Long slow recovery - relapse in mind..and in body?
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Long slow recovery - relapse in mind..and in body?
Hi everyone,
I have not been on the site a lot. I have been so busy with work and was even able to go home to Europe on vacation for 2 weeks. I have also had a couple of work trips and more to come (including Asia in March...).
It has now been 5 months since FMT. I must say I had many ups and downs - both with skin and bowels. My skin became a mess sknce cdiff - bad eczema and acne as a result. I constantly worry about possible complications or skin infections. I have used on a few occasions a little bit of steroid cream on small tiny areas of body. Also use lots of tea tree oil...
The other slow recovery has been the bowels itself. I always had a higher BM number pre cdiff (3-4 times a day). Since FMT, I have has mostly that type of frequency, but for the past 3 days I had 7 BMs. I am freaking out and beyond frustrated. I did start eating out much more as I took a new role in my company and have to be in the office every day - so I am no longer in so much control of everything I eat all the time as I did before. The other sin I have comitted is that I have been eating a lot of sugar since Christmas, and I knot how bad it is. Lastly, I have been using turmeric a lot and also putting oregnl oil under my foot before going to bed.
So my fear is: what id the steroid cream, tea tree oil, turmeric and oregano oil ended up messing up my gut flora and allow the best to come back and be dominant again?
I am beyond frustrated....and believe that I will do stool test tomorrow.
I have not been on the site a lot. I have been so busy with work and was even able to go home to Europe on vacation for 2 weeks. I have also had a couple of work trips and more to come (including Asia in March...).
It has now been 5 months since FMT. I must say I had many ups and downs - both with skin and bowels. My skin became a mess sknce cdiff - bad eczema and acne as a result. I constantly worry about possible complications or skin infections. I have used on a few occasions a little bit of steroid cream on small tiny areas of body. Also use lots of tea tree oil...
The other slow recovery has been the bowels itself. I always had a higher BM number pre cdiff (3-4 times a day). Since FMT, I have has mostly that type of frequency, but for the past 3 days I had 7 BMs. I am freaking out and beyond frustrated. I did start eating out much more as I took a new role in my company and have to be in the office every day - so I am no longer in so much control of everything I eat all the time as I did before. The other sin I have comitted is that I have been eating a lot of sugar since Christmas, and I knot how bad it is. Lastly, I have been using turmeric a lot and also putting oregnl oil under my foot before going to bed.
So my fear is: what id the steroid cream, tea tree oil, turmeric and oregano oil ended up messing up my gut flora and allow the best to come back and be dominant again?
I am beyond frustrated....and believe that I will do stool test tomorrow.
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Re: Long slow recovery - relapse in mind..and in body?
Hi Sevla
Congrats for beeing 5 months in recovery but sorry you are having issues.As you know , recovery it's pretty harsh wirth lots of ups and downs,weird BM , strange symptomes out of nowhere and since you stated that you have been eating lots of sweets these couple of weeks then maybe it triggered a flare of IBS.Try a blander diet for a couple of days and see if things slow down , or ask to get tested.I'm sending positive vibes your way for you to feel better! {{hugs}}
Congrats for beeing 5 months in recovery but sorry you are having issues.As you know , recovery it's pretty harsh wirth lots of ups and downs,weird BM , strange symptomes out of nowhere and since you stated that you have been eating lots of sweets these couple of weeks then maybe it triggered a flare of IBS.Try a blander diet for a couple of days and see if things slow down , or ask to get tested.I'm sending positive vibes your way for you to feel better! {{hugs}}
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Re: Long slow recovery - relapse in mind..and in body?
My SIBO specialist recommended curcumin to me (derived from turmeric) and he knew that I had a history of c diff. He said it would not make me relapse. Unfortunately, it did give me heartburn, so I did not continue it. Tumeric does kill some bacteria, but unless you are taking a lot of it, it should be ok. I would cut down on the sweets. Whenever I eat out a lot, it also gives me symptoms. Hopefully, that is all it is.
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Re: Long slow recovery - relapse in mind..and in body?
