Currently on Flagyl, Doc wants to put me on Vanco

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Omar619
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Posts: 3
Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2015 2:57 pm

Currently on Flagyl, Doc wants to put me on Vanco

Postby Omar619 » Mon Dec 21, 2015 4:14 pm

Hello All, I am Omar, 33 year old male. I tested positive for c diff back in October of this year after taking amoxicillan for 10 days post surgery. I took a 10 day course of Flagyl 500mg 3 X day and completed the course with slight side effects to the Flagyl but tolerable. After the course I felt somewhat better. I started taking some probiotics during and after the Flagyl. I only actually had 1 day of water D, but did seem to have a lot mucus and pus in stool. About a week after finishing treatment my stools were pretty much formed and a normal color of brown to light brown. However, I still did get some pain and cramping in my lower left side of the stomach. I has lost about 23 pounds in about 1 month and half so I made an appt to have a physical done just to make sure everything was good. I should mention that I had finished the 1st round of Flagyl about October 24th. and had a 2nd stool test performed that came back positive but the doctor held off on giving me more meds to treat the c diff because I wasnt really having symptoms like water D, etc.. Anyway all my blood test, exam came back good. This was on Dec 2nd. Doctor also ordered a stool test and of course I tested positivefor c diff. I started my 2nd round of Flagyl, 500 mg 3x day for 14 days. On days 9- 10 I started feeling some side effects. Cramping, headache, slight sore throat. I told my doctor and he suggested stopping the Flagyl and now wants me to start a 10 day course of Vanco (125mg 4 x day). Has this happened to anyone? I feel like maybe I should finish the Flagyl since I only have 4 days left and take a stool test 10-14 days after. I am nervous about taking vanco and going on antibiotics for another 10 days. Any advice on what I should do?

Lisa33
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Posts: 2430
Joined: Mon Sep 29, 2014 1:45 pm

Re: Currently on Flagyl, Doc wants to put me on Vanco

Postby Lisa33 » Mon Dec 21, 2015 9:47 pm

STANDARD INTRODUCTION:
Welcome to the site. Read the first forum “All Users Read This First” and subtopics “Site History” and “Information and Guidelines for Posting to our Discussion Boards.” (Note limits on posting.) This will guide you in using the site and answer some of your questions. Read Dr. Borody's articles. Also see the topics under “CDI” – particularly Recent CDC Report, C. diff. Bible, Tests, Antibiotics, Hygiene, and Nutrition.
“Doctors” lists physicians our posters recommended and also a worldwide list of C. diff. specialists with contact information. (Many perform FMT's.) See the forum “FMT’s and FE’s” or “Media Reports” for new information on C. diff.
The majority of patients (about 70%) recover with one to two rounds of Flagyl, vancomycin, or Dificid. An unfortunate small percentage doesn’t and can suffer for months. Most recover unless there are factors such as advanced age or other severe health problems. New treatments include FMT's, which have a high cure rate. Other drugs and treatments are in the pipeline, and there is increased recognition of C. diff. 20l6 will be a year of many advances and HOPE.
Help us make others aware of C. difficle – which will lead to further advances in treating and/or preventing the infection. If antibiotics contributed to your C. diff, be careful about taking them. Some people tolerate them; some develop C. diff again. Don’t take medications for C. diff. unless you are tested.
For more information, see other support groups including http://www.peggyfoundation.org, Clostridium Difficile Infection (CDI) Support Group, FMT Discussion, Fecal Transplant Foundation, C Diff Foundation, and the UK Support Site. There is also information on some of the better medical sites like Mayo's, Medscape, and WebMD, and the CDC website. Don't use "Dr. Google" to diagnose yourself.
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No one will understand what you are going through except someone who has/had this unpredictable disease. All of our moderators and frequent posters had/have C. diff. (or a loved one with it) and know how physically, emotionally, and financially disabling it is.
Again, welcome. Remember, the odds are in your favor. (End of letter.)

