Why?

[wen23]

So just to update everyone I have been eight months off Vanco with some ups and downs but today just tops the cake. I had to take the day off of work today because I couldn't leave the bathroom. I have had progressively worse D for the past three days but today was the worst amp lots of m and bright yellow water. I'm crying as I type because I thought I was over this this is reminiscent of my cdiff days. Abdominal cramps and such . I had to drive thirty minutes to the lab to drop off my sample with my nine year old son in the back of the car telling me to slow down I really had to go . Please pray for me I'm not sure how much more I can take. Wen

[Bobbie]

Wen, don't panic altho I know how you feel. Been going through this for 21 years - extenuating circumstances. Many others on the site have also suffered a long time - but not the norm.

You might have a stomach "bug." Any chance of food poisoning?

Wait until you get your test results. In the meantime. Ask your doc. If you can take Imodium or pepto. (Opinions on Imodium differ.) I took lots of it for years when I had inactive C. diff or IBS? You are better off working if you can.

Let us know the results. We know how you feel - desperate and lonely. Prayers and good thoughts. You will be OK eventually - honest.

[wen23]

Thank you Bobbie for the kind words sometimes we all need a little reassurance that things will get better. Hoping things will settle down as I took some questran.Its never been this bad before.Going back to work tomorrow.Its nice knowing that someone knows how I feel . Wen

[Bobbie]

Wen, it would be rare (but not impossible) for you to have a reoccurrence after ten months. Bet it's something else. Fingers crossed.

You are young and otherwise healthy. You will beat this.

[getwellsoon]

Wen, Just wanted to add my prayers that it is just a stomach bug and not a recurrence. I am 2 yrs. post meds and still don't feel completely well. I'm like Bobbie, I would almost bet it is a bug or something you ate. I think our digestive tracts are very compromised for years after a bad case of Cdiff and it just reacts violently to any upset. Hang in there and let us know how it goes. We are all pulling for you. Carol

[amyc]

So sorry you had such a terrible day yesterday. I hope today is better for you! Can you tolerate pepto bismol? That might help you if it's a virus.

[beth22]

So sorry, Wen. I had to leave work today too. Taking in a test tomorrow. How soon will you know your results? Let us know when you do. I had something similar happen to me about 7 months after treatment. I had 3 really bad days and took in a test which came back positive. But, by the time I got the results, the D had subsided. I only treated with Pepto and went to Hawaii, actually, for a week. When I came back, I re-tested and it was negative. I hope your symptoms get better and you are able to work. Usually working is better for me, but not when it is really bad.

[wen23]

Test should be ready on Monday in the meantime I am crossing my fingers .Still feeling cruddy today took a lot of questran and riding it out this weekend. Will keep everyone updated . Thank You for all he support Wen

[wen23]

So as I suspected deep down, I'm Cdiff negative. Thank You for all of the kind comments and prayers. So today I picked myself up and decided to call my MD and scheduled a consult to talk about SIBO testing. I know that it takes a while to get right after such a big infection, but I,m getting quite impatient with this . The things that irritate me the most is the constant unexpected D and the many food intolerances. It,s not like I have D all the time but at least once or twice a week it will just come out of nowhere , stick around for a couple of days then disappear. Watching what I eat. Spicy foods and dairy irritate me, so does some raw veggies.I even planted two banana trees in my yard because it seems like a great investment as that's basically breakfast every morning along with a scoop of questran.Ok I,m done venting. I realize there are members worse off than me. It's a long struggle but as everyone says..we will all eventually heal..love Wen

[seekingcure]

Glad to hear the test is negative. I understand where you are coming from with the continued problems. I'm right there with you, having similar type stuff going on (four months out from Vanco). I'll do fine for a few days, then have several days of nothing but D. I had asked my GI about doing SIBO testing and he brushed me off. Might have to find another doctor who will take me seriously and just do the test. Let us know what you find out. Hope you have a better week. Bea

[beth22]

Wen - Also ask to have your stool cultured for yeast. That can give those kinds of symptoms,but SIBO is a big possibility. SIBO comes from an imbalace of good vs bad bacteria (dysbiosis) and when the small intestine has bacteria that should not be there. When you get an intestinal flu, bacteria infection, it can cause SIBO. So can taking meds like vanco. I think that is what gave it to me. Glad you are not positive, but you need to take care of this. I have been living with food intolerances for years now and I have made up my mind that I am going to look into this and try to fix it. If I have to take Xifaxan, so be it. I see the SIBO specialist on 4/2. Meanwhile, I am supposed to do a couple more FEs. The ones I did, seemed to help with the D, but mine was from the antibiotics that I took for the URI. That is always an option for you as well, but if it is SIBO, they won't help, so get that checked out when you can.

Will keep you in my prayers.

[ppp67]

So glad to hear the test is negative. I hope you are feeling well again soon.
It's been 8 months for me too and I'm always thinking about "what if".
It's good to hear others say a relapse after 8 months is rare.

[Bobbie]

Wen and ppp67. Many suffer IBS for a long time after C. diff. After my first four-year about (l993-l997), I had IBS for years - probably partially due to the method the doctor used to "cure" me. The IBS eventually resolved. I was so relieved to not have C. diff. anymore, I lived with the IBS gladly. I took Bentyl for the cramping and pain. I also tried more foods - and finally gained more weight. The only food I was careful with was milk products. It worked for me - might not for you.

Do not do the NG procedure as this can cause SIBO. See CDI - Three Day Rule and CDI - IBS.

[beth22]

Wen - How are you doing?

[justme]

Wen: So sorry to hear you went through a scare like that. I also have had bouts of D and loose stool, usually depending on what I eat. As I've posted before, I tested neg. for C. Diff toxins when I was in the hospital for a TIA, but the cramping has never gone away even though I am 13 months out from active C. Diff. Some days are worse than others and I am never really sure what the reasons are. Like you, I can't tolerate dairy, most vegetables, or spicy foods. I also have trouble with sweets or if I eat too much bread. It is hard to gain weight with such a limited diet. Since you are in Hawaii, try poi if you like it. I've added that to my diet to increase my potassium level, which can become quite low with frequent BM (whether or not its D). I get so frustrated wondering when I am ever going to be normal again. Even if I have to stay on a restricted diet, it would be okay if I could be free from colon pain. As I have read here, those of us who have either had a bad case of C. Diff and/or have other underlying health issues tend to have a more difficult and longer recovery period. I never want to experience active C. Diff again and am really afraid of taking any antibiotics. I guess the side effects of C. Diff (IBS, etc.) are just more nasty little treats that this terrible disease/condition can inflict. Take care and feel better. Aloha.