C Diff Site.com

What Works

I had symptoms all week following an appendectomy. And for two years, I had multiple relapses back into the terrible diarrhea, fevers, and cramps.

My goal is to quickly show others what DID work, because it took so long to get answers that worked for me.

Please seek a qualified physician for all of your medical needs and questions. I’m not a physician, I’m just a biochemistry dude sharing my story of having C Diff.

First, get yourself better.*

In a nutshell, here is what worked for me and many others:

Metronidazole (Flagyl) – Best antiobiotic to fight C Diff
Vancomycin – Best antibiotic if Metronidazole doesn’t work
Saccharomyces Boulardii (Florastor) – Yeast probiotic used with and after Metronidazole or Vancomycin.
Lactobacillus GG (Culturelle) – Bacteria probiotic used with and after Metronidazole or Vancomycin.

There are certainly other treatments available from as extreme as a fecal transplant to other less effective ways to deal with symptoms. You’ll want to learn as much as you can about treatments and risks. To start learning, see C Diff or My Case History. Remember, no one cares about your health as much as you do.

Second, join us on the crusade to prevent C Diff.

Most of the spread is in healthcare settings. C Diff is spread via the fecal-oral route mostly. C Diff spores last a long time if not killed with bleach or dry heat. Why is it that the very place we go to get well, we end up getting infected with one of the worst bacterias?

I am scared to death that I would ever have to be admitted to a hospital again! How can we start cleaning our healthcare institutions of C Diff and other superbugs? Comments please!

* Please do not use this site to diagnose and/or treat any disease or suspected disease. Please seek a qualified physician for all of your medical needs and questions. I’m not a physician, I’m just sharing my story regarding C Diff.

Not what you were hoping to find here?

The new version of this site is at: http://www.CDiffSite.com

This page has the following sub pages.

378 Comments »

378 Responses

on March 31, 2008 at 6:37 pm Roy

http://www.cdiff-support.co.uk/

http://www.cdiffsupport.com/

Have you visited these sites?
I am putting a link to your article on them

Roy
on October 31, 2008 at 9:24 pm Jennifer S

Wow, sorry to hear how long you struggled with this. My mother has had 3 bouts of C Diff so far… the first 2 of which she nearly did not survive. We spent a lot of time in ICU hoping she would live thru it.

One other thing to remember is that the spores are much like an egg or seed, with a hard outer shell. They’ll continue to “hide” in the appendix and colon. The Flagyl and Vancomycin don’t kill the spores, only the living bacteria… so even if you handwash faithfully with hot water and soap, and bleach everything in site, you can still re-infect. One of the most frustrating things for my mom is that she felt she was strictly following docs orders and doing what she was supposed to do exactly as told… and yet, she still got sick again. It wasn’t until we had a better understanding how the spores work that this started to make more sense and she realized she wasn’t making herself sick.

Mom JUST came home 2 days ago and is still on small doses of vancomycin. She is taking Florastor and eating 2 Activia a day as well.

One big concern for us is the damage C Diff can cause to major organs as well. So if you experience symptoms, go get help asap! Don’t walk, run, to the doc…
on December 2, 2008 at 8:04 pm KFlatter

I am currently going thru my third bout of this. I am a otherwise healthy 42 year old female. I had a sinus infection a few months ago for which my Dr. prescribed Amoxicillian. That is when the fun started… I didn’t know what I had for over a week and then when I did finally go to the Dr. he didn’t believe that a healthy person could have this. I started taking Metronidazole (Flagyl) for 10 days and was fine for about 4 days… then it returned with an attitude. I was then put on the Vancomycin and flagyl, (Culturelle), Florastor at the same time with hopes this would work shortly after I was put in the hospital for three days for dehydration. I am and was drinking 120oz of water a day and am still dehydrated. I have just called the Dr. and left a message that guess what it is back again right at a week being off the antibiotics. I have a refil of the Vancomycin and will start that as soon as I get home. What the heck will happen if this never clears up???
on December 7, 2008 at 3:27 am Rebecca

I have been clear for almost 7 months after 3 months of treatment. Things are about back to normal, except I am so tired all the time. My labs don’t show anemia anymore, but I am so lethargic. Is anyone else experiencing this?
on December 11, 2008 at 9:20 pm JEANNIE

I am also very lethargic & feel dehydrated after a 4 week battle with C-Diff. When will I feel normal. I’m eating most foods but always stay near a little girl’s room because it only stays with me 1 1/2hrs. Is that normal also?
on December 28, 2008 at 6:20 pm bob callen

I was admitted into hospital for an an Aorta aneryism and had cdiff whilst in recovery and it was diarrehea constantly. After 10 days i was moved to a ward with a tiolet specifically for me. Then after hallucinating every night and getting found on a toilet floor covered in faeces, i was moved into a single room. After about three weeks i was discharged, minus 3 stone in weight.It was bad for 12 months with constant diarrhea. In the resulting time it was found that i needed a colostomy operation which was non reversable. I now have a bag with me 24/7. Lethargy was just a minor ailment, still with me it all started Feb 07 and to date Dec 08 am recoverying from latest operatoin on my stomach.
on January 9, 2009 at 7:23 pm Anonymous

I had c-diff for 3 months. I was going back and forth to the doctor- took all kinds of medications to stop going to the bathroom…nothing worked.
I eventually lost 30lbs – and got my self to a gastroentorologist (sp?) I kept getting diagnosed with colitis. It’s my understanding that c-diff will not go away on it’s own – you need medication for it. Believe me I DID TRY THIS AT HOME. I needed to get back to work. I found some useful info online about c-diff. Never thought any of it would happen to me (anorexia…pain…fevers…all that) I was one of those “lucky” ones who became anorexic from it. When it goes too far you begin to get seriously ill (like I was). Get to a doctor. I was in the hospital before I got c-diff…however I was on antibiotics (strong ones) after it. So how I contracted it is unknown.
Bottom line…get tested and get the antibiotics for it. It WILL NOT go away on it’s own. Also, once you have it…you are more prone to it. I had it 2 years ago…and I’m starting to feel sick again…and I’m scared I may have somehow come in contact with it and possibly relapsing.
on January 22, 2009 at 7:40 pm Scared mom

My 13 month son was FINALLY diagnoised with C-Diff, after 6 weeks of constant diaherra. I am so frustrated. Doctors just kept telling me he must have rotovirus, etc. 9 trips to the dr, and 2 ER visits, and today I finally have answers, but now about scared to death!
on January 23, 2009 at 4:52 am D'Ann

i had back surgery and was in and out of hospital for 22 days with staph infection on incision, was on vancomycin for 5 wks iv and began having diarrhea. learned that iv vancomycin does not help c diff. took 2 wks of flagyl and whelcol ( cholesteral med that binds with toxins) and asacol. i have ulcerative colitis since i was 15 so my gi was extra concerned. it took 4 days of meds and it went away. has anybody elses gone away that fast. has anybody ever heard of false positive c-diff test?
on January 23, 2009 at 4:53 am D'Ann

comment above
on February 1, 2009 at 9:43 pm Danielle

Hey everyone, I hope you or your family members are getting through all thus. I’m sending out good vibes to everyone!I just got diagnosed a few days ago, I’m scared, and no one seems to get it, so I thought I would try to find a place where I can talk to people who understand. I started flagyl and saw a litte bit of a difference so far, things look a litte better. Except I hate choking down that pill every few hours ugh! I’m trying to find florastor but I have tried a few places and to no avail. Any ideas? I hope you’re all doing better.
on February 13, 2009 at 9:50 pm Rita

Ask your pharmacy to order Florastor.
on February 19, 2009 at 5:20 am margie

Hello, I developed c dif last may after being put on omnicef for a possible sinus infection. by the ninth day I was having a lot of stomach distress, but thought I could finish the medication, consulted with my neighbor, a nurse practictioner, and she thought it might be c dif, I began yogurt and had already been taking acidopholus every day with the antibiotic. I became worse rapidly, it was my son’s graduation, the doctor was out of town, so with a temp, flu like symptoms, a stomach the size of manhattan, 10-15 stools a day, etc. we made it through the weekend and did a stool test the next week. I had also become covered with a variety of rashes and welts on my arms. started on flagyl and became very sick and had more skin reactions, switched to vancomycin, waited a month retested, and had to go on vancomycin again. skin was still not healed. for months my sense of smell was out of whack and the rash took several months. The week after I became sick I then had to go to the e.r. for an extremely painful locked neck, the doctor had no diagnosis but felt it was related to the c dif, said he had heard of the combination before. That was last May and I have still not recovered from the neck issue nor does anyone know what is causing it, but I think it is related to c dif. Am I better? I can’t tell . I had bronchitis and my practictioner insisted on doxycycline which made me immediately sick with horrible cramps, she did not want to believe it and insisted on 2 more antibiotics, which I did not take after discussing them with the pharmacists, neighbor and research. Again, ended up in the er to stop the bronchio spasms. I am scared to death of having to ever take an antibiotic again, and have even wondered about antibiotics in food.
Does anyone know how to be sure it is gone, or is it ever? How do you prevent it again and how do you make doctors understand the seriousness of it. Has anyone else experienced the neck problem?
Thanks
on February 24, 2009 at 5:16 pm Jen

I’ve been on flagyl 3 days- diarreha has stopped but not cramping. I am too tired to get out of bed and kind of afraid I won’t ever have the energy. How long should I expect to be bed ridden?
on March 3, 2009 at 6:05 am Janet

OMG!! I am so sorry to hear about all of you guys’ problems. I work at a hospital and when we are dealing with C-Diff patients we have to take extra, extra precautions. When the patient goes home or ends up in ICU, Housekeepers have to wear special cleaning gowns and have to spray the entire room down with this cleaner called DISPATCH. A bleach cleaner and then the room has to be shut down for two hours while that bleach solution sits on everything. These stories have me spooked and I am in the healthcare profession. Not a doctor but, I have never heard stories like this. Everyone at the hospital does tend to play this stuff down, sounds fishy to me. I read an article a few months ago about C-diff and it was explaining that even when a room is cleaned with the bleach that it was tested throughout the United States in certain Hospitals and that 85% of the rooms still tested postitive for C-diff. SCARY, huh? There has got to be a better way of dealing with this. Please respond with any ideas that you may have and that I could possibly pitch to my Directors.
on March 7, 2009 at 6:30 pm Kimberlee

I have been dealing with C Diff for 2 months +. I have no health insurance & am using a local health clinic. It took them over a month to call me back with a diagnosis. They thought it was samonella, a UTI, pregnancy…. Finally after threating them to sue & got a phone call from a nurse practicioner who told me it was C Diff. She couldn’t even spell it for me & proceded to tell me that it was NOT contagious & a bunch of other misinformation. She had no clue what to tell me. My doctor never called me despite several messages & my stopping into the office at no avail. Thanks to what the nurse told me I exposed two liver transplant patients & all of the patients at the nursing home where my grandmother lives (my grandmother had just had tumor removed from her bladder & I came to visit not knowing/being told that I was not contagious). I have just finished my second round of metronidazole & my symptoms are back & worse then ever. I’m having sever diaherra every 30 min., extreme stomach cramps, weight loss, nasuea, fever, appetite is either extreme or nonexistent. My doctors didn’t even want to test me after this last round of antibiotics, I had to request the test that I am paying for. I have tried all the recommendations, nothing is working for me. My urine had been tested several times (blood in it) & all they will tell me is that I don’t have a UTI, but I may be diabetic because of the proteins & sugars present. I’m terrified that I will go into kidney failure at this point (my back is killing me). If you are experiencing any symptoms, make them listen to you! Don’t end up where I am at. Helpless, sick, & not a single doctor will listen to me.
on March 11, 2009 at 9:34 pm stacy

I got c diff from a round antibiotics for a sinus infection. I had just found out I was pregnant, so it was extremely tough on my body. I think the key is to be on flagyl for 21 to 30 days. Most doctors, not being extremely familiar with the disease don’t know that. I wouldnt even bother with a family doc, I would go right to a GI specialist. It will save you money and health in the long run. I was prescribed flagyl (thank god it’s safe during 1st trimester pregnancy) for only 10 days by my OB/GYN and of course it came back 3 days later. I went to a specialist and he told me treatment is ALWAYS 14 to 30 days of flagyl, depending on how long it took for the patient to be diagnosed. After the 21 day dose, I have been c-diff free for over a month and it is not likely to come back. See, the spores hatch again after 3-14 days, which is why it’s important to be on the meds at least 21 days. This way you kill the spores before they multiply again. I don’t believe I would have ever had a relapse if I had been prescribed a longer dose of flagyl. The specialist also told me to eat activa yogurt and gave me a sample of a probiotic called “align”. I found it to be the cheapest on the costco website it you have a membership. Just keep in mind AT LEAST 14 days treatment is neccesarry. 21days is the magic number though I believe. Flagyl is cheap too so it doesnt hurt the pocket as bad if you dont have insurance. Treat it right the 1st time and it won’t come back pissed off a second time. I can’t stress the medication days enough! If I would have never contacted a good specialist to get the real deal, I could have lost my baby and became even more ill.
Gob Bless Everybody.
on March 11, 2009 at 9:35 pm stacy

21 DAYS WITH FLAGYL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO LESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Buy Align
Eat 1 Activa Yogurt a day
on March 12, 2009 at 11:37 pm Victoria

Hi, I am now on my 5th episode of C-diff!!! It all started back in August, 08 after being on antibiotics several times for sinuses infections…took Flagyl for the first 3 episodes and then the 4th epidose I took Vancomycin which I finished in January, 09. Now here I am in March, 2 months later, and c-diff has reared its ugly head again! Abdominal cramping, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea! No fever this episode, but with the other episodes, fever was present.
I’m not sure if I’m having “recurrances” or if this time I got re-infected because I was visiting someone in the hospital last week who UNKNOWINGLY at the time had C-diff. C-diff has claimed another victim! Not only is my concern my health and overall well-being, but the fact that my doctors keep prescribing the same meds w/ the same dosing, i.e, 500 mg Flagyl 3 times a day for 10 days…OR Vanco (super expensive~$800!!). And they don’t seem all that concerned that this is the 5th time!!!! and that this has consumed my life! I’ve read and researched data and statistics for C-diff and there are now resistant strains out there that Flagyl isn’t killing with it’s current dosing regimen. At this point, I think I need to either switch to Vanco (which I don’t know how I will pay for) or to be on Flagyl for like 3 weeks as opposed to 10 days. Then I’ve read about pulse-dosing as well. Has anyone else heard of this??? I’ve also been taking Florastor, Colestipol, and Acidophilus since January. UGH! This C-diff is an awful nightmare!!! Any information or tips on regaining my health would be greatly appreciated!!
on March 12, 2009 at 11:38 pm Victoria

Stacy, I just read your comment above and will be calling my doctor about the 21 day regimen of Flagyl. Thanks!!
on March 12, 2009 at 11:41 pm Victoria

Stacy, unfortunately, it is my GI doctor (whom I don’t think I care for) who has put me back on the 10 day Flagyl regimen. You’d think after 5 times infected w/ c-diff, he’d automatically put me on the medicine longer!!! I think I’ll call a different doc asap!
on March 17, 2009 at 9:04 pm Vicky

I was prescribed Augmentin in Sept 08 and 1 week later had diarrhea and fever and cramping. Doctor thought it was a stomach virus and gave me an anti-diarrheal med. After 2 weeks of arguing with them that I was not better, he finally tested me and of course…C-diff!!! Prescribed flagyl and it helped but I felt the symptoms were still there. 6months later I get retested and again positive for C-diff. Just finished 14 days of Vancomycin. Still having several bowel movements per day and gurgling stomach and cramps. Not sure what’s next or if this will ever go away.

Dr wants me to take Questran but I’m not sure if I should?
on March 22, 2009 at 9:37 pm Frederick

I am a 45-year-old male multiple myeloma patient. Following a stem-cell transplant in December, 2008, I developed pneumonia. The doctors gave me antibiotics, which killed the pneumonia, but I developed c. diff. I took Flagyl. Symptoms subsided until February, 2009, when I had a positive result to a stool test at my local primary care physician. She gave me Vancomycin. She had to double the dosage.

In March I started being chilled during the day and having sweats at night. I ran a 99-100.9 temp. I returned to the doctor last week. The stool test came back negative, but she sent me to the gastroenterologist. I’m glad that I went. He said that I have c. diff. even though the stool test was negative. He said that this third bout of c. diff. probably was the same c. diff., rather than a reinfection. The reason why the test came back negative was that I have the new, stronger c. diff., which has been traveling from the American East coast west across the Mississippi River.

He gave me Questran, which is supposed to bind the bad toxins and allow them to be flushed away through the bowels.

I read that c. diff. causes flu-like symptoms. Has anyone had c. diff. to cause upper-respiratory problems?

Blessings to all of you on this not-fun journey.
on April 5, 2009 at 3:12 pm erica

ok i got c-diff somehow and was in the hospital with it for 6 days then did ten more days on the flagyl and vancomycin at the end of feb. and i thought i was starting to feel alot better. then i attempted to have sex whch hurt my guts so bad went to the doc they said i have an uti more antiboitics and maybe the pain from more guts was because more colin was not healed yet gvie ti a couple weeks take it easy and it should go back to mormal. now im scared to take another antibiotic and i wonder did anyone else experince painful sex and does it go away?

erica
on April 14, 2009 at 8:55 pm Kathi

I have had a sore throat and stuffy head along with my c diff. I am a health care worker and had a sinus infection a month or so ago that I took Doxycyline for. Not sure if I picked it up at work or from the antibiotics. Either way I feel terrible and can’t wait for the syptoms to go away. I have been on Flagyl for 2 days now.
on April 15, 2009 at 5:31 pm Jan

I am on week 3 of C-Diff. I had my appendiz rupture four weeks ago and stayed in the hospital for 7 days. I went home for 4 days with Cirpro, and Flagyl and began feeling the first symptoms of c-diff, I went to my dr. and he sent me back to the hospital for another 4 days of antibiotics. They told me it was a infection in my colon. Went home again, with more antibiotics , and was there for another 5 days, then the c-diff relapsed and I was again admitted to the hospital. This time, the hospital was overcrowded and they had to place me in a hallway until a room became available. Here I am, in the hallway (covered) next the elevators and public restroom and using the bedside toilet. Then then blocked off the area so that I could use the public restroom. Then I was given a private room and they didn’t even clean the restroom when they removed the curtain!

So far it is day 6 out of the hospital and I have 1 and a half days of antibiotics. I hope that it will help and I hope that I do not relapse, however, after reading this, I am now doubtful that it will go away.

God bless all of you dealing with this terrible infection.
on April 17, 2009 at 5:55 pm Machell

4/17/09,

I contacted C-dif two years ago after a 5 day stay in the hospital with severe diverticulitis. Was discharged on a Saturday with at home antibiotics for the diverticulitis, return the following Saturday to the ER with extremely hard chills and 103 temp. They admitted me and ran the necessary cultures and blood work and diagnosed me with C-dif. I feel that I contracted the C-dif on my first hospital stay. The first or second day I was there the hospital housekeeper came in my room to clean. She brought in a bucket of very dirty mop water and proceeded to mop the floor. I immediately noticed that the floor was visabily filthy and asked her to mop it again. Later, I walked across the floor to the bath room and when I returned to my bed, noticed that the bottom of my feet were black from the filthy floor (should have known better than to go bare foot).
I think this infection has compromised my immune system, as now I have come down with several autoimmune diseases. Does anyone else feel this way?
on May 1, 2009 at 7:08 pm Sickly

Woke up with bad diarrhea on the morn of Dec. 25, 2008 (which took an hour to get out!). I then couldn’t do anything for 4 days. Had no other symptoms other than being “backed-up”… Went to see my doctor (he wasn’t available and had to see the RN instead). Was told to get X-Rays. Was then told (2 days later!) the results of my X-Ray; I was backed up (yeah, duh) and just needed to get something to “blow it out”. Got Magnesium Citrate but still didn’t feel normal. Went to a local emergency clinic (was 11 days now with this infection) and was told to see a GI specialist. Went to a local one, had a colonoscopy 3 weeks later and given 10 day supply of Metronidazole. Did not help a bit. Couldn’t get past his office people to see or talk to him again so went to a second GI specialist! He had me get a CT scan and blood test of some sort… Then he said there was no reason I shouldn’t be normal; “more fruits and vegetables and fiber” he says and sends me on my way! I give up and go to a third specialist. He sends me to get a stool sample (first one yet to request that!) and a “Sitz Marker Exam” and yet another blood test. Everything shows normal except the stool test, which says “C-Diff”. I’ve been put on Metronidazole again for yet another 10 days (now on day 3) along with (as of yesterday) 30-day supply of Probiotics (Florastor). Don’t have much hope of getting rid of this now though after reading all of you poor souls’ stories too. My symptoms now (after 4 months of this): Still feeling backed-up, have a mildly distended abdomen, still having the rumbling I’ve read others having (since the beginning of this), have a weird taste in my mouth and throat all of the time again (probably sinus infection again). The specialist told me to quit taking most of my laxatives, saying that I don’t need that many… Doesn’t sound like he’s going to be any good either judging from the things he told me. I just can’t manage to keep “cleaned out”, so to speak, with Miralax & Kristalose & 2 generic Colace (stool softeners) twice a day… But I have to admit, so far he’s doing better than the last two “specialists”… But more than anything, I’m afraid I’m going to pass this on to other people now after reading about it! God bless us all during these difficult times!
on May 6, 2009 at 5:34 am Sheila

I contracted c-diff after a five day stay in the hospital for a staph infection five weeks post partum. I then went on vanco for ten days, had to stop breastfeeding, and then relapsed two weeks later. I then tried an alternative therapy called oil pulling which seemed to subdue the symptoms. I then went on a strict GAPS diet and have been feeling pretty much symptom free for the last three weeks. The diet was the opposite of what the g.i. specialist suggested. Go figure… I plan to continue the diet for at least 6 months, I am dreaming of chocolate!! Just glad to have company, thanks Russ for the site.
on May 6, 2009 at 10:56 pm Colleen

Hi, I too have been fighting my second bout with c-diff. Feb of 2008 I had a sinus infection, so I went to the nurse practitioner and she gave me some kind of really strong antibiotic. The second day into taking these pill my guts started to bother me. I was sick all spring, diahrrea, nausea, tiredness just all in all not right. Then in July I had some sort of attack, Severe pain in my center upper abdomen, just like a knife stabbing me. I thought I was gonna die. I went into emergency, she gave me a needle in the *** sent me home, told me I pulled a muscle in my stomach. I thought Oh My God you’ve got to be kidding me !!!!! For the next month I still didn’t feel worth a hoot. Then again Severe pains that would come and go, about every 3 minutes. I went through emergency got a Wonderful Doctor this time thank God!!! He admitted me ran a series of tests and yes it was c-diff. He sent me home and I took flagyl. Things were fine, the diahrea cleared up, although it took about a month to straighten out. Then April 15, 2009 another attack, 1am in the morning. Severe abdominal pain again, vomiting, fever just plain sick! I got the same doctor told him it was the exact same thing going on. I was hopitalized again for 4 days, took flagyl, florastar for a month and yogurt every day. I don’t feel too bad, but I am scared to death that maybe something else is wrong, like how could anyone have that much pain. Did anyone else experience these sort of pains???
on May 11, 2009 at 2:07 pm Frederick

What is the GAPS diet? I’ve heard of and been on the BRAT diet, which consists of Bananas, Rice, Apple sauce, and Toast. The BRAT diet helps.

My c. diff. comes and goes, about once every two weeks, but now I’m throwing up with the diarrhea. Does anyone else’s c. diff. come and go without treatment?
on May 27, 2009 at 6:41 pm Pam

Both my parents had cdiff. I contratced it 4 days ago. I am on flagyl. It is very important not only to take flagyl but acidophilus as well. This is the good bacteria u are lacking which causes cdiff. U have to build this back up as quickly as possible to keep from relapsing. I plan to take it at least 2 months after I finish the flagyl and test negative. U can not get rid of this on your own without flagyl .
on May 29, 2009 at 6:21 am Steph

Hi guys!! I am writing this because I also was infected with C DIFF. I was on Cipro antibiotic for 3 months to treat chronic Urinary Tract Infections which unfortunately led to this. I went undiagnosed for almost 7 months. I saw more doctors than you can imagine and for some reason or another continued to be misdiagnosed with EVERYTHING (even pregnancy, which I wasn’t). I was finally diagnosed after my doctor thought I had food poisoning (another misdiagnosis). Anyways, I guess I am writing this to Jeannie and Rebecca because when I read your comments I knew exactly how you feel. I have been more fatigued and lethargic ever since having C DIFF and that was 2 years ago. My doctor said that since I had it for so long it would probably take about a year to recover and I am finding that I am still recovering. I am only 25 and I feel horrible for everyone who has had to experience this. The only effects from having C DIFF that I currently experience is diarrhea sometimes and fatigue. I have been tested 2 times since and I am officially rid of it, so there is hope…just don’t give up:) I was instructed by my doctors to take the two prescriptions together for a while and it apparently worked. I’m so sorry that ya’ll are having to go through this because that is definitely the worst pain imaginable. Good Luck and write if ya have questions:)
on June 20, 2009 at 1:26 am Kim

I’m 43 and was never sick. I got a sinus infection and went to urgent care and he gave me Cefdinir….while taking it my stomach sounded like 2 cats in a fight and i called my PCP of which she told me i could instead of taking 2 of those at the same time, take one in the evening and one in the morning…bottomline…when i took my last dosage…diarrhea started…and boy did it…cramps….my doctor was not serious enough about it and said it would be rare i’d get c diff and she could test me but by the time the tests would come back, the diarrhea would stop….well, she was wrong….after a week or so of going through this she tested me and i tested positive….thus, she put me on flagyl….fine and dandy but then when i finished i had picked up a virus that turned into pnemonia….thus she put me on the z pack, even though i had just tested positive a few weeks earlier of c diff….and of course, when finishing the zpack, here came the diarrhea again….still, she had a very complacent attitude and freaking sent me home with 7 containers to poop in because she wasn’t sold i had c diff again….i switched doctors and this is like my 2nd round of flagyl with him….after the first round he tested me again and i was positive so here i am again….i’m absolutely amazed that anything like this has happened….how someone can get so sick from taking an antibiotic for a sinus infection! I’m taking Acidophilis….but i don’t even know if this is adequate….i want something strong….this really sucks.
on June 20, 2009 at 3:05 am groovygreenmama

Hi Kim, I am really sorry what you are going through. I found this site a few months ago, and found it comforting that other people were going through the same thing and finding relief. But I didn’t have the choice to take more antibiotics because I was/am breastfeeding. I went on the usual 10 day Vanco, but when I relapsed, which my dr. denied, I tried some alternative therapies which worked for me. To ease the immediate symptoms I tried oil pulling 2x a day for five days. In addition, I also followed a strict GAPS diet. It has been almost three months since my last relapse, and I have been intestinally healthy because I have been following the GAPS diet for the most part. Only within the last week I have had some sweets with no consequence. YEAH!! I really think the DRS. are missing a key component of healing C.Diff, and that is of nutrition. The key to GAPS is healing your gut, and blood toxicity, and hence building up the healthy flora. I am religious about my pro-biotic, and try to eat some fermented food with every meal. Sometimes it is just a spoon full of kraut, other times it is beet kvass which is also a blood tonic. Because so much is loss with C.diff, it is important to build your blood up with good food. I have gotten very motivated to change my eating habits, and I believe that it is going to benefit me in the long run. If you need more information about specific foods, email me. But I would advise anyone with c.Diff to check out the following websites. They don’t, nor do I claim that this heals c.diff, although it did for me, it is merely a suggestion. I have mentioned a lot of these therapies to my practicioners and many had never heard of them, so don’t get discouraged if they haven’t heard about it . Some websites to peruse: bodyecology.com, gapsdiet.com, westonaprice.com, and oilpulling.com. I hope this information helps.

groovygreenmama.wordpress.com
on June 29, 2009 at 4:55 pm ekathrn

So glad I found this site, I have just been diagnosed with C. Diff. and this is very worrying.
I have underlying Coronary Artery Disease and am prone to episodes of Paraoxysmal Atrial Fibrillation, the last episode occured in March and I was hospitalised for 3 days. I can hardly believe that this resulted in my being infected with C. Diff. after so long. I have not been on any antibiotics recently either and I am a scupulous handwasher.
My Dr. prescribed Flagyl which I have been taking for 2 days now, so far it has not made any difference but I guess I should give it 48 hours at least.
I don’t have any appetite and would like to know if anyone can recommend a good diet, this might take some time to clear up (if it ever does), I will try the BRAT diet but I imagine you can only stay on that for so long.
Would really appreciate any further information that would help.
on June 30, 2009 at 2:40 am dazed and confused

Lots of good stuff above thanks.

My wife (41 yr old) contracted C-diff in hospital Feb 2009, she is on her third relapse right now. Treatment is same as mentioned above Flagyl, oral Vanco and florastor (250 mg).

The fatigue and chronic diahrea has never really stopped. She’s been hospitalized mostly for dehydration – Check a patient’s tongue for moistness is an easy way to tell. Dehydration is very dangerous because any fluids she takes, pass right through. She is on other meds and when she is really sick the pills will pass through her system undissolved.

This time around she had a bowel obstruction which developed into pseudomenbraneous colitis along with the C – diff reoccurence. Along with all of this she suffered an electrolyte imbalance which caused severe mental confusion, total loss of surroundings/reality along with a small dose of parnonia – Nurses don’t like paranoid patients. These symptoms lasted for 3 days and today the 4th day is much better. She’s 95% back to her old self as compared to previously barely recognizing me for 3 days – quite scary.

Things I’ll suggest to her doctor
- 21 days of flagyl
- increasing flora to 2000 or 3000 mg

He intends to pulse dose the vanco (3 day cycle) towards the end.

If this doesn’t go away she’s ready for a fecal transplant – that’s suppose to have a very high rate of success. Of course no doctors in our area are familiar with that procedure. Any success stories?

Most likely our family is carriers now so I will be refusing antibiotics unless absolutely necessary.
on June 30, 2009 at 3:32 am Sickly (pt. 2)

As I mentioned above, the third specialist had a stool test done and it tested positive for C-Diff. He gave me a prescription for 10 days of Flagyl along with Florastor and sent me on my way (with a follow-up appt. a month later).

One week after taking the Flagyl and Florastor together (among other things, which included DanActive drinks, Activia yogurts and other stuff) I felt great! All of *my* (*my* symptoms, which don’t seem to be the “norm”- which I have chronic constipation and not diarrhea) symptoms were gone (rumbling noise I’ve read that others had, abdominal pain in several locations, mucus in my stool, backed-up feeling, bulge where my large intestine is in my right side (which to my understanding is my intestine being swollen from inflammation?)).

One more week later (2 weeks after finishing the flagyl) the symptoms came back. My follow-up appt. came and the Doc says it’s likely not C-Diff again. He seems reluctant to even prescribe me the 21-day prescription if it turns out to be positive again, saying “the GI guideline says 10 days” or something like that. I printed out this page for him to read but he was again reluctant and tried to give it back to me. He did finally keep it but likely threw it in the trash later. He does give me the go-ahead to get the stool test; which came out negative.

It simply amazes how these doctors refuse to listen to their patients about their symptoms and other folks’ stories and the possibility their
“guideline” could be wrong!

Anyway, I’m yet again waiting for my follow-up appt. to talk to him again and tell him I’m not any better regardless of the test results.

It has been a total of 6 months now with this horrible problem. I keep hoping I can get this under control before I lose my colon and have the bag like so many people (I’m still middle-aged and don’t want to carry the bag for 30+ years!) and I only hope I’m not spreading it to others! I had to research it to even find out whether it was contagious or not and how to properly wash my hands and clean my bathroom to prevent spreading it (none of the specialists have mentioned anything about it even being remotely contagious!)
Kind of makes me wonder if they WANT more people to get sick with it so they can be rolling in the dough? My opinion only of course. LOL
on June 30, 2009 at 12:08 pm dazed and confused

One other thing.

In my wife’s situation, the C Diff test results are often unreliable with a false negative.

I am not sure if they are doing them properly or what? Apparently you have to take 3 or 4 different samples to test and you may get one positive. My wife has been obviously quite sick and the test results have been negative but the next time around they are positive.

They can also confirm C-Diff with scope by looking at inflamed membrane lining. This is how they initially confirmed it.

There is a book on google books “Bacteria for Breakfast” that has a partial section available online regarding C-Diff treatment.

Best of Treatments!
on July 2, 2009 at 12:27 pm michele

My son who is seven was on Omnicef longterm for RF. In Feb he started diareah and his bottom got so raw. He began itching /grabbing at his bottom so his ped put his on two rounds of worm pills. When they didn’t work we went to Kefir and probiotics and Culturelle. Now he is having horrible bowels issues. He goes without feeling it. We smell him and realize he went. When he goes into the bathroom he makes a huge mess. He comes out with poop everywhere. I think he is trying to pull it out. He feels stuck and the muscles aren’t pushing it out. I took him to a psychologist who helps them get on a poop schedule and gives a reward in two weeks. I have to keep a diary. Could it be C dif? He often complains of his bottom being sore or stinging. He is going multile times a day but not much comes out but runny loose stools. Should I get a stool sample?
on July 2, 2009 at 1:29 pm ekathrn

There is more than one strain of C. Diff and it is a growing problem in the US and Canada. It is now affecting individuals who have not been in hospital or on antibiotics and has been fatal in some cases, particularly with people who are elderly of have underlying health problems.
One of the most informative sites I have found so far is the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, they are taking this infection very seriously. http://cdc.gov/
If you don’t think your Dr. is taking you seriously enough ask for a second opinion.
As for Michele, I would insist on testing.
on July 2, 2009 at 2:32 pm ekathrn

One further note, hand washing is the only way to prevent infection, I read on one of the sites that Alcohol based hand gel disinfectants are not efffective in destroying this bacteria.
on July 3, 2009 at 4:45 am Anonymous

My 77 yr old mother has been suffering from C-diff and infectious colitus as a result. On Easter Day, she started to get a cold. Because she was a heavy smoker for over 50 yrs, her colds quickly spiral downward. So she got pneumonia was went into the hospital for a week and was on all kinds of heavy antibiotics. Upon returning home, weak and wiped out from pneumonia, she strarted having diarrhea.We thought it was from all of the meds and trauma her body had just gone through. This is where the nightmare begins—-

Monday, 4/20 – admitted for pneumonia
Monday, 4/27 – released
Wed, 4/29 – starts complaining of diarrhea
Thurs, 4/30-Sun, 5/3 – diarrhea worsens at home
Mon, 5/4 – Dr. puts her on BRAT diet.
Wed, 5/6 – Calls Doctor – prescribes Flagyl
Sun, 5/10- getting worse
Mon, 5/11 – Calls doctor…he asks for stool sample.
— Mom takes several days to get sample back to doctor. Big mistake to put this off!
Thurs, 5/14 – Admitted to hospital for dehydration. yup-it took 2 weeks for them to get her into the hospital. 2 weeks!
Fri 5/15 – diagnosed with C-diff
Tues, 5/19 – released from hospital – comes home on oral Vanc (14 days since beginning in hospital )& Flagyl ( 21 days since beginningin hospital) and Florastor.
Thurs, May 28th – No more diarrhea. Feeling better. Does well UNTIL….
Wed, June 10th – thinks she has a UTI. Gets prescription for another antibiotic. Starts on Thurs, June 11th.
Sun, June 14th – Relapse
Mon, June 15th – Tues, June 16th – gets worse…afraid to go back in hospital…tries to deal with it at home. Destroys furniture, rugs…soooo sick.
Wed, June 17th- admitted to hospital for dehydration
Thurs, June 18th -assumed C-Diff although stool samples negative- put on Vanc & Flagyl. Given TPN (IV nutrition) and saline w/ pottasium and magnesium. Anemic, low albumin, malnutrition!
Mon, June 22nd – Colonoscopy- doc can’t go in very far—too inflamed and could puncture tissue. Takes biopsies-they came back neg. for cancers. She has colitus.
Tues, June 23rd-Catscan to rule out all cancers- Ruled out.
Fri, June 26th- RELEASED with diagnosis of ” C-diff Induced Infectious Colitus”
Admitted into a nursing home same day as release from hospital since she cannot go home on her own and needs daily strength therapy and help with diet. Nursing home has had not 1 case of C-diff for 11 months. Will not take C-Diff positive patients.
Tues, June 30th-stops Flagyl (too soon-only 14 days! Needs 21!)
Thurs, July 2nd- relapse…immediate dehydration, fever, vomitting.
Back in hospital for flare-up. Nursing home freaking out until they gets neg. C-diff sample or won’t take her back.

So there is my poor mom, in Depends for the rest of her life probably. A strong woman, despite smoking all these years. Next stop, U Penn, as Bryn Mawr can’t seem to get it right.
on July 16, 2009 at 9:15 pm aprillynn

i was diagnosed with c-diff after being told i had IBS ( i was diagnosed with IBS in November 2008). My father is in a “nursing home” type of place and i go to visit him 4-5 days a week. he has been in and out of there and the hospital since sept. 2008 for pancreatic problems, gall bladder and MRSA, pneumnia (sp), c-diff, and VRE. (he is very sick)
i was not on any antibiotics before the infection.
i got really sick for about two weeks and thought i had a stomach flu (i usually catch whatever is going around at the time) but when i started to lose a lot of blood and had not eaten in 6 days i got worried, also the pain was unbearable i would black out at time from it. i called the doctor and they said to go to the ER. i went to the ER and they took blood tests and i insisted they take a stool and urine sample because all the blood tests that had been taken came back neg for anything. of course the blood tests came back neg.told me there was no way i had c-diff because i have not been taking antibiotics. they sent me home with pain meds and nasuea meds. the next night they called me and said they were calling in antibiotics to my nearest pharmacy and to pick them up immediately and take them. i was prescribed flagyl for 14 days three times a day 500mg. yesterday was my last day on the meds and i feel okay today, just nervous hoping all is well. i just do not what to do know that i am not on them i am going to get yogurt, and probiotics (more of them) to continue taking. they are sure i have worsened my IBS and possibly got colitis from all this, what a bummer!
thank you for reading my story i hope i can help others or they can help me!
on July 21, 2009 at 6:01 pm Sol

Hi,

I’m 26 years old and have just been diagnosed with c.diff. In May I started alli (FDA approved weight loss treatment) and only did it for 3 weeks. Next thing you know, beginning of June my bowel movements were not normal. It seemed that every weekend during the month of June I had a mucus consistency bowel movement. My mom made an appointment for me to see her GI specialist. I got some blood work done and my doctor requested I do a stool sample. About two days after I submitted the stool sample I get a call from the nurse asking for my local pharmacist because I have c.diff and was prescribed Flagyl (generic form). I have no idea how I got this. I’ve read all the possible ways people are normally infected such as:

1. being on antibiotics,
2. being admitted to the hospital/visiting a patient,
3. having cancer or HIV, oral/anal sex.