Wow, the idea of being able to travel and work so much is something I can't even begin to imagine yet. It seems like your FMT was successful. Hopefully your adventurous eating has just rocked your system and it is asking for some tender loving care for a bit. Especially when traveling I imagine that it is hard to bring with you the tried and true foods. Oatmeal packets and rice pre-mades should be OK for overseas travel though. When you go out of the country do you have a vanco or dificd prescription just in case? Prayers that this is just your bodies gentle reminder to stay patient since you have been through a lot.
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Re: Long slow recovery - relapse in mind..and in body?
Sevla
It's good to hear from you, I am amazed at the traveling you have done. There are so many factors, with changing your diet, work hours, travel, can all effect and trigger IBS.
Do you have any medication for IBS? I don't use it often anymore but keep it on hand. My GI gave me "Levsin" which is the brand name. It has helped and I use it very little. I have also continued with the VSL#3.
I think change in diet for me....can throw my GI system off alot, I will then go bland for several days and things will return to semi-normal.
I have tested 3 times throughout the last 13 months where I thought it was back( I also had to take antibiotics with Vanco twice) but have tested negative.
Hopefully this is an "off " time...which I have had many and you will be feeling better soon!!
Take Care
NanciT
It's good to hear from you, I am amazed at the traveling you have done. There are so many factors, with changing your diet, work hours, travel, can all effect and trigger IBS.
Do you have any medication for IBS? I don't use it often anymore but keep it on hand. My GI gave me "Levsin" which is the brand name. It has helped and I use it very little. I have also continued with the VSL#3.
I think change in diet for me....can throw my GI system off alot, I will then go bland for several days and things will return to semi-normal.
I have tested 3 times throughout the last 13 months where I thought it was back( I also had to take antibiotics with Vanco twice) but have tested negative.
Hopefully this is an "off " time...which I have had many and you will be feeling better soon!!
Take Care
NanciT
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Re: Long slow recovery - relapse in mind..and in body?
Hi Sevla - It is good to hear from you. It sounds like you have been doing very well and it's great that you are traveling again. I agree with the others. It sounds like an IBS flare up. As the others said, maybe try eating bland for a few days and see if it helps. I am 14 months out, and still get bouts of IBS every now and then. It is always a reminder of c-diff. I don't think that anything that you have used (steroids, etc.) would have done anything to mess up your gut flora. I bet in a couple of days, you will feel better.
Let us know how you do and feel better,
Lisa
Let us know how you do and feel better,
Lisa
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Re: Long slow recovery - relapse in mind..and in body?
Thank you everyone! I really appreciate the answers and the support.
I have not tested for the last 4 months, but this week really scared me and I took in a stool sample today. I hope it's just IBS. Today I feel a little better - I worked out of the house and ate all very bland and safe foods. So I guess all of the "eating out" and all kinds of food have upset my stomach, and now that I think back to last weekend, I also had a Bloody Mary - maybe too much!... I just want to feel like my old self where I drank and ate anything that would cross my path - I really was VERY adventurous with food and drinks. I miss those times. I guess I will have to be more careful for a while. I hope to get the results early next week and confirm that it is just IBS.
I can see from your own stories that even over a year later (or years later) IBS still is part of a long recovery and the new normal. I also know that I have to cut back on sugar and eat a bit just occasionally, not every day as I was doing for the past month.
I also had the chance to talk to my IM doctor today and he thinks a lot of it is related to stress and that I have to first and foremost find stress management techniques and also ways of not worrying 24/7 which forces the body to be in constant state of alert.
I am glad that all of you are doing fine. For those in the Mid Atlantic region - stay safe and warm! It does not look pretty out there. It's going to be a nice weekend to just relax and take care of ourselves.
Thank you all again!
I have not tested for the last 4 months, but this week really scared me and I took in a stool sample today. I hope it's just IBS. Today I feel a little better - I worked out of the house and ate all very bland and safe foods. So I guess all of the "eating out" and all kinds of food have upset my stomach, and now that I think back to last weekend, I also had a Bloody Mary - maybe too much!... I just want to feel like my old self where I drank and ate anything that would cross my path - I really was VERY adventurous with food and drinks. I miss those times. I guess I will have to be more careful for a while. I hope to get the results early next week and confirm that it is just IBS.
I can see from your own stories that even over a year later (or years later) IBS still is part of a long recovery and the new normal. I also know that I have to cut back on sugar and eat a bit just occasionally, not every day as I was doing for the past month.