Hi Omar - Welcome to the site, but so sorry you had to deal with c-diff. When you tested positive for c-diff on Dec 2nd, was it by a PCR test, and did they test for the toxins? You can test positive by PCR, but test negative for the toxins, which means that you are colonized and do not have an active infection. If you do not have c-diff symptoms (watery D more than 3 times per day with the urgency to go), then I would not treat. Most doctors treat based on symptoms alone to avoid over-treating. You aren't supposed to test for a cure. I am not sure if you are experiencing c-diff symptoms still? Flagyl is a very hard drug to take for many. It made me sicker than c-diff. If you do have an active infection, vanco was much easier for me to tolerate. It also has a higher cure rate.

Keep us posted.
Lisa

Omar619
Brand New Poster
Posts: 3
Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2015 2:57 pm

Re: Currently on Flagyl, Doc wants to put me on Vanco

Postby Omar619 » Tue Dec 22, 2015 1:02 pm

Hi Lisa,

Thanks for the response. I am not sure which test was performed. I was given 4 different containers. 3 had some sort of liquid with a "red line". The 4th was a bit larger with no liquid. When my doctor called he said that the test came out positive for both toxins A/B. I wasn't having any water D and really haven't had any since my first positive test back in October of 2015. Mostly formed and at times a bit mushy. I still was having about 4-5 BM a day, mostly in the morning (still am as of today) I was sill having cramps and discomfort in my stomach but nothing severe. My appetite was back and I stopped losing weight. I had mentioned to my Dr that I heard it was possible to still test positive for c diff for weeks even without symptoms aka watery D. and I just assumed the cramping and pain (lower left side) was due to IBS left over from the infection. His reply was that I shouldn't have the bacteria period so that's why he gave me another stool test. Since I am new to this I just assumed I need to follow the doctor's orders. This infection is scary and I don't want it getting out of control. I am going to stay with Flagyl since I have 3 days left on it and I guess see what happens. I think my doc is looking for a cure via stool test, but it seems like many people based cure from not having symptoms. This is all very frustrating and pray for the day this thing is out of my life! If this 2nd round doesn't work then I assume the Vanco will be next.

Lisa33
Long Time Contributor
Posts: 2430
Joined: Mon Sep 29, 2014 1:45 pm

Re: Currently on Flagyl, Doc wants to put me on Vanco

Postby Lisa33 » Tue Dec 22, 2015 2:27 pm

C-diff is a very confusing illness, especially since every doctor seems to treat differently. If you are feeling ok and not having watery D more than 3 times per day, I definitely would hold off on anymore treatment after you finish the Flagyl. These meds are also hard on your body and do their share of killing good gut bacteria as well. Vanco kills less than Flagyl though. Dificid actually does not kill any good gut bacteria supposedly. The real healing starts to take place once you are off meds. Don't be surprised if your stools are all over the place for quite some time. Mine were very inconsistent for several months, and I was one of the lucky ones to get post-infectious IBS. I am a year out, and still get bouts of IBS. I just had it for the past couple of days (usually triggered by stress). I never had IBS prior to c-diff. In early recovery, it was not unusual for me to go several times in the morning. My mornings were rough for a while, but as the day went on, I would feel better. As time went on, things slowly improved. It took me 8 months to have just 1 BM per day. I also think that many of us have new "normals" after c-diff. I had changed to a more healthy diet and take probiotics daily which I never did prior to c-diff. This can attribute to my change in bowel habits as well.

Many of us use the "3 day rule" as a gage to differentiate between a relapse and IBS. You can read about this under CDI Info under the Board Index. IBS usually improves after 3 days, where c-diff usually gets worse. Also, it wasn't unusual for me to go 3-5 times in the morning during early recovery. As long as it wasn't watery D, and somewhat formed, I tried not to panic myself. I did thought I was relapsing several times and did retest once, but was negative.

I'm just sharing some of my experience to hopefully help you to be able to differentiate between normal recovery and active c-diff. It definitely is a tough thing to do and very confusing. Again, if you must retest, you should wait at least 14 days after finishing meds to avoid any false results.

Oh and also, it sounds like you were tested for other pathogens as well in addition to c-diff, which is a good thing. I think that liquid with the "red line" tests for a non-c diff pathogen. I know they tested me for giardia and I think listeria and e-coli maybe. I had that same liquid test too.

Hopefully you are on your way to recovery now. 3 more days of that horrible Flagyl. I couldn't tolerate it at all. Vanco or Dificid is a good next step. I did a 14 day course of vanco after I relapsed, and it cured me.

Feel better,
Lisa


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