I have DONE NONE OF THE ABOVE. Also, besides the mucus consistency bowel movement, I didn’t get a fever or abdominal cramps. As a matter of fact, I had the most energy in my life and had started working out. I’m super depressed about it because I have no clue how this came about. I have been on flagyl for about 3 days and have noticed a change in my bowel movement for the better. It’s not quite normal yet. Also, my nurse told me to only take the prescription for 10 days no longer but yet there is a refill on it. I’m starting to think she doesn’t know what she’s talking about b/c why else would the doctor give me a refill?

Is someone is the same situation as me? Is there a cure for this? Am I ever going to be normal again?
on July 21, 2009 at 9:42 pm ekathrn

It’s hard to say how long this infection will last. I was treated with Flagyl for 10 days and the diarrea more or less cleard up, when I went back to my Dr, he said the C. Diff could return. Sure enough 7 days later it was back with a vengeance, now I am on Flagyl again, this time for 14 days. I imagine if this doesn’t work I will go on to Vancomycin. Also my Dr, is arranging for a colonoscopy, not looking forward to that.
on July 21, 2009 at 11:15 pm vic nababa

My dad is going through his second bout of c.diff. It nearly killed him the first time. He went back in hospital to have his ileostomy reversed and the c.diff is back. He had the hallucinations, now has bloating, diarrhea has not stopped for one month now. The docs tried immune globulin , this is still experimental. Didn’t seem to make a difference. He is on the liquid vanc, activa and on iv fluids. We are not sure how this will end. Wearing the gowns and gloves seems stupid, what about our shoes, our exposed faces and heads. What about all the hospital staff that walk around the entire hospital , moving about from a c.diff room to the hallways, cafeteria, etc.
I think this thing is worse than the ‘health proffessionals’ are telling us. Oh ya, another thing, what about the colonoscopy and endoscopy equipment. How clean can they be.
on July 22, 2009 at 8:21 pm kday

Please be careful with your mother and make sure she keeps taking the flagyl or vicamasyn, my mother had this for 4 months and like your mom went to a nursing home after the hospital to rehabilitate then they sent her home and said she was all better, it came back extremely worse, she had to have her colon removed but she did not make it, she died one month ago, though she did have chronic lukemia which weakened her immune system I believe she should have kept taking the flayl but the doctors had stopped it , I will pray for your mother.
on August 5, 2009 at 8:49 pm Tammy

I contracted C diff after I gave birth to my son in March and they left pieces of my placenta behind TWICE!! they began me on IV therapy and shortly into it the diarrhea began. i went almost 7 weeks with it and was extremely sick and week, unable to care for my newborn baby at all. And my husband being in the military and away for a few months, it was unbearable to say the least
Finally my gynocologist brought me downt he hall to an Infectious Disease specaillast and he explained to me i had c diff and put my on 10 days of Flagyl. during this time i got worse, when this course was done he put me on another 14 days and i got worse still so he sent me to a GI speciallist who did a colonoscpy and said it was fine, gave me 2 more weeks of Flagyl. this time i took a severe reaction to the drug and was told by the ER doctor it was an allergic reaction andT not to take any more Flagyl
The GI then put me on 2 weeks of vanco and i felt fine while i took it but 5 days after i finished i relapsed again, so another month worth of Vanco should work. i took it and felt some of the symptoms such as bloating,extreme gas, pains in back and left ab, but diarrhea not so bad
5 days after this round was done i relapsed and ended up in the hospital for a few days on IVs for liquids and vanco, rhivampin and cholestramine…after 3 days i came around and went home with a comtinuing 2 weeks on Vanco. i thought this time it would work for sure because the only symptoms i had was the load gurgling that kept me all night. I was tested on tues and the results were negative. i was very happy but still worried and sure enough by saturday had explosive diarrhea again. back to the ER i went in an emotional mess and was tested positive so back on vanco again. i went the following week with no symptoms at all and also added Florastor even though these doctors said there was no benefits in taking probiotics but i knew better, i ws taking acidiffilous the entire time.
the three doctors who are dealing with my case agree that i have to go back on Flagyl which I am a complete wreck thinking about. It made me sooo sick, so they are gonna try it in the ER to see how i react next week. I feel they dont know how to handle it at all and I am scared to death. I mean i tried for 5 yrs to get pregnant and battled uterine cancer in order to have him. i am so blessed but coping with this everyday is making my hair fall out. i am not only in fear for myslef but also for my son and husband. I am only 30 yrs old and not okay with having a colostomy bag at all. It seems like an unfair thing to happen after all i went through.
I today made an appt with a naturaopath 5 hrs from here for the 19th of this month and hoping she can help me out. I just plain dont trust these doctors anymore,( they didnt even think i should take probiotics)
My son is now 5 months old and i am so angry over the precious time I am losing with him. I wish someone would tell a story of how they beat this thing for good. My heart and head cant handle it anymore. Im really hoping they are right about the Flagyl but i dont agree, i hope after time the Florastor will help as well and the diet that the naturopath is gonn give me will help. i may even go to the hospital in the other city while im there to see her to see if they will run any more tests to check if this is a disease or the infection, or if any damage was done. Im desperate at this point and so saddened for my son who is not getting as much attention as he needs with me in the bathroom so often.
on August 6, 2009 at 12:24 am russ429

I am so sorry to hear about your nightmares with this infection.

If you have a bad reaction to ANY antibiotic you must make sure the physicians understand this. And, if vancomycin is the only one that works for you, then demand that you get it!

When you have something like C Diff, you think about it all the time. Most physicians don’t think about it all the time like you do. It’s impossible for them to be thinking about your specific case as much as you are. So, I’d argue that no one cares about YOUR health more than you do.

So, be bold and take control of your health. Question the advice from doctors to make sense of it. Get multiple opinions. Ask questions until you get YOUR answers. It may be expensive, but research and pursue all types of treatment possible. This thing is deadly.

MOST people with C Diff get over it eventually. So, there are plenty of stories “out there” of people winning against C Diff. I’m one. When we’re suffering and focused on C Diff the most, we post comments and talk to people. When most people get over C Diff and are no longer worried, and they don’t write their stories. I wish we all would/could.

I need to finish more of the details on my case history and those will be on the new site: http://CDiffSite.com.

I can only offer what worked for me (see above) for encouragement. That, and to advise that you take a VERY ACTIVE role in your doctors visits and your treatment options.

One more thing: I think there is hope in a new drug, fidaxomicin, hopefully being released soon. See: http://cdiffsite.com/?tag=fidaxomicin for more information.

“No one cares about your health more than you do.”
on August 6, 2009 at 3:07 am ekathrn

Poor Tammy, So sorry for you. I also had 2 courses of Flagyl and it made me horribly sick, I felt as if I was being poisoned every day, couldn’t eat, got thrush as well and lost 17 pounds.
Now I am on Vancomycin, started yesterday and for the first time today felt almost human. My Dr. tells me this may not work and that if it does not I will have to go back on to Flagyl.
He also told me that it does go away eventually, the problem for me is that I am on other medications and the diarrea prevents the meds from being absorbed so I end up with palptations.
This is a really horrrible bacteria and I don’t think enough attention is being paid to finding a cure. My drug plan does not pay for Vancomycin either so I am taking it in a liquid form made up by the pharmacy from IV Vancomycin which is cheaper than the capsules. The liquid tastes vile..but it only cost $100 as opposed to $600 for the capsules.
on August 6, 2009 at 2:01 pm Tammy

I just found a naturopath alot closer to home and have an appt. monday(works well since im being admitted tues to try flagyl again) just wondering if anyone has had success this way
on August 6, 2009 at 2:34 pm ekathrn

Apart from feeling so desperately ill on Flagyl and with constant nausea and no appetite I did try to make sure that I kept hydrated and stayed away from any kind of foods containing fibre. I made up a drink with Soy Milk and Nestle Instant Breakfast and manged to have that once a day, I’m sure it kept me from really deteriorating. If I was very thirsty I drank Coca Cola (which I don’t usually drink) because in a pinch it is a second class electrolyte. My Dr told me he had a patient who tried 2 courses of Flagyl, then Vancomycin to no avail, he went back on to a 3rd course of Flagyl and it finally the C. Diff cleared up, so there is some hope.
on August 8, 2009 at 8:22 pm Anonymous

Is Brewers Yeast the same as S Boulardii?
on August 9, 2009 at 3:08 pm Tammy

I think it is the same thing….Im taking Florastor and heard that Brewers Yeast is the next best thing.
on August 9, 2009 at 4:25 pm ekathrn

Brewers Yeast is not the same as S Boulardii, Brewers Yeast is a vitimin and mineral supplement, mainly containg Vit B. S Boulardii is a Probiotic. Both do have a beneficial effect on the colon though.
on August 9, 2009 at 6:35 pm russ429

Thank you EKathryn!

I was just posting something along the same lines…

http://cdiffsite.com/?p=78

“Brewer’s Yeast (Saccharomyces Cerevisiae) and Florastor (Saccharomyces Boulardii) are not the same organism. They are both yeasts and have similarities, but they are distinctly different strains within the same species….”
on August 10, 2009 at 11:57 pm Tammy

so a bilt of good news, the stool test i did on friday came back NEG!!, the doctor still thinks i should continue with the vanco for 2 weeks and add the flagyl as well starting on thursday because of it being so “perverse”. Im not sure how I feel about that but we will see how it goes
I seen the naturopath today and he was amazing to say the least. He helped me make sense of alot of ongoing issues i have had since childhood and turns out i am alergic to wheat and in turn my gall bladder isnt working right so i am not digesting or absorbing the antibiotis or my food properly. He mapped out a diet plan and is ordering me in another herbal/garlic based med to treat the c diff from reacurring. I cant remember what he called it but i will let you all know friday
on August 17, 2009 at 3:13 pm Jen

Thank you all for the stories and advice. My mom has been going thru this for months but we hadn’t heard of this c. diff. until just recently. My mom actually found an article in a newspaper and took it to her doctor. They tested her and it came back negative, yet her symptoms are exactly as all of you have described and so her doctor put her on the Flagyl anyway and it is helping. She is in her 70′s and is a strong woman but this has weakened her so much. She has lost a ton of weight and strength. I just wanted to tell all of you that your stories help others. After finding this site we were better able to help her. She is eating the yogurt and trying to increase the good bacteria, she also insisted that she be on the RX for 21 days instead of the original 14 days.

A question I have is should she be on it even longer to be sure it is all gone? She can’t survive very many relapses of this. We need to be sure she gets it all NOW! She suffered for months before getting the dr. to listen to her.

(by the way, it is her small town dr. who has helped, the gastro. dr. just dismissed her over and over again.)

Thanks again for all your stories and advice. I hope you all get relief from this asap.
on August 17, 2009 at 4:21 pm ekathrn

C. Diff is a very persistant bacteria, since the middle of June I have had 2 courses of Flagyl, the first for 10 days and the second for 14 days, I think I felt sicker on the Flagyl than I did without it and it didn’t help. I have just finished 14 days on Vancomycin, that hasn’t helped either. My Dr. said if the Vancomycin doesn’t work he will put me back on Flagyl. I have lost 20 pounds in weight, have no appetite and have constant cramps. I am scared to go out anywhere because the diarrea is so unpredictable. Also I think it is possible to test negative for the bacteria even though it is still there, its just hiding somewhere. My Dr. seems quite knowlegeable about C. Diff., he said there is a strain of this bacteria that originated in Quebec and has spread all over North America, he also said that sometimes it takes several courses of antibiotics before it clears up.
on August 18, 2009 at 12:01 pm Tammy

Today I am having some concern. I have been seeing the naturopath and feeling great for a while. I decided not to take the 3 doses of flagyl and 4 doses of vanco a day and taper off the two of them so i am down to 1 each a day along with florastor and 2 other probiotcs.
yesturday I had alot of stool when i went to the bathroom and just didn’t feel well at all for the rest of the day. My naturopath said it was more then likely what i had eaten because I went way off the diet plan. yesturday I did the same because I was out for the day and couldnt stick to my diet.
This morning i had a really strange stool, it was orange on one side and brown the other. then started coming out green and very soft. I know green stool can be caused by bacteria, oncoming diarrrhea and what you eat. I did have blueberry pie last night before bed. But I cant help being scared of relapse. I am having pain in my left side, same as i did when i was really sick from the C DIff. has anyone experienced pain in the infected area after the infection was gone?
on August 18, 2009 at 1:57 pm ekathrn

Tammy…I would encourage you to take the Flagyl and Vancomycin as they were prescribed by your Dr. By reducing the dose you are actually allowing the bacteria to build up a resistance to the antibiotics and they will never be effective again.

It is essential to keep adeqate levels of the antibiotic circulating in your blood serum to destroy the bacteria.

As for the colour of your stool, the only thing you have to worry about is whether or not there is blood in it, green or yellow means nothing according to my Dr.

Personally I don’t think a naturopath can be of much use in treating C. Difficile and probably will do more harm than good.

The most imprtant thing in your diet would be to make sure you are well hydrated and to keep your electrolytes in balance. Gatoraide is a good electrolyte replacement. Banana, Apple Sauce, Toast and Rice (BRAT) diet does help and avoid high fiber foods.
on August 18, 2009 at 4:51 pm groovygreenmama

hi Tammy,
I can totally empathize with your situation, but really strongly believe in diet rather than drugs. I think you are doing the right thing by seeing the naturopath b/c they look at the whole picture (including post partum mom) instead of just the c.diff and trying to get rid of that. I went the g.i. specialist route and was not willing to go on drug after drug to rid this. What I am doing is managing the c.diff and the havoc it has created on my body. Although I have tested neg. for c.diff, my gut is not the same. I have been on a strict GAPS diet, similar to Specific Carbohydrate Diet and have been having pain free days. However I went on vacation for a month, and was not as strict on my diet and my body feels like it has “relapsed” with d. So to get myself back on track I am starting back on strict GAPS, which totally eases symptoms and pain. DIET, DIET, DIET is what I am saying. The flora in your gut needs to keep on being replenished with probiotic and good food, rather than food that feeds the bad flora such as carbs, sugar, etc. So yes, fermented food is a part of my everyday diet, and I am not able to eat my berry pies this summer, but I am happy that I am not taking any more drugs. I know this might not be the most popular way, but I am proof, and have gone both ways. I don’t believe that drugs can heal this… I believe you have to manage it with diet, and a strict one at that. Also as for the electolyyte, try coconut water b/c there is no corn syrup such as in gatorade. Remember sugar feeds the bad flora. People want to take the drugs and keep on SAD (standard american diet), but it just feeds the drug industry, and our processed foods industry. Eat real food and you can be healed.
I posted above with some websites, and email me personally if you want more information. My baby is now 6 months old.

groovygreenmama.wordpress.com
on August 18, 2009 at 5:56 pm Tammy

thank you both for your input. but i dothink the naturopath is best. I cant agree with my MD at all on this couse of treatment. All the sites say taper the meds and i have been on them 5 months. plus i did test neg and have been feeling much better, its just today that ive had pain in that same spot and i really went far off my recommended diet the past few days. The diet he gave m is based on my blood type which is O-.
im wiccan and beleive fully in the healing abilities of herbs. i cant seem to find your info groovygreenmama but would love to chat, my son is 5 1/2 months old so i think we may have alot to talk about. sopport from someone going through the same thing would be great.
the ND told me this morning that it sounds as if the infection is coming out of my system and the pain could be from what i ate being roughage on my colon were the infection was, that it would be tender for a while but wants me to keep in touch later today.and just keep an eye on my BMs.
my eail is tammybearnes@hotmail.com i would love to chat
on August 23, 2009 at 5:23 pm russ429

Thank you Deborah for pointing that out, I’ve updated this page http://cdiffsite.com/?page_id=7. (Dosage Saccharomyces Bouldardii and relapse reduction) I hope that helps.
on August 24, 2009 at 12:25 pm Tammy

wondering if anyone had a problem with Candida with the c diff.?My ND has started me on garlic pills to help with both infections. I was feeling pretty ill after taking the wheat and sugar out of my diet, but i was told about the die-off effect and thinking that may be the prob.
I strayed far from my diet this weekend and getting the gluten and sugar actually made me feel better today. although i do understand that i was getting better when i was sick and now just feeding the yeast.
it seems the two infections are hand and hand with me. both caused by insufficient bacteria in tlhe gut. I just cant beleive that it took this long to find out about. my MD didnt seem to think that i had any such problem but it is painfully clear that i do.
on August 24, 2009 at 3:07 pm ekathrn

Tammy,

Sorry you now have Candida which is a side effect of antibiotics, unfortunately the antibiotics kill off the good bacteria as well as the bad bacteria.

I also have Candida but it can’t be treated with medication as long as I am taking Vancomycin so I just eat yogurt and that is keeping it under control.

I am an R.N. so I prefer to go the traditional medicine route as opposed to naturopaths and I wouldn’t have any faith in garlic pills or weird diets, if garlic pills worked on these bacteria we would all be taking them. However, we all have different opinions and everyone is looking for answers.

I know enough to make sure I drink adequate fluids and maintain my electrolyte balance. Electrolytes keep your heart functioning properly and essentially consist of Glucose, Sodium and Potassium as well as other minerals. What form the glucose is taken in is irrelevant and a banana will provide Potassium.

It is possible to drink lots and still become dehydrated, that is because the lining of the colon is inflamed and fluid cannot get through the walls of the colon into the circulatory system.

Treating this bacteria can be very frustrating, just when I think it is beginning to clear up it starts again. I am fortunate to have a Dr. who is really knowledgeable about C. Diff. and takes it very seriously. I also do a lot of research on sites like the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. The pharmacist has also been very helpful in explaining the need to taper off the Vancomycin over the course of weeks to make sure that as the spores are killed off as soon as they hatch.

We all have different ways of responding to antibiotics and there are also different strains of C. Diff, so what works for one might not work for another.

Anyway, good luck Tammy, I do hope you are feeling better soon.
on August 24, 2009 at 6:08 pm Tammy

thanks,
I too am still taking vanco and flagyl but started on my every 2nd day doses, tapering off for a few weeks now. After i tested neg my MD added the flagyl and he doesnt agree with tapering at all. but i feel i know more then he does.
thats why i have to go natural for now, starving the candida from sugar and gluten and taken 3 probiotics and a garlic pill a few times a day. My body cant handle more drugs for sure. I wouldnt have known about candida if it wasnt for the ND. I thave been complaining about yeast infections since i got sick with c diff and was sure it was from the flagyl I took in the beginning. My MD told me it was papulous veins from the delivery of the baby..hahaha. that didnt make any sense at all.
but good luck to you as well Hopefully we all get better and this god aweful thing leaves us alone.
how do you find out what strain of c diff you have?
on August 28, 2009 at 5:34 pm Donna

Can you take too much acidophilus, such as using Kefir, Flora Q, Culurelle?
on September 11, 2009 at 7:07 pm Tammy

Has anyone undergone the fecal transplant? I relapsed again after two months being symptom free and two negative tests.
Its clear in my situation I am only “chasing my tail” with the antibiotics and now my doctor is looking into the transplant for me. Im waiting for a call today. Im reading that there is alot of luck with this line of treatment, like 95% have not had a relapse.
on September 11, 2009 at 8:50 pm groovygreenmama

Hi tammy,
I am sorry you relapsed. I relapsed as well after a month on the road and off my diet. The bad bacteria overtook the good bacteria again. I then went back to chicken broth and saurkraut and probiotics. My tummy didn’t feel good for about 2-3 weeks, but I am back on top now and feeling great energy and no tummy pain. I am sticking to the GAPS diet and antibiotic free. As far as the fecal transplant I talked to another mom who had success with it, she used her husband as a donor. She also has stuck to the GAPS diet, which she learned about after the transplant. Good luck with your decisions. Out of curiousity what probiotics are you taking and are you including carbs and sugar in your daily diet? I noticed the most difference with Bio Kult brand of probiotic.
on September 12, 2009 at 8:07 pm Tammy

I have a question that Im not sure anyone can answer but here it goes. Can the c diff toxins show positive in stool tests during die-off????
the reason Im asking is because I was sure i was on the way to recovery feeling much better then started last week feeling ill but no diarrhea, just loose stools and lots of undigested food. So i got my MD to order a test and it came back pos. the next day I got explosive diarrhea and it was like nothing I had ever seen. tons and tons of mucus(sometimes thats all it was) and the stool was very weird looking. So my MD told me to meet him at hosp. to run tests, they did all the blood work and it came back fine and the stool test was pos. again.
The next day I had no diarrhea, just 3 loose stools and alot of pain. and for the next couple of days I have been feeling much better, my head is clearer and the pain is gone. just the occational gurgle and feeling like i have to go but dont. I only had 1 BM today and it was well formed but soft. So i dont feel like it was a total relapse, not yet anyway.
I have been sticking to the diet(mostly) I have cheated a few times and had bread or fries and a few glasses of 7-up here and there. I find the fruit really hard on me and Im not digesting greens or peppers at all. So to save my sanity I have to cheat or Ill starve.But for the most part my diet is very healthy and Im taking a few different probiotics. I just ran out of florastor but took it for over a month, I have been taking acidopholis and bifidus and also a multi-srtain from my ND along with Garlic. I havent seen any Bio-kult brand around.
on September 17, 2009 at 2:05 pm Tammy

groovygreenmama,
can you tell me if you buy your sauerkraut in a jar or make it yourself. after you mentioned it i did some research and it truns out that there are many benefits to it. I picked soem up yesturday and luckily I really like it anyway, my aunt used to give it to my cousin and I warmed up with bacon bits when we were sick or something was going around the schools. Its weird i have never thought of it again until you mentioned it. so how do you prepare yours? does it need to be heated or not?
aslo when you have relapse how long does the diarrhea usually last? Im a bit confused bc mine usually lasts a really long time or until i get the antibiotics into me. the last time it was only one day but i started vanco the same day. this time its been over a week and i have only had diarrhea once a day on two seperate days and my stools are very full of mucus and i think candida as well. they are different every. but i feel a bit better everyday as well. and i am seeing the GI next week but scared he’s gonna want me to do antibiotics again and i will have to refuse. I am never going back there unless it gets too hard to control
on September 18, 2009 at 10:01 am Michelle

Dazed and Confussed, wow just read about your wife, I am so sorry. My mother is a dialysis patient and was admitted to the hospital in July after being on antibiotics for shingles she was just getting worse and worse and it seemed her body and mind was shutting down. Thye admitted her thinking she had a stroke and with in a couple days we heard the word C -Diff. They never did say that this was probably the reason for mom being not right in the head too but I bet like your wife she had the same imbalance. I pray for you all. I don’t have this awful thing but watching my mom slowly die from it is killing me also.
on September 19, 2009 at 10:08 pm russ429

This page is getting so huge with comments I decided to have the hosting company to setup a forum for anyone interested to share on (what has worked for you, research, how to care for relatives with C Diff, whatever) and I think we all agree that reading others’ real stories helps a ton when you’re new to this and scared.

http://cdiffsite.com/forum

Enjoy sharing on the forum, if interested, it’s yours…
on September 21, 2009 at 10:59 pm Michelle

Grooveygreenmama what is the GAPS diet? Please share. Trying to help mom with her C-Diff. She is not getting any help from anything or any one else and we are willing to try anything. you can e-mail me the diet info at shellie69@live.com
Thank you
on September 23, 2009 at 2:45 pm Callie

I am 33 years old and healthy.. I went to the ER in august with horrible abdominal pain and vomiting. they did a catscan and told me I had colitis, they put me on flagyl and cipro for 10 days. after finishing that i started to feel sick again and finally found out I had c-diff. I went on vancomyacin for 15 days. I just got retested and I go to the doctor today to find out whats going on. I still have bad side pain and I am nauseated, but my diarreah is only 4-5 times per day instead of up to 15. I hope its gone but I am still scared. I am also very tired all the time, my Dr said its cause i am dehydrated and to drink a lot of fluids, which I do. When I found out I had C-diff I had never heard of it before and didnt worry too much until I went online and found out how bad it can really be!!!! Praying for all of you:)
on September 24, 2009 at 1:24 pm Tammy

Wondering if anyone went through a die-off effects when not on a diet. had I am so confused as to if im having die-off or re-infection.
about 3 weeks ago I had terrible diarrhea with more mucus then i had ever saw and pain so went to get a stool test done and it came back positive for c diff toxins again, after 2 negative tests i was heart broken. then stared feeling better for the rest of the week. then the past few days i have a little pain but tons and tons of mucusy BMs like yesturday i had 10 BMs they are not diarrhea but soft and lose. and it is calming down again today. after the first bout which i assumed was a die-off i went off my diet because my MD said it would be better to eat whatever i could tolerate. I still watch my sugar intake and stay away from processed foods and lactose. but eating lots of bread. I am taking 70-90 billion probiotics and still taking my garlic suppliments, B12 and taking epsom salt baths each night till i sweat and then dry brushing in the shower following the bath.
i do feel the baths are greatly helping me rid some toxins when i get out it looks like someone poured pepper all over the tub and my ND says this is toxins and bacteria coming out. i feel a bit better each day and yet Im confused. I see the IDS and the GI soon but wondering if anyone else ever experienced it like this without strict diet.
I do have to add in that usually i went straight for antibiotics for the past 6 months of relapses and this time i refused. My MD agreed that i am just chaising my tail with them. I must admit my symptoms are far easier to deal with then usual and not having half of them.
on October 1, 2009 at 12:56 pm ekathrn

Thank heaven my C.Diff bug seems to have finally died. The last course of Vancomycin combined with Florastor seemed to have done the trick. I have been clear for nearly 3 weeks now and feel so much better. My Dr. says this does happen sometimes, he thinks that my own immune system combined with the antibiotics and pro bioitic worked. The pharmacist also told me that Yougurts do not contain enough pro biotics to affect the C. Diff.
My Dr. also mentioned the fecal enema and after my initial reaction (revulsion) I felt that perhaps it was worth trying, at least it would be preferable to any surgical intervention. Thankfully I didn’t have to go that route.
I do feel sad for those who are still struggling with this infection and wish you good luck.
on October 23, 2009 at 6:29 pm Mel

I had c-diff this summer after being on cipro for only a few days. I ended up in the hospital for the first time in my life due to significant dehydration. I subsequently developed a fissure from all of the diarrhea and just had a sphincterotomy to correct the fissure. I developed bronchitis and after fighting it for two weeks and the secretions getting worse I was put on a Z pac. I was trying to avoid antibiotics at all costs. Today I have developed the D again x3. I have a call into my doctor to see if this is the c-diff returning. I am praying it is not as my fissure is still healing from the first round. Any suggestions on how to manage both at the time? Has anyone heard about the new antibiotic fidaxomicin that is supposed to have a lower relapse rate than flagyl?
on October 27, 2009 at 8:10 pm norma

I came down with C.Diff in April after taking Flagyl for a vaginal infection. I did lots of internet research and decided to take Florastor along with Vancomycin to prevent a relapse. I had one anyway in May. This time I took Vancomycin, Florastor, Acidophilus, and even Questran the first week (which I had to carefully time three hours away from the Vancomycin). I didn’t take the Questran the second week, but did take it again for three weeks after stopping the Vanocmycin for added insurance. This seemed to take care of the C.Diff. I am still taking probiotics in October, because I am so paranoid about getting this thing back. I don’t know what I’ll do if I ever have to take antibiotics again and I’m also paranoid about having any procedures done at a hospital (like colonoscopies). My elderly mom in a nursing home and daughter are often on antibiotics and I worry about them getting C.Diff.
Although I’m quite sure I’m over the C.diff, my stools are a little more frequent and a little softer than before this all started. Nothing like C.Diff poop, though. I wonder if this caused a few long lasting effects – like IBS or minor lactose intolerance. Has anyone else experienced this after c.
Diff recovery?
on October 27, 2009 at 8:41 pm ekathrn

norma

This really is a very difficult bug to treat. I developed C.Diff at the beginning of June, despite not having been on an antibiotic or recently admitted to the hospital.

I took 6 courses of antibiotics, 3 courses of Flagyl and 3 courses of Vancomycin and the C. Diff finally cleared up with the last course of Vancomycin combined with Florastor.

I still had occasional bouts of diarrea for a week or so after I finished the last course of Vancomycin, but the culture for C. Diff came back negative and then it finally cleared up altogether. I think toxins from the C.Diff cause colitis and that takes a little while to heal.

Your concern is understandable, I am also worried about what will happen if I have to take an antibiotic again. My Dr. can’t figure out why I got C. Diff in the first place so I am having a colonoscopy on Nov.17th. Not looking forward to that but I think its a good idea to make sure there is nothing else going on that I should know about.
on October 30, 2009 at 7:48 pm Tammy

I still have an intolerance to Lactose and still getting alot of pain once in a while..Im wondering if anyone else still experiences this? I had another stool test done yesterday and waiting till monday for results. I am having loose stools, but no diarrhea, just the pain in the same spot on my left side everytime i eat, anyone else?
on November 1, 2009 at 11:20 pm sheila

i had c-diff for a year and a half. was told i would be on vancomycin the rest of my life. two weeks ago i went to a dr. colleen kelly. she is at women & infant hosp in rhode island.her telephone number is 401-453-7953. she performed a fecal transplant . i was her 5th patient and it worked on all of us. this involves a family member donating their feces which she puts into the patient by doing a colonoscopy. so easy – it was over in 15 minutes and you don’t feel anything. God bless her and i hope i have helped someone on this site by sharing this info. i’m from massachusetts. no one in this state performs this. tomorrow she gets a big bouquet of flowers from me.hope this info helps
on November 2, 2009 at 1:27 am ekathrn

Sheila,

Thanks for that information, My Dr. suggested a feacal enema and that would probably have been my next step if the last course of Vancomycin hadn’t worked.

I have read that it is being done in Canada as well, a doctor in Calgary is doing it very successfully so I would definitely consider it if my C. Diff returns.
on November 2, 2009 at 7:41 pm Sonia

My sister had a kidney transplant in June this year and has just been taken back into hospital with c diff. This is the second time she has got this and was just wondering if any body knows or can suggest anything? She cannot have any “live” yoguts due to her condition.
on November 5, 2009 at 12:25 am sheila

follow-up. i sent the doctor the flowers. she called me today to thank me and in the process told me she was doing a transplant on a person from n. carolina tomorrow.
this person has had c-diff for 8 years. can u imagine 8 years.
on November 8, 2009 at 4:58 am Heather

My son 10 years old started with a skin virus and would get strep here and there. He got the swine flu and strep June 2009 at the same time and has never been the same. throwing up and then better and then throwing up again. He would then test positive for strep agian. I insisted that this was not normal and they started testing. I didn’t know what C-diff was called but I said I wanted him tested for that sickness caused by antibiotics. The nurses screwed up and didn’t have it tested for. He ended up in the hospital severly dehyrated for 4 days. One month later two treatments of flagyl and he still feels tired tired tired! He says he just wants to be a normal kid. He goes to school when he can and tries to continue to play sports. Is the tired normal? I was told it is only contagious through feces like if you don’t wash after you go to the bathroom. Is this not true? I am taking him to a different doctor this week for a second opinion. Oh, he says flagyl is disgusting!!!!
on November 8, 2009 at 4:31 pm sheila

heather
when you have c-diff you are constantly tired. when tested for c-diff the culture can come back negative for c-diff even though you have it. obviously, flagly is not working on your son. tell them you want to try vancomycin. he should be on it for at least 10 days.when all else fails, have him get a fecal transplant hope it all turns out all right.
on November 8, 2009 at 6:15 pm Melissa

Hi I was reading a few emails from other people and was wondering if c-diff can keep coming back and clearly from the responses above it can. I thought the vanco has cleared it after 3 rounds of flagyl and have been align which seemed to keep me normal now for about 3 months it has felt wonderful to be finally over the severe abdominal pain, and watery diarrhea. But last night it seemed like all that diarrhea, fever and abdominal pain has came back. So I will be calling the doctor to see if I can be put back on the vanco, but in response to the cost of it there is a way around the cost. The pills are expensive but if your pharmacy will do this have them make the syrup it is cost effective and does the same job. Hope this helps people that haven’t been on it because of the cost. Best of luck to all and hope you all recover quickly
on December 1, 2009 at 11:54 am Anonymous

The best way to fight off c-diff is with lactobacillus, the type of “good” bacteria found in yogurt

If you have symptoms of c-diff, keep your environment clean, eat lots of yogurt with lactobacillus and drink plenty of water.

C-diff is a normal soil bacterium and most people have it in their colon. It only becomes dangerous when people take broad-spectrum antibiotics which kill the normal “good” bacteria that live in the gut. Good bacteria competitively inhibit the growth of c-diff. When normal bacteria are killed, c-diff is able to grow unchecked. Our society is too dependant on antibiotics and in the case of c-diff, often they can do more harm than good.
on December 1, 2009 at 2:16 pm ekathrn

I would be very surpised if anoymous has ever suffered from C. Diff. Yogurt does not contain enough pro-biotics to overcome the proliferation of C. Diff. and I had not taken any antibiotics within 6 months of becoming positive.

I had C. Diff for 4 months and lost 22 pounds in weight, not to mention being hospitalised twice for cardiac arrhythmias caused by diarrhea that prevented me from absorbing the heart medications I take.

It finally cleared up with a combination of Vancomycon and Florestor.
on December 1, 2009 at 11:34 pm Victoria

Also, for anonymous, yes, c. diff does naturally occur in dirt and it naturally occurs in our bowels. It is a spore-forming bacteria. However, when c-diff becomes over-populated, it releases spores at an incredible rate and c-diff releases a toxin and it is the TOXINS that the c. diff bacteria release when they are overpopulated in the bowel which is what attacks the lining of the intestines and makes you sick! The antibiotics kills the spores & toxins! The yogurt and the pro-biotics do help keep the bacteria in balance in a normal state. However, it does not cure c. diff infection once it is in that state (infection). Once healed from the C-diff infection, sure it’s a good idea to take pro-biotics to help keep the bacteria in the bowel in balance. But again, it’s not a cure.
on December 2, 2009 at 12:28 am sheila

your absolutely correct, Victoria. a study was done that found that mice could not get c-diff no matter what was done to them. They found out that mice eat each others feces, hence the discovery that humans can receive someone elses feces and recover from C-diff.
on December 2, 2009 at 1:41 am Victoria

Sheila,
Thanks! I feel like a C-diff expert by now. I’m an RN and have worked in hospitals and other medical facilities for over 17 years…I’ve seem many a patient with C-diff infection and in the latter years, the bug has mutated and has become harder to kill off. Anyway, I got c-diff infection 8/2008 and it took 3 rounds of Flagyl and 2 rounds of Vanco to finally “fix” it. I had a colonoscopy in May that revealed pseudomembranous colitis (which is classically caused by the c-diff toxins eating away at the colon lining). Once the infection was gone, then I began pro-biotics to rebuild the normal flora and regain the balance. So far so good, I’ve been clear since this past May. I pray that I don’t have to go through this again! I hope everyone who has this or has had this, a speedy recovery and future good health!
on December 12, 2009 at 4:55 am pinkylee

Can you please tell me how long was you on vancocin and how many capsule did you take per day of florastor and curltelle to get rid of the cdiff. How many days were you on vancocin. Also after you were rid of cdiff how long did you stay on florastor and curltelle.
on January 2, 2010 at 4:34 pm Jim Becker

I contracted C diff after taking Cipro for diverticulitus. Took various doses of Vancomycin and Florastor for months with no improvement. Tried to get GI doctor to perform Stool Transplant with no success. With my wife as donor, we did our own stool transplant at home. I was cured immediately. From 10 movements a day to one. I feel great. Continue to take Florastor for general bowel health. I find it appalling that the medical community shuns a procedure that works. It works. I have been C diff free since September, 2008!
on January 2, 2010 at 8:23 pm russ429

Wow, Jim that is incredible! Care to share more of how it was done? Of course, we couldn’t advise or suggest that anyone do it themselves (disclaimer), but it sure would be interesting to hear more of how you did it.
on January 2, 2010 at 9:46 pm Jim Becker

It was a relatively straightforward procedure. I bought a blender at WalMart and an enema bag at a medical supply house, though I know they are also available inexpensively on line. I made my own saline solution with 1 Tablespoon of sea salt to 1 liter of room temp distilled water. My wife was the donor. She is healthy..not taking antibiotics, no chemo, no HiV…nothing that could harm me. She had a healthy stool that we immediately combined with the saline solution in the blender. Mixed well…4 minutes. With wife holding the enema bag and me on the floor on my back, with hips raised to hopefully move the stool slurry to all areas of
the colon. We slowly fed the entire 1 liter contents of the enema bag into my colon. It was not pleasant, but tolerable considering the stakes. I held it in as long as possible…in my case about two hours! The one enema might well have cured me, but I didn’t want to take the chance
and did the same procedure for three mornings. I had an immediate cure. Went from 8 to 10 diarrheas a day to one solid stool per day. Have felt great ever since. I was taking probiotic Florastor 4x a day before the procedure and continued for two more weeks. Am now taking 2x a day and will probably do so for the forseeable future. This may not be for you, but it worked for me and if I had a relapse and got the c diff again, I would most certainly go the enema route again. Vancomycin did not work for me.
on January 7, 2010 at 1:30 am sheila

Jim,

Did you clean out your colon first ? When my doctor did that to me, I had to take laxatives the night before?
on January 7, 2010 at 2:29 am Jim Becker

No, I didn’t. Given my diahrreah, my colon was pretty clear. If a doctor had directed me to take a laxative, I would have followed his or her directive. I suspect this was to clear the colon of the C diff bacteria. I was in phone contact with a gastroenterologist from North Carolina who had successfully done the fecal transfusion. He did not suggest the laxative to me.
on January 11, 2010 at 6:45 pm jaxs125

C. diff is the result of hospital negligence and stupidity. Dirty hospitals. These infections are completely preventable. Fortunately, Medicare has stopped reimbursing hospitals for these diseases, so hopefully now they’ll clean up.