I also had the chance to talk to my IM doctor today and he thinks a lot of it is related to stress and that I have to first and foremost find stress management techniques and also ways of not worrying 24/7 which forces the body to be in constant state of alert.
I am glad that all of you are doing fine. For those in the Mid Atlantic region - stay safe and warm! It does not look pretty out there. It's going to be a nice weekend to just relax and take care of ourselves.
Thank you all again!
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Re: Long slow recovery - relapse in mind..and in body?
Hi Sevla
You said you had a Bloody Mary , that contains vodka and alcohol it's a HUGE no no, it really upsets the gut and i think this is what trigerred IBS.Crossing fingers for test results to come back negative!
You said you had a Bloody Mary , that contains vodka and alcohol it's a HUGE no no, it really upsets the gut and i think this is what trigerred IBS.Crossing fingers for test results to come back negative!
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Re: Long slow recovery - relapse in mind..and in body?
Agree - too many no nos. I hate a lot of "bad stuff"" yesterday and am paying for it today.
Glad you are able to travel-again.Read CDI - TravelTips.
Glad you are able to travel-again.Read CDI - TravelTips.
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Re: Long slow recovery - relapse in mind..and in body?
I ate some goodies yesterday too and today morning had D.Hopefully tomorrow is going to be a better gut day.
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Re: Long slow recovery - relapse in mind..and in body?
Sevia: Eating bad stuff can lead to bad reactions in many of us post C. Diff and even post a normal C. Diff recovery period. I still have issues with diet and am nearly 3 years post C. Diff. Sometimes, I have IBS that I can directly point to a cause 24-48 hours prior. However, sometimes, I have no clue why my colon is irritated. I am, however, not a normal case having celebrated many birthdays and having numerous health issues. I would think that alcohol would be something you should definitely avoid. I doubt you are having a relapse or a recurrence if you have not taken any antibiotics. Actually, given that you are able to travel so much and are so active, it sounds like you are doing very well. Just bland out with your diet for awhile and take it a little easier on your system by trying the more exotic type of food slowly and in small portions.
Aloha,
Anne
Aloha,
Anne
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Re: Long slow recovery - relapse in mind..and in body?
Thanks again, everyone. I agree that alcohol is a big no no. I have been having very little of it. I have rice wine at times when I eat at Korean restaurants (my new favourite because of all their fermented foods). I had done well with that. I guess bloody mary is a not so "bowel friendly" with the vodka and spicy stuff.
I felt better the last two days, but today I have had alread two BM. I always get so nervous when I go multiple times in the morming.. Btw - am I the only one who gets exhausted for 10-15min after a bowel movement?
I forgot to answer to Dukiemom, I do take Dificid with me when I travel just in case. I hope to never have to use it.
Anne, I hope you are right and this is no relapse as I have not taken antibiotics. However, I wonder if all those other natural antibacterial things plus steroid and acne cream have some influence in good gut bacteria. I hope not...
Thanks you all again so much!
I felt better the last two days, but today I have had alread two BM. I always get so nervous when I go multiple times in the morming.. Btw - am I the only one who gets exhausted for 10-15min after a bowel movement?
I forgot to answer to Dukiemom, I do take Dificid with me when I travel just in case. I hope to never have to use it.
Anne, I hope you are right and this is no relapse as I have not taken antibiotics. However, I wonder if all those other natural antibacterial things plus steroid and acne cream have some influence in good gut bacteria. I hope not...
Thanks you all again so much!
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Re: Long slow recovery - relapse in mind..and in body?
Quick update - my test result was negative!! I guess we just have to deal with a crazy recovery where things do get bad for a few days at times...
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Re: Long slow recovery - relapse in mind..and in body?
Happy you tested negative but i kinda' knew you would . Recovery is a bumpy road , hang in there!
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Re: Long slow recovery - relapse in mind..and in body?
Yay Sevla! Glad you were negative. I don't know why these bouts of IBS happen for so many of us. I know that when it happens to me, I can't help but get a little nervous. And then of course the nerves can make things worse. I'm sure you are feeling relieved. I bet all of your symptoms will subside now that you know you are negative. :-)
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