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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 12/31/2015 4:04 PM (GMT 0)
I'm sorry, I know there are some other c diff related topics already going, but I just feel like I have so many questions after reading up on it.

I hear stool tests aren't even that accurate. I tested positive, but what if I'm taking antibiotics, which are bad news for UCers, for no reason?

I'm told once I have it in me, I can get it over and over again. Now, my symptoms are certainly not any fun, but I'm not experiencing anything I would call severe. Lots of people have severe symptoms...does that mean next time I get it, I could be in a world of pain? That really scares me.

I haven't been on antibiotics since May, and I haven't had a hospital stay since then either. I know you can get c diff in other ways, but how exactly would a person get it if those two factors were irrelevant? Because of my IBD and IBS, sometimes I've had to use public bathrooms, but I've always washed my hands really good after that. Did I seriously still manage to get someone else's fecal matter in my mouth??

It seems like many people don't have success in treating it right away. It sounds like lots of trial and error. I don't want to suffer for weeks and weeks or months! I want to feel better!

I guess some of those weren't questions, just expressing my fears. I'll probably think of more stuff. My mind is going in all different directions.
Posted 12/31/2015 4:30 PM (GMT 0)
Good questions and ill start in the beginning.

There are very rarely, if ever false positives in the pcr test for C. diff. They detected the toxins that the bacteria produces so you probably have the infection.

You don't have to pick it up from a public restroom. Not to scare you but c. Diff spores are all over the place. Just because you wash your hands very well it doesn't mean the person who made your coffee did...

Ibd patients are at a higher risk.

A big reason people fail the first regimen is because they start with flagyl. That does not always work with Ibd patients. People also reinfect themselves and here is where good hand washing and cleaning hard bathroom surfaces with bleach (5-10 percent)

If you take vanko as prescribed than likely you will be good.
You must take the antibiotics because c. Diff is a dangerous bug.
Posted 12/31/2015 7:27 PM (GMT 0)
You can pick it up hand to mouth from others who have it, don't wash hands.

q
Posted 1/2/2016 3:11 AM (GMT 0)
Yes, Flagyl should be called FAILgyl... or something like that. What awful stuff, gave me horrendous side effects and no improvement. Now on Vancomycin, day 8 and not amazing improvements but some. May have to take another round after this first 14 days... I wondered if continuing ulcerative colitis meds get in the way of the antibiotics doing their job? I saw somewhere on here that some doctors order their patients to just take the antibiotics to get rid of the bug.. I did ask my GI and said no I take them together.. I just hope this isn't making the efficacy of the Vanco counteract with my UC meds..
Posted 7/13/2016 8:07 PM (GMT 0)
I have a question about c-diff. I have Chronic Lyme, and thus I have a compromised immune symptom. I have tested negative for C-diff twice in the last 6 months, but I am wondering if I have it now. I have some abdominal pains/cramps, and thus I had 3 gastro procedures(including an endoscopy) in the last 10 days, all of them in a hospital. As a result of my Lyme. I am constantly in doctor's offices, and ERs. I was on antibiotics for 5 1/2 months, and that ended in the beginning of May. I did take two 100mg pills of Doxycycline last Saturday for my Lyme, but I stopped them after that(I do take Protonix) It is very hard to distinguish what symptom is what when you have Lyme, but I have had various types of bowels movements, any thing from normal to small, to thin, to somewhat loose. I haven't seen any blood, and I don't have a fever. I am struggling, and this is the last thing I need. I am going to monitor my bathroom activity closely for the next 24 hours to see if something isn't right, and then determine if I need another stool test. Any thoughts or input on this topic would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance, rjb.
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