To Janet the freaked-out healthcare worker: There is definitely cause for alarm. In addition to bleach, boiling temperatures (and close to boiling) also kill c. diff spores. Hospitals should steam-sterilize EVERYTHING they possibly can, because these microbes get around everywhere. Advanced Vapor Technologies makes hospital steamers which are said to kill c. diff spores by steaming them at boiling temperatures.

The most hopeful solution I’ve stumbled upon for c. diff infections is PROBIOTICS. I’m not a doctor so don’t take this as medical advice. However somehow the colon has to be re-colonized with good bacteria to fight off the c. diff. I’ve found stories on the web of people who’ve succeeded well with probiotics.
on January 11, 2010 at 7:05 pm jaxs125

Also, Janet, in response to your post:

“I read an article a few months ago about C-diff and it was explaining that even when a room is cleaned with the bleach that it was tested throughout the United States in certain Hospitals and that 85% of the rooms still tested postitive for C-diff.”

I am not sure this is accurate..? I read a study that said that after regular hospital cleaning (i.e. no bleach), that 78% of surfaces were still contaminated with C. diff, but after cleaning with bleach, only 1% of surfaces were still contaminated. However, that being said, bleach does require a contact time of TEN minutes in order to kill c. diff. So perhaps those hospitals weren’t being cleaned with the right technique?
on January 20, 2010 at 5:07 pm sez

I had c-diff it was horrible i was in hospital for ages and im only 23 years old but also diabetic, i actually caught the c-diff from hospital off the antibiotics i was given. It was humilliating they put one of those wheelchair tiolets in my room i was going every 5 mins and they would not listen to my bell the room was horrible and dirty the nurses didnt let the cleaners clean my room i nearly hit one of them they have put me through so much stress they used the same medical eguipment as they did with other patients and you wonder why things spread in these minging hospitals archhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
on January 21, 2010 at 8:15 pm ekathrn

I found this report today on the Sympatico website. Looks promising.

A new approach to fighting C. difficile appears to reduce significantly the likelihood the superbug will recur — good news for patients prone to repeated bouts of the dreaded infection.

The treatment involves using antibiotics to fight Clostridium difficile, along with two new drugs, called monoclonal antibodies, which help to neutralize toxins produced by the bacteria.

The results of a small Phase 2 study suggest the medications cut the likelihood of a return of C. difficile by 72 per cent.

Clostridium difficile is a common bacterium that often lives in the gastrointestinal tract. For most people, it causes no problems, but when patients are treated with antibiotics for other infections, C. difficile can then grow unchecked. the bacteria produces two toxins, called toxin A and toxin B, which can then cause severe diarrhea and damage the lining of the large intestine.

C. difficile infects thousands of hospitalized patients and residents of long-term care facilities each year, and has even been known to infect otherwise healthy people. Many patients, particularly seniors, fail to develop antibodies after infection, and because the bacteria can survive on surfaces for long periods, infections can recur repeatedly in the same facility.

An epidemic strain of the bug, dubbed NAP-1, has led to severe outbreaks in a number of Canadian hospitals and killed an estimated 2,000 patients in Quebec in the last 10 years. That strain seems particularly efficient at producing toxins A and B, causing more severe illness. It also has a higher rate of relapse.

For the study, published in this week’s New England Journal of Medicine, researchers compared 200 patients with C. difficile in 30 centres across the United States and Canada, from July 2006 through April of 2008.

Half received the standard antibiotics used to fight C. difficile (either metronidazole or vancomycin), plus a single injection of monoclonal antibodies developed by Medarex and MassBiologics, a company created at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. The other half was treated with antibiotics and a shot containing a placebo. Patients were then monitored for about three months.

While the Phase 2 study was conducted to determine safety of the drugs and the best dosing, the researchers noticed a significant difference in how the two groups fared.

Only 7 per cent of those patients who received the antibodies suffered a recurrence within 84 days, compared to 25 per cent among those who received the placebo. That works out to a 72 per cent reduction in recurrence.

Of the 44 patients infected with the epidemic strain of C. difficile, only 8 per cent who received the antibodies suffered a recurrence, compared with 32 per cent among those receiving the placebo. But the number of patients studied was too small for the difference to be considered statistically significant.

“We are pleased that this new treatment had such a significant impact for these patients,” said Dr. Donna Ambrosino, the senior author of the study who is also executive director of MassBiologics.

Dr. Lorraine Kyne of University College Dublin, who wrote an NEJM editorial accompanying the paper’s publication, called the results “impressive.”

“This novel non-antibiotic approach to secondary prevention is likely to offer hope to physicians and patients battling C. difficile infection,” she said.

The rights to commercialize the two new antibodies against C. difficile toxins have been licensed to Merck & Co. The company will now decide whether to do larger studies and seek government approval to market the medications.
on March 30, 2010 at 8:01 pm Jen

I posted a comment about my mother back in August. She was in her 70′s and we were positive she had C-Diff. She tested negative, yet had relief after her dr. put her on the medicine while waiting for the results. After going off the meds she got really bad again. Long story short, she passed away last November. She had gotten so weak that she couldn’t stand up. The GI dr.’s etc. never even mentioned C-Diff, and when she brought it up they said, no, not possible, even though she had been on antibiotics before some minor surgeries. It was her small town Dr. that put her on the meds and was about to put her on again when she had to be put in the hospital. We are certain that C-Diff was a major contributor to her illness and death. She had other problems, but nothing that would have caused the problems she was having. The diarhea was so bad that we are sure she was malnourished. Please, Please, Please pursue it with whatever dr. you have to if you think you have it. Don’t take no for an answer. I don’t understand why the need for probiotics, etc. when you are on antibiotics is not shouted from the rooftops by the medical profession! Take care and good luck and best wishes to all of you.
on March 31, 2010 at 7:41 pm sheila

I’m so sorry for the loss of your mother.You can have many false negatives, before having a positive.
As many of us know, you have to be insistant with the doctors.. Again, sorry for your loss.
on March 31, 2010 at 9:20 pm russ429

We’re very saddened to hear about your mother. People need to hear her story, thank you for sharing it with us.
on April 11, 2010 at 3:30 pm Darlene

Shelia if you are still out there, I am curious as to how you are doing. I have had c-diff for 13 months and am considering a fecal transplant,would you recommend it?. It all started taking antibiotics for diverticulitis. I was relieved to have stubbled on this web site, to realize I am not alone.
on April 11, 2010 at 4:22 pm sheila

Darlene, I’m doing great> I had it done last October and everything is ok. Its just like having a colonoscopy. so easy!
Where are you considering having the transplant done?
The instant its done c-diff is OVER. right there and then..please let me know how you make out.
sheila
on April 11, 2010 at 8:03 pm Darlene

Thanks for responding Shelia. I am considering going to Minnesota. I understand they do it by a nasogastric tube and it is self pay. Were you sedated for the procedure? Did your insurance pay for any of it?? I am starting to get so depressed.Crying everyday. I am going to finish this round of Vanco which goes to the end of May and then if I am still symptomatic I will probably proceed with the transplant. I just want my life back.
on April 11, 2010 at 8:31 pm sheila

darlene:
why not go to Rhode Island- its done by an enema thru a colonoscopy. insurance pays for it. what state do u live in?
yes I was greatly depressed- but i was also tenacious- in that i determined i wasn’t going to live on vanco for the rest of my life. God bless the keeper of this site. i learned a lot here. don’t wait until u run out of vanco to try this. if u go to the doctor i went to- she will tell you to stop vanco 3 days before the transplant. and then she will have u take laxatives the day before to get rid of a lot of the spores. believe me darlene, its worked on every patient she had. she called me last week and asked if i would go on a tv show in Rhode Island to talk about my experience. I said i would do it. please let me know how u make out. I put this doctor’s name and phone number on an earlier post. if u need it let me know.
God bless
sheila
on April 11, 2010 at 9:23 pm sheila

one more thing – darlene- they do put you out. when you come to, u lay there for about2 hours and then you go to the toilet
on April 12, 2010 at 1:36 am Jennifer

I have been struggling with C-Diff for about a month. I’m on my 3rd round of antibiotics. I know I’ve experienced this for a reason. I work at a care facility and therefore cannot work until my symptoms are resolved. I have also missed out on two vacations.

I suppose the Lord wants me to rest. I pray that the Lord gives me some understanding.
My suggestion is to do a lot of praying and to get rid of the fear.
on April 14, 2010 at 4:28 pm ekathrn

Darlene, I would be interested to know how your fecal enema works out. I think it’s a much better option than continuing to take Antibiotics that either take a long time to work, or don’t work at all.

I had C. Diff for close to 5 months, I took numerous courses of Flagyl and Vanco and it finally cleared up when I took a combination of Vancomycin and Florastor. However, I think the toxins that the C. Diff bacteria sheds damaged my colon, I still have constant abdominal pain, and although I only have diarrhea occasionally I still have 4 – 6 B.M’s a day, my Dr. calls this “Irritable Bowel Syndrome” but I’m not convinced. I am no longer positive for C. Diff, I had a colonosopy in November and had 3 polyps removed.

It’s too bad that more Dr’s don’t use the enema option much sooner, if neither Flagyl or Vanco work why wait until the damage is irreversable?
on April 15, 2010 at 12:06 am Darlene

I went to the infectious disease doctor today,my GI referred me to him. I live in Ohio and he found a clinic in Ohio that does the fecal enema but not by colonoscopy,it is only enemas. Has anyone heard of this method?? Is it successfu?? I had only heard of the colonoscopy and nasogastric method. He also talked about the monoclonal intravenous antibodies but said all of the clinical trials were closed and it is not FDA approved. It was interesting to read your email ekathrn, I wondered what my colon would be like if I ever get rid of this.Are the 4-6 bm’s you have a day formed now?? I asked the doc my prognosis today and he said it was hard to say since I have had it so long. Sheila, how long did you have c-diff and do you have any problems now w/ bowel movements etc. ??? I sometimes become symptomatic in the middle of the vanco taper and they have to increase the dose again. I still love this site!!!
on April 15, 2010 at 1:06 am sheila

Darlene, I had c-diff for a year and a half. i have no problems now. if u read previous posts, u would have read of a fellow who did his own enema. yes, it works. the reason for the colonoscopy was so the feces would go in as deep as possible. i have to assume he told you to stop your vanco 3 days before and to make sure you clean out your colon before the transplant, so as to get rid of a lot of the spores. good luck and let us know how u make out
sheila
on April 16, 2010 at 6:57 pm Chris

My test results just came back positive for C. Diff last night at 8pm after 2 days of misery. I’m worried. The person treating me is a Nurse Practitioner, but she seems pretty knowledgable about this condition. She has taken alot of precautions and given me alot of info. that matches what I’ve read here. I just took my first Metronidazole (Flagyl) pill.
I have so many thoughts running through my head right now. I can’t believe No. 1 that I have this and No. 2 that it’s so serious and possibly deadly. I never go to the doctor, never get antibiotics, lift weights 4-5 times a week and I have healthy diet. (for the most part, I cheat sometimes) I got an absese in my tooth and needed Clindomyacin to reduse the infection before getting a root canal. A week later here I am.

What do I eat? I guess the BRAT diet doesn’t exactly apply.

When can I expect to return to work? I’m a teacher (not that this blog shows any evidence of that… give me a break I’m not feeling good! LOL) and it’s alway more difficult to do sub plans than it is to be there teaching yourself. Plus I can’t expose young children or run off to the restroom in emergency every hour.

On top of that I don’t think my wife truly understands how serious this is. She sympthizes with the misery that I’m going through, but now that I went to the doctor she thinks that’s the end of it and that I’m just, “looking into it too deeply.”
on April 16, 2010 at 9:21 pm Darlene

Chris, It’s hard not to be ”looking into it too deeply.” It’s a scary disease and very contagious, make sure you are cleansing the bathroom w/bleach and are doing good handwashing so you don’t pass it on to your family. When I was first diagnosed, I missed a month of work, I had to have 3 negatives stool specimens before I could return to work and 13 months later that still hasn’t happened, but I was fortunate enough to be allowed to return to work. I am still missing work occasionally when the symptoms reoccur. Make sure you eat w/ the Flagyl, it made me so nauseated if I took it on an empty stomach. This is such a good site, full of good info. Sheila has been my lifeline and has provided me w/ valuable information that has been so helpful. Good luck Chris.
on April 19, 2010 at 6:25 pm Jennifer

Chris,
I recommend seeing an M.D. rather than a nurse practitioner. I saw a Nurse prac. when I had strep throat. She new I worked at a care facililty where you have a high risk of getting c-diff. I got it within a week of taking the antibiotics for strep throat. If the nurse had loaded me up with probiotics I probably wouldn’t have gotten C-diff. Probiotics replace the good bacteria that antibiotics kill.

Also, I don’t know your age but if you have a healthy gut it’s possible your stomach will kill the flagyl before it even makes it to the colon. However, Vancocin will make it to the colon. Also, I believe anyone on these drugs should take a prescibed probiotic with it. The reason c-diff is able to take over is because there aren’t enough good bacteria. This is what I have read but make sure you ask your dr. I have had c-diff for a month so I don’t know enough to get rid of it yet.
on April 20, 2010 at 3:24 pm ekathrn

Chris..

I hope by now the Flagyl has kicked in and you are feeling better. There is no reason why a Nurse Practitioner cannot treat C. Diff. Flagyl is the first Antibiotic of choice and works fine for the majority of people who acquire C. Diff. I am an R.N. and have seen C. Diff clear up with one course of Flagyl many times.

In terms of the number of people who acquire C. Diff, the percentage of people who have a strain that resists treatment is low. Of course it is unfortunate if you happen to be one of those people

I think its a good idea to understand something about bacteria and antibiotics. There are many bugs around that resist treatment, primarily because of the incorrrect use of antibiotics. People stopped taking the medication as soon as they began to feel better and since not all the bugs were killed off it allowed them to build up a resistance to that particular antibiotic. Poor hygiene and other underlying conditions contribute as well, and this is why there is a need to continually develop new antibiotics. People die every day from common illnesses that do not respond to treatment such as pneumonia.

It is easy to point fingers at institutions and assign blame to health care workers but the nature of the bacteria itself and its ability to mutate and thrive is a very big factor.

I’m glad to say that my irritable bowel is much better, in the last month I have had steel cut oatmeal for breakfast every day and it has helped a lot.

Good luck to all those still suffering with this illness, I do hope you get better soon.
on April 21, 2010 at 4:06 pm Jennifer

I took flagyl for 8 days, 125 mg vancocin for 9 days and 250 mg 4x/day vancocin for 10 days. I still have symptoms but my Dr. doesn’t think it’s c-diff anymore because there’s no way it could survive that much Vancocin. I couldn’t get tested because I was still on vaco and may have had a false negative test.

Does anyone have an oppinion about what the Dr. said?
Thank you.
Jennifer
on April 21, 2010 at 4:20 pm sheila

Jennifer
find yourself another doctor. he may as well be practicing voodoo. i was on vanco for a year and a half. read all the previous posts and you’ll have a better understanding about whats going on.
on May 3, 2010 at 5:19 am Sheila Renee

I have just finished pulse-dosing on Vanco. I have been on Vanco for five months now. I am so sick of being sick. I don’t have any insurance and cannot find any insurance that will cover me with this C.Diff. Can you believe it? I am so depressed. I live in CA and they do not do fecal transplants here.
on May 3, 2010 at 2:14 pm Jim Becker

Shiela. Do your own fecal transplant and cure yourself. I did a year and a half ago and have been C diff free ever since. If I ever had a recurrence, I would do it again. I also had been on Vanco for about 6 months with no good results.
on May 7, 2010 at 1:00 pm Darlene

Had my consult appointment regarding the fecal transplant by enema , am scheduled for the procedure in a couple of weeks. I am so scared, what if it doesn’t work, what are my options then?? I know I have to try it,after 14 months and nothing else working. After reading Jim’s note, maybe I should have just tried it at home. The Dr. also recommended that I drink Kefir, 6 ounces 3 times a day. A probiotic drink?? I haven’t researched it yet. He said it is usually available at Walmart or the health food stores. Am winding down on the Vanco taper and have become symtpomatic again, I just want to feel good again.One thing I am concerned about, he said no prep before the procedure, said I didn’t need a laxative. Does that sound right?? Wish me luck.
on May 9, 2010 at 2:43 am Anonymous

darlene

please let us know how you make out. it will be a great success. vanco should be stopped 3 days before procedure. and just for kicks take a laxative the day before. i had to take 2 kinds of laxatives so that they’re will be fewer spores. good luck. i’m sure you’ll do fine
on May 12, 2010 at 11:57 pm Chris

This is the same Chris from above, I’m 31 years old. Its been about 2 weeks since I stopped the Flagyl. Before I even finished the flagyl and for the last 2 weeks my stool had been pretty much normal with 1 movement per day. I purchased Probiotics from GNC (25 million) and have been drinking DanAcive daily.

My movement yesterday was pretty much normal and I felt strong enough that I was going to try to hit the gym this afternoon. This morning before 11am, I emptied 6 times, but I haven’t gone since and I have been drinking fluids. I didn’t hesitate to go to the Dr. today, she put me back on flagyl for 14 days and she gave me something else (I can’t remember the name, the pharmacy has to order it in) she said that would calm my colon. She told me to not use probiotics until I finish the Flagyl. I had a fever of 101, but it has gone down without any Tyenol.

My wife and daughters, as well as my mother-in-law have had mild to severe flu like symptoms with the trots and vomiting and a low grade fever. I haven’t vomitted and I am actually feeling better, and my body aches are going away.

Is this a typical relapse or do I just have the flu like my family? (what they have doesn’t seem like what I had, my youngest, 2, had diarrhia a couple of times for a day and that was it.) The Dr. doesn’t think my family has C Diff and she thinks that the flu symptoms are worse with me since I just had C Diff.

For a second there I actually thought I was one of the the lucky 85% maybe I still am and this is just the flu. I pray that everyone going through this gets well real soon and thank you to those of you helping everyone undersatnd and get thtough this.
on May 13, 2010 at 1:51 am Jennifer

TO: Sheila-Renee or whoever,

I have had c-diff for two months. I never had relief even on 3 rounds of Vanco which I guess is unusual. However, I have done three things differently and am back at work now.

I haven’t been on any antibiotics for a week and so far so good. This is what I did.

I take a liquid supplement called Vemma. You can check it out on my website. Vemma is a complete supplement with mangosteen which has natural anti-inflammatory properties and therefore maybe helping my colon. Also, I started taking VSL #3 a three weeks ago. It’s a very good probiotic. It’s over the counter but expensive.
Also, I have had hyperthyroidism for three years with no treatment. My Dr. felt that it was hindering my ability to heal from c-diff because hyperthyroidism can also cause diarrhea. I have been on propylthiouracil (beta blocker) for two weeks. My point is if you have another disease causing diarrhea I wonder if it can hinder the healing process. (gluten intolerance, ect.). I don’t know if any one of these things have helped. All I know is that I only go three x/day now and am back at work. I hope this helps someone.
on May 13, 2010 at 1:43 pm Sheila Renee

I just finished pulse-dosing on Vancomycin two weeks ago. I started having 5 bowel movements a day, again. Not a true diarreah though. I feel good, but I am scared that C.Diff is back! Does anyone know what symptoms will arrive to let me know that C. DIff is back? I feel like I might be paranoid about this. I am seriously thinking of doing a fecal enema myself. It can’t be that hard, can it?
on May 13, 2010 at 5:13 pm Jennifer

Sheila Renee,
I am worried about not really knowing the symptoms either for when it returns. My Dr. said I need to stay on a really good probiotic (VSL #3) for a long time if not the rest of my life. It will help prevent c-diff from returning. Also, I’m going to avoid antibiotics at all cost. Ask your dr. about this stuff. The supplement which has helped calm my colon and improve my immune system is Vemma. http://www.jmorgan.vemma.com. I love it. I was also pleased when I saw a GI Dr. He has been the most knowledgable. I have found that many Nurse practitioners and Drs. aren’t that educated on the severity of c-diff. Good luck to you.
on May 20, 2010 at 4:03 am Rebecca

I’ve had it for three and a half months. I’m getting very, very depressed.
on May 20, 2010 at 6:15 pm heidi

I was just diagnosed with cdiff. I had a csection a month ago yesterday and my hospital stay was 5 days. They had me on anti biotic. But I did not start to feel sick until Sunday I tried to stick it out by taking immoduim thinking that its just a stomach ache/diarrhea from the chinese food I had eaten saturday night. By monday morning I was in more pain and knew this was not something to play around with. I went to the emergency room and I had a fever and my heart rate was escalated. They did a cat scan and saw that my colon was swollen along with my appendix so they were not sure if it was from my chinese food or if it was early appendicitis. So they started me on some iv antibiotics, potassium and magnesum since I had lost alot because of my lose stool. They took a sample and by yesterday tuesday morning they got the results back and it was positive for cdiff. They sent me home with Flagyl (metronidazole) for ten days 3 times a day every 8 hours. My stool has hardened up and there is not longer any mucus, I have been drinking alot of water and eating vegetables as I have read that does help. Today I will go out and buy some yogurt that has extra probiotics in it.

I have went to the bathroom about 4 times today but it has not been lose. Is that normal?
on May 21, 2010 at 5:40 pm Jennifer

Rebecca,
What has helped me is knowing that the only thing over which we have control are our reactions to events in life. We might as well learn about ourselves during these difficult times and make the best of it. I believe health challenges can be a reflection of our spirit. In other words I have let the “bad bacteria” take over (bad images and thougths). I know it sounds cheesy but there’s a reason sometimes the drs don’t know how to “heal” us.
on May 24, 2010 at 8:48 pm Darlene

I had my fecal tranplant done by enema last week, I was good for the first 5 days but today, I started having diarrhea again. Do you think it’s the c-diff again? I don’t know what to do, I feel lost, hopeless. I wanted this to work and I’m afraid it didn’t. I am still taking the probiotics and eating the yogurt. I’m scared. Any suggestions? What do I do next??
on May 25, 2010 at 12:14 am Anonymous

Darlene,

How many times how you had diarrhea today?
Do not despair! Read the previous post on doing your own fecal transplant. Follow it to a T. If you have mucus, loose stools, etc as before- then you still have c-diff. Did you ask this doctor if all his cases have been successful?

Once you’re free from c-diff there’s no reason to to eat yogurt, except that its good for you.Call your doctor and see what he’s says.
I would strongly suggest you do your own transplant.i will repeat again what my doctor had me do- clean out the colon before the transplant – this will get rid of a lot of the spores. and if u do your own put the tip in as far as it can go and raise up your hips on a pillow. stay there for 2 hours. please let us know how you are doing

sheila
on May 25, 2010 at 7:44 pm Darlene

Sheila,
I have been having diarrhea about 3-4 times a day for the past 2 days now. I haven’t noticed any mucous yet. Do you think it’s the c-diff? I have to call the Dr.tomorrow, he wanted a f/u call in one week to let him know how I was doing. I will let him know what’s going on. He said the success rate was 90%. If I do the transplant at home, do I need to go back on the Vancomycin at prior to doing it?? I have been off of it for 8 days. I can’t tell you how depressed I am. I wanted it to work.
on May 26, 2010 at 11:45 pm Anonymous

darlene,
i printed everything written on this site about c-diff. Where did you go to have this done?
Yes, I think you never got rid of the c-diff.I believe you will have to take vanco again and then taper off.If you cannot afford to go to Rhode Island and have it done right- then do it yourself as Jim Becker did. Print everything said on this site and find the recipe. try it – as this point what do u have to lose?
Good luck!

sheila
on May 27, 2010 at 3:45 pm JEM

Drugstore.com sells both Align and Florastor

Has anyone had success with Questran?

Anemia develops from blood in stools/urine with c. diff causing pseudomembraneous colitis. Dx by scoping. Call dr immediately if you pass mucous/blood with/without diarrhea.

Hallmark of c. diff overwhelming urge to have BM. Feels like birthing, like insides are being turned inside out.

May we all recover! Bless you with health!
on May 31, 2010 at 7:55 pm Jen

I posted about my mom hear some months ago, she passed away in Nov. from several things, but C-Diff definitely contributed to it. Now I am taking a Zpak for pnemonia and am scared to death I will get it. I have had similiar symptoms for several years but nothing to the degree she had it, I usually have control, but go many, many times a day. I have the stomach rumbling and the urge feelings, but have always had enough control to get to the bathroom. Now I am so worried taking this antibiotic.

My question for all of you is: I just started eating 2 activia yogurts today, the third day of my antibiotics, is that enough or should I be doing more? By the way, one of the side effects of the Zpak says “diarrhea”. So I don’t know whats happening.

Any advice is welcome and I appreciate all of your stories and comments, they keep all of us going and give us hope. I know how serious this is. I lost my mom to it. Take care of yourself and don’t expect anyone else to do it for you!
on June 1, 2010 at 12:40 am Anonymous

Jen,
My GI dr. recommended florastor and VSL #3. Some brobiotics only have one kind of bacteria. Sometimes you need something with many different kinds of bacteria. Ask your dr. about them.

I have a question for anyone. I was off vancocin for awhile. However, I have been vomiting everything but water for two days. Can c-diff cause vomiting. I never vomited the first time I had it for 5 weeks. Has anyone else had this symptom from c-diff?
on June 1, 2010 at 12:41 am Jennifer

I forgot to leave my name for the last post.
on June 1, 2010 at 2:24 am Anonymous

yes- it can cause you to vomit.

sheila
on June 1, 2010 at 5:20 pm eleanor

I have personally seen favorable results in a bad c diff infectiion (37 stools a day) using only florastor and Eugalan (a probiotic available at Amazon). This, along with slippery elm powder, helped right away (reduced stools to 20 within one day) but did not cure. After this I added charcoal and this decreased stools to 10. After a couple of days I added medical grade ozone recatally and then the fever reduced and stools went down to 5 formed per day. A word about the slippery elm. It must be taken liberally. He’s a recipe: Take 1/2 cup of powder (not bark, not capsules) mix it, quickly with a whisk, with one quart of pure water (I bring it to 140 degrees but that is probably not necessary). It must gel, if it does not it may not work, some brands do not gel. One must take at least a few tablespoons of this a day. If it works it can be taken liberally, a cup or two a day. Gelatine and gelatine based broths work well as foods during diarrhea. The gelatine itself acts as an anti-inflammatory. See: “Weston Price Foundation” for bone broth and other good food ideas. Good luck, Eleanor
on June 1, 2010 at 5:23 pm eleanor

I have personally seen favorable results in a bad c diff infectiion (37 stools a day) using only florastor and Eugalan (a probiotic available at Amazon). This, along with slippery elm powder, helped right away (reduced stools to 20 within one day) but did not cure. After this I added charcoal and this decreased stools to 10. After a couple of days I added medical grade ozone rectally and then the fever reduced and stools went down to 5 formed per day. A word about the slippery elm. It must be taken liberally. He’s a recipe: Take 1/2 cup of powder (not bark, not capsules) mix it, quickly with a whisk, with one quart of pure water (I bring it to 140 degrees but that is probably not necessary). It must gel, if it does not it may not work, some brands do not gel. One must take at least a few tablespoons of this a day. If it works it can be taken liberally, a cup or two a day. Gelatine and gelatine based broths work well as foods during diarrhea. The gelatine itself acts as an anti-inflammatory. See: “Weston Price Foundation” for bone broth and other good food ideas. Good luck, Eleanor
on June 4, 2010 at 4:17 pm Sue

Last December, I developed C-diff after taking an antibiotic for a sore throat and ear. I don’t normally take antibiotics so when I start to have bowel movements 4 or 5 times a day, I just thought it was the antibiotic working. So I took the full ten days. Two days later, I ended up with full-blown diarrhea. I started to take some regular probiotics and kept to a simple BRATT diet (bananas, rice, apple, toast, tea). Over the next 16 days I continued to have liquid stools and was running to the bathroom all day, as well as losing weight. A lab test confirmed it was C-diff. However, I found someone who had cured her elderly father-in-law of C-diff with probiotics. The average probiotics in the store evidently are not strong enough. So I ordered what she had used: Kirkman’s Super Pro-Bio, which had 75 billion CFU’s per capsule and 8 different strands of good bacteria. I took one capsule in the morning and one in the evening for a few days and then one capsule per day for several more days and then tapered off every other day and then stopped. It took about a week and a half to two weeks before I was sure the C-diff was gone. My stool stopped being liquid after the first day and then over the next week or two went from a yellow color with “chunks” of mucus covered stuff in it to a normal smooth brown feces. During this time I also went back to a normal but healthy diet. (I don’t eat red meat or lots of dairy and sugar) Once everything looked normal I waited 3 more weeks without taking the probiotic to make sure the C-diff didn’t come back and then had another lab test done which was negative for C-diff. When I was first diagnosed with this condition, I researched extensively and was really discouraged by what I found. I did not want to take any of the recommended antibiotics because it was an antibiotic that had caused this in the first place. Because I was able to find a solution that worked for me, I wanted to post this in case it might help someone else.
on June 4, 2010 at 6:28 pm Rebel D

Like so many of the stories I read here, I got a C-Diff diagnosis and was put on Flagyl and then it reoccurred, again, and again, and again, and again, and again…..I’ve had it since April 2008–two years now! Surprisingly I’m still alive! constant rounds of Flagyl, was never put on Vancomycin. Finally, gave up on the doctors and saw a natropath. I am taking mass amounts of probiotics, no antibiotics, and have been for almost 3 weeks now. Here is the regiment I take: 16 PB8, 16 Slippery Elm, 10 Fenugreek, 10 Cal-Mag Citrate, 4 Emergen-C packets, 16 Sacharomyces Boulardii, and 16 Primal Defense–EVERY DAY!!!! Granted this is divided into every two hours from 8 am to 10 pm. THE KEY IS THE PB8 AND THE SACHAROMYCES BOULARDII PROBIOTICS to get rid of this stuff. I am feeling better, I can keep it at bay this way and make it to work, but it takes a long time to heal….I have been instructed to continue with this regiment for AT LEAST 6 months! The probiotics are not gonna hurt me and you cant take to much…so destined for quite awhile to make a daily routine of swallowing pills. I also have incorporated live culture yogurt-big difference between live culture and just yogurt you get at the grocery store…make sure you’re eating the right kind! Sauerkraut and Miso soup are also in my diet—of course, wehn I feel like eating, very hard to do….I have also been instructed that if I ever have to take an anti-biotic for anything again that I will have to take this regiment of probiotics as well for at least 2 weeks after the antibiotic is through my system. I will have C-Diff forever and it will never be completely gone and can rear its head years down the road. This is a life long deal now thanks to the doctors who put me on IV Rocephin and IV Bactrim 3 times within a 3 month period. It is contagious, my boyfriend who lives with me is now positive for C-Diff and on the flagyl and will start probiotics as soon as he is done with the antibiotics. The pest can live for up to a year from what I’ve read after you think you no longer have it…on EVERYTHING you touch! Kinda like Parvo in your yard for dogs….so don’t stop treating for it, don’t stop cleaning for it!
on June 4, 2010 at 6:35 pm Rebel D

O yes and I carry Lysol with me, it is in every bathroom I use, at work, at home, at friends houses and at my families houses. Surprising how osteracizing society can be, but who could blame them???? I would never wish this disease on my worst nightmare of an enemy, people around you need to know that you are contagious, regardless of their choice to ask you not to return, that is the only way to even get this disease slightly under control….so I try my best not to infect anyone and it has made me like Monica on Friends….I clean constantly with Lysol & bleach, everywhere I go.
on June 19, 2010 at 1:15 am Cathy H

Omg, I just stumbled upon this website by accident. I got Ci-diff apparently from taking antibiotics an emergency room doctor gave me! Long story short I ended up back in the hospital for about 6 days roughly dehydrated so badly with severe stomache cramping and constant diarreah! They had to put a picc-line in my arm because my veins kept collapsing. It was horrible. When I finally got home I was on Flagyl for about 10 days plus the time I was in the hospital. I have been off the antibiotics about 3 days now, and my stools have been formed but loose, and a little mucousy. I have had really bad intermittent stomache cramps, upper abdominal. Especially minutes after I eat, or at night when I try to lay down and sleep. Sometimes it feels like I have to go to the bathroom, and when I strain, it is just a little bit of stool that comes out with some mucous. But I am cramping in pain as I type this now. I am paranoid now after reading all this. The doctors never told me any of this information that I am reading here on this site! What the hell? I was told 15 days of anti-biotics. God I guess I need to get back in to see another doctor. The emergency room doctors took forever to decide what to do with me the first time, and to be honest, not one of the nurses or doctors treating me during my stay realized what I had until my last 2 days at the hospital when they finally got my stool cuture back. And only then did they start wearing gown and masking and gloves. But a couple nursing did not even after that and came in to my room to change my bags and handle my Picc-line IV , it was as if they were not concerned. I am on a fixed income, and cannot afford to keep getting sick, omg, I am really scared now.
on June 23, 2010 at 4:09 pm sherry

Hi, I am sorry to hear about all those suffering from c-diff. I was diagnosed about 2 weeks ago, when I decided after a week of nausea, diahrea (20+ per day) dizzyness, and numb hands and feet to see my doctor. Diagnosed at office visit secondary to 11 pound weight loss and potassium of 2.4. Still not myself, increased bathroom runs and exhausted. I am supposed to go to canada with weekend, and i officially finish flagyl tomorrow. I DO NOT LIKE THIS!!!!! I will never take an antibiotic for my sinuses or bronchitis again. Why did it take two months to show up so severely? Some mild changes, but nothing like the last two weeks!
on June 24, 2010 at 4:12 pm Rebel D

For Sherry and Kathy H: I have no idea why it takes so long to show up in some and quickly in others. I was like you, it took 2 1/2 months after my 3 hospital stays before it showed up. Glad you found a site like this so quickly. Please make sure you read about everyone’s cases as you will notice most people were on Flagyl and some Vancomycin, and most to go to probiotics even so as the antibiotics still dont get rid of it the strains out there are just too strong and the antibiotics the doctors prescribe are no longer effective. So do yourself a favor right away…… now that you are done with the Flagyl, go and get probiotics and take those for a couple months to to be sure. You can look back at all the posts here and see what others have taken that worked for them, you can research on the net about the different ones to see which mention specifically helpful with C Diff…one of those mentioned quite a bit across the board and not just on natropathic sites but also on university medical sites and by the Mayo Clinic is Sacchromyces Boullardi. Make sure you take enough as well…it may seem ridiculous the amount of pills you will be taking each day but o is it worth it!!!! And if your really fed up, can afford it, talk your doctor into it and not totally grossed out tot he point that you would rather deal with the C Diff, there is always the fecal transplant….which from what I’ve read here and other sites, is completely effective within a few days of doing it. Now if your financially strapped and can handle such a thing, somewhere on this site a man discusses doing his own fecal transplant at home and how to do it…I would find the post read it and then research it until you feel comfortable and maybe you can not worry about the fianancial end and still get the same treatment.

Now specifically Kathy H (just because she mentioned she’s on a fixed income)….the probiotics are very expensive as you can not get them by prescription (so being covered by insurance), therefore unfortunately in your circumstance and I too being faced with this very same thing at the end of these bottles of probis (probiotics) I have right now (my parents have been buying for me, but they are not capable to continue that . See if you have enough to buy whatever you can….the ones I take, the PB8 is about $25 a bottle, the Primal Defense is $45 and the Sacchromyces Boullardi is $25….I hope you can afford the PB8 and the Sacchro together or the Primal Defense. Primal Defense has the Sacch in it, but the concentration levels are not as high as if you take it by itself. You can also try coconut oil (get at a health food or herbal store) to help as C-Diff from what I understand also carries VERY LARGE amounts of yeast and the Coconut Oil helps. The only other thing I can suggest if you can not afford even half of the probis is doing a fecal transplant.

BOTH OF YOU: I am interested to see that now that you are done with the Flagyl if you have a recurrance, how soon after, etc. and also if that has already happened what have you done about it. Please let me know…I implore you to take the probiotics if you can and if not if you are willing to do the fecal transplant and if so are you gonna do it at the hospital or try the home method. I am interested as after I give the probiotics another month or so, which I fully intend on doing (which BTW I am doing great on!!!!-previously I hadnt been on them long enough to definitively say that they were 100% working. I can say they are workin, 100% still to be determined as I will have to wait and see if I have another flare once I stop them. PLEASE LET ME KNOW! Thank you and good luck in your adventures.
on June 26, 2010 at 2:47 am Jennifer

I have had c-diff for 3 months. My Dr. is worried that if I don’t cure my c-diff soon I will become a carrier.

Does anyone know if time is a factor in becoming a carrier? Also, if one does become a carrier is he/she able to trasmit it to someone else whether or not the carrier has symptoms?

I am asking because I work in a care facility. Does this mean I’ll have to disinfect the bathroom after each use as long as I work there whether or not my c-diff symptoms go away?
Jennifer
on June 26, 2010 at 4:00 pm ekathrn

Jennifer..

If you are positive for C. Diff you can already infect others if you do not practice scrupulous hygiene.

I don’t know what kind of care facility you are working in but the large hospitals and institutions usually have an Infection Control Nurse and you should either report your status to that individual or the Director of Nursing. I doubt they want you to be providing care to patients who, in most cases, have compromised immune systems.

