'm drinking coffee cause that may make it happen, but any other suggestions on food or anything so I can get this sample over??

ah, and such a teeny little spoon to scoop up diarrhea..fun, fun, fun!

Good to hear it's positive, meaning you're going to be continued to be treated...

Vanco..yes, nasty since there's now VRE...Vanco resistant enterococcus. It would be best to clear up the c.diff before getting you another new gut bacteria infection.

I do want to stress one thing, but not to be taken as disrespectful....please use extra special care to wash up afterward, under nails, etc...plus, only use towels for yourself or paper towels, no sharing.

I think consider probiotics and when you eat, use fibre supplements to help clean it out.

Hope you have good results with this course of abx.
Keep us posted as to how you're doing.
q

I was diagnosed with c-diff more than a year ago and a very long and slow taper of Vancomycin is the only thing that worked for me. I did Flagyl for 10 days but after that didn't work, I was immediately switched to Vanco. First three rounds or so of Vanco didn't work. Tried various tapers. The one that worked for me was a 6-month taper, starting with 4/day and ending (where I am now) with 1 every 3 days. I test often, and my last four have been negative. I would definitely ask your doctor about Vanco. Good luck. It's awful, I know.

Kenz: You do need to realize, it may not be that easy to get rid of cdiff. It is an extremely resistant bacteria that can take on the meds and win. I wish it were as easy as you think. The reality is, the new strain of cdiff that is spreading across North America in epedemic proportions, often becomes unphased to the only drugs that treat it. Do some research and don't let it get out of hand.

Kymomofthree: Same thing....your still on Vanco after a year of battling this. What happens when you go off the meds?

The more relapses, the less likely drugs will work for you. Your gut flora will forever be altered as well. Research FT, just in case you need it. It will wipe out the infection and balance your flora.

Now, I'm assuming your symptoms are similar to what my son had. Vomitting, fever, blood/mucous stools, severe stomach cramping, prolapsed rectum, full blown inflammation, etc. He couldn't function, sleep, eat, etc. So, if your not to this point....great....but don't let it get there either.

FYI: If you have UC and Cdiff, your odds of clearing the cdiff infection is much less with meds. GOOD LUCK.

Post Edited (trojen) : 5/24/2012 7:22:25 AM (GMT-6)

Just offering advice from my own experience. We've lived through one of the worst cases of cdiff I've ever heard about and I've researched this very topic for a year since. My only point, is when you get to the end of your rope....there is a treatment that is almost 100% effective.

Good luck to you.