I have never heard of anyone becoming a C. Diff carrier once they have been treated successfully.

If you can’t find the answers you are looking for here go to the Center for Dease Control site and read some of the studies that have been done on this illness.

It seems to me that many doctors don’t take C. Diff seriously enough, my doctor seems to be fairly well informed but still says I probably know more about this bacteria than he does.

Also, I think as any health care professional will tell you, be your own advocate! Look around for the doctor who specialises in this illness and can give you answers. It might not be easy depending on your circumstances and where you live though.

Some of the people posting on this site have gone to amazing lengths to heal themselves and are real trail blazers.

Good luck.
on June 26, 2010 at 4:58 pm Aida

Hello everyone and god bless you. Unfortunetely we seem to all have one thing in common–c-diff. My poor mom got it last year and it has been a terrible nightmare ever since. She went in to the hospital with a UTI infection and came out a completely diferent person. She could no longer walk, she was hallucinating, and she now wears diapers.

Our family blames this on the hospital where they have been neglecting to treat her. All they say is that she is getting old and maybe all this is due to her age. Just before this, she was a healthy woman who had traveled to Las Vegas with a big smile on her face. Now she just lays there. We requested tests and they told us that after a certain age (she is 84) they no longer do certain tests. I guess it cost too much. She had anemia, fevers, bloating, and is lathargic. Besides that because they were understaffed they simply put her on a catheter, which she got used to, hence the diapers. We fought for a long time to get it taken off, finally came off. My advice, keep fighting! don’t give up.

Best regards, Aida
on July 30, 2010 at 11:27 pm Anonymous

I developed a c ciff infection after one week of amoxycillin followed by a week of clindamycin – connected to invasive dental work. The c diff manifested itself as diarrhea only (no bleeding, cramping, nausea, fever, pain). Since I am a yogurt eater anyway, I felt I didn’t have to take probiotic supplements while on the antibiotics. I think I was wrong about that. If I had to do it all over again, I’d supplement the daily yogurt with a probiotic, just to be on the safe side.

Anyway, my doc put me on flagyl for 12 days and it stopped the c diff diarrhea in its tracks within 24 hrs but my guts are still not back to normal. After I stopped the flagyl my bowel movements were still too loose and frequent, so I decided to make an extra effort to develop good gut flora and switched to Stonyfield yogurt from my regular brand (having heard it was the best for c diff sufferers) and started probiotics (one week of liquid Bio-K and thereafter the more convenient Culturelle caps). My condition improved but still did not revert to the desired pre-antibiotic normalcy. To make absolutely sure I didn’t have a relapse, I got another stool test that, to my great relief, came up negative.

So all I can say is that if you have a bout with c diff your bowels may not revert to normal for quite some time. I currently have mild symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (“mild” meaning I’m not in any pain and my daily life isn’t disrupted but the difference between the state I’m in and how things were before the antibiotics is noticeable and not pleasant).
on July 31, 2010 at 7:09 pm Cynthia

This website has helped me so much. I have been battling C-diff all summer (never even heard of it before). I also believe I had it last Sept. but it was diagnosed as severe dehydration. I have never heard of it before, but after researching and talking to people finding out it is occurring more and more. I am 56 yrs old, and it in good health except some arthritis and fibromyalgia (low immune system) and high blood pressure. I had not been on any antibiotics or in a hospital and no telling how I got it. I do work in a county correctional facility and am a correctional officer and also a 911 operator, so could have been there. My symptoms are the same as most except I have no pain and no fever. When it hits I have BMs 20+ times daily also violent vomiting and passing out. I have been hospitalized for a week twice this summer. Felt so good after first hospital stay and meds, like all of you I am on flagyl and vinco. After first time when I started tapering off meds, it came back worse than before and back to hospital and a week of treatment and IVs. I am now home feeling better and getting stronger daily. Dr leaving me on flagyl and tapering off on vinco. I am so far doing a brats diet, I have no appetite anyway, I am taking probitics and eating lots of yogurt also. Like most I have lost 40 pounds, 30 of that this summer. Not the way to lose it, but did need to lose weight. I hope to return to work next week, but am so scared of reoccurence. I believe for all of us to read all you can about c-diff, eat right and say prayers every night for all of us with this nasty disease. God does listen. Good health to all, Cynthia
on July 31, 2010 at 8:21 pm Cynthia

I forgot to add that other symtoms I had when c-diff appeared are very sore throat, very stuffy nose and my tongue burned so bad felt like it had been stuck on a hot branding iron. Noticed some others had this also. Cyn
on August 21, 2010 at 4:34 pm judy

Thank you all for sharing your battle with c.diff. You give
me hope.

I just won the battle of breast cancer praise to the Lord.
I went into the hospital to have a culture test on my lung which came back negative. Two days after I was home diarrhea hit me 7- times in one day.

Yep…I have c.diff. Took Flagl for 7-days and I thought it went away, but, it is back more forceful.

I am back on Flagl also doing probiotics, yogart, white rice, banannas, bakers yeast (7-g – 3X’s day), and lots of water.

I pray this will stop this monster.
JUDY
on September 1, 2010 at 7:15 pm Amanda

I work in a nursing home and awhile back we had a breakout of c diff a lot of the patients had it and nurses were not advising us of this they don’t have gowns or any other precautions they use at the facility i work at trying to be cheap i think pretty sure they don’t wipe the rooms down either anyway about 3 months ago i started getting cramps and diarrhea fever nausea weight loss went from 122lbs to 103lbs within 2 weeks and using to restroom every 15 min i couldn’t even leave my house so i went to the doctor he prescribed flagyl a 15 day supply 3x a day seemed to work but made me extremely sick i started gaining back weight got up to 108.8lbs and then started feeling sick again about a week after the meds i feel like all i do is sit on the toliet :/ i have a 23 month old and i dont want him to get it either i went to the er last week with a flu bug and told them my symptoms they said they wanted to do a stool sample so i did brought it back the next day ive tried calling for a week now and go no response finally today a nurse got my results for me after i was rude i hate to be that way and they said they came back negative so if its negative why is my stomach bloating and im on the toliet every 25 30 min still have mucus diarreah and my back is killing me from going to the bathroom too much the cramps havent stopped and im losing weight again in 2 days went from 108.8 down to 105.3 whats going on the doctors dont understand im in so much pain and im an stna so im always exposed to these people who have it but could i have gotten a false negative test back what can i do???
on September 1, 2010 at 7:17 pm Amanda

forgot to add ive been hospitalized 3x within the 2 weeks for dehydration
on September 1, 2010 at 7:34 pm sheila smith

amanda- you can have many negatives on testing for c-diff. please read all the previous posts. if flagl didn’t work for you, have the doctor put you on vancomycin. if that doesn’t work , then you will need a fecal transplant. good luck
on September 1, 2010 at 7:52 pm Amanda

im only 20 years old plus i have the medical card through the state and they wont pay for the vancomycin without the test being positive im miserable
on September 2, 2010 at 12:34 am sheila smith

amanda

read all the old posts. you can give yourself a fecal transplant. do you have a mother, father or sister living near you.? they can be your donor. read the old posts and it will tell you how. be sure to use a relatives feces.
good luck
on September 16, 2010 at 8:25 pm anna

i found this website by chance. my 14 month old son was dx with C. Diff back in June (2010). He had severe recurrent OM from Dec 09-April 10. They finally put tubes in both ears in April, but he was still having horrible diarrhea.
First they treated him with a round of Flagyl, but NEVER checked him after he was done with the meds!
His pedi sent to him to a pedi GI in August, and sure enough, he was STILL positive for the bacteria. We are getting ready to start our 2nd round of Vancomycin. The first round was for 14 days. They want him to go for 2 months this time. I am not really happy about it. He hates it, refuses to take it, spits it out…if I try to hide in a sippy cup of food, he throws it to the floor.
I’m doing all the probiotics that are supposed to help. Should I just hold off on the antibiotics?? He’s still gaining weight and growing just fine. His appetite is a little off, but for the most part he eats pretty healthy.
Another question I had is…could I possible be giving it back to him by nursing him??? He only nurses at night now. I seem to have become his ‘comfort food’ and he wants my boob to soothe him to sleep…so frustrating.
Anyway….any insight would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks!
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on September 21, 2010 at 6:26 pm Jennifer

Jennifer

I have been done with the medicine and am back to work. However, my symptoms are back. I am 32 and my dr. said he doesn’t think it’s c-diff anymore because I’m too young to have a reoccurance. What do all of you think?

Also, I was never dehydrated though all this. I was taking Vemma thirst which has electolytes without the highfructose cornsyrup and preservatives. I love it!! jmorgan.vemma.com.
on September 24, 2010 at 3:57 pm Ronnie Aschenbrenner

I aquired C-Diff in April/10 through an antibiotic the dentist gave me called Clindamycin.
I was hospitalized and given pills but it kept reacurring .
Our dog died of this disease because of lack of knowledge even though we mentioned C-diff they did not test him for it .
I had C diff for 3 months and because of not being able to work and all the hard ships that come with this I… hope we can get a handle on this and get this drug off the market or at least label it DANGEROUS
on September 24, 2010 at 7:08 pm ekathrn

Ronnie..Clindamycin does not need to be taken off the market, it is more than likely that you would have contracted C. Difficile whatever antibiotic you were given.

As well as killing off the bad bacteria for which you were being treated in the first place, antibiotics also kill off the good bacteria living in your colon that would normally kill off C. Difficile.

The vast majority of individuals who contract C. Difficile are successfully treated with Flagyl or Vancomycin, but a certain percentage do not respond to either of these drugs. Unfortunately I am one of these individuals, I had C. Diff for about 7 months and it was extremely difficult to eradicate. I took 3 courses of Flagyl and 3 course of Vancomycin, It finally cleared up with a combination of Vancomycin and Florestor.

C. Difficile bacteria sheds toxins that damage the lining of the colon and now I have irritable bowel syndrome which causes symptoms that are very similar to C. Diff, although not as severe.
on September 25, 2010 at 2:17 pm ekathrn

Ronnie..

Forgot to mention that I contracted C. Diff although I had not been in hospital or taken any antibiotics.
on October 15, 2010 at 1:46 pm ekathrn

I found this article on the BBC website and thought it might be helpful to those still struggling with this problem.

Q&A on Clostridium difficile

What is Clostridium difficile (C.diff)?

Clostridium difficile is a member of a large group of bacteria, the clostridia, that grow in the absence of oxygen and are able to form heat-resistant spores.

C.diff is a very tough bug that lives in people’s intestines. It is common in young children and in people over the age of 75.

When does it occur?

It becomes a problem when a person’s normal gut flora is disturbed, for example during antibiotic treatment. As well as doing its job to get rid of harmful bugs in the body, antibiotics also zap away the “friendly bacteria”.

Why is C.diff such a problem?

There are very few antibiotics that are effective against C.diff and relapses are common after antibiotic treatment. Without the aid of “friendly bacteria”, the C.diff grows and produces poison.

How does it spread?

C.diff is very clever in that it makes spores which are very tough. They can last in the environment for years.

Spores can be spread in the wind, but C.diff’s most efficient means of transport are the hands.

It is very easy for the bug to get on the hands and once the hands touch the mouth, it is then very easy for it to travel to the gut.

What is it resistant to?

The bug can withstand heat. It can survive disinfectant and it does not mind alcohol.

What are the symptoms of C.diff?

Symptoms of the bug include mild to severe diarrhoea, blood-stained stools, fever and abdominal cramps.

These symptoms are usually caused by an inflammation of the lining of the large intestine. In rare cases, C.diff can cause peritonitis, an infection of the lining in the abdomen, blood poisoning and tears in the large intestine.

In very rare cases, a C.diff infection can be fatal. The risk of this is higher in elderly people and people who have other very serious health conditions.

Who is Professor Hugh Pennington?

Hugh Pennington is an emeritus professor of bacteriology at the University of Aberdeen.

He chaired a Scottish Executive established expert group following the E.coli O157 outbreak in central Scotland in 1996.

Prof Pennington also headed a public inquiry into the 2005 E.coli outbreak in Wales in which a five-year-old boy died.

He has also been credited with having made a significant contribution to the science and practice of medical microbiology, to the health of the nation and to public understanding of science.
on November 1, 2010 at 10:49 pm Dan

Hello to everyone on the site!

I have read most of the posts and can relate to the confusion, fear, and lack of concern by doctors and many medical personnel.

Two years ago, I took Cipromycin for 10 days due to a bladder infection. Two weeks later, I started having strange symptoms of a clear mucus discharge, with specks or lines of blood in it. The urge to run to the toilet increased rapidly and I had stomach cramps and a fever. I had no idea what was going on. I thought it was the flu or some other bowel problem. I had never heard of C. Diff or the symptoms. After fighting with it for several days, I went to the Emergency Room, with critically low levels of Potassium and dehydration. I was treated with Potassium supplements and and couple of bottles of water through an IV and was released. They took stool samples and the resullts were positive for C-Diff Toxins A and B. I was put on Flagyl for two weeks and felt better. Two weeks later I had the 1st of 2 relapses.

The 1st relapse came on fast. I was back in the Emergency Room with extremely low potassium levels and dehydrated again. This time I had to argue with the doctor on what I had. Finally, after looking up the last test results he decided to treat me with Flagyl again. They also took another stool sample, had it tested, and the results were negative. I took the Flagyl for two weeks and felt a lot better. Two weeks later I came down with my 2nd relapse.

This was even more virulent than than the other 2 bouts! I ended up in the Emergency Room a 3rd time!!! I had another stool sample tested and it was positive. I went to a GI doctor who put me on Vacomycin (oral). This time, I took it for 3 months and the last month I was slowly taken off or what they call purging. This is when you take it every other day or three days to purge the C-Diff as the spores try to become active again. I also started on Probiotics 50 billion per day. It is imporant to take large amounts, it may take a few days for your system to adjust but it seems to work. I was taking SACHAROMYCES BOULARDII (10 billion per day) and at least 7 other types of good bacteria.

Yogurt does not contain enough probiotics to ever begin to help. It can also contain processed sugar which feeds C-Diff.

I finally succeded in getting rid of the C-Diff and have been clear for two years. I am afraid to take any antibiotics.

I still take high doses of Probiotics everyday and have not had any adverse effects.

I stay away from antibiotics!

The spreading N-1 strain does not seem to need an antibiotic to infect, produces many times the number of usual toxins, and is resistant to Flagyl and Vancomycin. Hospital are not required to test for C-Diff so there is not any good information on how wide spread the N-1 strain of C-Diff is. Although it had been reported in 16 or so states.

C-Diff is a close cousin bacteria to Botulism and Tetnus (both toxin producers). Thus why it is so bad!

This is such a bad disease, we need more research and fast. Hospitals/medical facilites/nursing homes need to become more proactive in preventing infections of all kinds.

If we can protect workers and the public from radioactive particles to small to see, we can prevent speading biological contamination as well. Problem! It all cost money. With the new systems trying to be implemented, I do not see it happening anytime soon.

Our best hope is a vaccine!

Wish you all well and good luck!

PS: When giving a stool sample it is important to put it in a bag an on ice right away! The toxins are volatile and will evaportate quickly and give a false negative result. I am not even sure the lab workers are careful enough. We can only hope.
on November 2, 2010 at 2:45 pm ekathrn

It is easy to understand everyones reluctance to take antibiotics again since for most people they caused the problem in the first place. I have the same fear but I recently had a urinary tract infection and had no other option really. My Dr. assured me that the antibiotic he was prescribing (Norflox) would only kick in once it reached my urinary tract, needless to say I was very nervous but I did take the whole course for 7 days. Thankfully it cleared up the infection and the C. Diff did not recur.
on November 2, 2010 at 6:55 pm Dan

Thanks for the info on the (Norflox). Since I am a sitting duck for uti’s, I appreciate the information on Norflox. I will have to ask my doctor about it, “should I require an antibiotic in the future”. The more targeted the antibiotic the less chance of a C-Diff recurrence. For me it is not “if” I get an infection but “when”.
on November 8, 2010 at 2:37 pm judy

To all suffering with c.diff

I am on my 7th attack of c.diff. I have been in and out of
the hospital. I took everything flagyl, vancomycin, burnt toast, bakers yeast, probiotics, yogurt, white rice, bananas,
lost so much weight.

I have been on vancomycin for the last 3-weeks and it is
making me worst. I stopped and started taking ..Natural Factors…..Certified Organic Oil of Oregano…with Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil…..you can find it at your local health food store. It is strong, so, get a bottle of Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil and mix 7-drops of it to 3-drops of the Oregano. Put it under your tongue and chase it down with
a glass of water. Eat a small meal after you take it.

Keep eating rice, bananas, boiled chicken, samon, fish and
NO…..sugar or dairy. If you are eating yogurt do the Lactoce free.
***********************************************
My probiotics are:
4-times per day: take together.

1 – Jarro Dophilus EPS enhanced probiotic (5-billion)
2 – Solaray Miltidophilus (3-Billion)
1 – Jarrow Saccharomyces Boulardil+MOS (5-Billion)

I stopped taking the Vancomycin on me own and doing the
above and my stools are firming up and my stomach pains are gone.

Make sure you drink lots of water even between meals and taking probiotics and before you go to bed.

Eating a piece of 12-grain…..burnt on both sides toasts does help. Not tasty…..but….it does help. Do not eat or
drink for 1-hour after you eat it.

This c.diff is a monster.

I am 5-days into taking the Organo and feeling better each
day and stopped losing weight. Thank the Lord.

My prayers are with you all.
Judy
on November 8, 2010 at 6:58 pm Jim

Another option is to do a stool transplant. It worked for me and I was cured instantly. A true miracle. That was in Sept of 2008.
on November 18, 2010 at 2:29 am Cate

What a great site! However for those of you that say you’ll never use anti-biotics. There are times you NEED anti-biotics + will die from not using them in certain illness. Using probiotics as a suppository to hit it from both openings.
on November 20, 2010 at 9:09 pm Brian

Found out I had c-diff about a month ago. Had been talking antibiotics off and on for several months for what doctors thought was a sinus infection (ended up being very bad allergies). Initially thought it was a ‘flare up’ of my ulcerative colitis, so didn’t go see the doctor until a couple weeks had past. My symptoms have been fairly mild – some diahhrea, some blood and mucous, but no more than 4-6 bowel movements a day. Was given flagyl for 10 days initially and felt better, few days after I was done, symptoms seemed to come back. Was retested and found to be positive. Now I’ve done 10 days of vancocin, 10 days of flagyl, and still not feeling better. Doctor put me back on 7 more days of vancocin. Don’t seem to be getting better with more urgency and also some rectal pain. Stools aren’t too frequent but loose. Fearful that these drugs, which I understand are the only ones that can do the trick, simply won’t be strong enough. Also taking a probiotic but wondering if I should increase these? Would taking too many probiotics make me feel even worse? Confused and not sure what to do….
on November 20, 2010 at 10:42 pm Victoria--RN

I have struggled w/ C-diff off and on for over 2 years now. It certainly has taken a toll on my life for sure. I’ve lost about 16 lbs just in the last few months–146# down to 130# and still struggling with symptoms. My input from my experience with having C-diff and what I know from being an RN for almost 20 years is: After taking antibiotics for C-diff and your stool test comes back negative, but you still are having symptoms (diarrhea, rectal pain, cramping etc.) it could be that you have colitis from the C-diff not necessarily that the C-diff is still active post antibiotics. C-diff tends to wreak such havoc on the colon that even after the C-diff has been killed by antibiotics, it could be simply the colitis that it caused that may still be may be having symptoms. It is a tough call to know for sure because even if the C-diff was eradicated w/ the antibiotics, there could still be spores that aren’t killed with the antibiotics that can become “active” (antibiotics kill the active C-diff, but not the spores) and cause the C-diff infection all over again…Make sure you do stool studies post antibiotic at least 3 times. C-diff isn’t always easy to detect in stool and can often show a false negative…Certainly if your bloodwork shows elevated WBC’s (white cells) and fever, that is a sure sign that C-diff is active. But if all tests are showing normal results, it could be simply colities post C-diff infection and that can last for quite a while. OR because C-diff can alter the bowel normal flora, it could be a secondary infection such as yeast–which can cause similar symptoms as C-diff. One of the best ways to find out if it is active C-diff infection or colitis is via a colonoscopy. Also, if you do keep showing up positive for C-diff post Vancocin therapy, you may want to ask your doctor about “pulse dosing” the Vancocin so that it can kill any spores should they become active post antibiotic therapy. Hope this helps! I enjoy reading everyone’s stories about their fight w/ this ugly illness so that we can all learn about each other’s struggles and learn what therapies have worked for recurrent infection. Best Wishes to all of us to finally get well and free of C-diff!!!
on November 20, 2010 at 10:47 pm Victoria--RN

p.s. The colitis to which I am referring in the above reply is what’s called psuedomembranous colitis–this is what C-diff causes not to be confused with ulcerative colitis which is something different.
on November 21, 2010 at 5:49 pm Brian

Victoria – thanks for the post and I found your comments very informative and interesting. I am still on vancocin until this Thursday (Thanksgiving) but am planning on calling my doctor on Tuesday because they wanted me to check in. I’m concerned because I’m not really feeling better… thinking they may want to do a colonoscopy to look at the situation more closely. I have been thinking that this in all likelihood would cause my ulcerative colitis to flare up, so for all I know, thats part of my problem too. Again, the strange part is I don’t feel that bad – not lacking energy, appetite, etc. – just occasionally feel like I need to run to the bathroom. In the past week, the most I went in one day was 6 times with the fewest 3. I guess what confuses me the most is most people I’ve heard who have had this disease end up being hospitalized because their symptoms are so severe. Frankly, my symptoms now are very similar to what I was experiencing when I first found out I had UC…. and even then, my doctor felt that I had fairly mild symptoms for someone with that disease…. just confused and would be willing to do anything to get back a sense of normalcy! I struggled all summer long with the sinus issues and now that the doctors figured out that (it was just bad allergies), I’m struggling with this!
on November 21, 2010 at 11:00 pm ekathrn

Brian.. I acquired C. Diff even though I had not been in hospital or on an antibiotic, this was a cause of concern for my Dr. since it is unusual. When I finally tested negative for C. Diff my Dr. referred me to an internist who decided to do a colonoscopy to rule out any cancerous growths, he removed 3 polyps that turned out to be benign.

No procedure is entirely without risk and only you, with the advice of your specialist, can decide if the benefits outweigh the risks. I found the procedure itself painless since I was well sedated and I did not experience any after effects.

I have been clear of C. Diff now for a year but I still experience diarrhea most days and now know I probably always will, however, during the worst days of this infection I was loosing half a pound in weight a day. I lost 15 pounds in all.

Also the reason people with C. Diff end up in hospital is usually due to dehydration.The constant diarrhea literally drains the fluid out of your system causing an imbalance in electrolytes that are essential for cardiac function. Sometimes the only way to restore the fluid balance and electrolytes is with intravenous therapy.

I think Victoria gave you good advice, I am also a Registered Nurse and it does help to have a little insight into this horrible condition.

Good Luck.
on November 21, 2010 at 11:01 pm ekathrn

Sorry, misspelt losing!
on January 15, 2011 at 8:59 pm Bonnie

I have had C-Diff for about 1-1/2 yrs. due to a hospital stay and strong antibiotics. My doctor is an infectious disease doctor so I feel I am in good hands. He started out with flagyl and I was terribly ill so he switched me to vancomycin for 2 wks. When it came back, I took vanco for 1 mo. with decreasing amts. Then it came back again and he had me take it for 4 mos. again with decreasing amts. I would only be off it for a few days and it always came back. The last time he put me on it for 8 mos. straight with decreasing amts. I just went off of that regime on Dec. 31 and about a week after started with the diarrhea again so now I am waiting for results from stool samples. The doctor said my only option if it is back is the fecal transplant. I was encouraged to read that some of you have had luck with this procedure. I am hoping they will do this at the Mayo Clinic in FL.

I want to mention something I read about closing the lid of the toilet when flushing. If you don’t do this, the spores are sent into the air by the swirling water. That makes sense to me so I always do this now.

I take Florajen3, which has 3 different probiotics in it for a total of 15 billion live cultures. It has to be refrigerated. It was recommended by my pharmicist.

I am just praying the C-Diff isn’t back but I am so afraid it is.

Good luck to all in getting rid of this terrible disease.
on January 16, 2011 at 5:08 am Ronnie

Education about the toilet seat being closed is important both for humans and especially dogs if they are inclined to drink out of it .
Our dog never did much but DID at some point when I had C-Diff .
When I was admitted to Hosp our dog was admitted to the animal clinic . Unfortunately even though we told them we suspected he had the same as I did they did not test him ( we found out later ) and he was let to rest .
I was misdiagnosed for 2 weeks and so was our dog because of lack of enough knowledge about this disease by doctors , vets and the public in general .
on January 21, 2011 at 7:19 am Linda

I suffered with c-diff for 7 months. Many rounds of Flagyl, bad med..After seeing my Internist, GI and they kept giving me Flagyl, I found a web-site from London and the person said the Dr. I needed to see was an infectious disease doctor. Went to one at Vanderbilt University and her immediate reply was, I CAN help you. No more Flagyl—Vancomycin for 14 days. Then had to pulse dose for about 6 weeks, but finally had a negative stool sample. On my own, which the infectious disease Dr. agreed with, I take Cultrelle and Saccharomyces Boulardii+MOS.
I order them from Organic Pharmacy in Ashville, N.C. 800-819-6742. They ship for free and their prices are half or more than CVS.
I know the fear, the pain, the horror of this disease, but there are things to help stop this monster. There is a vaccine that is in study and will hopefully stop this monster.
on January 22, 2011 at 2:52 am Really Scared

I’m freaking out. Really worried.

I had diarrhea for 10 or more days before and around Christmas 2010. I finally went in and was diagnosed with C diff. I did 10 days on Flagyl. Day 9 I started getting just about as sick as I was before I had started it. I went back and they gave me another round of it. So at this point I had taken it for 16 days. But I was feeling worse and worse, so I went into the doctor again and they took me off the flagyl and sent me to a specialist. He basically dismissed the c diff and decided to start running blood test to see if I have crohns or … something else.

So as I stand now, I am not overly sick feeling however I’m still having diarrhea between 1-8 times a day (depending on the day) No sign of letting up or changing.

I’m going to do another test for c diff… But I’m 100% sure I still have it, and the doctors I’ve seen just seem to be so very clueless over it.

I worry that it being left for so long is going to make it harder to get rid of. SO SCARED!
on February 2, 2011 at 5:26 pm Disgusted

So I had a C-section and it all went well. Then the day after I came home I was so shaky running a fever and freezing..Went to the doctor and they didnt know what was wrong with me but prescribed to me 2 strong antibiotics. I took them both, and I was better. Well then 2 months later I get a sinus infection go to the doctor and they gave me more antibiotics. Began to take them and low and behold I developed diarrhea. Went back to the doctor and they said that it was just probably from my sinus infection spreading down into my intestines. Prescribed me lomotil and instructed me to come back if it didn’t clear up in 2 days. So i went back because it did absolutely nothing. The doctor then prescribed me another antibiotic( and i am breastfeeding) that you couldn’t take while breastfeeding and instructed me to pump and dump. After talking with others in the health field they told me not to take it. So I didn’t. The day after my last trip they called me back with my stool specimen results to tell me I had C.Diff. I believe doctors just prescribe their patients things to get them to shut up and they don’t think that the patient may actually want to know what’s wrong with them. I blame it all on the people who are supposed to help us! Sorry to all who are suffering, I wish you well..
on February 2, 2011 at 7:01 pm ekathrn

Disgusted..It is all too easy to blame the doctors, nurses, instutions etc etc for these infections , but nature works on the survival of the fittest.
These superbugs have found ways to survive all the antibiotics and most disinfectants and I aquired C. Diff without taking any antibiotic.
The public is also responsible to some extent for the spread of this bug, improper handwashing and insisting on antibioticss when they were not really necessary.
As with any illness you have to be your own advocate and learn as much as you can about your condition. It is so unfortunate that you are breastfeeding, I also had a monstrous fever and was put into isolation after the birth of my last child, they never did find out what caused it either.
on February 5, 2011 at 12:27 pm Kim W

Hi all…I am a 36 year old female who was diagnosed with C. Diff about 2 weeks ago. Apparently I contracted it after taking Bactrim DS for an abcess related to Hidradenitis. I was first hospitalized due to the abcess not healing properly along with nausea and diarehha. They did test a stool sample and found the C. Diff. I was immediately put on isolation, and given 1750-2000 mg of Vancomycin IV 2xdaily. They then started me on PO Flagyl. I was released 2 days later, and given Flagyl at home 500 mg 3xdaily. About 4 days after being home, I developed a rash on my stomach and wrist, along with recurrent nausea. My docs figured I was allergic to the Flagyl. I was then switched to Vanco PO 125mg 4xdaily, and told to begin Florastor. I started feeling a lot better…that brings me to the current (about 2 weeks in total, and about a week after switching meds), and I seem to have hit the wall again! Last night, I started to have agressive and what seems to be uncontrollable nausea along with stomach cramping (the cramping was not present when all this nonsense started) and intestinal gurgling. However, my bowel movements are not as soft now. So, my dilema now is…do I call the doc, return to the hospital, or just wait it out? Any info any of you have would sure be appreciated.
on February 9, 2011 at 11:09 am Texas

Yes, yes to all the symptoms above. Was sick in hospital for 3 days in New Mexico with pnuemonia. Came home on antibiotics, 5 days later i was delerious with fever and pain and was rushed via ambulance where i was diagnosed with sever colitis and c-dif. I spent 8 days there. Its been rough since then. needless to say my symptoms started back 1 day after finishing round of Flagyl 500 mg here at home. I just had blood test and what i could bring for a stool sample (if you will “diareha” Sorry so vivid.) will find out test results today. Still having cramping and i cannot eat without pain, And we’re talking cream of wheat. Eating yogurt and Floranex x’s 2 day and I am showing signs of sinus infection also. Been at home since hospital release on 26th. How am i to have a sinus infection?? Also yeast infection w/burning showed up last night. Oh my gos, where do i find the strength to do this anymore.

Exhausted in Texas
on February 9, 2011 at 11:13 am Texas

Texas (me again)

I forgot… also had a rash on upper right shoulder blade that all the docs said was a heat rash. The tiny little bumps (needle pin in size) came all over back and in various spots all over my body. they are inflamed at night when my body gets hot, but when i wake up during the day they seem to tell signs of healing. so everytime they had looked when i was in the hospital or when my husband looks, they say the same thing. It’s looks like it’s going away. ??????????????

Exhausted in Texas
on February 9, 2011 at 2:42 pm ekathrn

Exhausted in Texas

How awful for you.

There are numerous new articles in medical Journals of Gastroenterology and the New England Journal of Medicine about the benefits of fecal transplants, now being recommended earlier rather than as a last resort in the treatment of this disease.

There is also a new antibiotic called Fidaxomicin that targets only the C. Diff bacteria and that looks promising.

If I were in your shoes I would try to see the best gastroenterologist I could find as soon as possible, preferably one who takes this disease seriously.

Good luck.
on February 9, 2011 at 5:14 pm Chrissy

Hey, While being tested for C DIFF, they discovered that I have elevated liver enzymes. I’ve never been told this before and they automatically start talking about me having hepatitis, which is probably rather unlikely.
My brother has a friend who also had C DIFF and same thing, discovered she had elevated liver enzymes…

I haven’t been able to find (on the Internet) or anywhere else a connection between C DIFF and HIGH LIVER ENZYMES. I was wondering if any of you guys reading have?
on February 9, 2011 at 8:28 pm ekathrn

Chrissy..You might try to Google Elevated Liver Enzymes in C.Diff, it brings up a lot of links where you might find what you are looking for.

One of the functions of the liver is to filter toxins so I suppose it is conceivable that your liver could be affected.

The Mayo clinic has very god information as well as an extensive bibliography of papers and articles on C. Diff.
on February 13, 2011 at 11:22 pm Amelia

I want to share my story on recovering. I developed c.diff a day after my birthday on Oct 22th. 2 weeks before that my dr. prescribed azythromycin and a week after clyndamycin for a vaginal infection. I went to santa monica for my birthday and on my way back home, I was in so so so much pain, i did not know what I had but luckily I had read the medical literature on azythromycin and I went to urgent care the next day and I told dr my symtomps and she put on flagyl for 10 days. I was in so much pain, went to er, where i could not provide a stool sample, only , mucus so I went to dr to follow up and c. diff came negative. I told my dr, please can I have another stool sample done, because I only provided mucus at the hospital so maybe it is positive. And three days, later my dr. call me and told me the horrible news, you have the killer bug. I did a lot of research and started taking probotics and s.boulardi. She sent me to GI dr. who told me that I needed to be on flagyl for 21 days minimum to kill the spores. I started on 750 a day, then dr increase to 1500 which cause my hands to start to tingle and horrible side effects, he then lower my dose to 1000 a day till I finished. I was so scared that I remain on flagyl for 26 days and I developed a rash so I stopped, I guess more is not always better. My stool gradually went to normal, I still had loose stool with mucus but no blood in the stool like before. It took around 8 weeks for my stool to kind of return to normal.I am still taking probotics every day. I am so scared to take antibiotics. Please email me if you have any questions, this was a horrible experience.
on February 14, 2011 at 12:05 am ameliarivera89

I also want to point out that Probiotics that aid the colon are the key to fight this thing horrible bug.
Best regards to all,
Estella
on February 14, 2011 at 12:15 am ameliarivera89

One of the most important keys to fight this infection, is to ask the doctor a minimum of 21 days on flagyl on the first occurrence, 10 days WONT do it.
on February 14, 2011 at 12:22 am numbers62426

Also make sure that you do not take any anti diarrea medicine because it will keep all of the infection in. Please be careful with that
on February 14, 2011 at 12:43 am numbers624262003@yahoo.com

Also it is very likely to develop Irritable Bowel Syndrome after you have been diagnose with c. diff
Estella
on February 14, 2011 at 12:48 am C

My doctor(s) were very reluctant to treat me at all. They didn’t want to prescribe me anything, and then when they did (flagyl) and it didn’t work, they assured me the c diff was ‘leaving’ my system and to give it time. In the mean time they decided to do a sigmoidoscopy, and while doing so as I lay on the table shaking and crying the doctor says ‘hmm, that looks weird doesn’t it’… Then I’m told I have Clostridium Difficile induced colitis. (mild colitis) That’s when they decided to treat me with vancomycin followed by cholestryrmine (to bind the toxins) At the same time as all this my blood work tells me I have high liver enzymes and the doctor makes me feel like I’m a drug addict, and basically assumed (with out proof) that I have hep c. Then the doctor leaves for a month on vacation, leaving me to wait for the results of my blood tests. (which i can’t imagine i could have hepatitis at all) He also insisted that there was no need to do another test after the vancomycin to see if the C Diff was still there or not… Because he *knew* it was going to work.

Some days I am very angry because I believe the C Diff is still in my body, and other days I feel hopeful that it’s gone.
I’m taking probiotics every day and trying to stay away from sugar and other ‘bad’ foods. Most days when I go to the bathroom there seems to be an improvement, but some days I’m not so sure, and I usually bleed… Which I assume is because of the mild colitis. I don’t know if it’s normal, or if it’s getting better… Hard to say. It’s scary.

Clostridium Difficile is evil and I’m afraid that not to many doctors understand how bad it really is. I was not and am not being treated as though it’s a big deal and will continue to make sure that I am taken care of properly since the doctors here don’t seem to care.

Like most of you, I got C Diff after taking an antibiotic for a cyst in my arm pit. After about 5 days, I became sick. I thought it was a flu, we went away for Christmas and had to come home early so I could go to the hospital when it was apparent that I was not getting better, but much worse.

I apologize if someone has already shared this link, a friend of mine shared with me… a new drug to fight C DIFF (hopefully to come to the states and canada soon) http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2011/02/02/c-difficile-antibiotic.html
on February 15, 2011 at 7:05 pm Victoria--RN

Hello….it’s back! 2/2011. I’ve been having horrible relapses w/ c-diff/colitis–horrible diarrhea, cramping, rectal and lower abdominal pain, bloating, loss of appetite, nausea & at times vomiting over the past 2-3 years. I can’t believe this! I unfortunately had no choice than to go on an antibiotic for a urinary tract infection early Feb. of this year. Sure enough, about a day or 2 after I finished the antibiotic, that unmistakable familiar sick feeling was coming back. I tried to tell myself that the symptoms were just from the antibiotic, but I started going back down hill fast. Now again having diarrhea up to 10 times a day, mucousy and loose and, not to be gross, that familiar odor. I, too, am soooo sick of being sick from this. I have lost a total of 25 lbs since last year. I am down to 122 and don’t have much reserve left for weight loss. I also now have a B12 deficiency from the diarrhea and lack of nourishment absorption in my colon for which I need to get monthly B12 injections. I am now back on Vanco and will do the pulse dosing.
I have had one hell of a time these past 2-3 years. It has totally interfered with my job and entire life in general. I had to be out of work for a few months because of how sick I was and just started a new job at the end of January…and lo and behold, I’m feeling sick again. I HAVE TO GET BACK TO WORK and am so worried and scared that I am going to miss days because of this–which I can’t do with a new job…I just pray that this round of Vanco works and I can continue trying to get better. January this year was the only month since all this started back in ’08 that I felt really good….now it’s February, and I’m back feeling bad. I’m even scared to tell my husband that I’m feeling sick again because I’m just so beside myself and I know he’s been through the ringer caring for me w/ all this illness the past few years….so I am crossing my fingers and praying everyday that with every Vanco capsule I take, I’m closer to feeling better again and killing this bug!! I am also fighting being depressed over all of this and how it has so negatively altered my total life!! I guess I’ll just have to keep fighting the good fight like all of you out there going through this same horrendous ordeal.
on February 15, 2011 at 8:11 pm Dan

Victoria,

Sorry to hear the news of another relapse. I have never experienced a more life sucking illness than C. Diff. It seems to slowly drain you and the amount of time you have to wait to see if another relapse will occur is also hard to deal with and depressing. I have had bladder infections since I was 19 and I am 54 now. So, I know I will be having an infection again. The last time I used Nitrofur. For 5 days. I did not have a relapse of C. Diff. I also take a Nitrofur dose every other day, to prevent getting a bladder infection. This would be something to discuss with the doc! I also continue to take Probiotics everyday (at least 40 billion). I am trying to keep my good bacteria at levels as high as I can get them. Another idea to talk to the doctor about. I am still very afraid of having a relapse of C. Diff. Anyone who has had it would probably feel the same. Don’t give up on fighting and keep looking into possible solutions that may help you and prevent future relapses. We are all pulling for you, so keep your spirits high. There is strength and healing in the positive.
on February 15, 2011 at 9:13 pm C

Victoria,

I just want to cry with you. I’ve only been dealing with this for 2 months, and I’ve broke down many times. It’s awful and horrible. I’m so sorry you have been battling it for over 2 years now.

I’m sending good wishes and prayers to everyone dealing with this. That’ll be gone and gone for good! <3
on February 16, 2011 at 2:33 am Victoria--RN

Dan and C~
Thanks so much for your kind words and well wishes! It’s unfortunate that we are all dealing with this horrible illness, but it’s good to know we are not alone. When I felt good in January, I was so hopeful that I was finally out of the danger zone, but alas, recurrence My biggest worry aside from my health is my job. I have to work and as we all know who have had this illness, it’s almost near impossible during the illness, the flare-ups, and recurrences, to hold down a job…and it’s sad to know that even my medical colleagues, who are educated about C-diff, have a hard time understanding what I’ve been going through and trying to cope with because they have not had to deal with this personally themselves, doctors and nurses alike. I don’t wish this on anyone, but it does seem that there really isn’t much understanding or compassion for those with this illness…it’s almost as if it is just looked at like it was the common cold or something…many seem to have just a “blazee’ ” attitude with no sense of the seriousness of it. It’s not just an inconvenience having constant diarrhea, it’s how sick one feels, the pain that comes with it, the havoc it wreaks on one’s life. I had about a month of feeling great last month in January and boy, did I enjoy it! I was excited and hopeful about going back to work and “getting my life back”…then, boom, sick again! Truly makes me appreciate how good I did feel last month, although short-lived. Again, I appreciate the well-wishes and I can certainly sympathize with all of you who are living (although with poor quality of life) with this illness. We all have to keep fighting and not give up! Hope we all feel better soon!!
on February 16, 2011 at 4:05 pm ekathrn

I feel so fortunate that after having suffered from C.Diff for months it does seem to have gone. I am still left with the occasional bout of Colitis and abdominal cramps almost every day, but overall I feel so much better.

I was also nervous about taking antibiotics and had a UTI a few months ago, I had no option but to take an antibiotic which my Dr assured me would only target the urinary tract, fortunately it did just that, but I would still be concerned about any other infection.

There is absolutely no doublt in my mind that if C. Diff rears its ugly head again I will ask for a fecal transplant as soon as possible.

I do wish you the very best Victoria, I think researchers are working on trying to find a solution but as with all research it takes forever.
on February 16, 2011 at 4:59 pm Jim Becker

Vanco did not work for me. Had fecal transplant in September of 2008. Instant recovery. No relapses. Feel great. Not sure why this is the choice of last resort.
on February 16, 2011 at 5:04 pm Victoria--RN

I am going to be checking into this fecal transplant. That’s the only thing I haven’t tried yet.
on February 28, 2011 at 8:27 pm Christina

Hi my name is Christina I’m a mother of two and have gastroparesis. I’ve been diagnosed with c-diff twice this year I have been on flagyl and vancomicin for about 2 months each treatment. The last treatment had worked for about 3 months but Im having signs of it coming back I’m so worried because I think I might be pregnant. So if anyone has the same situation or any advise that would be great. Thank you
on March 1, 2011 at 2:58 am groovygreenmama

Hi Christina,
I commented a couple years ago when I got C.diff at 7 weeks post partum and have talked with many mamas in the similar situation. For myself, after relapsing from one dose of Vanco, I had to find an alternative so that I could keep on nursing, and I did through a healing diet. I know a lot of people would prefer the drug/quick fix, but my regimen healed me and allowed to keep on nursing. I would highly recommend The GAPS diet, which you can easily google, and even get on their yahoo page. My other advice, from which I have gathered from this blog and other mamas, would be the fecal transplant. There are a lot of people who have done that and most with success from what I have heard. Good Luck!
on March 9, 2011 at 7:10 am Jill

My daughter, Leslie, called me 2 weeks ago, crying because her fiance Bill was battling once again with CDiff. Bill had been hospitalized 2 weeks before and put on Vancomyacin. He was better for a few days then went backwards very fast. I got online and started researching what was available to help Bill that was alternative to the antibiotics which is like a dog chasing it’s tail.. I have been working with a natural supplement that is helping so many conditions, from diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol, fibromyalgia, autism, RA, neuropathy, kidney disease, the list goes on and on. I called the Dr. that created the product and asked him about the C Diff. He told me the protocol to give Bill. I spoke with my daughter this morning, she told me that after one day Bill’s diarreha completly stopped. He is recovering at an extremely fast pace. It truly was life changing for Bill. When I read all the blogs last week and the heartwrenching stories of the struggles people with CDiff live with everyday without a lot of hope for releif let alone full recovery, I had to share this story. If you want more information on this amazing product email me and I will get you the information. My hope is that the news of this amazing product will spread and CDiff will once and for all be wiped out..
email, sjhadduck@hotmail.com I will send you information on the product and how to order it.
on March 9, 2011 at 4:00 pm ekathrn

Jill
I would think if you have something new in the way of a successful treatment for C. Diff you would post here, as everyone else has done.
I am not about to e-mail you to learn about some snake oil cure.
By the way, I suffer from high cholesterol and in spite of taking a high dose of statin daily my cholesterol remained higher than ideal. I finally got it to normal levels with foods containing plant sterols such as Becel and Presidents Choice Yougurt and being very careful abhout my saturated fat intake. These products are available in Canada, don’t know about anywhere else.
on March 9, 2011 at 8:01 pm Victoria--RN

Yes, please do share with all of us. C-diff is a very, very serious illness and any remedies that work could help all of us out there suffering with this and trying to get back to good health.
on March 14, 2011 at 3:32 am shar

I began having severe cramping, diarrhea, and the most disgusting burps (like rotten eggs) in Sept. 2010. I tried to treat it myself at first because I thought that it was something that I was eating. I finally went to see my doctor and she sent me for blood test and stool samples, she was thinking h pylori because I hadn’t been on antibiotics for at least 4 years or even set foot in a hospital for a year. I did the tests, but the lab lost my stool samples but my blood came back normal. I had no symptoms for about a month, but then it came back worse then ever so I was able to do another sample and submit it. I got the call two days later I had C. Diff., my doctor admitted she had no idea how I picked it up, I think she was surprised by the result, and was prescribed Flagyl for 10 days and taking probiotic pills and drinking lots of pro-b yogurt. I just finished the pills on Saturday, had diarrhea later that night and have been feeling like I had before I started the antibiotics. I never checked if I had been running a fever before, I had never even heard of this before now, but I am running a low grade fever and my guts feel like I have glass moving in them. I am afraid that I still have this horrible thing, and as I read the posts here I am finally feeling that I am not alone. My thoughts go out to all of you battling this illness.
on March 14, 2011 at 4:16 am Recovering

Hey all… So I am hopefully now over the c diff. It was a long and horrible road. I feel for everyone who has gone through this and who is going through this.

My question is for those of you who have lasting effects from this….

I have days where I feel alright, and other days where I get cramps, bloating, stomach ache… My stomach will just feel crazy and is usually NOT relieved by having a BM… My doctor says it’s probably IBS… But is going to be doing a colonoscopy to make sure everything is alright.
I did end up having colitis caused from the C DIFF….

Also, I had a scare with having HIGH liver enzymes. The doctors were testing me for HEP B AND C, they sent me for an ultrasound and really made a big deal out of it and worried me a lot. Well it turned out that being on all the medications was in fact the cause of HIGH LIVER ENZYMES… and my liver enzymes are now starting to go back down…
I wanted to share this info, in case anyone else goes through this, maybe you can ask your doctor about it and not be quite as terrified as I was.
(We think it was the FLAGYL)
on March 18, 2011 at 6:30 pm Midge

I have been not well since December 2010. Doctor was treating me for diverticulitis with cipro and flagyl. Did not really help. Went to hospital for a CT – did not find diverticulitis. Gastro doctor put me on donnetal for IBS. Back to doctor and he had a test for salmanella, c-diff, etc. Came back positive for c-diff. Put me on 500mg flagyl. Back to doctor today as not really better and he put me on vancomycin. Sure hope something works. I am soooo worn out and tired of pain.
on March 24, 2011 at 7:04 pm Kim

My 22 month old has been testing positive for C-diff since September of 2010. He has taken Flagyl twice, Alinia once, and he is now on his second treatment of Vanco. This time he is taking 250mg x 3 Daily for ten days and them tappering for 4 weeks. He also takes Culturelle 3 xdaily and Florastor 1 x daily. His diarrhea was getting MUCH worse (16 soiled diapers yesterday alone) while on the Vanco this time, so they did more stool tests and he tested positive for Campylobacter. (My son’s GI and ID are BOTH on vacation at the time being…of course) So the general practioner has perscribed Azithromyacin to get rid of the Campylobacter. I am pertrified to give it to him! If he is on Vanco for c-diff (which is usually brought on by antibiotic use) then wouldn’t the chances of his c-diff getting worse worsen with taking Azithromyacin. Any advice would so greatly be appreciated. I just want to make sure that the primary isn’t overlooking something that could have a negative effect.
on March 25, 2011 at 4:50 pm ekathrn

Kim

I doubt there is anyone here qualified to advise you on the best treatment for your child.

I know that if it were my child I would take him to the best paediatrician I could find as soon as possible.

Children become dehydrated very quickly and you need make sure that if your son does become dehydrated that he is treated urgently.

Antibiotics do not cause these infections, unfortunately they disrupt the natural flora of the intestine that usually keeps harmful bacteria under control.

I do hope your son recovers quickly..
on April 2, 2011 at 11:21 pm Sean

Hi Jim Becker,

I saw your post about the fecal transplant. It sounds real easy. You mentioned you got advice from a doctor? I am eager to do this fecal transplant.

Do you have any other advice other than what you mentioned?

Thanks a lot,

Sean
on April 2, 2011 at 11:52 pm Dan

The definition of cause: “Something that produces as effect, result, or consequence.”

I am not trying to be picky about the words used, but people need to know that Antibiotics do “cause” C. Diff. The consequence of taking an antibiotic, can be acquiring C. Diff, due to the disruption of the natural flora of the intestine as stated by ekathrn.

However, C. Diff bacteria is not present in the antibiotic you are taking.

Wishing all a quick recovery!!!
on April 3, 2011 at 1:44 pm ekathrn

Dan

It seems to be a question of semantics.

I would say that the use of antibiotics “can” cause some people to acquire C. Difficile.

To say that antibiotics “do” cause C. Difficile implies that everyone who takes an antibiotic will acquire C. Difficile. That is clearly not the case since millions of people are taking antibiotics every day without acquiring C. Difficile.

I acquired C. Difficile although I had not taken an antibiotic for at least 2 years and I have since taken an antibiotic without any relapse.

The microbiologists point out that C. Difficile resist disinfectants if they are not given sufficient time to work on surfaces and the bacteria can even become airborne.
on April 3, 2011 at 3:47 pm Dan

Hello ekathrn,

I know most of the specifics about the C. Difficlile bacteria.

Since you did not acquire C. Difficile after taking an antibotic, than you maybe less likely to have a relapse after taking an antibiotic.

Most of us are not that lucky! The doctors I have talked with and information I have read, indicates persons who have had C. Difficile after taking an antibiotic are at more risk of acquiring it again. This is just information, so we can all read-up or ask our doctors before we have to take an antibiotic again.

So, whether antibiotics do cause, will cause, can cause, have caused, can all be true statements. They very well maybe the cause for the more virulent, more drug (antibiotic) resistent, N-1 strain of C. Difficile as well. the N1 strain can be acquired even without a weakened immune system or disruption of the intestinal flora.

The fact is C. Difficile bacteria can be found almost anywhere these days. It the last 10 to 15 years it has spread from the hospitals and nursing homes to the general public and public areas. So, the best prevention is to wash your hands frequently and before you eat, etc..

I think enough has been said now (read below).

_________________________

To make my point on choice of words, here is a cut and past from MedicineNet:

Which antibiotics cause C. difficile colitis?

Although the antibiotic clindamycin (Cleocin) has been widely recognized as causing C. difficile colitis, many commonly prescribed antibiotics also cause colitis. Examples of antibiotics that frequently cause C. difficile colitis include:

•ampicillin,

•amoxicillin, and

•cephalosporins [such as cephalexin (Keflex)].
Antibiotics that occasionally cause C. difficile colitis include:

•penicillin,

•erythromycin,

•trimethoprim, and
•quinolones such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro
on April 5, 2011 at 5:58 am ekathrn

To say that antibiotics cause C. Difficile is a blanket statement that is misleading.

Furthermore, since I now have colitis as a result of C. Difficile toxins, I am as much at risk as anyone else to relapse, unlike many other infections C. Difficile does not provide immunity to those who have been infected.

The following is a cut and paste from the Public Health Agency of Canada’s web site that is an accurate explanation of how anyone can become infected with C. Difficile.

The article goes into detail about symptoms, treatment options and complications and the link the the website is http://www.publichealth.gc.ca if anyone wishes to read it.

The issue

Clostridium difficile, commonly called C. difficile, is a bacterium that causes diarrhea and other serious intestinal conditions. It is the most common cause of infectious diarrhea in hospitalized patients in the industrialized world.

Background

C. difficile is one of the most common infections found in hospitals and long-term care facilities.

C. difficile bacteria are found in feces. People can become infected if they touch items or surfaces that are contaminated with fecal traces, then touch their mouth or nose. Health care workers can spread the bacteria to other patients or contaminate surfaces through hand contact.

The use of antibiotics increases the chances of developing C. difficile diarrhea because antibiotics alter the normal levels of good bacteria found in the intestines and colon. When there are fewer good bacteria, C. difficile can thrive and produce toxins that can cause an infection. In hospital and long-term care settings, the combination of a number of people receiving antibiotics and the presence of C. difficile can lead to frequent outbreaks.

A study in Quebec showed that a stronger strain of the bacteria may be present in hospitals in the province. The study found that C. difficile was indirectly responsible for 108 deaths during a six-month period. While many of these patients were seniors and other factors contributed to their deaths, younger patients were also affected.
on April 5, 2011 at 7:40 am ekathrn

Actually, I am a medical professional and part of my job as an educator was spent teaching Infection Control and monitoring nosocomial infections, and that is what I am and where I am coming from.
on April 5, 2011 at 5:36 pm Chrissy

Nobody suffering from Clostridium difficile wants to come on here looking for support and answers and have to weed through the little cat fight going on, on here. :-/

The doctors say my C DIFF is gone, but my stomach still hurts half of the time and I’m still so drained and sleepy. I wonder if that is normal?
on April 5, 2011 at 7:10 pm ekathrn

Chrissy..You are right and I apologize.

My concern upon entering into what I thought would be a discussion had to do with information posted that might prevent some people from taking antibiotics, either to treat the C. diff or for any other condition, and that could be very detrimental to their recovery. I took 6 courses of antibiotics before my C. diff finally cleared up, but the point is eventually it did so with antibiotics.

Feeling sleepy and drained is hardly “normal” if you feel unhappy with your dr’s treatment maybe a second opinion would help?

I can tell you that a prolonged C. diff infection will probably leave you with some form of colitis that is almost as bad as the C. diff, after 18 months mine is 80% better so there is hope.

Good luck and once again my sincere apologies.
on April 7, 2011 at 12:59 am Chrissy

I do have colitis. :-/ But I’m not entirely sure what that means and how it’s going to affect me the rest of my life.
I’ve tried to be referred elsewhere, but no luck. Will keep trying.

Thanks!!
on April 13, 2011 at 10:46 am LANIE

JIM BECKER, READ YOUR COMMENTS AND AM INTERESTED IN THE FECAL TRANSPLANT, DO YOU KNOW ANY DOCTORS WITHIN 500 MILES OR SO OF PENNSYLVANIA THAT DO IT OR IF I DO IT MYSELF DOES IT HAVE TO BE A RELATIVE ? ANY INFO IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. I HAVE HAD ALL THE ANTIBIOTICS FOR IT WITH NO GREAT RESULTS AND IT HAS SO AFFECTED MY LIFE. CALLED OPTIMER PHRAMECUTICALS ABOUT THEIR NEW DRUG ,THEY ARE NOT SURE WHEN IT WILL BE AVAILABLE. THIS HAS BEEN 5 MONTHS OF MISERY . PLEASE SOMEONE HELP.
on April 15, 2011 at 10:46 am LANIE

I AGREE WITH CHRISSY KEEP THE CAT FIGHTS OUT OF THIS I AM MISERABLE ENOUGH WITH THIS C-DIFF WHICH MY DOCTOR STATES CAME AS A RESULT OF TAKING SEVERAL ANTIBIOTICS FOR DIVERTICULITIS. ALSO THE OTHER 3 SPECIALISTS THAT ARE WORKING ON MY CASE CONCUR. TOOK ANTIBIOTICS IN NOV. 2010 FOR DENTAL WORK AND A UTI. THEN A FEW WEEKS LATER ANTIBIOTICS FOR DIVERTICULITIS THE MONTH DF DEC. THE DIVERTICULITIS WENT AWAY THEN 3 DAYS LATER TO START MY NEW YEAR C-DIFF BEGAN AND HASN’T LEFT DESPITE TREATMENT WITH FLAGYL AND VANCO. SORRY BUT I THINK 4 DOCTOS COMBINED A GASTRO, A UROLOGIST, A FAMILY DOCTOR AND AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST KNOW MORE THAN A RN. I AM GOING TO TRY THE FECAL TRANSPLANT AT HOME, 3 OF THE DOCTORS REPORT HEARING POSITIVE RESULTS BUT IT IS NOT DONE IN PA. HOPE I HEAR FROM OTHERS THAT HAVE DONE THIS AT HOME FOR SOME HINTS. THANKS EVERYONE.
on April 17, 2011 at 2:06 am Scared to death

Can Culturelle and Acidophilus be taken with Florastor and Flagyl?
on April 24, 2011 at 7:05 pm Thank you

I appreciate your blog about this. I recently found out I could have this after finally finishing my struggle with lyme disease. After researching CDiff I have found the same sad stories I had found for the last 20 years. I am only 25 years old and have gone through two possibly fatalic and debilitating diseases. The only part of this that makes me infuriated is that both of these are treatable when first found. The CDC has had record knowledge of these two epidemics for over 30 years and has not informed the public. I am aware that this is all for political reasons. Everyone has the right to a great quality of life and no one should suffer. I appreciate your story because it is informative and helpful for those who cannot find help elsewhere. Thank you again.
on April 25, 2011 at 12:20 am Aggiegirl29@gmail.com

After 4 days of hell (diahrea, abdominal pains, fever, weakness) it was determined that I had developed C. Difficile from Clindamycin which I took 15 days prior. I was given 14 days of Flagyl and told to take Florastor (taking 2 a day as stated on the bottle)…. I am feeling good but staying on a bland diet for now…. I am TERRIFIED that it will come right back when the 14 days is up….particularly when I read everywhere that it says you need to have meds for 21 days. The ER diagnosed me – so there is no going back there – but I have no GP who I can go to…. Has anyone at all been cured after round 1 of 14 days of Flagyl?
on April 28, 2011 at 10:10 am LANIE

I tried the fecal transplant at home April 21 and I have had great results,no diarrhea,no pain no bleeding for a full week for the first time in 5 months. I used a friend to donate, a disposable fleet enema ,bought distilled water and the saline enema. Mixes two thirds cup distilled water,one third saline enema. added it to the donor’s specimen in a sealed tupperware container mixed, shook it up and then poured it in the disposable enema. Don’t forget to remove the piece that blocks flow in the enema tip. Held it in for about an hour and a half and have been symptom free since. I do have a urinary tract infection that has been hanging on and off for 3 months urologist had to put me on keflex on April 25 but so far no diarrhea. I am taking culterelle in the morning, and lactobacillus twice throughout the day, eating stoneyfield yogurt twice a day or activia. So far so good, I would not hesitate to use the fecal transplant again if needed all the flagyl and vanco did not give me these results. the fecal transplant is a bit un pleasant but the c diff is a lot worse. Hope this helps.
on May 26, 2011 at 3:00 am Connie

As an RN, I would suggest doing your own fecal transplant might be a little dangerous. The stool used should be tested, just like any transplant. From the research I have done, fecal transplants seem to be the way to go, and I do not know why M.D.s are so reluctant. It is proven to work, almost 100% of the time. Much better than taking antibiotics. I have relasped twice and I am on my 3rd round of Vanco. My doctor is on boardsoon for my own fecal transplant. He said some of problem is there are very few protocols, but stated it is a pretty simple procedure and cheaper than one would think.
on May 26, 2011 at 9:51 am Alfred Anthony Lawler

Wow. Lots of info here. I’m 23 years old. Got C Diff from Cephalexin. Its been 16 days since I’ve been off Vancomycin. I’ve been mostly eating rice, chicken, fish, applesauce. I take three probiotics now, Culturelle, Saccharomyces boulardii, and acidophilus. I have hard stools, but mild cramping, gas, and rumlbly stomach keep me scared. How long does it take for relapse usually to occur? Also, I really do recommend all three probiotics. I’ve read nothing bad about taking all of them and they seem to kick ass together if it helps anyone.
on May 26, 2011 at 4:14 pm Marilyn

I got c. diff after an emergency c-section on Feb. 11, 2011. 4 days after giving birth, I got home and the next day was back in the ER with stomach cramping, explosive diarhea and massive stomach cramps/pain. I didn’t even take pain meds for the c-section and there I was begging for morphine for these stomach pains.
The hospital assumed I was having an infection from the c-section, dosed me up on MORE antibiotics, which just made things worse, and then did a slew of tests, but didn’t know what was wrong with me. HOW DO THEY NOT KNOW and even GUESS at C. Diff WHEN THEY ARE THE LARGEST BREEDERS OF THIS HORRIBLE INFECTION????
My husband made an appt with my gastro doc and my general practioner while I was in the hospital; when the hospital couldn’t diagnose, we checked out, managed to get through the next day and then went to the gastro. The gastro immediately thought it was c. Diff and put me on Vancomycin. The stool test came back negative, but I took another one through my G.P. and that one came back positive. Turns out there are 2 different types of stool tests for C. Diff. One is the EIA and the other is a PCR the PCR is more sensitive and the one recommended.
After the first round of Vanco, I was still symptomatic, so put on a 2nd round. Finished that, and while I was no longer having diarrhea, because I started following a very strict no processed foods, Candida diet, I started to feel better, but this is very precarious, because any variation in the diet makes me sick. I am also taking Florastor, Renew Life 50 billion probiotic and Culturelle. While my symptoms are kept somewhat at bay, I am still sick. I lost 45 pounds, which may seem like a thrill, but I only gained 40 with pregnancy and am quite tiny to begin with. I cannot afford to lose more weight.
I am seeing a new gastro next week and trying to get myself better. My colon is still sensitive and feels raw, my stools are “funky”; not diarrhea, but they are grainy looking. I also have neck and chest pains that I cannot understand. I also have seizure disorder, and am on Keppra, so I don’t know how much is related to that med. Shouldn’t be, as I had been on Keppra since 2nd trimester and didn’t have side effects.
I saw an infectious disease specialist and he was NO help. He said that if I wasn’t having symptoms, then I am fine. He also stated that he didn’t know why I was feeling sick when I ate most foods, and that the neck pain was unrelated. CLEARLY, this guy has NO idea what he is talking about. I suppose I would have to be DYING for him to recognize that there is a problem still.
As for any doc saying that you are fine as long as you don’t have symptoms, that is just ridiculous. That’s like telling an HIV patient that he is fine until he has full blown AIDS. DUMB.
One of the other things, is that you NEED To be drinking purified water. Water in America is polluted by not only metal contaminants that hinder the body from recovery from sickness, but there are antibiotics in our water supply across the nation and this will hinder your body’s ability to repopulate with healthy flora.
You might also want to check out adyawater.com and Pheonix Nutritionals for their Aloe Oxy Cleanse. The cleanse is supposed to rid the body of toxins in the colon and the adya water purifies water using a mineral system that also oxygenates the water which is good for flushing toxins out of the body, also. I have yet to try these 2 items, but I did order them. I will keep you up-to-date.
I have a lot of fear, having a new born and another child already, that I am so sick and lethargic all the time that I can’t enjoy them, but also worried that I could end up with “leaky gut” that would allow these toxins to enter my bloodstream which could be deadly.
If anyone knows of a doctor in the NYC metro area familiar with C. Diff and vanco not working, please contact me!
on May 26, 2011 at 4:21 pm Marilyn

I would also like to state that you do NOT get c. Diff from taking antibiotics. The antibiotics kill the healthy flora in your gut. Since your gut accounts for about 70% of your immune system, it is likely that either you had C. diff spores already living in your gut and when the antibiotic was introduced, it killed the healthy flora allowing an environment for C. Diff to flourish OR you were exposed to C. Diff while on antibiotic. Since c. diff is live and then is also in spore form, you could get this horrible infection from many places if someone who has c. diff uses a public toilet, we all know from Bill Nye the science guy, that when a toilet is flushed, there is a spray that goes about 6 feet. So, if someone with c. Diff poos in a public toilet, then flush, the spray carries the spores and you go in next and come into contact with a spore on a piece of toilet paper. And there you have it.
on May 26, 2011 at 4:27 pm Marilyn

These spores can remain dormant in your intestine, so when you think you don’t have C. Diff, you are merely carrying it until you end up with some other thing: a cold, taking an antibiotic and then you are inflamed once again. This is not a recurrence, this is because the spore is activated again. So, while you may test “negative” in your stool, you may still in fact be a carrier of the infection, since the spore is living in your intestines. This is why diet and a cleanse are also very necessary on top of the antibiotics as well as taking good probiotics for the next year following treatment.
on May 28, 2011 at 11:28 pm LANIE

Connie, I will repeat myself that 4 doctors stated taking the antibiotics I had taken DIRECTLY caused me to get c diff. I might wonder if everyone has some c diff but it is not active till it can overcome the lack of good flora. Also if you do get an antibiotic prescription , included in the precautions is a warning they may cause c diff also states right on the prescription bottle diarrhea may occur as a result of taking antibiotics weeks or months after. And really after 5 months of c diff I didn’t care what caused it I wanted to be rid of it. Yes you might need to screen donors but I am a widow and my only bed partner is my cat Tommy, my kids live across the country and so my best friend [ she has been like a nun all her life ] was my donor. Since the at home transplant on April 21 I have been symptom free only had diarrhea once cause I ate spinach [ has had that effect all my life] and seem to be feeling better every day. When I called my gastro doc I was told the procedure was very effective 90 to 95 % but not done here in PA. they said I should use a bed partner or close relative but because of circumstances as I stated used a friend. Told my family doctor about it the other day[ whenever I called about the c diiff his nurse would say take immodium and it will resolve itself] he agreed it is a very successful procedure. What do you have to lose? Also I have heard they are being done on an experimental basis at Danville’s Geisinger hospital in Pa. Can’t confirm that but my total procedure at home cost : .89 for distilled water, 1.37 for a saline dispoable enema, 2.22 for a larger disposable enema and free friends poop. mixed one third cup of saline enema, two thirds cup distilled water and about half a cup give or take of poop. Put it in a clean tupperware container,sealed well shook, stirred, shook and poured it in the emptied enema [ large size] removed stopper from nozzle and inserted. held it not quite 2 hours and then out it came. My stomach gurgled and rumbled for several hours then I went to sleep ,woke up the next day and a normal bowel movement,no blood no mucous, no more twenty to thirty bathroom trips a day and aside from spinach I seem to be able to eat everything even chocolate. Again knowing your donor’s history and screening poop is important but that was not an issue with me. And also I am taking an antibiotic for a UTI so I continue with Culterelle and lactobacillus on a daily basis[ culterelle is 21.00 for a month and the lacto 6.99 for 2- 3 month supply.Sure beats the thousands of dollars for vanco. Hope this post helps someone as Jim Becker’s helped me.
on June 2, 2011 at 2:06 am lehacke

I got c diff after a bad abcess- took clandamycin- and oh yes- the warnings were there- really had no choice. Then it all started..my daughter is a nurse so she told me I had to call the doctor- by that time- I was directed straight to the Emergency Room…within 24 hours I was diagnosed..and went on flagyl..and from there I developed EVERY side effect you can get..it was like a check list. Oh the flagyl worked- until it ended. Then right back to square one. Another round of flagyl..longer..and harder to tolerate. After it ended- another relapse- and a 2 hour pity party- PLUS yeast infection- oral thrush…geez would it ever end ? in that time- my doctor went to a medical seminar where he informed me the first topic was “hard to erradicate c diff”…so he ordered vancomycin- at 2x the norm- plus I added Florastor and Culterelle- from this blog…tiny set back when I got a UTI- and had to go on Cipro for 3 days..so far so good..
on June 3, 2011 at 4:18 pm Emily

My 4 month old daughter was diagnosed with C.Diff. a little over a week ago after two months of misery. She also has severe reflux, a milk protein allergy requiring prescription formula, and delayed gastric emptying. She was put on erythromycin as a prokinetic, which is why we think she ended up with C. Diff. She is miserable and so are we. She has already had a colonoscopy, upper GI, endoscopy, and a 24 hour pH probe done. She is on one tsp of flagyl 3x a day. She is strictly on her prescription formula. I have bought two different probiotics to try, and they do not want to mix with her formula, so I don’t know how much she is getting. I can’t find one that is dairy free that will mix well. Last night, she cried in pain for 3 hours and moaned for another 2 after going to sleep. She doesn’t sleep well. She doesn’t eat well. I also have a two year old I am trying to take care of. I have been on leave since January from my job and am not sure when I will get to go back, but I need to because her formula is over $500 a month. Could anyone give me any advice? Her GI and ped are baffled that she actually has this, and they are treating it, but it just isn’t getting much better!
on June 3, 2011 at 4:20 pm Emily

Oh, no one in our family has had it, so I am doing everything in my power to keep us C. Diff free!
on June 3, 2011 at 4:26 pm sheila

I am so sorry for what you are going through. I would check out the GAPS diet. It is what helped heal me from c.diff 2 years ago, post partum. I have posted several times above…feel free to contact me offline.
on June 3, 2011 at 10:04 pm Shar

Just wanted to pay forward…. My daughter had c diff for eight weeks after an unbelievable set of complications from a gallbladder and appendix removal. She is only 10 years old! These multiple serious complications included internal bleeding and a life flight. The doctors were working in her gut area three times and she was on heavy antibiotics as well as an acid reducer (previcid). It turns out that the acid reducer significantly increases the chances of getting C Diff when combined with antibiotics. She came home and didn’t recover well. Blood and mucus were in her stool. Finally a doctor ordered a c diff test. She didn’t have profuse diarrhea like most do but some new strains of C Diff don’t cause much diarrhea. It still wrecks your intestines just as bad. Anyway, after eight weeks they finally diagnosed her. She had been very very active and was now extremely weak, tired, and ill. She spent hours a day in the bathroom. She was treated with flagyl but the c-diff came back after 13 days. So the doctors put her on Vancomycin. My husband and I did a lot of research on the internet. We concluded that Florastor and a fecal transplant were our best proven treatments after antibiotics. We also added Culturelle, Allign and B vitamin. We were desperate and did the transplant at home using her 13 year old brother’s stool. We started this the day we finished the vancomycin and gave her 7 treatments. Three in a row and the others about every other day. Floristor we started two days before the anti biotic ended. We probably should have done it sooner. She had 250 mg twice a day, Allign twice a day, and Culturelle once a day. The b vitamins were once or twice a day when I remembered. We did this for a full month then we have just tapered it to half. In a couple of weeks we will probably stop. We are in week five and she is doing physically pretty good. No c-diff. We are now treating her (counseling) for the trauma all this produced. It has been an awful experience. We had her treated by the best hospital and doctors in the area. We were surprised at their gaps in helping her. None of her specialists recommended Florastor or other probiotic until we mentioned it. None of them ever mentioned a fecal transplant. I am grateful however to those of you who gave us courage to try the fecal transplant. Few hints…get a hat (plastic bowl that fits in the toilet) from the hospital and put a plastic zip lock bag in it for the donor. It makes handing things easier. Remember to take the plastic flow piece out of the enema bottle. We bought a cheap blender and mixed it with saline solution using a recipe we got off the internet (be sure to use non-iodized salt). We blended until it looked like a thin chocolate shake, then strained it using a new stainless steel sink strainer and funnel into the enema bottle. Hold the bottle under warm water if it feels cold. You want the fluid to be about body temp. We did the enema at night right before bed and she slept after. It is all a little messy and yuck….but it has given our daughter 5 weeks! Good luck to all of you!
on June 4, 2011 at 5:24 am bonnie

my mom has had cdiff for over a month now and it definitely isn’t getting better it appears to be getting worse. She is on her 4 th round of vanc. She takes florstor as well. I just baught a very stong probiotic for her to take hoping that will help her. She is going about 30 times a day and am worried about dehydration. She drinks and eats, but it goes thru her as fast as she can put it in. I read that dehydrations can also cause diarrhea. So what did everyone else do about not getting dehydarated? The more I read about the stool transplant the more I think this is the way to go.

I feel so bad for her. I would never wish this on anyone.
on June 9, 2011 at 1:24 am Robert

My son had caught c-diff from the hospital when he had surgery for his head. He went through numerous rounds of flagyl and the more expensive drug vancomicin, but nothing would take it away for good. FINALLY FOUND THIS WEB SITE AND READ ABOUT TAKING FLAGYL FOR 30 DAYS STRAIGHT WITH SOME PROBIOTICS AND THATS WHAT WORKED FOR MY SON. AFTER HE WAS OFF THE FLAGYL HE STILL HAD SOME STOMACH PAINS AND DIARRHEA, SO WE TOOK HIM OFF THE PROBIOTICS
AND THE DOCTORS TOOK ANOTHER STOOL SAMPLE AND EVERYTHING CAME BACK OK AND MY SON HAS BEEN C-DIFF FREE FOR OVER A YEAR NOW. HOPE THIS HELPS SOMEONE BECAUSE I KNOW THIS IS A VERY DIFFICULT BACTERIA TO GET RID OF.
on June 11, 2011 at 8:43 pm CeeBee

Hello, diagnosed with c-diff May 17th. Put on Flagyl for 14 days plus 250 mg Florastor and a combination of other pro-biotics. Previous to May 17th I had two negative tests for c-diff. About fours days ago I started getting symptoms again, Diarrhea, very bad smelling poo and gas, severe cramps and blood in my stool and a low grade fever. I never seem to get a super high fever. Anyways, I have a G.I. specialist who is following me, and he is pretty good, but then I saw an infectious disease doc, who said that I probably did not have c-diff because my two other tests were negative, even though the one on the 17th was positive. What an absolute moron. None-the-less I submitted another sample on the June 8th and went to a hospital outside of my city, I live in Calgary, AB Canada, and they started me on IV Flagyl and gave me a prescription for 14 days of Flagyl. I actually felt good when I was in the hospital as they gave me IV fluids and as soon as the IV Flagyl hit my system no more intestinal rumbles. I told this to the infectious disease doc, but he said that it was impossible. Again, not listening to the patient. I hate this bug. I have quarantined myself from my family and my husband. I use my own toilet and I do not sleep with hubby in the same bed. He has been very understanding and has not contracted c-diff so far. This bug takes it’s toll on you emotionally as well as physically. I got the impression that infectious diseases really does not want to treat patients with c-diff until they are almost dead. They give you the impression that you must have something else, when the labs prove otherwise. I don’t know if this is a Canadian issue or just a stupid specialist. I might phone the Canadian CDC and complain, as this is a serious bug, not being treated seriously by an infectious disease doc, of all people. Thank you all for sharing your stories, it has helped me emotionally and what I can do to prevent. I think I will try the GAP diet and see if it improves my symptoms.
on June 11, 2011 at 8:50 pm CeeBee

By the way, I found Flagyl to be super constipating and taking drinking half water half juice, plus other liquids still did not help the constipation. So, I take a stool softener every day which does do the trick. Also, my GI told me not to take Cholesteramine, which is supposed to bind up excess bile in the intestines. His reasoning was that it also binds with the Flagyl and thus not getting any in your gut. But I had the infectious disease doc tell me different that they actually recommend taking it, as the toxins bind to this drug and it gets carried out. What to believe? Any suggestions?
on June 12, 2011 at 2:09 am CF

Hey CeeBee,

I took Cholesteramine, and I do think it helped. But I wasn’t taking flagyl at the same time. I can’t remember but I think this was either right before or right after I ended up taking vancomycin. I did two rounds of flagyl and if anything, it made my c diff worse and was totally messing with me in other ways.

I’m in Red Deer, Alberta… Which hospital did you end up going to?

I was diagnosed back the end of December, and suffered for months. Had a sigmodiscopy and a colonoscopy. Diagnosed with colitis and IBS. It’s now been 5 months and my stomach is still upset 50% of the time. It sure has been an awful experience!! The doctors visits still haven’t ended because they keep finding something wrong with blood tests.

Health is truly a gift!!

<3
on June 12, 2011 at 2:06 pm LANIE

This is for lehacke i also had uti [ culture showed bacteria normally found in digestive tract] while I had the cdiif, I had to take keflex which I did had a reoccurence[ uti] took it again but after the fecal transplant everything was okay though. I took the culturelle and lactobaccillus and because of the severity of my uti while I had c diff i am taking a specific antibiotic that targets the urinary tract [ think it's macrodantin] once daily for 6 months. Since the transplant had diarrhea only one time due to eating spinach as mentioned before. The only annoying symptom now is fatique which is probably due to blood pressure meds. As Shar recommended in prior email try the fecal transplant, months of flagyl which made me incredibly sick and vanco did nothing for me. Again I will be cautious taking any medicine especially antibiotics I never want to go through this again. I need to work and could barely drag myself in every day.. there is also a new antibiotic due to be released in September that has shown great results, I had contacted the company and their doctor advisor called me back. If interested let me know and I will give you the information to contact them.
on June 12, 2011 at 2:11 pm LANIE

Also to Ceebee don’t think this is just a Canadian issue USA doctors are the same, indifferent or not listening. Think this might be a case where you have to find a doctor that has had c diff himself or herself to get any understanding.
on June 12, 2011 at 9:28 pm Cristina G

I’m seriously upset. I got C.Diff. at the hospital 2 weeks ago. I still have it and I’m taking Flagyl. I don’t know if its working right. Today I have been cramping and my stomach makes noises. I’m only 31 and can’t believe I have this. I keep hearing about stories where people still have it or it wont go away…God knows I want this to be over with. Well I ever be normal again?!
on June 14, 2011 at 7:58 pm Theresa

I am a 50 year old female, living in Canada and have had C difficile for 7 months. I have had 2 courses of flagyl and 3 of vancomycin. I had surgery on my mouth and then was put on Clindamycin. Two weeks after I finished my prescription I got C diff. C diff from my understanding is a bacterial infection that thrives in an oxygen free environment (colon). It is transmitted by fecal, oral route. In other words someone with c diff. does not wash their hands after using the toilet and touches a surface. You touch that surface and then touch your face. The spores are ingested and move down in to your colon. Spores can live a month sometimes longer on most surfaces. I believe my only option left to beat this thing is a fecal transplant. Good luck to all of you, your comments really made me feel less alone.
on June 19, 2011 at 11:51 pm Anonymous

My son who is 6 years old has his second relapse of CDiff.He had Cdiff and rota virus in April…Was treated with flagyl….ended up in the hospital for 4 days due to dehydration….was discharged and sent home on another 10days of flagyl….Went to the docto the next week to recheck and tested negative…..a few weeks later he ended up with a staph infection in his tailbone….recieved a Gentamyacin shot…was told to come back the next day for a second Gentamyacin shot and if it hadnt popped and drained on its own…the doctor was gonna have to lance it open to drain it(yeah think about that…getting your tailbone lanced open,especiallay at 6 years of age.}well it popped and drained on its own….went back to get the second gentamyacin shot…was told to come back the next day for a third gentamyacin shot….seen a different doc…she put him in the hospital for 3 days….he was treated with Gentamyacin and Clindamyacin every 8 hours for 3 days…..was discharged and sent home with 10 days of bactrim for the staph infection…..I knew after all this he was gonna end up with Cdiff again…take him to the doctor and long behold he had cdiff once again….Was put on flagyl for 3 days…….didnt see anything clearing up……called his GI doctor and they said that 3 days was not long enough of a treatment for Cdiff that he needed 10 days….so his GI doc put him on flagyl for another 10 full days….and said if he wasnt better or got worse after 2 weeks call them back and they would have to put him on Vancomycin….didnt see it start to clear up after the GI doc put him on the flagyl for ten days…took him back to his PCP cuz he was still haveing the diarrehea….PCP put him on Vancamycin and he is still on it..finishes his last dose tomorrow….and he is still having the diarrhea….I am now waiting on his GI doctor to call me back to let me know what the next step is……this stuff is a pain in the ass…..and seeing as how cdiff is contagious…he cant even go get his summer therapy….he is disabled and cant even get his therapy due to this crap…Really aggravated right now…someone needs to figure something out……..
on June 20, 2011 at 12:45 am CeeBee

Dear Anonymous, I hope you don’t mind, but I will pray for your son tonight. I used to work as a Chaplain in a Children’s Hospital. This is a bug from hell. I will pray hard for his healing and recovery. Presently I am on Vancomycin but the Infectious Disease doc had to increase the dosage. We are all in this together.
on June 21, 2011 at 3:50 pm Girl

So I had C DIFF for 3/4 months before it ‘went away’. Things went to tolerable but not PERFECT… And my stools became nearly normal over time…
But recently my stomach has started gurgling and talking and I’m having to go to the bathroom more often than normal and it’s diarrhea a lot of the time. My stomach doesn’t like much foods and I’ve lost 5 pounds in the last week…

Anyone else ever have c diff randomly come back??? (i wasn’t on any antibiotics, but was taking a lot of cough meds and pain meds for a bad cold)
My doctors think it’s IBS, but I can tell the difference.
I don’t know if I can go through this hell again.
on June 29, 2011 at 5:36 am Cali

I began my long battle with Clostridium Difficile (C. difficile Infection; C.diff) around April 4th. Stomach cramps and diarrhea became increasingly more bothersome a week later. I went to the local Physician with little concern. I was quickly convinced that I was suffering from a common case of Gastritis. I was given anti diarrhea pills and Hydrocortisone suppositories. Bleeding, severe cramping, and an over all sickness soon followed. April 18th I was checked into the hospital. Even though my pain was severe I was surprised to learn the E.R. Dr. admitted me. I was quickly tagged and administered an I.V. bag. A C.T. scan proved Colitis was present. Other tests indicated anemia and dehydration. Soon I was on two antibiotics Laviquin and Flagyl. On my third day stay I was tested for C.diff. (First mistake; testing for C.diff after antibiotics had been administered for several days) Test for C.diff was negative.

After a few days stay Dr. Robert Wooten from Gastro One “Self proclaimed Excellence in Digestive Health” came to perform his duties. My primary G. I. Dr. Randolph M. McCloy M.D., F.A.C.P., F.A.C.G. was not available do to a shoulder injury while skiing. Dr. Wooten a smilingly self-assured Dr. simply asked what the matter was. I explained to Dr. Wooten as explained to me that I was suffering from Colitis. Dr. Wootens response was an unsettling question. “How do you know that?” Unconvinced he asked what my symptoms were. I explained them all, to a quick “Did the Hospital perform a C. T. scan?” Yes I said; the C.T. scan showed that I had Colitis. Dr. Wooten apologized for his lack of facts and exited to read my chart. Seconds later Dr. Wooten returned with “Have you been tested for C.diff?” At this time I hadn’t had any knowledge of C.diff but the nurse wrote on a paper that I had tested negative for Clostridium difficile. Accepting the test results Dr. Wooten began a nippy campaign to have me released from the hospital. The E.R. Physician DR. Bediputtie contested do to lack of finding the culprit to causing Colitis. Dr. Wooten assured Dr. Bediputtie a colonoscopy would be done first of the week. (If in the hospital I would have had colonoscopy the following Monday or Tuesday) Dr. Bediputtie insisted I stay at least one more day. Being assured I would be given a colonoscopy first of the week I was released and given Laviquin and Flagyl orally. Thursday April 28th I was in for my awaited colonoscopy.

While waiting for my follow up consultation I finished a seven day supply of Laviquin and Flagyl, also finished a prescription of Hydrocodone .5 mg. The night before my follow up I had severe symptoms that spiked my blood pressure to 144/95 and pushed my heart beats to 124 per minute. I was eager to see my primary G.I. specialist Dr. Randolph M. McCloy. Dr. McCloy calmly explained that there was one polyp removed, also adding 3 biopsies indicated no additional problems. I explained that diarrhea persists and cramping is becoming more severe with every hour. When I informed Dr. McCloy about my dangerous vitals he quickly met me with “I don’t deal with physiological disorders” and asked his nurse to walk me out. Full of disbelief, I begged the nurse to help me. She was adamant that Dr. McCloy found nothing and she was unable to budge on her orders. Again I begged for medication to relieve my symptoms while they search for the problem. The nurse went back to ask Dr. McCloy if there was anything she can do. A different nurse by the name of Ashlee was asked to escort me out. With orders from Dr. McCloy Ashlee assured me I was fine and there was no warrant for medication. Yet again I explained my situation and concerns this time with more emotion. After watching a father of two literally cry for help Ashlee came back with a stool sample kit and asked me to bring it back. I explained to Ashlee my diarrhea was so bad I was able to give the sample at that very moment. Ashlee must have felt my helplessness because she went back and retrieved for me a sample medication used for upset stomachs. I left Dr. McCloy’s office with overwhelming disbelief. It’s hard to comprehend what I was dealing with would fall on deaf ears. When I got into my vehicle my emotions got the best of me. I sat there alone, confused and terrified for about fifteen minutes.

I was able to secure an appointment later that day with my primary Physicians Nurse Practitioner. She was able to give me some medication to treat my symptoms while waiting for stool test results. The next evening I received a call from a colleague of Dr. McCloy informing me that I tested positive for C-diff. It was difficult to control my emotions, I was filled with anger, joy, remorse, uncertainty and an over all feeling of being belittled. Understanding that Doctors Practice medicine I was able to find comfort that the guilty bacterium was located. The colleague called in a script of flagyl for me. I informed the Doctor I have been on Flagyl once at the hospital intravenously and by mouth for seven days upon leaving the hospital also while taking Laviquin. The Doctor explained that I shouldn’t have been taking both of the medications together and should stop all other medications and only resume with Flagyl and pain medication as needed.

I started a ten day supply of Flagyl within four or five days symptoms were dissipating but cramps and loose stool still haunted me. Eighth day of Flagyl symptoms resumed to severe cramps, pressured gas and loose stool. I called Gastro One to inform them of my changing situation. We made an appointment several days after the medication was finished. I again explained my symptoms of diarrhea lots of pressure in my intestines and overall sickly feeling. Dr McCloy noted that the Flagyl should have done the trick. I asked since it was the third time I was treated with Flagyl was it possible the bacteria could have become resistant. Dr. McCloy wrote a script for Vancomyicin 125mg and tested me for C-diff again. The results were negative.

I started the ten day supply of Vancomyicin 125mg, by the fourth or fifth day my symptoms were dissipating and I was feeling confident we were finally on the right tract. Extreme gas, bloating and diarrhea resumed towards the end of the medication. My next visit with Dr. McCloy seemed even more distant then all the others, Dr. McCloy’s response well-informed me to the fact that I had enough medication and should be fine and sent me away again. Several days later I made another appointment with Dr. McCloy. Again I explained my symptoms had returned and ask if I was going to die. That’s how I honestly felt, like I was going to die. He said no and informed me that my last test was negative so maybe I had sensitive intestines. I was sent away again with nothing.

For the next couple days I took anti diarrhea pills Hydrocodone 7.5 and some type of nerve pill. Dr. McCloy had me all but convinced I had sensitive intestines and stress problems causing IBS. A couple days later, I couldn’t stand the pain and symptoms any longer and showed up at Gastro One without an appointment, to detail my disbelief in the latest suggested diagnoses proposed by Dr. Mccloy. I met with Ashlee. She informed me that Dr. McCloy hadn’t requested any further tests. The biggest emotional insult was Dr. McCloy showed such little concern of what I was telling him about my symptoms that he didn’t make return appointments or regular testing schedule. I made them. I asked to be tested. I asked her since I was there if I could give a stool sample to be tested. I asked for my pain medication to mask the symptoms while waiting for the results.

The next day I went to see my Primary Physician and explained my ordeal and concerns. My primary Physician Dr. E. Arthur Franklin prescribed me Vancomyicin 250mg four times a day because he believes I was still suffering from C-diff. A couple days latter test results indicated I was positive for C-diff.

At this point I find it a detriment to my health to continue my patient to unqualified Doctor relationship with Dr. McCloy. Dr. McCloy is increasingly confident in his ability as a Gastro Intestinal specialist, and he may very well be. But my experience as Dr. McCloy’s patient should indicate otherwise. C-diff may be Dr. McCloys kryptonite to speak. More importantly Dr. McCloys demise is his unattached belittling demeanor to his patients. Finding C-diff as a special problem, it’s only customary to seek out a specialist in the related field. What I found was a man that had little to no interest in the wellbeing of a suffering human being. My symptoms no matter how bad were always met with “let’s wait to see the test results”. Is that a lack of trust, not listening or plain old not giving a damn? I don’t know because Dr. McCloys detached communication skills have not made an attempt to improve.

Not all is negative at Gastro One self proclaimed (Excellence in Digestive Health) as it reads on the business card. When walking in through the front doors you are met with wonderful eager to help medical assistants. The considerate well mannered professional team to be considered as receptionists, but that title would not do justice to these incredible women. I would personally like to thank you for all your assistance; more so for you ability to show true concern.

When I first met Dr. McCloy and his empty concern I would have parted ways immediately. Not being from Tennessee and hearing that Gastro One was one the best in the business I stayed optimistic with hope. Dr. McCloy does have one great asset working for him, and that is his nurse Ashlee. Ashlee, I would love to start by thanking you for everything. Leaving your office mostly had me in discontent and in a state of confusion. Your ability to settle the controlled nerves set by your superior must be difficult although you show little to no effort in doing so. Ashlee, it’s obvious you have true concern for your patients and life in general. Your shoulders were there for the using and your mind was there for the picking, but mostly your heart was there for the nurturing. The tears I shed in your office were never judged but met with real compassion. At times you seemed to find me while I was lost and bring me back with encouragement. Ashlee you didn’t let my words go in one ear and out the other but seemed to hold them and feel what I needed to keep going. I can’t thank you enough. My two wonderful sons and amazing wife also thank you for having a heart and going above and beyond when other people’s lives are on the line…

For me, I have been on Flagyl three times, Vancomyicin four times; I just finished another round of Vancomyicin 250mg and Still Feel the symptoms of C-diff. My liver is now being affected showing elevating enzymes. My friends and family have convinced me to seek treatment elsewhere where confidence is measured by ability to cure, not self assurance…

Sincerely,

Jerry Grant
on July 7, 2011 at 6:20 pm Cali

I have been drinking GT’s raw organic Kombucha. Kombucha is an acient elixir with a unique blend os proprietary probiotics and powerful antioxidants. you can find it at whole foods. i drink at least one a day and of course take a lot of other probiotics.. but try the kombucha it taste great as well. dont shake keep cold and watch out when you open cuz it will foam up. good luck all… let me know who has tried it and how you like it.
on July 15, 2011 at 2:36 am TR

I am in need of your prayers and suggestions. My daughter, who is six years old, developed C-diff in May of 2011. She had C-diff when she was two years old (2006) but got over it quickly, and was symptom free from 2006-2011. In May of this year, her first culture was negative for C-diff. However, her symptoms persisted. She develops mucus in her stools and will have 3-6 stools each day, though they are not diarrhea. We knew something was wrong, so we took her to the Dr. a month later (in June), when her stools were smelling like something dead. It turns out that the culture was positive for C-diff. The doctors put her on a round of the generic for Flagyl for 10 days and symptoms really didn’t improve until the last day or so. For the next few weeks, she had on again/off again symptoms, but no diarrhea to speak of, just mucus in her stools…sometimes a lot…sometimes her stools looked normal. She only really complains of stomach ache sometimes before she has to go #2. We had previously taken her off sugar and processed foods (since May) and she has been eating seasonal fruits and veggies. What’s more is that she has been on Florastor and Culturelle since June.

I would like to know if anyone has any ideas on why my daughter continues to struggle with getting rid of this bug. She had not been on antiobiotics for several months before contracting c-diff and we are rarely in hospitals and clinics, so I find it odd that she contracted this in the first place. She is otherwise healthy, energetic, and it pains my heart to see her deal with this. I don’t understand why using probiotics has not helped her, and I find it totally unreal that she has not responded to antibiotics. Does anyone know of any natural remedies that I can try to help heal her colon or vitamins to support a healthy colon? I am in need of your suggestions and I appreciate any advice. I would also like to hear from any of you that know about children who have had this. I am told that we may have to see a pediatric gastroenterologist over a hundred miles away…seems that this is a problem that doctors don’t see real often (c-diff in children).
on July 16, 2011 at 4:15 am C

Attention JERRY GRANT:

I was wondering if you have found out the connection with C DIFF and high liver enzymes? Has your doctor said anything more about that?
Struggling with the same thing here and mine are up and down. My doctors do not think it has anything to do with c diff and or the meds I’ve taken… They’ve got me a bit worried about the whole thing.
on July 17, 2011 at 4:22 am Ann Wathor

In April of 2010 a co-worker and I had diarrhea & she recovered in a couple of days, but I did not. I had diarrhea for 3 months – had gone to my family doctor, but he could not determine the reason. Then I developed a high fever, vomiting & explosive diarrhea and became dehydrated and was taken to the ER in our small town. They did a test for C-diff and it came back negative. Three days later my husband took me to an ER in the middle of the night in a larger city. They gave me IVs, tested me for C-diff and the test turned out positive. Then my Dr. put me on flagyl – I was not able to hack that so he put me on Vancomycin. I took a 20 day course of that and was well for 2 weeks. Then I became deathly ill again and was taken to the ER where they gave me IVs & Vancomycin by IV and kept me in the hospital for 5 days. I then took another 20 day course of Vanco and at the end of that my husband and I did the fecal transplant (or transfusion) at home. Insurance does not cover having it done in the hospital. First my husband brought a stool sample to the hospital to make sure that he had not contracted the C-diff. He was clear, so every day for 5 days he put his fresh stool sample in a blender with a couple of cups of water and blended it quickly. That was put into an enema bag. We tried to use an enema bag, however that did not work. He then used a large plastic syringe purchased at a farm supply store and filled the syringe, then attached a plastic tube to the syringe. I inserted the tube into my rectum and he injected the mixture. He refilled the syringe and injected some more. I then was instructed to lie down on the couch and hold the enema in for 6 hours. This was not as hard to do as I thought – I got caught up on all the Home & Garden shows on TV and slept. This sounds gross, but I believe that this treatment saved my life. I had lost nearly 30 pounds and looked like a skeleton. this C-diff had lasted 7 months. I had asked my GI specialist about the treatment and he suggested we try it at home. Now I am thankful that we did. I am now well and diarrhea free – and have been since Octover of 2010.
on July 18, 2011 at 4:48 pm Kathy

I was diagnosed May 2011 with C-Diff. I was lucky one course of Flagyl and I was gone. I have to have a Colon Resection in Aug. I am almost positive the C-Diff will rear it’s ugly head. I am taking probiotics by the billions and billions. Anyone have any suggestions as to the correct timing of when to take them. I may post-pone the surgery until I am further along in the recovery process. This is a nasty, nasty problem.
on July 18, 2011 at 4:49 pm Kathy

I was diagnosed May 2011 with C-Diff. I was lucky one course of Flagyl and It was gone. I have to have a Colon Resection in Aug. I am almost positive the C-Diff will rear it’s ugly head. I am taking probiotics by the billions and billions. Anyone have any suggestions as to the correct timing of when to take them. I may post-pone the surgery until I am further along in the recovery process. This is a nasty, nasty problem.
on July 20, 2011 at 1:44 pm Anonymous

Kathy

I usually take one probiotic in the morning and one at night. If you have to go back on antibiotics, they will kill the probiotics, so I took my probiotic at night before bed so it had a chance to work overnight and then I resumed antibiotics through the day. Also, it is hard for the probiotics to get to the colon past the stomach acid, so I am taking enteric coated probiotics. I think they are “Roots” brand. Good luck. I have had C diff for 8 months and am waiting for a transplant, so I know what you are going through.

Theresa
on July 22, 2011 at 10:59 pm fairiestell

My first bout with C.Diff. was back in 2007. I had lost over 50 lbs in less than two months.I was going through a divorce and thought that it was my I.B.S.
Doctor used Flagyl. It took so much out of my immune system.
Now, about a month ago I had taken an antibiotic for COPD. Even before that I had had some flagyl to get filled and took it for ten days. I went to E.R. this past Friday and was told I had C.Diff. They didn’t keep me.. They gave me intravenous feedings, and put me on metroNIDAZOLE 500MG. It has been 7 days today. I had neissan surgery/ GERD. So, nausea for me is “I get no relief”. I am getting weaker, and am trying to stay hydrated. I am 55 years old and am concerned.
on July 25, 2011 at 8:09 am Anonymous

My first post on this site was on June 4, 2010—-2 years after I had first contracted C-Diff.

I posted again on Jun 24, 2010—-when I had found my “cure” of probiotics.
From time to time I check in to see what people have been writing and saying, browse around basically. Well, tonight I sat down and read every single post beginning Oct 31, 2008 to present.

After going through everything I could read (keeping in mind I read A LOT and I’m writing this from memory as I’m not going to go back and read it all again)…..here is what I have been able to “put together”:

MOST people have contracted Cdiff after taking antibiotics, it seems certain ones, but there are some variances (especially so in my personal case as I took none of the common-link antibiotics). SOME people have contracted through poor-hygiene and then yet some more of other ways.

The most common/general things I have found are (Yes I said common/general, therefore that does not mean it applies for everyone):

Although this is a very common disease nowadays….doctors for whatever reason dismiss it! Sadly, it seems that it should be one they check for first as the testing for Cdiff is much less expensive than for others they commonly look for first…i.e. colonoscopy.

One of the best ways to find out if it is active CDdiff infection exists is not by a colonoscopy. It appears several, including myself, that have had this done, the Cdiff was not found by this test, it was found after 3-6 stool tests…with at least ½ of those tests returing with a result of false-negative…DO NOT believe it if you have had Cdiff and you get back one test saying it is gone….GET TESTED AT LEAST 2 MORE TIMES!!!!

Flagyl and Vancomycin DO NOT WORK for treatment of Cdiff…no matter which “round” you are taking or in whatever dosage or pulsing or any other way to be taken. I believe I read of 1 person that was able to get rid of it with these meds, who later had a relapse 2 years later or so.

There is a new drug being used for the treatment of Cdiff called Fidaxomicin. Apparantly, not available in the US as of yet. Here is a very important part of an article about the medication:

“The study did include participants with the potentially lethal NAP1 strain that first caused an epidemic at hospitals in Montreal in 2005, and is now found at hospitals across Canada. These patients didn’t gain benefits from fidaxomicin.

Anywhere from 30 to 50 per cent of the disease in Canadian hospitals today is caused by the NAP1, and there was APPARENTLY NO BENEFIT in reducing the recurrence rate,” said Dr. Andrew Simor, chief of microbiology and infectious diseases at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, who was not involved in the study.”

If you must take antibiotics again after being diagnosed with CDiff and seem to have not had a relapse, see if there is any way to take a direct antibiotic that does not release until it is where it needs to be going to handle whatever the infection is for…..it seems MOST people do not have relapses of CDiff if they take an antibiotic that goes directly to the source of infection vs. a general antibiotic.

Fecal transplants SEEM TO BE a 100% cure. I have not read of one case where this does not work, here on this site or any others I read for Cdiff. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND, THERE IS A SPECIFIC WAY TO DO THIS AND YOU SHOULD CHECK WITH A DOCTOR BEFORE DOING SO. There are many questions, such as does it need to be a relative donor, saline, distilled water, etc. Mr. Jim Becker and myself I believe are 2 of the maybe 4 people on this site that have not had a relapse. He with a transplant and I with an overly large, severely elongated dosing of probiotics.

Again, I want to point out this is from memory of my readings, it is generalized and there is always differences that can change outcomes for each person, as we are all individuals going into this suffering from a similar (as there is not just one strain of this crap) disease. I will be taking probiotics for the rest of my life. Why, if I have no symptoms? Because this disease SCARES THE HELL out of me! And, they are not bad for you. Granted not in the high doses I was. Even symptom free, after having it for 2 years and free of it for a year, it still scares me….I have changed my life forever! I no longer drink (believe me if you knew me this is weird….I’m a biker, so yeah, odd!)….but by no means a bad thing! Every time I feel the slightest upset stomach, I almost begin to panic but settle on sauerkraut or Miso soup for dinner! I still rarely eat yogurt (it’s a texture problem for me—-gags me).

All I can say is good luck to all! I hope I can only continue on not having a relapse and entice all who are to post here to read, read, read!!!!! And keep in touch for years to come so we can see what works!

Rebel D
on August 2, 2011 at 11:58 pm Eric

Where do I begin, well i feel like i am currently on my fourth bout of C. Diff which is annoying enough but even more frustrating is that not all my tests have come back positive, only one. yet the relapsing and symptoms all line up with c.diff. On top of all this I also suffer from ulcerative colitis.
I noticed my case is not too different from a lot of you on here.
I would love any advice although i have received lots from this page already
ths condition has been very annoying, disruptive and painful, needed to vent there for a minute.
if anyone has, more information about fecial transplants in Canada ( Ontario)

Currently taking Florastor, heard a lot about Culturelle on this site and will look out for that as well

Thanks
on August 3, 2011 at 2:55 am Ceebee

Eric, I live in Calgary and my ID doc said that there are two docs who specialize in c-diff in Ont. Dr. Silverman I think he is in Oshawa or Dr. Gary Garber I believe he practices in Otawa General hosp. I hope that helps.
on August 6, 2011 at 12:57 pm John

After an operation to take out a cyst on my finger I contracted C-Diff. In the hospital for 5 days. Put on Flagyl. Has to be the most disgusting taste ever invented but it worked. Had a small relaspe but since December’s bout and Hospital stay I have not had any c diff problems. I take probotics every day. I did come down with a nasty tongue funcus and that was foolow by a staff A infection. Could all of this have been from drugs? my immune system? The problem is I am now so paronoid to take antibiotics. Strep is going atound and I had a severe sore throat where I could not talk or swallow. The doctor put me on Z-Pak. Went away for two days and now the sore throat is back going on 6 days now. My doctor has a amoxicillan perscription sitting at the local rite-aid in case the throat becomes unbaearable. I had a swab test for strep that came up negative. So tempted to pick perscription but I am so sick of the throat pain and mucus. I am going to tough it out for another couple of days. Don’t want C diff again.
on August 7, 2011 at 2:05 am Cheryle

Wow! My 92 year old MIL had pneumonia in July, was hospitalized and, of course, put on antibiotics. Now, after going back to the nursing home, she came down with C-Diff. We finally got a positive diagnosis. She is now in another hospital and we are hoping and praying for a positive outcome. Everything she eats goes in one end and out the other. She also has a horrible cut/sore on top of her buttocks due to a slip in April, so she is not a happy camper. I just hope they can get rid of this nasty infection.
Cheryle
on August 10, 2011 at 3:22 am LANIE

ERIC ,IF you read my previous posts I followed Jim Beckers instuctions and did my own fecal transplant in April of this year. I had suffered with c diff for many months and several rounds of antibiotics all had failed. Did my own and within 24 hours my condition improved and 48 hours later was sympton free. Only one transplant was done by myself at home ,you can read my post in April and following months. Tested last week and it was negative, I eat almost everything and have normal bowel movements. My family doctor is amazed and my gastro tells me these are successful procedures though not routinely done around here.. From what I have read the enema method is safer than ng tube chance of fecal matter getting in lungs with ng. It is a bit weird mixing and all but the relief was worth the preparation. I take culterelle once a day and am really feeling much better as compared to 8 months ago. Thankfully no relapse even though I took antibiotics for a bladder infection. If you want more info let me know. Lanie
on August 10, 2011 at 4:09 am Anonymous

thanks for the replies guys, I had to go on flagyl and cipiro to get it under control again and thankfully it helped. Although I hate the thought and taste and feeling of taking antibiotics.
I am also combatting this with taking florastor while on the antibitoics. I also ordered some culturelle and I hope it gets here soon! I am taking more that the suggested amount of probitiocs hoping to really combat this but does anyone have any idea or guess how long I should do that?
Im also eating tons of yogurt and keifer which I heard good things about . I really hope i can get rid of this thong this time it’s aeriosily been such a disturbance and really annoying. I am going to do some research in other methods like fecial transplants and doctors in Ontario that can help just in case it comes back and I m prepared because I find when I am experiencing symptoms I am not up to doing much and feel horrible. Thanks again for the replies and if anyone has anythin to add id appreciate it
on August 10, 2011 at 4:12 am Eric

I forgot to publish my name on the above post, thanks again Eric
on August 12, 2011 at 8:50 am Anonymous

@ C they do not think there is a connection. but my research has proved otherwise. it could also be all the antibiotics.. I went to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. They took me off all medication except for Vanco for two months. A long taper they say is the key. we are going to continue monitoring the liver. it is elevated but they are not totally concerned yet. I am. Nobody cares about you the way you do. only time and test will prove or disprove. but other have also experinced elevated enzymes. Good luck C
on August 15, 2011 at 4:04 am Brittany

Hello everyone,
I got Cdiff March of this year from Cipro, I had to take after bacteria caused from Kidney Stones.

After my 4th relapse I was put on Vancomycin for 6 weeks tapering it off and probiotics florastor & culturelle.
It is about to be my 3rd week of meds still on probiotics and I am a lot better. I took 2 stool tests ( one 10 days after another 14 days after) one came back neg, another I am still waiting on.

Either way I had diarrhea 3x this week. Only once a day Bt still I am freakin out! I had it once sun then didn’t go until Thursday. And it was super hard Thursday and gave me a fissure. Now Fri night I had some firm and some diarrhea, and now today I had some diarrhea. No blood, no slime, mild cramping. When I did had Cdiff I had slime, blood, and pus. Now just occasional diarrhea.

Could this be Cdiff or could it be my insides were so tore up now I’m healing? Have any of you that healed took awhile until you had normal stools? I have had this infection for 5 months… So I am hoping its just my body healing…
Please advice anyone.
on August 15, 2011 at 4:06 am Brittany

Sorry had a typo from above this is my 3rd week off meds
on August 17, 2011 at 10:26 pm Gill Morgan

My son has C.difficile, ulcerative colitis and at his worst had perianal abcesses. He was treated with every anti-biotic imaginable to no avail, had two surgical procedures and after numerous hospital blunders, I called it a day from traditional medicine and took him to see a Chinese Doctor.
Dr Niu gave him accupuncture and a massage and prescribed him with a concoction of herbs which I boil and simmer and make into a tea. It may look, smell and taste foul, but the end result is truly worth it. I am seeing a remarkable transformation and so is he. Not only is he feeling more energetic, he is able to go to the toilet without pain. His inflammation has rapidly improved and he is the most positive and happy than he has been in the past 9 months.
on August 18, 2011 at 8:27 pm Kathie Wells

You can’t rid hospitals of C-dif. Take into account that hospital staff members go to lunch wearing their scrubs. The same scrubs that they wore while caring with an infected person. They sit at tables in restaurants and drop spores and organisms on seats and table tops. And then they go back to work.

Next, unaware Joe decides to have lunch and the hostess sits him in the seat that got carelessly sponged down after the hospital staff leaves. He places his hands on the table and picks up the organism. He takes it with him back to work – in the car – to his home. Maybe he bites his nails – suddenly the organism is injested.

Then you need to look at all the immigration happening in this country – mostly undocumented. People bringing all sorts of things into the country. They get hired in the kitchens of many restaurants and don’t ever wash their hands.

NO wonder so many people are so very sick.

By the way – I am a nurse – I have been to 1 emergency room and 1 doctor and kept getting brushed off. I told them I had been on Ciiro and started having terrible stomach pains after I finished the dose. I had a CT scan and the Primary Care Doc had me do stool samples. But no one seems in any rush about fixing anything. I have blood in my stool.

What i am doing on my own is eating a very bland diet. I also have a soy protein shake with a banana. I take one 10 mg bentyl a day for stomach spasms (the doctor at least had the fortitude to order that for me). I drink 2 – 3 glasses of carrot juice a day. I drink tons of water. And this part is very, very important. You should always be on really high doses of probiotics. You need positively millions of them to pump you up. You should take these organisms at the same time you take any antiobotic or the flagyl. You might need digestive enzymes and don’t drink coffee, caffeine or soda. Stay off really heavy grease and meats and cheese and milk. When you have a bout of ulcerative colitis – the body can’t break down protein and or fats.

Then ultimately try to take one day at a time. We all have to handle things that are bad in life. I guess you have to weigh out problems. Sort of like – Well, there is still so much beauty in the world and I can walk and talk and see. Try not to think that it will last forever. Maybe give yourself a timeframe. Like instead of thinking you’ll get instant results – try giving it a longer timeframe and still do all the healthy things. Tell yourself it take a month or two to feel better. So take it easy each day while you work to reach the goal. There are so many people who are suffering so much and sometimes so much more. God takes care of each of us and we just have to trust.
on August 18, 2011 at 8:32 pm Kathie Wells

Hi Brittany

I went back and read your questions. If you are having back and forth stools it could be related to the fact that your diet needs help. Did you try talking to the doctor or dietician about what you need to help you get regulated. You will also need to be on probiotics now the rest of your life but it’s a good thing. If you do, you will probably not have future problems with the c-dif. And please read my comments above.

Take Care.
on August 18, 2011 at 9:25 pm Brittany

Katie,
Thanks so much for your response.
My doctor (GI) Just told me to eat healthy. So I have been and lost 10 pds in 2 weeks. But nothing Specific in itself. Today since 7:30 this Morning I have went 4 times and now there is ALOT of slime/mucus and very light blood. So now im thinking its back again- whats wierd though my stool isnt soft its firm but surrounded with Mucus/Slime, and some blood. So I am just calling my GI might get more tests done. I had 2 come back Negative! so I dont know, the blood is quite alarming to me to see it again, I am trying not to freak out. Alot of my family/friends dont understand how bad it is. I am even crying now at work as I type this. I am just frustrated and scared.

So since I see a little blood and ALOT of slime/mucus I am pretty sure C.Diff is back do you think so? (I know no one is a doctor here…)

I take 3 probiotics a day 2 Florastor, and 1 Culturelle…. Should I take anymore? Does anyone have recommendations. I heard about Bio-K and VSL#3???

Has anyone that has been cured have days of soft stool, hard stool, slime, no slime, blood, then no blood?

I feel like I almost have no ones support, So I am just very stressed and tired.
If anyone would like my email I will give it out just because I would like some support. I am just nervous its back since now I am seeing this yellowish mucus with light pink/light red coloring (from the blood).

Thank you all, any support or help/advice of your experiences would help me feel better.

Thank you
Brittany
on August 18, 2011 at 11:52 pm Kathie Wells

Hi Britany

I know you are going through a very difficult time. I understand. I have been dealing with being – well, we’ll call it “Under The Weather” since the 2nd to the last week of July. It started out with a UTI – I’ve never had a UTI before. The interesting thing is – I haven’t really been taking care of myself so well either.

I never drank much water. I didn’t take vitamins any more. I didn’t take fiber. I drank so much coffee and usually a large glass of red wine at night.

Even though I was put on Cipro – I should have known better than to not take acidolphilus and probiotics. It sickens me to know that this organism is so widespread. But that being said – thank God – we can at least have medication to try to combat it. If you look at 3rd world countries – they are so sick they just lay down and die. The good thing about you and me, Britany is that we can fight. Fight for our health and fight with strong will. There are things you can do to help. Change your diet. There’s a chinese diet “that’s what I’ve heard it called anyway.” You eat cooked white rice, applesauce and bananas and herbal tea. This is until your stomach settles down. You will probably have to watch what you eat – but after a while you’ll get used to it and it won’t be so bad. No caffeine and other drinks that upset the stomach. You can have anything pretty much white – but not milk or ice cream or butter – I would probably lay off the bread too – Ulcerative colitis is horrible and when your body is like this it can’t break food down. The mucus comes from undigested food and traumatized GI tract.

You might need more probiotics – although it looks like you take quite a bit. Maybe you need different probiotics and you might need to weed out problem foods – could be gluten and it could be dairy. But don’t get overwhelmed by it – just give up the things and then add them back one at a time to see if there is a food upsetting you.

If you have any more questions – you can e-mail me at kathiewells@socal.rr.com.

By the way – I am now on Flagyl – I took my first dose today and it’s a bear to swallow the pill – I keep belching. Hopefully, I’ll come up with a better way to get it down. I read somewhere on line that you can break the pill up and put it in food.

Write me if you want at my e-mail.

Sincerely

Kathie
on August 19, 2011 at 12:00 am Kathie Wells

By the way Britany,

Formed stools are a really good sign. As long as the stools are between some shade of brown and green depending on what you eat. I would think that your intestinal tract is still reeling from the infection. You will get healthier over time.

My mother went through an infection similar to this – if not this about 6 years ago – the poor thing lost 30 pounds and she was in her late 70s. She could not quit going to the bathroom. At that time – they weren’t as up on c-dif – so my mother suffered for a very long time. She got so weak that she fell and broke her hip.

You are doing well, to keep up on things. Do you take fiber at all?
on August 19, 2011 at 4:26 am Brittany

Kathie,
I did eat tons of fiber. Bt I did go on a low carbs and added some in the next week because I wasn’t going at all For up to 4 days. I had super soft/runny stool 3xs like 7-10 days ago. Bt sense then nothing.

Will my tummy/stool ever be back to normal?
And is this normal I have a little blood in the mucous (light pink) ? Yes I just went again 30 mins ago very small stool but totally covered in mucous and slime. Some light pink in it again. Stool was formed though.

My GI doc said he thinks I am fine. (I don’t) he said this is the healing process. But I don’t know of he is right..

Thank you for some of this info… I will send you an email in the morning if you don’t mind.
on August 19, 2011 at 11:32 am Brianna DeejayBmorgan Morgan

Hello everyone reading this. I am sooooo happy to have found this website. yesterday (August 18, 2011) i was released from the hospital after having a bout of c. diff. I had been on Clindimycin back in July for a staph infection. I became sypmtamatic in August after moving in with my grandmother. Her husband had been ill and had been back and forth between here, hospital and nursing home until he passed. I now sleep in his old room. I remember my nana telling me that he had, had some sort of infectious diarrhea but I knew nothing about c.diff only that it was warned in the pamphlet with the prescription. So apparently I was exposed to the spores left behind in this room. Anyhow, my illness began on the 10th of August. I had a tummy ache and I felt the urge to pass gas and as I did, I felt something very hot and moist shoot out of me. thank God I was wearing a pad at the time. So I ran to the bathroom to find bloody mucus. I was totally spooked by it! I did not go to the ER right away because I dont have insurance. By Friday I was dehydrated and in need of medical attention. I went into the ER and told the doctor my symptoms. And get this: I TOLD THE DOCTOR ABOUT MY ANITBIOTIC USE THE MONTH BEFORE!!! HE NEVER BOTHERED TO ASK ME! AND I ALSO MENTIONED THE POSSIBILITY OF A C.DIFF INFECTION. He said he believed I had an infection but not c. diff. So after the I.V. he sent me home on Cipro and had given me Levaquin at the hospital and after reading these comments I realized that was the worst thing he could have done for me. I returned to the ER less than 24 hours after being discharged even more dehydrated. I had the same c.diff conversation with the 2nd doctor. He said the same thing basically. And seemed rather shocked that i brought it up. After 1 1/2 bags of fluid, he gave me 2 percocet, a Levaquin and then sent me home on Cipro. I was discharged at about 4:30 Saturday evening. I went home took the Cipro and went to sleep. Every hour I was summoned to the toilet at least 2 or 3 times. Sunday I was off my rocker. I had severe pain in both legs and was bleeding in my urine. My grandmother called an ambulance who took me to the hospital and then sat me in a wheelchair in the waiting room full of people. By then Could barely walk and was still having the diarrhea pretty bad. I ended up on the floor of the bathroom in the lobby of the hospital and they sent a nurse to fetch me who told me to walk back to the ER. She received a few choice words before i was rescued by a non-medical personnel at the hospital. I managed to get outside to call family and had sat on the ground and had trouble getting up but the gentleman got me a wheelchair, picked me up and took me to the bathroom and waited for me until i was done!!!! He kept watch over me until family came to wisk me to another city and another hospital. After arriving at the ER i was recognized by the triage nurse as having been there recently and he rushed me to the back where the doctor was waiting. She immediately administered the correct treatment of Flagyl and a pain medication (Dilaudid) and hooked me up to the I.V. and admitted me right away. My blood pressure was dangerously low so I was put on the telemetry floor with a heart monitor. I had constant round the clock antibiotic drip along with the I.V. I was placed on Cipro for the severe cystitis the first doctor failed to mention which is why blood was present in my urine. This was Sunday August 14, 2011. My symptoms cleared dramatically by Tuesday when I had to have a colonoscopy and endoscopy. The nausea subsided with the help of Zofran and Phenergan and my diarrhea cleared somewhat after drinking the magnesium citrate. I was able to go on soft food Tuesday evening and was able to take my Flagyl by mouth (ewwwwwww!!!!!) Now i am home and had a little bit of soft stool and was so scared that i was ill all over again. But I forgot i was placed on Colace to combat constipation from the iron I also had to be placed on. Anyhow I am still sluggish but better. My biggest fear is recurrance of the illness. So what i have decided to do is get stool from one of my children for transplant. I am so afraid to risk re-infection. i feel so badly for the people who these stories belong too. I wish everyone could have rigorous care like i did so that you can heal faster. I wish you all the best and pray that you all recover and get your lives back. I am only 25 starting college Monday and this has me scared to death because i get chronic UTI and need it treated. I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST AND PLEASE PLEASE BE PROACTIVE IN YOUR CARE!!!!! YOU HAVE TO MAKE THEM LISTEN EVEN WHEN THEY DONT WANT TO!!!!!!
on August 19, 2011 at 11:34 am Brianna DeejayBmorgan Morgan

and also i wish someone would post on how their poo LOOKS!!! this helps!!!! mine looks like algae! its bright green and furry like the stuff you see on a creek bed or in a fishtank. has anyone else had poo like this??? i need to know if this is the die-off or you know like the spores are coming out.
on August 19, 2011 at 1:39 pm Eric

Brianna, I totally hear ya lol funny thats how i have described it before as something that you would see at the bottom of the ocean or something. Even now that I am feeling better and going regularly my stool is formed and still soft and a little flurry. Im not a doctor but i think its normal considering most of here our experiencing the same appearance. I think its our colon just healing and therefore our still isn’t fully sorted and hard yet. Eat well, i find fibre like bananas help me and time will hopefully sort itself out.
on August 19, 2011 at 5:53 pm Brittany

Eric and Brianna,

I have been off Vanco 4 weeks next tues.. and mine still looks fuzzy even though the stool is formed itself. My doc says its normal it also depends how long you have had this infection and how much damage it has one. I had this for 5 months and the doctor estimates it can be a full year until everything is back to normal 100%,

I am not a doctor- but if your nervous call your doctor.
I am looking at diets now to speed up the process does anyone have recommendations??
on August 29, 2011 at 5:26 pm CW

Does anyone know if you can have c-diff, be treated for it (my Dad went through Flagyl, then Vanco) and have it go away, but 3 or 4 years later the symptoms come back? He’s feeling a bit like he did when he had c-diff and we’re wondering if it’s possible for it to get it a second time.
on August 29, 2011 at 9:39 pm Annette

My question is how long can you have c-diff without knowing it? My 90 year old mom passed away in November from C-diff that she was just to weak to fight off. She has complained of some diarrhea at home from time to time but nothing that was daily. Can you have a mild version and not even know it? She had Copd and Chronic Bronchitas and also was taking meds to regulate her heart. She did take alot of antibiotics over the years for the bronchitas and was on a dose right before she went into the hospital for her ankles and feet swelling. She was in the hospital on antibiotics and seemed to be getting better and than the told us she had C-diff. They treated her with Flagyl and than in the middle of the nite a few days later we got a call and the dr. said she was dying and probably had the most 12 hours to live. She was sepsis and her kidneys were shutting down and they the surgeon wouldn’t operate on her since she was so sick. She died exactly 12 hours later. I’m sure she contacted the c-diff in the hospital since she shared a bathroom with several different people and one nurse sent her to bed with feces still on her gown and slippers. I had to point it out to him. I was just wondering if you can have it since she did loose alot of weight in the past year and a half and also lost her appetite. Any responses would be appreciated. Thank you.
on August 29, 2011 at 10:27 pm Brittany

Hey Annette
Cdiff causes constant D & pus,slime and blood. (Sometimes no blood when a minor case Bt constant D)
At least that is what I heard.

Hey CW
You can get it again. Unfortunately-was he on any antibiotics? What are the symptoms? Have his stool tested.
on August 29, 2011 at 10:32 pm Brittany

Annette- also im sorry for your loss.
on August 29, 2011 at 11:43 pm CW

Hi Brittany – he said that his stomach is just feeling “queazy and upset” – also that he’s been having diarrhea. I don’t believe he’s been on any antibiotics, but I’ll ask him about that. I do know he had cataract surgery a couple of weeks back, but I think everything for that has been drops and topical.
Thank you for your reply
on August 29, 2011 at 11:47 pm CW

Also to Annette – you mention to have his stool tested. He’s wondering how to go about that. He has his regular dr. who seems to know NOTHING about cdiff. When he contracted it in the hospital, he went through several attempts at flagyl, but then the guy who heads up the communic. diseases at the hospital put him on a crazy Vanco regime that goes up and down…waits a day, then a couple, etc. It did the trick though. But the question is – who does he go see? He has great ins. so he can go whever he wants, but he’s not sure who to go to and is afraid his general pract. will just experiment.
on September 4, 2011 at 7:36 pm Donna

Mom was diagnosed with lung cancer back in March. She is 73. She started her treatments in May. She was in the hospital with a high fever due to an infection. Without even knowing what was the cause of infection was a broad spectum antibiotic was used. Her second round of chemo all was what I thought was normal. A bit of diarhea and a bit on consitpation and a slight fever. Third round came and back to the ER with what they thought was an infection and again they gave her broad spectrium of antibiotics. Her diarhea they said was caused by the anitbiotics. Why don’t they give probiotics to you in the hospital when they give you antibiotics? Every doctor I have ever seen always tells you you should take them. After they sent her home I get a call saying that a stool sample they took came back positive for CDiff. Nothing has to be done unless she has diarhea. I read up a little on the bugger and next visit to the oncologist I told him about this new development. He said he would put her on Flagyl starting on her third day after treatment for 7 days as a profolactic. She was off it for a day and had diarhea. Called her primary and he wanted to start her on the vacocin. Run around with medicare preauthorization and waitting for her to have a stool sample when I was there to get it took a few more days before she was going to be able to start the vanco but ended up back in the hospital instead because her blood count was too low. Hospital started her vanco after her transfusion. She had maybe 6 doses in the day and a half. Doctor only wanted me to pick up 7 day worth of the vanco instead of the 10 he originally prescribed. Saw her dr a few days later and I told him she would only have 81/2 days worth of meds in her and things I’d read up to that point said 10-14 was normally prescribed so he told me to pick up the rest of the origanally prescribed amount. So now she had 111/2 days worth of meds. She was doing good. Oncologist decided Mom cannot have anymore regular chemo treatments and will start the mainenance program. Again he prescribed flagyl for 7 days profolactically. She was suppose to have no ill side effects with the mainenance treatments. Wrong! Very tired,very weak, headaches back and stomach pains. Only thing she didn’t have yet was diarhea. That started a few days after she finished the flagyl. Called him to let him know and he gave her a prescription for 7 days of vanco and wanted her to see an infectious disease doctor. We just saw her this past friday. Found that Moms stomach above her belly button was distended. She sent her for an xray to see if there was any obstruction. It is apparently being caused by the CDiff. Every doctor she has seen had pressed on her stomach and never felt this buldge? Infectious disease doctor said if it doesn’t settle down in 48 hrs, gets worse or she starts throwing up bring her to the ER. Infectious disease dr wants to do the tappering off I’ve read about on this site with the vanco over six weeks. I’m going to call Monday and ask about the other drug Questran I’ve seen on her and about adding probiotics. Mom just uses the bathroom near her room and those two places are about as far as she gets. We did have a plumbing problem and had to clean up the bathroom and adjoining laundry room. Making sure everyone wash washing hands. I washed the towels in hot water and used a clorox cleaner on the floors. Do you think everyone cleaning might be infected with this? Would it show in a stool sample if nobody had symptoms? I’d hate for one day seeing my whole family infected by this because no one told us how careful you have to be.
on September 7, 2011 at 6:21 pm Brittany

CW
I mentioned the stool test-I believe
the way you have your stool tested is to ask your doc, he will have to go in a cup or cups (the doc will send him home with) if he doesnt turn it in the day he does go in the cups, he does need to refridgerate it. He might also have a blood test done to check Blood count, anemia, etc.

He can go to a GI…. I recommend that… If he is nervous do some research on another one- or maybe his regular doc will do the stool tests. My pediatric/internal med. doctor would run my stool tests to help me get the results faster.

If he as had D- for more then 3 days its time to go to a doc. If he is starting to see blood or pus he needs to go Immediately.
on September 7, 2011 at 6:35 pm Brittany

Donna,

Many HEALTHY people have Cdiff in there stool, the only time you really need to worry is if you take an antibiotic for another reason (for Ex: CIPRO) and ten 7-10 days later you get D…or slime/blood. (some sooner some later)

When you take an antibiotic it affects our good bacteria (which fights of the Cdiff, and doesnt kill the Cdiff bacteria it self so it grows out of control). My mom wants to test for Cdiff and my doc said chances are she has it, alot of people have it but the gut flora/good bacteria fights it off and keeps the Cdiff at bay- meaning its in your system but doesnt harm you. My doc said 70-80% of people have Cdiff in there system. (From Hosp, Doc offices, Group Homes, etc).. you can breath it in at any time.
on September 16, 2011 at 3:05 pm Ann

I had C-diff from the first of April 2010 to Oct. 2010 and literally lost almost 7 months of my life, lost my job, etc. Had diarrhea right after eating, mucus and bad smelling – 10-12 times a day & throughout the night and fevers and dehydration. After 3 months of doctoring with our primary care dr. for a “irritable colon”, he ordered a C-diff test at our local (small) hospital. It came back negative. Three days later my husband took me to the ER in a larger city in the middle of the night with a 105 temp, horrible orange mucus diarrhea, dehydration. They did a C-diff test & it came back positive. After IVs for dehydration a GI specialist put me on an antibiotic and I was not able to tolerate it. Then he put me on Vancomycin (fortunately our insurance paid for it – as it costs about $2,400 for a course). I was then “cured” for about 2 weeks, but then it came back even worse. Two courses of Vancomycin and two relapses later I had lost almost 30 pounds and could do nothing much but lay on the couch and a little light housekeeping. I lived on small amounts of rice and a little canned chicken. No fruits or vegetables – they went right through me. My nephew had read an article in the New York Times about C-diff and FECAL TRANSPLANTS OR FECAL ENEMAS. Our insurance company would not pay for this expensive treatment and the largest hospital in our state would not do the treatment, since it was termed “experimental.” So we had my husband’s bowel movement tested for c-diff – he was negative – so was considered a good donor. We then used a blender to blend his morning bowel movement with enough water to make the fecal matter go through a tube. We had no luck with an enema bag so he purchased a large plastic cattle syringe and some tubing at our local farm supply store. The poop mixture was put into the syringe, tube inserted into my rectum and the mixture pushed out with the syringe plunger. We filled the syringe a couple of times. I then had to lay quietly on the couch, holding the stuff inside my colon for 6 hours. I slept, watched TV and read books. We had to do this for 5 days in a row. AND IT WORKED!!!!!!!!!! I am now healthy and happy to be alive!! The only drawback was that we had to buy a new blender

I CAN’T STRESS THIS ENOUGH – ANTIBIOTICS AND PROBIOTICS JUST HELP FOR A SHORT TIME – FECAL TRANSPLANT IS THE CURE. THOSE SPORES IN A BOWEL WILL KEEP HATCHING AND THE BOWEL HAS TO BE RE-POPULATED WITH GOOD BACTERIA FROM A HEALTHY PERSON.
on September 17, 2011 at 1:32 pm Lance

Would like to strongly recommend that all c-diff patients who take flagyl have your prescription compounded with the benzoate salt instead of the hydrocholoride, which builds up high acid content during course of therapy and causes GI distress, and other symptoms.

It is possible to take 3000 mg of flagyl per day without significant side effects for several weeks. It is a bit more expensive, $60 for 14 days, but well worth it to go out of your way.

Ozonated water is also very helpful, although it is not a cure, and a good unit is expensive – $2500.

Have had c-diff three times in three years, twice because of Clindamycin following oral surgery, which is the absolute worst drug in the world. Never take it or let anybody you know take it.

Used baby poop as fecal donor, which was 10 month old breast fed infant, with no antibiotic history, instead of adult donor stool as specified by original protocol, see Borody sp? Australia. Easy to inject with enema bag, After 6 days out of 10 because of irregular donor production, I was constipated, a pleasant change, with no re-occurrence.

The drug Alinia (nitozanoxide) is also helpful, and not as expensive as oral vancomycin.

125 mg vancomycin 4x/day is no more effective against c-diff than 500 mg flagyl 4x/day according to very well researched study. If you take vanco, get the 250s, but consider fecal implant therapy afterwards to be sure.

I am using the stool of my ex-wife this time. She is one of the healthiest women I know, and eats probiotics like popcorn. Good way to get over old marital differences.
on September 18, 2011 at 8:27 pm Victoria--RN

I have been sick on and off for 3 years now, yes 3 years…I had roughly a good 6 months where I felt like I might have beat it…Started gaining some of the ~30lbs I had lost over the course of the illness and in late July this year 2011, I had to take an antibiotic for a urinary tract infection. Needless to say, I am sick all over again. Went on Vanco 250mg 4 x’s/day for 4 weeks…about 7-10 days after I completed Vanco, symptoms came back…GI doc put me on Alinia which made me feel worse…He discontinued that and I started on Dificid just approved for C-diff treatment this year. I finished my last pill of a 10 day regimen this past Thursday…It’s Sunday, I’m starting to go to the bathroom a lot again and am crampy….I pray to God that it’s not the C-diff coming back…if it is…I will take matters into my own hands and do a fecal transplant…at this point I’ve no other choice…
on September 19, 2011 at 4:11 am Lance

Victoria

I do not think Alinia is intended, or works, as a stand-alone treatment for c-diff, except in mild cases.

For instance, I took Alinia 500mg/2X per day along with 2000 mg of flagyl compounded with the benzoate salt for 5 weeks. When I felt up to it, I took even more flagyl.

I felt consistent improvement throughout that time, and my colonscopy showed normal, however I still did fecal therapy afterwards to be sure..

Alinia would be a helpful adjunct to vancomycin, which also has mixed results when taken alone.

Incidentally, Alinia is available from some Canadian pharms for $1-2 per pill. Very affordable.

In all, it seems the only treatment that works by itself on moderate and severe c-diff is fecal replacement therapy, followed by intensive probiotics.

Good luck with your transplant.
on September 21, 2011 at 8:08 pm K.O.

I took Nitrofurantoin over a year ago for a UTI and started noticing that it acted similar to a laxative. I went to a Dr. after I had finished the course of the medicine because I still had frequent bathroom trips. I tested positive for C.Diff.

After 2 times around (back to back) of Flagyl, my tests came back negative. A year later I am still frequenting the bathroom 4-5 times a day depending on what I eat.

I notice that when I eat raw foods (fruits and vegetables) it’s the worst. When I eat carbs (breads, pastas, etc…) I use the bathroom just like I did before I had C.Diff.

I just saw a GI yesterday to make sure this is normal, and he said typically, people who have had C.Diff never get rid of the symptoms. Can anyone confirm this?
on September 22, 2011 at 10:10 pm joe

I was wondering if it is possible to have c diff and only have diahrea without abdominal pain fever and also does c diff cause fatigue
on September 22, 2011 at 11:31 pm Donna

According to the nurses at the hospital they told me my mother only has a mild case of Cdiff. She never had a fever. She had diarhea and cramps. As for the fatigue I can’t really tell. With the cancer she sleeps all the time anyway but she was complaining more that she felt drained and weak.
on September 26, 2011 at 4:12 am Donna

Ann, I am in FULL agreement with you regarding fecal transplant. I was so sick with C. Diff for 8 months. All the probiotics, all the Flagyl, all the different ways to take Vancomycin (tapering, etc)…..nothing worked. I am a nurse and my husband is a physician and I researched and researched this horrible disease. Fecal transplant is the only thing that really makes sense! you put back normal flora from a healthy colon and wallaaa! I went from honestly thinking I was going to die to being completely cured OVERNIGHT! I did the same thing, used my husband fresh stool (I was so sick it didnt matter how horrible it seems…..I hope others can get be cured), I blended it with normal saline and filtered it through a coffee filter until I got only one ounce, then i mixed it with chocolate mile, plugged my nose and swallowed. I was cured. Never had a bout ever again. I’m sorry but I would do it again in a heartbeat. It saved my life.
on September 26, 2011 at 4:16 am Donna

Anyone who wants to get rid of C.Diff once and for all MUST do a fecal transplant. It can be done at home if you are careful and do all your research or there are clinics. It’s the ONLY way to end the battle instantly! The only way
on September 26, 2011 at 4:19 am Donna

One more thing, I feel that taking the transplant orally is BETTER than an enema because it starts at the very beginning of your GI tract instead of only the lower part. Think about it.
on September 27, 2011 at 4:40 am Ricky

I too am suffering from C-Diff… I’ve been on Flagyl (Twice) and then switched to Vancocin when Flagyl did not help… I just finished my Vancocin 7 days ago. I’d been taking the 250mg pills 4 times a day for 2 weeks… I thought that would get rid of it. I’ve also been taking Florastor to help as well. I woke up today with recurring symptoms of stomach spasms and chronic diarrhea… I’ve been to the bathroom over 10 times and I’m so miserable. I called my gi doctor and she ordered that I give another stool sample to be delivered tomorrow morning, and then have her see me in a couple days when the results go through. If I can’t get rid of this soon, I’m going to go crazy…

I’m going to inquire boldly about the fecal transplants… Those seem to be the only things that are actually sure to work… Otherwise I’m afraid she’s going to recommend some tapered doses of Vancocin, or perhaps switch me to Dificid which is fairly newly approved by the FDA.
on September 27, 2011 at 4:44 am Chrissy

Donna: I’m sorry, are you suggesting do orally take a fecal transplant?
What???
on September 27, 2011 at 3:19 pm Anonymous

So happy to have found this site. I am a 34-year old mother of three little ones and have just relapsed for the second time (C-diff appeared about 5-weeks after having a round of Clindamycin following abdominal surgery this summer). Over the phone my GI (who I love!) started me on vancocin again (probably 6-week therapy) and I will schedule an appointment with him. I took vanc 125 mg 4x per day with Floristor (2x per day) for 10 days – relapsed at 14 days. I took vanc again (125 mg 4x per day) with Floristor for 10 days and just relapsed again at 12 days.

I’m going to ask my GI doctor about Dr. Kelly and the fecal transplants via colonoscopy in RI when I go to my appointment. From what I read about her, it seems that her protocol is (or was based on what I read) to not do the treatment until after one has tried a six-week regiment of the antibiotics. If this round of antibiotics fails, I’m going to ask my GI doctor to contact Dr. Kelly (what I read encouraged doctors to contact her for her protocols – it appears as though she has had an extremely high success rate). Many good thoughts and prayers for everyone to get better!
on September 28, 2011 at 2:27 am Victoria--RN

Hi there…Can someone give a summary of where to go for a fecal transplant and/or how to do my own…I’ve read through all above comments and am just a bit confused…should it be nia Nasogastric tube? or via enema? Is one way better than another. I live in Maryland. Any place close by where I can get one? I don’t think I could “drink” the stuff….the thought alone would make me vomit…I’d rather go someplace where they’re done regularly and w/ good success of curation of this awful C-diff…Thanks!
on September 30, 2011 at 7:08 pm Ricky

This is a follow up from my post a few days back:

I visited my GI doctor yesterday afternoon. My stool results showed that I did test positive again for C.Diff. I immediately asked her about the fecal transplants and SURPRISINGLY she was very receptive and encouraged me to try it. However… She informed me that my colon is very inflamed right now due to the C.Diff, and that a fecal transplant may not be wise when my colon is in this state. I was therefore prescribed another 1000mg daily intake of Vancomycin, taken for 4 weeks instead of my previous 2 weeks. I am then to attempt the fecal transplant once I’ve completed about 3-4 weeks of the Vanco. I asked her if she would perform the fecal transplant, and she told me that it was easy enough to do at home myself.

If anyone has a step-by-step guide on how to do the fecal transplant, please let me know. I am receptive to doing it through a syringe via enema, yet I’ve heard some people can stomach taking it orally-like drinking a chocolate milkshake. I know the latter sounds disgusting, but I’m at my wit’s end…

The fact that my GI doctor is supporting the fecal transplant is very promising… I hope more people will follow suit and attempt this as well!
on October 3, 2011 at 1:55 am Andy

I think it would be hard to do a oral fecal transplant unless you know the donor really, really well.

And for a single person it might be hard to get a donor to drop off a sample to get tested.

But if you get a person to donate who has a cast iron stomach, isn’t it safe to assume that their stool is populated with healthy bacteria to begin with?
on October 3, 2011 at 2:02 am Andy

Also I wanted to ask Donna…did you say you mixed your donor speciman with chocolate milk…or chocolate mile? And did your husband have a sample tested first, or did you both know his gut was balanced enough that it was not necessary?

Honestly I don’t know why this is not more routine in GI offices and hospitals.

Is there a way to get the word out about it in large scale so health care providers are made aware of it and start to offer it everywhere, so people do not have to suffer?
on October 7, 2011 at 12:45 am LANIE

To Ricky,
I did my own fecal transplant on April 21 of this year,you can see my instructions posted April 28 on this site ,I post under the name Lanie. I followed instructions from a Jim becker or decker who also posts on this site, it was easy a bit yucky but not bad. Please do not drink it as some are suggesting on this site. The enema method is safe and easy and costs way under ten dollars,relief is immediate within 24 to 48 hours. Trust me, if you want I will send you my email to futher converse on this. I did this before Easter this year and have had negative tests for c diff and no symptoms. I feel like a new person what a wonderful feeling. Again there are several posts from me I think starting in April under the name Lanie or I will be glad to contact you by phone or email if you would like to have futher info.
Lanie
on October 7, 2011 at 3:03 am LANIE

Ricky ,
My full instructions are posted under Lanie, May 28 2011.That thursday think it was April 18 I had been up with cramps, blood and mucous stools 32 times during the night as was the same during most of my days and or nights before that.. Good Friday the 19th picked up my stool sample from a friend mixed it up as per recipe and held it it for about 2 hours, of course it was followed by a typical reaction to an enema and I thought oh no it didn’t work. I did it in the afternoon, I later took a shower ate a light supper[ toast and egg] and went to bed. Got up the next day had a formed stool [ just one] with a little blood and mucous in it. Ate totally normal foods Saturday and Sunday morning a formed stool again. I thought it was a fluke. Went out Easter Sunday to a buffet ate everything in sight, made a pig out of myself and thought this isn’t going to be good but again Monday a normal stool granted a bit bigger but normal. Some of the postings mention doing it multiple days but for me it was a one shot deal. Aside from some fatigue probably due to blood pressure meds I am normal . Everyone keeps mentioning how good I look and how good my color is, you have nothing to lose try it. Total cost is 79 cents for distilled water,about 6.50 for the enemas ,the cost of a plastic container with a tight fitting lid and a free stool sample. Months of horrible expensive antibiotics including vanco did nothing. Sometimes the unexpected,unorthodox method works better than the expensive medical options. Lanie
on October 8, 2011 at 1:12 am Andy

Lanie I am doing it tomorrow.
on October 8, 2011 at 1:51 am Angela Floyd

I was diagnosed with CDiff and had to endure the Evil Metroxindonale (however spelled). 3 days after off the first round of the meds I got all the symptoms back and went back on the Metroxindonale for round 2. . I am now on the 6th day of being done with round 2 of Metroxindonale and diahrrea started up again on day 3. I have to bring a stool sample to the lab to verify if I am still positive for CDiff. Is it normal to get the diarhrrea back after done with meds? When does this end?? Thank God for FMLA!!
on October 9, 2011 at 4:50 am Anonymous

I contracted CDIF on Sept 27 due to 875mg shot of Amox because a doctor wanted to say he did something to help my abdominal pain i was experiencing which was gas pains…..I developed low grade fever on the October 4th and went to my doctor and tested positive for CDIF I was hospitalized for dehydration and was started on IV Flagyl and then put on oral Flagyl the next day….I have been on it for 48 hours and as long as I control what I eat I am ok but as soon as I eat something it starts again. Should I just go ahead and do the fecal transplant or see if the antibiotics work, feeling weird asking my

husband for his stool
on October 11, 2011 at 7:03 pm Anonymous

Angela, sounds like you may havee relapsed. I’ve heard people talk about a three day rule. If you’ve had diahrrea for three days in a row that shortly after treatment, I’d get testing for C diff ASAP. I had the same issue with metro. So, I went right to the expensive Vancomycin 14 day course which i finished yesterday and am feeling better than i have for months. They metro simply didn’t work for me. I’m crossing my fingers that I don’t relapse or I think i’d rather try a fecal transplant than shell out another $2k on medication that may not work again.
on October 12, 2011 at 5:19 am Angela Floyd

Hello Anonymous! Thank you for the feedback! I did test positive again for the CDiff. I am now taking the very expensive Vancomycin. I am hoping to have luck with that. I am also crossing my fingers for you that you do not have a relapse.
on October 12, 2011 at 10:54 pm K.O.

Hi Angela,

I am just about to do the same thing as you. My Dr. just prescribed Vancomycin every 6 hours for 10 days along with Saccharomyces boulardii probiotic. I have also been drinking Kombucha every day, whether that is positive or negative- I have no idea.

Mine is a “relapse”, although I have had symptoms on/off for about a year.

Good luck!!
on October 13, 2011 at 1:37 pm mpt2222

I just wanted to share my story to reinforce a common misperception prevalent not only on these types of boards, but apparently, in much of the medical community as well. I still see people in 2011 stating you can’t get c diff without being on some broad spectrum antibiotic. The theory being that the antibiotic kills off the good bacteria leaving your system ripe for c diff to take over. Well, I haven’t been on any antibiotics for many years, yet came down with c diff a few months ago. Fortunately, my primary care physician knew enough to have me tested for c diff. I know many docs would simply check c diff off the list of possible causes for long-term diahrrea and cramps after i stated i hadn’t been on antibiotics or been in any health care facility/hospital recently. My point is not to argue against people who did experience an antibiotic induced bout of c diff, rather, its to alert people of the need to be vigilant in pursing c diff as a possibility even if you haven’t been on any antibiotics. I am living proof that you can get a c diff infection running rampant without antibiotics “causing” it. Now, my question is: what caused my system to allow c diff to flourish if not antibiotics??? Something else may have killed off my good bacteria, or, perhaps the newer strains of c diff are able to overtake my system without such “help” from antibiotics. Either way, don’t rule this out just because you don’t fit the “classic” risk factors.
on October 15, 2011 at 4:26 pm Sarah from South Carolina

I was a normal healthy 55 year old woman, with energy and loved life. I was not in a nursing home, hospital, or had taken any antibiotics. But, C Diff hit me hard. The first four days of diarrhea I tried to control it on my own not knowing what I had. I took whatever I could to try to get through my work week, but by Thursday evening my husband suggested I go to the hospital. They first diagnosed it as a bacteria or viral infection in my stomach and sent me home with the antibiotic Cipro. The next day the hospital called and asked me to return because from a sample of stool they determined it was C Diff. Immediately put me in the hospital, on Flagyl, Iv, etc. I was up to 17 bowel movements a day. They gave me 2 different stomach xrays daily, and ultrasounds throughout my hospital stay. The worst part besides going to the bathroom so much, was the weakness, nausea, dizziness, and the constant drawing of blood to watch my white blood cell count. It has been 3 weeks, I am home, and I even went back to work this week for a couple days, but I am scared because I still am not ME!!!! If this comes back I do not think I can take another bout of it. I have never, ever felt t his bad in my whole life. Both of my sons are grown and on their own successfully. I wonder now if it comes back ways to check out. For me that is very hard because I have faith in God, but this is not a disease that I ever want to go through again. Good luck to all that recover! Sorry for such a depressing message but, what do you have if you don’t have your health????????????????????????????????????
on October 15, 2011 at 11:09 pm CeeBee

Hi Sarah, I do not know if you are on facebook but we have a great supportive c-diff support group. You just need to share your story and Russ who runs this site and the facebook group will let you in. My story is on the facebook group. C-diff is horrible. I had a fecal transplant in July and have been c-diff free since then. Please join our group and share your story.

Chandra
on October 19, 2011 at 3:42 am Frustrated

Hi ,

I had C-diff about 5 years ago…I have been free from it about 6 months after being diagnosed. But for the past 5 years I have been dealing with what they call crohn’s /colitis. Is it possible to still have pseudomembranous colitis. Also I have tried everything Remicade, Humira, Asacol, Imuran. The medicine will work in the beginning but then I get resistant to them. I am considering fecal transplant , but was wondering will it work because I haven’t had C-Diff for 5 years. I have lost over 30 pounds I am now close to 75 pounds and am 5’2. I am very frustrated I am even tryin acupuncture…some relief but not much.. Is anybody going through the same thing or any suggestions for relief or gaining weight.
on October 19, 2011 at 4:23 am Ceebee

Hello, I had a fecal transplant and it really worked. I still have IBS but that will always remain. I would look up articles by Dr. Borody in Australia who pioneered fecal transplants. He is actually now using them for patients with IBS, Crohns and colitis without the presence of cdiff. Also my GI doc said to take the probiotic VSL#3, as it has had the best research and they suggest it to Crohns and colitis patients. You are not alone. Join our group on Facebook we would love to have you. Russ, the moderator of this site is also in charge of the Facebook group. Lots of suggestions and help will come your way. Best of luck.
CeeBee
on October 19, 2011 at 4:53 pm Angela Floyd

I have a question as per my comments above I am on my 3rd round of CDiff and down to my last 10 pills of my Vancomycin. Trying not to be negative, but want to be realistic, what is the next step if the Vancomycin does not work? I realize that a lot of you have dealt with this longer than me, but 8+ weeks of this is really getting old
on October 19, 2011 at 5:10 pm colleen

I don’t know how many doctors do this, but I’ve seen no comments about it. My Dad went through several treatment options when he had it. They tried the Flagyl, then Vancomycin. He had both treatments several times and each time, everything seemed good until he got to the end of the pills.

He was then treated by the infectious disease specialist at the hospital where he was believed to have contracted cdiff. This doctor put him on a completely different regime to “trick” the disease into thinking it wasn’t going to beat the Vanco. Rather than taking the “x” number of pills per day for “x” days, he took the drug…went off for a day, took a smaller dosage the next two days, then back to regular dosage for a couple of days and on and off like this for a period of about 6 weeks. Rather than go off completely and have it come back, they kept it up for a longer period of time and it worked.

Perhaps something to discuss with your doctor??
on October 25, 2011 at 4:11 pm Scott

Hello,

About 4 years ago, I’d have constant trips to the bathroom with severe diarrhea (and explosive), probably around 1x/day. After relieving myself, I felt great! No more pains, aches, cramps…just great.

So, I lived like this for a while. Then, I was encouraged to see a Gastro doctor (I live in Indianapolis), and went to see one of the best around. He preliminarily diagnosed me with Crohn’s, and I had a colonoscopy as well as a barium marked X-ray series. It was after taking this barium solution, I actually felt worlds better and all my symptoms were relieved. I was not diagnosed with any issues to my digestive tract.

That is, until June 2011. A business trip required me to travel to France, and just before leaving I was diagnosed with C-Diff from my culture sample. I was immediately put on flagyl, which seemed to do well when I was on the medication but not so much afterwards (which was fine because I was safely home when the symptoms returned). About 5 days later I had the same severe symptoms. The doctor wanted to try me on flagyl again, but at the last moment decided to put me on vancomycin. I had a 7 week tapered dose, and this again worked well when I was on the medication. I had very frequent movements, but they were very solid with minimal cramping. They were actually quite large, and that was somewhat alarming. However, about 10 days after the therapy, the symptoms persisted, this time with greater effect.

So, the doctor tried a 10 day therapy of vanco again (this time tablets). Again, symptom-free (essentially) during dose administration, but 10 days later…It’s back. And worse than ever. I’ve had days of 10+ trips to the restroom, but today has been closer to 20 (and we’re only halfway there). I’m worried about dehydration, but am waiting on my medicine to arrive today. I will begin using Dificid today, and am praying it will work as intended. I’m a 31 year old male, in good health and exercise probably too much with a 5 year old and a 10 day old, and am extremely concerned I will pass this to them.

My questions: Has anyone used dificid? And, how likely is the transplant to work? Who should I use as a donor?

Thanks for your time!
on October 26, 2011 at 3:54 pm Scott

Hello Again,

I thought I’d keep a somewhat running diary of my time on Dificid, hopefully no one objects. I started taking it yesterday afternoon at about 2:00 pm (above post), and took a second dose around 11:00 pm and a third dose at 7:30 AM this morning, as I don’t want to miss any more work this week (and thought that increasing my start-up dosage may help). Last night at dinner (egg noodles and corn), I had severe cramping and immediately had to excuse myself. However, after dinner, I was able to lie down for the remainder of the night and for the first time in over 48 hours, I was able to hold everything together! Hooray!
I was inspired and excited, so took dose 2 and was able to get a comfortable night’s sleep. Note: the cramping pains were still there, and I’ve been having severe muscle soreness throughout this latest relapse. But, the pain was more manageable last night, at about a 3 or 4 as opposed to an 8 or 9 on the 10 point scale. I also took one day’s dose of the probiotic ‘Align’.
Woke up this morning, was able to shower and get ready for work. Took dose 3. Got out to my vehicle to leave for work this morning, and had to make an emergency run back to the house and relieve myself again. This happened in triplicate, and I didn’t know if I would be able to go to work or not. However, was finally able to make it through the commute and arrived at work a tad late. Also, noticed on my walk from the parking lot at work to my office that I had severe cramping. However, things are already somewhat better. I’ve had to ‘go’ twice so far today at work (which I hate doing), and have set my quota to 5 today (meaning if I go 5 times, I’m heading home). I’ve noticed today though, unlike the previous two days, I can at least sit still, not eat/drink, not talk too much, and not have too many problems. However, when I get up and exert myself (at all), the pain sets in and I’m scared to death to eat anything (as I had an Activia that required immediate attention after ingesting).
So, in short, after three doses I do see improvements that allow me to live a little better, but I’ve been down this road before with Flagyl/Vanco 1/Vanco 2. I’m going to try to overload on probiotics to hopefully have my system a little more ready with good flora when/if the dificid takes care of my C Diff overpopulation.
on October 27, 2011 at 6:40 pm Scott

Me Again,

I’ve now been on Dificid for a full 2 days, and am beginning to feel much better. I only got to a magic number of 5 yesterday at work (my work quota) right as I was leaving, so I decided that was a fair number. I did have 2 pretty bad episodes last night, but the pain was more tolerable and didn’t last nearly as long. Today, I’ve only had 3 episodes, and each one has more solid matter than the previous. The cramping has persisted to only be a nuisance at the last moment, instead of a constant, numbing pain that was observed previously.

I do still feel very fatigued (probably moreso today than previously), but that may be due to my groggy feeling, as if I’m getting a cold. I don’t have a whole lot of energy, but I’ve also eaten/drank more today than I have in several days. My weight plummeted about 7 pounds since Sunday, but I do feel like it is stabilizing some (I’m a relatively little person anyway…so weight loss can be concerning).

In short, day 2 was much better than I’ve felt in a while. Of course, all of this is for not if I have the relapse that I’m dreading in about 3 weeks time, but I plan to ‘live it up’ until then. I’ve been loading up on the probiotics as well, so hopefully I’m more prepared when the doses stop.
on October 27, 2011 at 7:50 pm Jerry Grant aka Cali

Hey guys I just got back from the Mayo Clinic in Arizona, I first went to Then Mayo in Minesota they just put me on the Mayo taper, (Vanco for 2 months). All in All I have been on Vanco 13 times, I liver was about to give way and they wanted to give me more Vanco. A pain specialist put me on a 25mcg/hr Fentanyl patch, I would recomend that if you have severe pain and restroom useage 15-30 times per day. the patch curved the pain and my restroom time went to 5-7 times per day, on few occasions 2-4 times per day. But at the Mayo in Arizona Dr. Orenstien will do the Fecal Transplant. Thats what i did after 6 months of vanco. Listen guys Dr’s dont really know all there is to know about C. diff, takin all the probiotics is good but wont stand a chance against the Diff and the Antibiotics. I have also been battleing a bad case of thrush because of 6 months of antibiotics. I wrote up above about what i was going through, under the name Jerry Grant, aka, Cali. Ive had 7 dr’s during this ordeal, some said not to worry my family cant catch it and some said to be safe. I personally kept a bottles of bleach water next to the toilet, I would die if my wife and 2 year old son contracted this from me. We all have the same damn bug but it effects us all a lil different. Mostly the same but it depends on the antibiotics taken before and after testing positive for the diff. At times i believed i was going to die and these damn dr’s could care less. They just wanted to give me more antibiotics and saying lets see if this works.. Every antibiotic you put in your mouth is going to change your bodys make up. You have positive bacteria and flora not just in your intestines but through you entire body, so when you take antibiotics your killing the bad bacteria (diff and any others) and your killing the good bacteria. I am 33 years of age, with an immune system of an infant. Its just crazy to try the same damn thing over and over and expect a different outcome. regardless what your Dr says Vanco will hurt your LIVER. it just does. Dr’s cant tell you that, maybe because it will effect the kick back they get idk, but when i chose to stop all antibiotics my liver started to come back around. If you have taken Flagyl or Vanco twice without success you are ready for a transplant.. Think every time you take antibiotics you are clearing your intestines of good and bad bacteria, but since C. Diff is an enospore it is laying in your intestines wating to wake up after the onslaught of antibiotics. The more you take the less likely you will beat the diff with medication. My wife is 30 yrs old and she has healthy bacteria in her intestines, thats what i needed, I am also in my 30′s, so it makes sense. I am still battling the aftermath (IBS), which is a cute name for Inflamed Intestines. If anyone wants to chat about the Diff and whats next Call me My name is Jerry Grant and most people call me Cali. I will be on the news in Arizona through NBC affiliates, also the Mayo made a full video of my procedure to post on the mayo link when its finished. The Mayo has only done 5 transplants and are now doing one per month. I strongly suggest the transplant after two rounds of antibiotic treatment. Call me if you want to just talk, I found it liffting to speak to people that cared, some didnt know much about the diff and i had to educate, but it feels good to speak to others that want to help. My Cell # is
901-258-1832 Call anytime, no matter how old this post is, If i can help i will. I would love to help. The diff needs to be stopped and the Dr’s need to relize what the hell they are doing to us. Good Luck
on October 27, 2011 at 8:14 pm Jerry Grant aka Cali

sorry for the typos but i was writing with passion… C. Diff needs to be taken more serious… again feel free to call me anytime, I am not a DR or in the feild, Im not trying to sell you anything, or talk you into buying something in which i have stock. C. Diff put me back $13,000. I have learned so much about this damn bug. 901-258-1832
on October 27, 2011 at 8:43 pm Donna D

My mother just finished her 6 week vanco taper Monday. The last two weeks of the taper she was taking vanco every 3 days. Her movements are still solid but started coming 3-4 times a day. At the begining of the taper they were just once a day. Friday she is due for a round of maintenance chemo. I’m afraid the C-Diff will rear its ugly head again. She will be off the meds for 4 days by then. How expensive is the Dificid? How long is the dosing on this medicine? There is no way she wants a transplant. I don’t live near Arizona to have it done in a hospital and there is no way I could do that at home anyway
on October 28, 2011 at 5:03 am Jerry Grant aka Cali

@ Donna

Dificid is not coverd under most insurane companies yet, most still consider it to be a in new drug in test form, heck I have met sevral GI doctors that hasnt heard of it till i brougt it to them. when it was recommend it for me, the cost was $3,250. When the diff hits and hits hard, something as simple as a transplant is a godsend. I chose The Mayo, but there are other Dr’s performing this procedure. NY, MINN, TX, and Im sure more. Transplants do not have to be donated by family members, just a healthy donor is needed. Good Luck to you and to your mother.
on October 28, 2011 at 5:14 am Jerry Grant aka Cali

The analysis showed that above 40 years, advancing age was associated with decreasing odds of sustained cure, a more prolonged time to resolution of diarrhea and an increased risk of disease recurrence, independent of treatment with DIFICID or vancomycin. In addition, treatment with fidaxomicin was associated with a 54% lower risk of recurrence (p< 0.001) and a 1.9-fold greater probability of cure without recurrence (p< 0.001) in comparison to vancomycin. In the per protocol population, 999 patients treated with either DIFICID or oral vancomycin from the two DIFICID Phase 3 trials were divided into age groups defined by decades. By regression modeling, researchers determined that advancing age for each decade above the age of 40 was associated with a 17% reduction in probability of CDI cure (odds ratio or OR 0.83; p=0.008); a 17% increase in odds of recurrence within 30 days from end of therapy (OR 0.87; p<0.001); and a 13% reduction in the probability of a 30-day cure without recurrence (OR 1.17; p=0.007…. best odds are in the transplant. 92-95% sucess rate. Gross maybe but if your life is really in question its worth it. I hated that they put my on antibiotics 13 times, Im still fighting to get my positive flora and positive bacteria in my body. C. Diff is ever changing, becoming more resistant to antibiotics. My Grandfather is going through MRSA and is on Vanco, one round and he is healing, 11 rounds for me did not work.
on October 29, 2011 at 2:11 am fingers crossed

I too have suffered with C-Diff. Mine was not brought on by anitbiotics, but from caring for my Father who suffered with C-Diff. He suffered on and off with C-Diff from Sept 2010 until his death July 2011. By the end of August I was fatigued, achy, no appetite and some diarrhea. I could just tell something was wrong. I normally am a very energetic person. Love to keep busy and have a business to run so I knew I could not get sick…On Sept 1st I had a fever of 103, hard chills, stomach pain and nausea, no diarrhea-yet! . I went to the hospital where I was given fluids, pain meds and sent on my way. I was told by the doctor that it was an “infection of unknown origin”. No sooner had I gotten home, when my body just pushed every bit of everything out of my body. I was violently vomiting and having explosive diarrhea. I was in the bathroom about 8 times that night. The next morning I went to the doctor, gave a stool sample, (negative C-diff) and was sent to the hospital (not the same one) for fluids. I took 2 liters and was sent home (again). This time with metronidazole. Yuck. That medicine is nasty. It made me feel somewhat better, but relapsed right after going off the med. I then made another appointment with my GI doc, provided him with another stool sample, which came back negative again. I got upset by this news and went to my GP doc. She took a stool sample too. Before I got the results from her, I had to be admitted to the hospital. I was totally dehydrated and thought I was dying. Finally my GP doc called and said that my stool tested positive for C-Diff. The hospital started me on vancomycin, constant IV fluids for my entire 5 day stay. Which by the way I contracted VRE from the hospital. I’m freaking. SO, I finish my vancomycin and relapsed AGAIN! I had to go back to the doctor, another stool sample, this time positive, now I am on Dificid. My last day of this med is Saturday 10-29. I will let you know how it does. So far, so ok. I am very nervous about a possible relapse. I cannot go through this again. Also, has anyone else had a false negative result from their stool sample? I agree, these doctors need to get more educated about C-Diff.
on October 29, 2011 at 2:31 am Jerry Grant aka Cali

@ Fingers Crossed

Its not False Negitives. Most dr’s and hospitals use A/B Toxin test….. Its considered by the Mayo Clinic like flipping a Coin. 50% accurate. The most modern test for C. Diff is a PCR test, I think its like 91-92%. It takes time to build up toxin to test positive, after you finish any treatment you should wait no sooner then a week and a half to take another test. The dr’s may ask you for a sample the day after the treatment but it will only waste your $. while taking the antibiotic the bacteria will go to sleep, where it can be killed or just wait with its armadillo like shell for the onslaught to finish and wake back up and produce toxin again. but it takes time for the A/B toxin test to pick up the toxin, thats why you get a negitive. Good Luck
on October 31, 2011 at 9:19 pm Angela Floyd

I am now on day 9 of being off the Vancominicyn and only been having about 2-3 bowels movements a day. My only concern is they are still soft. Today the movements were cloudy as previous. I am tesing for the CDiff for the 3rd time next week. I am really hoping the Vanco did it–but hey my deductible is met with through this long journey so the cost of the Vanco will not be the concern this time. Can anyone tell me if solid bowel movements should have happenned by now?
on November 1, 2011 at 6:34 am Jerry Grant aka Cali

If you want to watch the news clip of my fecal trasplant done at the Mayo follow this linkhttp://www.azcentral.com/video/1251900441001
on November 1, 2011 at 9:07 pm Angela Floyd

Thank you for the news clip it was very informative. At this point the thought of a fecal transplant does not even phase me if it means I can finally get well. Today I tested for the 3rd time for CDiff and have appt with Infectious Disease Doctor tomorrrow
on November 3, 2011 at 4:10 am Jerry Grant aka Cali

Angela

so you did test positive today? yikes hope you read all my comments on here, and that it helps you with your decisions on what to do. Yikes Im sorry. What state or city are you in? If you want you can call me i did post my # several times I might or might not be able to help but really what do you have to lose. Since i have aired on the news i have been trying to help all that i can, and some have even found my e-mail and sent me questions. I wish you the best please let us know what infectious Disease says tomorrow? Probably a long taper….. I hope not but that is most likely what he will say.. Good luck…I hope you do get some help and relife.. How is the pain? times a day in the restroom?
on November 3, 2011 at 6:13 pm Angela Floyd

Hello Jerry
I did test positive and they have put me on a long taper of Vanco 250 mg for 6 weeks. Also put me on 2 weeks of Rifaximin 400 mg. Doctor said will see what this does and go from there. Pain in not too bad it is bearable and about 4-6 trips to the restroom per day. It is worse when I eat sometimes I am in the bathroom before I am done with the meal. I am in Green Bay WI. Hoping this does the trick!! Medical and RX bills are piling up!!
on November 4, 2011 at 3:30 am Jerry Grant aka Cali

Keep fight the fight. Glad to hear the pain is tolerable. All C. Diff episodes are hindering in some point. Bills do get way out of hand thats for sure. Be safe be proactive. The more antibiotics you put in your body the more positive bacteria gets eliminated. Im stiff fighting thrush from all the antibiotics I took. Becareful, Nobody loves you as much as you do. Good Luck and Gods Speed. If you ever have any questions or need to vent this is a good site for that. Wishing you the best.
on November 5, 2011 at 8:19 pm LANIE

This message is for Andy. i see you were going to do the fecal transpant on October 8th, how did it go ? I am hoping it was successful. Again I had to only do it once and was so pleased it worked after taking all those expensive antibiotics and being so sick for over six months .Please let me know how you are doing,sometimes it takes 2 or 3 transplants 2 or 3 days in a row but it does have a high success rate. There was just a talk show on our local radio that mentioned a 95% rate. Again mine cost me a total of about ten dollars as compared to all I spent on just my copays and fighting with insurance to cover the vanco for 2 months..If anyone else needs info let me know. Lanie
on November 6, 2011 at 11:07 pm Ricky

Lanie,

I never responded back to your previous post, but I wanted to update you.

I took my last dose of Vanco on Thursday the 3rd of November, and attempted my first Fecal Transplant the following morning. I mixed the stool and saline together in a blender, and then proceeded to do the enema. I was only able to hold it in about 45 minutes or so… It was very difficult and uncomfortable! I waited until today (48 hours since my first attempt at the transplant) and tried another fecal transplant just in case. This time was much harder to hold it in, and I only lasted 30 minutes. I’m hopeful that this works, otherwise I’ll just keep on doing it!

My GI doctor provided me with instructions on how to do the fecal transplant, so I thought I’d share that with everyone on here:

1. Donor stool and blood are tested for pathogens and viruses before infusion. The donor usually should have normal daily stools, no recent antibiotics (within the past 6 months), no history of inflammatory bowel disease, and be clinically well. Donors do not have to be relatives, and it’s recommended that donors not share living quarters with the patient, as there is likelihood that they will share the same defective microbiota.

2. 200-300 g of donor stool suspended in 200 to 300 mL of sterile normal saline (blended to liquid consistency briefly in a kitchen blender) and administered via enema within 10 minutes of preparation. (Note: I purchased my enema kit from the drugstore. It was $10 and held about 2 liters)

3. It is encouraged that patients retain the enema for at least 6 hours (immodium administered prior may help this). Some patients are unable to retain the enema for prolonged periods. Nevertheless, coating of the mucosa by the infused stool seems to be adequate. During the treatment period, patients are advised to adhere to a high fiber diet to assist the support of infused bacteria.

That’s it… If anyone has questions feel free to let me know… LANIE, thank you again so much!
on November 7, 2011 at 3:02 am LANIE

Ricky, I followed a previous instruction from I think a Jim decker or Becker way back months and months in fact maybe years.. My post dated April or May this year had what I did, just used a very close friends’ stool [disease free,not at risk person] as I am a widow with no close relatives nearby. My doctor [I TOLD HIM AFTER I DID IT] said I used my head and did the right things.Saline mixed with distilled water, shook about a cup of that with about one fourth to one half cup stool[ no way was I measuring that] filled a disposable enema as I lay on my bed[ covered with plastic and those plastic/material like pads. Afterwards I just laid on my side for as long as I could about 2 hours then couildn’t hold it. I was so disappointed that I didn’t last longer but that was enough cured completely in 48 hours . Just had another stool test negative. third negative since May and no symptoms at all. I did eat a lot of Stoneyfield yogurt prior to and months after along with cooked saurerkraut with apples added to it. and took Culterelle and Acidophilus both relatively inexpensive compared to that flagyl and vanco. Culterelle is about 20.00 at the store and the other acidophilus was 6.00 Now I take nothing except when I remember but I still eat yogurt and the kraut once or twice a week. I am so hoping this works for you, keep trying. Some previous posts have people doing it 5 to 7 days in a row. Whatever you do do not drink it as someone mentioned a few posts back that has to be high risk in case of aspiration or fecal matter in the lung. Even the NG tube procedure commonly used in Canada is higher risk as compared to the enema route. Also remember to clean your bathroom with clorox and your underwear these spores can last about 3 months so it is possible to get reinfected unless you kill all the little buggers. I am praying for you that it works ! Keep in touch. Lanie
on November 7, 2011 at 4:07 am Donna D

What does the saurkraut do for you? My mother has been off meds for 2 weeks now. Still going 3-4 times a day with soft but formed movements. She also had a chemo maintenance treatment this was four days after her last dose of Vanco with no issues. No stomach cramping. Just using the bathroom more than when she was on the Vanco. Seems good but not one of her doctors said anything about retesting to make sure this bugger is gone this time. I guess I should press the issue, after what I’ve been reading she might still have it.
on November 8, 2011 at 2:25 am LANIE

Donna, the kraut and the apples mixed in provide a good type of fermentation and the ” good ” bacteria to grow. That along with a good yogurt and culterelle can help the good bacteria to flourish.As I have stated in previous posts months of flagyl and vanco did nothing for me but my at home fecal transplant cured me in 48 hours. It was gross but having c diff was a lot worse. I would go sometimes 20 to 30 times a day all blood and mucous. I was taking time off from work and could barely function when I did go to work I wasted months when a simple home procedure [ fecal transplant] costing under 10.00 cured me. My primary care physician never mentioned it, my gastro never mentioned it and my surgeon never mentioned it. Found this site totally by accident one night after being up 27 times with the usual bathroom horrors, read Jim Beckers post quite a ways back, called the gastro’s office the next day told by the nurse practioner it’s very successful just not done around here. Rate of success for a fecal transplant between 90 to 95% went to market bought the distilled water, drugstore for the saline enema, small amount of fecel matter from a friend mixed, inserted cured within 48 hours. The fecal matter from a healthy person is full of good bacteria all it needs is to get into the colon and grow and for me it did. My gastro when I told him about it said he just attended a conference in New York city on fecal transplants and how successful they are. The only drawback is insurance doesn’t want to pay to test donors so I did it at home with a trusted friends stool. I really think my prayers to St. Jude steered me to this site at 3 AM that day and Jim Becker’s post Whatever it worked. Also I have been tested 4 times since May no sign of c diff. Good luck to you aqnd your dear mother. Lanie
on November 11, 2011 at 9:13 pm T.C.

jennifer S — i’m sorry to hear of your mother’s struggle with c.diff. i did a fecal transplant 3 weeks ago and am feeling much, much better. you might be the perfect “donor” and the process is simple, easily done at home.

http://www.mediafire.com/?xyp9k29alurs1c5

linked above is a pdf of a study (all 7 subjects went into remission) and it gives detailed instructions for DIY fecal transplant. it’s not as shocking as you might think. i would do it again, in a heartbeat, if i can coordinate with my donor again or find a 2nd donor.

good luck!
on November 15, 2011 at 10:46 pm Stacey

Hey there – just found this site- I had my wisdom teeth out Oct 14th in hospital and then had an arterial bleed in my sinus from surgery. Ended up in hospital for 6 days. Approx 2 weeks after surgery I developed horrific sweats and diarrhea for 2.5 days. They told me to stop antibiotics I was on at that time (Clavilin). 6 days later they told me I had C Diff but since I had no symptoms they weren’t going to treat me. So this past week I had the sweats for two days and then friday morning I woke up with diarrhea again – terrified I went to Emerg. Dr there figured for sure it was C Diff and put me on 500mg Flagyl 3x a day for 14 days. Everything on here seems like horror stories of it never going away.

I have been on Flagyl for 5 days and feel really good. Should I be terrified that this is come raging back out of nowhere? or has ANYONE taken the meds first time around and been ok?????
on November 15, 2011 at 10:48 pm Stacey

Hey there – just found this site- I had my wisdom teeth out Oct 14th in hospital and then had an arterial bleed in my sinus from surgery. Ended up in hospital for 6 days. Approx 2 weeks after surgery I developed horrific sweats and diarrhea for 2.5 days. They told me to stop antibiotics I was on at that time (Clavilin). 6 days later they told me I had C Diff but since I had no symptoms they weren’t going to treat me. So this past week I had the sweats for two days and then friday morning I woke up with diarrhea again – terrified I went to Emerg. Dr there figured for sure it was C Diff and put me on 500mg Flagyl 3x a day for 14 days. Everything on here seems like horror stories of it never going away.

I have been on Flagyl for 5 days and feel really good. Should I be terrified that this is come raging back out of nowhere? or has ANYONE taken the meds first time around and been ok????? Also how long are you contagious for?
on November 16, 2011 at 4:06 am Anonymous

Hi Stacey,

I do know of people who have taken one round of antibiotics followed by lots of heavy probiotics and were fine – symptom free. There is hope, but in my experience it can be hard to get rid of even though you’ve finished your antibiotics and feel good for a few days.

My question for everyone is…..I finished my second round of metronidazole and felt good for about a week. Now I’m getting the symptoms back again, but not as bad. I’ve been taking lots of probiotic pills, but I’m scared it isn’t gone. I don’t have as much cramping as before, or running to the toilet all day, but my stool (I never thought I’d be discussing this!) is soft, mucousy and green – not normal for me. Can it still get better on its own, should I give it time or should I go back to the doctor asap?
on November 19, 2011 at 2:16 am Anonymous

Wow, learning a lot from this site. My 7-year-old daughter was diagnosed with C-diff in April after taking only 4 doses of Augmentin for a “suspected” infection. She had diarrhea about 10 to 12 times a day, missed tons of school and wasn’t diagnosed for about a month, even after a trip to the pediatrician who tested for everything except C-diff. Had to wait 4 weeks for an appt with the pediatric gastroenterologist whose first comment after explaining everything was I can’t believe her pediatrician didn’t test for c-diff. Well, she took 10 days of Flagyl, and seemed to do really well, but to this day, 7 months later, she still gets terrible stomach aches and is afraid of everything she eats. Thankfully, she hasn’t been prescribed another antibiotic since, but that I’m sure can only last so long. I’m terrified of that day now. I firmly believe that her intestines are still healing from the first bout of c-diff, just not exactly sure yet what foods we need to avoid. I’m pretty sure it’s dairy products. Lucilly she doesn’t ever drink milk. I guess as bad as it seems sometimes, she’s actually been pretty lucky so far.
on November 21, 2011 at 6:16 pm Jessica

I was recently in the hospital three different times (about a week apart each time) for a grand total of 22 days. I started out in my second trimester of pregnancy and ended in my third by the time I was done. I am still pregnant and am due soon. I was given multiple antibiotics throughout each stay at the hospital due to the fact that the doctors could not figure out what was wrong with me. Upon leaving the hospital for the last time, I began experiencing the worst flu-like symptoms I’ve ever had (without) fevers. After a week or so, my doctor tested me and I was positive for c diff. I was on Flagyl for 10 days, which during those 10 days, I felt normal again. Unfortunately, a day later I felt absolutley aweful again, called my doctor, tested positive again, and was put on a higher dose of Flagyl…again for 10 days. I felt great while on the antibiotic, but now, a day later, I’m beginning to feel sick again. I’m sure the next step will be the Vanco, but after reading more into this, I am very doubtful even that will work. I bought some Acidophilus from the health food store and am waiting to hear from my OB whether or not it’s safe for me to take while I’m in my third trimester. I know I need something to replace the good bacteria. This is a total nightmare! I’ve never had health problems until I got sick and had to go to the hospital. It seems now I have a condition that I will never be rid of and may result in a life long struggle filled with pain and discomfort. My question is why are hospitals not required to provide information to patients on this? This is a serious matter that I am just now learning affects a lot of people. Is there anyway to force hospitals and healthcare facilities to provide information to patients? I had never even heard of c diff before I was diagnosed with it. There are warnings on ciggarette packages warning of their dangers of causing cancer, but where’s the warning at hospitals or on antibiotics that make people aware of the risks of contracting c diff? This has been a major problem for me since I caught it and has greatly affected my quality of life and how I get through my days. I am a 26 year old mother of soon to be 3 children and cannot afford to spend most of my days and nights in the bathroom. How do the rest of you deal with this in your lives around school, work, children, etc?
on November 22, 2011 at 4:59 am Donna D

What I want to know is why are they still letting doctors and nurses just use the hand sanitizer?? I think hand washing is always the way to go suplimented by the hand sanitizer. From what I understand the sanitizer is not killing the C-DIFF and if a nurse, doctor or anyone else for that matter is in a room where the patient has not yet been diagnosed they are speading it all over the place because proper precautions have yet to take place until the diagnoses. I also think a prescription for acidophilus should always be given to a patient on antibiotics.
on November 27, 2011 at 9:56 pm Ricky

This may sound disgusting, but is there any way someone could make pills with stool in them? I’ve heard of it before, but it does not seem widely practiced. This way, you’d get the bacteria in your stomach but would not have to taste or smell any, well fecal matter. Thoughts? Desperate times call for desperate measures…
on November 28, 2011 at 12:13 am Ceebee

I had a fecal transplant in July, and Dr. Thomas Louie, made poo pills from my donor and I swallowed them. I am from Calgary, AB, Canada. It did work, but I relapsed after taking antibiotics for a UTI. I am hoping to do it again, I had to take an anti-nauseant in order to swallow them and keep them down. It has much better results than the enema route. I know that Dr. Louie travels all over the world, and has worked with many docs in the US. In Canada, you must have a referral to see a specialist, but if your doctor is familiar with Doc Louie, it is worth a referral from your doctor. I know that Dr. Mullane Infectious Disease specialist from Chigago University hospital has worked with Dr. Louie and has sent some of her patients to him. I hope this is helpful, Ricki. If you are from the US you are lucky in the sense that you have three more meds to treat C-diff than we do. I wish we could get Dificid as it has worked for many people. If I do not get another transplant I may have to go stateside to get new meds. Good luck to you.
on November 29, 2011 at 12:58 am Anonymous

Hi Ricky, I am guessing your transplants didn’t work but I am urging you to try again. Think you might be putting too much formula in so try a small empty fleet disposable enema and fill it with maybe 8 ounces. You might want to try a different donor as I said I used a friend who has a clean history regarding health and behaviors and she wasn’t tested. . And relax when you do it, if you can go back a ways and read jim beckers post I followed his post with few differences , I didn’t use a blender and didn’t use a family member. Keep trying. Also you might try calling the makers of dificid, it is a California based company ,they actually have a doctor you can speak to if you call. I was told insurances in the states are not paying for it and it costs about 3,000. This is info I given when I called last spring before my at home transplant things might have changed. Please let me know how you are doing. Lanie
on November 29, 2011 at 1:00 am Anonymous

Ricky That post under anonymous is mine, Lanie
on December 8, 2011 at 10:18 pm Angela Floyd

Okay I am on the last week of my 6 week Vanco Taper. I am crossing all my fingers and toes crossed to test negative for the cdiff when I go in on December 23. I have to say I am not running a temp nor am I as tired as I used to be. I am only making about 2-3 trips to the bathroom a day. My stomach hurts from time to time during the day, but pain is bearable. I really hope this works for this long road since end of August is really been very exausting both physically and mentally.
on December 10, 2011 at 1:39 am Anonymous

Angela – I’m crossing my fingers for you too. I just finished the vanco (2 wks), but have also done 2 rounds of Flagl before that and I’m so nervous. It has been almost three days since I took my last vanco pill and I’m feeling good so far. I also went and saw a naturalpath doctor who gave me three types of probiotics to use. One is specifically for fighting c.diff. I’m trying not to overload my system with food, but its hard because I finally feel well enough to eat real food. Good luck!!
on December 10, 2011 at 5:29 am Donna D

Anonymous
Can you please let us know what these three probiotics are? After being almost two months free of any symptoms from Cdiff my mother relapsed. This last Cdiff treatment was a 6 week taper of vanco. Last week she had bronchitis and they put her on antibiotics and as soon as the antibiotics were done she started having stomach pains. Now she has colitis. I was giving her culturelle when she started the antibiotics and continued till I brought her to the hospital doubled over from pain.
on December 12, 2011 at 3:41 am Anonymous

The probiotics my naturalpath recommended were Renew Life Boulardii Max (saccharomyces boulardii) everyday follow the directions on bottle. Then I alternate days between Renew Life Ultimate Flora and Latero-Flora Powder (this I got from her office and you dissolve it into water). I’m on my 5th day off of the vanco and knock on wood I still feel good. I don’t know if the probiotics work or if it was the vanco, but I’m going to continue taking them anyway. Hope your mother feels better soon!
on December 18, 2011 at 8:59 pm Patty

Thankful that I found this site, too! My Dad is 75 and has been suffering with CDiff for 3+ months. 3rd round of treatments. He just began the (sinfully) expensive Dificid 3 days ago in the hospital (previously treated with the routine drugs including Flagyl, Vanco, Zifaxyn, Florastor).

We had been in discussions with the GI (via his PA), ID, etc. regarding fecal transplant. My research found no negative side effects, so we were waiting on the word ‘GO’ from the docs.

Suddenly, no further discussion of transplant and Dificid treatment began. Immediate relief from diarrhea symptoms, but today (day 3) he began painful stomach cramps, vomiting, and chills. I understand that many patients don’t feel good while taking this new & promising drug.

(Any idea of an acceptable form of relief from stomach cramps!)

I was not at the hospital when they decided to put Dad on the Dificid, nor have seen a doc to ask what happened to the transplant discussions.

It kinda makes me wonder if the $10 – $3000 fecal transplant solution might be swept under the rug by the more expensive drug treatments?

BTW, when he went home last time with prescription for oral Vanco, we researched & found that it is MUCH cheaper to have it mixed by a compounding pharmacy ($120 vs. roughly $3000).

Thank you for each post here. Lots of helpful information!
on December 19, 2011 at 2:37 am KM030

After 4 months of cramping, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and off and on fevers……..having been put on many different medications to treat the symptoms…….I went to the dr thinking I had a UTI. They put me on Cipro for 3 days and I started feeling worse. I was going to call them that third morning, but the dr beat me to the punch, she woke me up telling me I had c.diff and she was calling in the Flagyl. I have JUST started the med, but reading these posts I am scared. Should I get some of the probiotics and be taking them as well? I have a standing rx for promethezine so if I need it for nausea I have it.
on December 19, 2011 at 6:21 am Donna D

As I have stated in a previous post my mother is a cancer patient so her immunity is lower than a healthy senior on and off during her cycle of treatment. Drs have now decided that since they have to treat her with antibiotics anytime they suspect a bacterial infection because of her lung condition that they will just automatically start her on a round of flagyl as well. If they have to start her on antibiotics again they don’t want to take the chance of Cdiff popping up again. She had colitis so bad this time she was in the hospital over a week and is presently in rehab to get some strength back. Has this worked for anyone?
Hope everyone has Happy Healthy New Year!
on December 19, 2011 at 1:42 pm Patty

KM030 and Donna D…

I am relatively new to CDiff by researching info for my Dad’s case. It seems that the 1st line of defense is usually Flagyl. I think it’s the least expensive med. If that doesn’t work, they prescribe Vanco (please see my post above about compounding pharmacy cost effectiveness if you’re not hospitalized when prescribed). It is my understanding that anytime you have an infection for which an antibiotic is prescribed, they should automatically begin a treatment for CDiff since it will rear its ugly head when on any antibiotics. Vanco should be given on a long,tapering basis (this may apply to Flagyl, too). Since my Dad’s case is chronic, he just began a treatment of new(ish) & promising drug – Dificid.

As far as I know, Florastor is highly recommended – it is an OTC yeast probiotic and taken 2x daily. I think it cost about $50 for 100 tabs (be sure to search/print e-coupon ). Yogurt is a good supplement, and should be the ONLY dairy consumed. NO caffeine. No acidic foods (tomatoes, citrus). Pasta and starchy foods will help give substance to the stool.

Research and support sites will become your best friends! Good luck.
on December 23, 2011 at 1:29 am Anonymous

Okay after my big blurb about the probiotics from the naturalpath…..it’s back! I think this time my doctor is putting me on a vanco pulse treatment (5 days on and then week off, something like that). He is also trying to get me into see the internal surgeon to do a colonospcopy (sp?). I’m so disappointed and scared. We are going to Mexico in January as well, so I’m doing the ducurol treatment. Uggg……does it ever go away.

Sierra (previously just anonymous)
on December 23, 2011 at 6:30 pm Angela Floyd

Hello Sierra
I just recently got off the Vanco Taper of 6 weeks. My Cdiff starting end of August of this year. I started with 2 rounds of Flagyl and my Vanco Taper was the 2nd round of Vanco. I just saw my Infectious Disease Doc today and since all the symptoms are gone I am in the clear for now. I wish you a lot of luck. This site as well as the CDiff Facebook Group has been a tremendous support system and huge wealth of information!!
on December 24, 2011 at 6:13 pm Anonymous

Hi Angela,

Thanks for your support – this is a crazy situation. How long have you been off your second round of Vanco? I just saw an article that if you’ve had three reoccurances your chances of another one are 65%! I don’t really understand how my normal gut flora didn’t get any stronger with all those probiotics I was taking. I feel like I need to see a specialist because even my doctor seems puzzled by this. I guess I’m on the right track though after reading all these posts.
on December 27, 2011 at 7:15 pm Angela Floyd

Hi Sierra
I have been off the Vanco for 1 week as of Saturday and so far so good. My Infectious Disease Doctor also had given me Rifaxmin with the Vanco Taper and maybe that has done the trick so far? He did say to keep this under observation so I am crossing my fingers!!
on December 28, 2011 at 9:54 pm Sally

I am currently on my 3rd bout of C diff. It began after a clindomycin treatment for a sinus infection in September. By the first week of October, I began to have diarrhea, stomach cramps, and no energy. I was diagnosed with C diff, and due to a bad reaction from flagyl in connection with giardia, I began with vancomycin. After 10 days of treatment, I was still having symptoms, so continued the vancomycin for another 5 days. I was tested, and found to be free of C diff. This lasted about 2 weeks, and it came back again the first of November. More vancomycin, but this time when I completed the treatment, I took Saccharomyces boulardii, lactobacillus GG, and Lactobacillus rhamnosis. I felt great for about two weeks, and now I have it again. I am now taking Dificid, but it took a fight with my insurer to get it. I could not believe the price! Over $3,200 for 20 tablets! This is absolutely criminal! I have contacted my sons for a fecal transfer if necessary. I have read the posts beginning in 2008. I am very discouraged. Does any one ever get rid of this scourge? If so, how did you do it?
on December 29, 2011 at 7:27 pm SuzyQ

I am a nurse and aquired this c diff at work (at a nursing home). I have chronic leukemia (since last Dec.) so that may have contributed to my getting it but the dr started me on Flagyl and that didnt work..I eventually have gone to an infectiuos disease MD who put me on a Vancomysin step down dosing – Vanco liquid 4xday for 2 weeks then 2xday for 2 weeks then 1xday for 1 week then once every other day for a week – my last culture showed negative but it wasnt done at the dr office and I need to have another 1 or 2 done to make sure I am rid of this thing. I did read up on these blog sites and I went to Whole Foods and bought the probiotic capsules AND I also bought the Kefir drink (like buttermilk with lots of good bacteria in it) the Lifeaways brand is good and the strawberry is delicious – as it stands Im not totally sure Im over it but Im thinking I am – I would day the Vanco step down dose,probiotics from the health food store (the kind u keep in the fridge0 and drinking the kefir daily are the way to go – my dr said there are alot of new strains that are hard to get rid of – plus I put clorox spray clean in all the bathrooms and would clean the toilet seat after using it – this disease makes you feel “dirty” because its of the fecal route and its contagious..I hope my comment helps somebody out there =]
on December 29, 2011 at 8:06 pm Ramona Aschenbrenner

Very good article SusyQ
Wishing you Good Heath
I also had C-Diff
Our dog Buddy drank from the toilet one time and acquired it too
I was better in 4 months taking Flagyl & Kefir etc as well .
Our dog was not so lucky as this is such a new frontier for this illness .
Many have to learn about it in the medical field .
We mentioned in the simularity of our symptoms .
After the vets assured us all tests were done, there was nothing they could do for Buddy – he was put to rest .
We found out later they never did test for C-diff To this day we are devastated.
Vets refuse to talk and I think not wanting to communicate is sad cause it could help other cases in the future .
Communication is everything !
on January 14, 2012 at 12:22 am Stephanie Gagos

wow, so much information here..thank you. I was just diagnosed with C-Diff. Not sure how I got it..since I had one emergency room visit for an unrelated matter (occipital neuralgia)..no antibiotics were given but I took quite a bit of ibuprofen to get through till I was officially diagnosed and given a nerve block. About four weeks later I ended up in the emergency room again with severe abdominal pain, diarrhea and bleeding. This time I was admitted with the head pain and now the abdominal pain..was never scoped and they couldn’t take a stool sample because I could not go for 7 days. I was released and then for the next 7 weeks I had diarrhea, and mucous in my stool. Finally went to follow up with a GI and was diagnosed today and prescribed Flagyl.

My question is do I take the probiotics while taking Flagyl or after? And is there anything else I need to do while I am taking Flagyl..anything to avoid eating etc.?

Thank you!
on January 14, 2012 at 1:34 am Patty

Hi Stephanie…my Dad suffered with CDiff and my research efforts led me to this site. Also, I highly recommend the c-diff support group on Facebook. Both of these have lots of information.

My Dad’s doctors had him on probiotics WHILE taking his various treatments (Vanco, Flagyl and Dificid). HOWEVER, if you google it – you’ll find out so many different opinions (eg. take it half-way between the antibiotic dosages; not to take them at all while on antibiotics ) so I would suggest you ask YOUR doctor. It seems that there are many opinions on CDiff, but not a lot of expert opinions. We had several ‘wishy-washy’ doctors who didn’t seem to know a whole lot about it (incl. Infectious Disease and GI docs). We finally saw a physician at Mayo last week and feel he has the best handle on CDiff that we’ve seen yet. However, my Dad is not on antibiotics right now (hoping he’s finally cdiff free/remission).

One thing that was UNANIMOUS among the docs and pharmacists is that they ALL recommended Florastor above all others. Can be a little pricey (but I found some online coupons once that helped with the cost) which runs about $50 for about 30 days. No prescription needed and we get ours from Publix gro store, but can be found at Walgreens, WalMart, etc. Usually kept behind the counter.

Starchy foods – rice, pasta, potatoes are all good. If you have children, then you’re familiar with the BRAT diet to help give substance to stools (Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast). Low fiber (white bread, not multi-grain). NO CAFFEINE. NO DAIRY (except for yogurt). No acidic foods/drinks. Do not take meds to stop the ‘D’, as they want the germs to flush OUT of your system. Drink lots of water, Gatorade, and the likes to help prevent dehydration.

BLEACH is your friend! Clean everything with bleach as possible. Hot water/hot dryer. Heat & bleach are about the only things that eliminate from surfaces, including clothing. Alcohol-based sanitizers do NOT kill the bacteria. WASH your hands, and send those nasty little germs down the drain.

Read. Read. Read. Ask lots of questions. Keep a diary of what you eat/drink, along with info on each bm (wonderful, right?!)

Again, the support groups give you so much information. Real-life experiences. Tried & true solutions (or sometimes, what doesn’t work). Good luck! God bless!
on January 18, 2012 at 9:48 pm Stephanie Gagos

thanks so much Patty. I didn’t know I had it till a month and a half later, and I am so glad I didn’t infect my daughter who lives with me. How long is it contagious after you start antibiotic treatment? I asked the GI about taking the probiotic and he didn’t seem to think I needed to take it at all, so I don’t think I will be using his opinion. lol Anyway thank you.
on January 19, 2012 at 10:04 pm Anonymous

My dad just died in Nov 2011 from C-Dif that he picked up in the hospital after back surgery. It shut down kidneys and then infected the liver and after fighting very hard his heart gave out from everything. It was a horrible death and I wouldn’t want anyone to have a loved one go through what my dad did.