Florastor

[Soimez]

Hi, everybody I'm a 37 year old male who was in great health until my doctor prescribed me clyindmicin when I never even needed to be on antibiotics. Two weeks later I developed c diff and have been battling it for two months and two relapses. I first started out on flagyl for 8 days which helped right away but the side effects were just horrible, nausea, bad taste but what I found the worst was the severe depression... I also was taking bio k plus once a day.. Well 10 days later the d came back then I was put on Vanco 4 a day for 10 days. I felt alittle better after about 72 hours. After I finished the 10 days I felt okay for about two weeks and then the c diff came roaring back.. So now I just started 10 more days of Vanco and I'm still taking the bio k plus. I just started Florastor and I was wondering how many Florastor I should be taking a day? Also I have already lost 20lb and been off work sick because of this. I've already missed two months of work. I'm scared cause I have to return to work this Saturday the 27th of feb. The worst part is my doctor doesnt think that c diff is a big deal and I had a negative stool sample after I finished the flagyl but I took it two days off of the meds. I've been dealing with a doctor at a walkin clinic and he's seem to be more sympathetic towards the issue and he's been treating me with the vanco. I know I can not live like this anymore and when my rotten family doctor gets back from enjoying his life on vacation for the next two weeks well I'm suffering, I'm demanding that I want to see a specialist. I'm in the Toronto area and I have found a great specialist out of Hamilton and they do fmt. I no long want to deal with this and I open to any solution. I just want my life back...

[Lisa33]

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.
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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.
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Hi Soimez - Welcome to the site, but so sorry you have been dealing with c-diff. I am not a doctor and can't give medical advice, but I am actually not surprised that you relapsed after the first round of Flagyl. I have never heard of an 8 day treatment. It's usually at least 10 days. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong. Flagyl has become more and more resistant to c-diff, and many do relapse. I also relapsed after Flagyl. And it is just a horrific med to tolerate. It made me sicker than the c-diff. I was actually put on it again after I relapsed. The side effects were awful. After 9 days of hell, I was finally switched to a 14 day Vanco treatment. Again, you were put only on 10 days of vanco. That seems a little short to me as well. And, you are right, you were tested too soon after the Flagyl. Most doctors treat based on symptoms alone and do not test for a cure. This is an effort to avoid overtreating and avoid false results. If a doctor retests, it should be at least 10-14 days after finishing meds, the longer the better. I'm glad that you found a specialist that does FMTs. Probiotics really is a very individual thing. Some can tolerate them and others can't. I would start off slow with 1 Florastor and see how you do. When I had active c-diff, I took 2 VSL-3s per day, as I wasn't acquainted with Florastor yet, and that is what my GI recommended. VSL-3 is a live lactic acid bacteria. With any live bacteria, you need to space them apart from the meds as the meds will kill it off. Florastor is a yeast probiotic, so it will not be killed off by meds. In recovery, I added Florastor and took 1 VSL-3 and 1-Florastor daily. I still do, and I'm 15 months out. Kefir is also a good probiotic drink that has proven benefits. I was actually cured with a 14 day course of vanco after I relapsed. However, you may want to discuss with your doctor trying a taper/pulse with the vanco as that has cured many on this site. It's always good to have a next step plan in place with your doctor as a just in case. Dificid is another option. Many have been cured with Dificid tapers after vanco tapers have failed. And then there is always the FMT, which is usually the last resort after several relapses, which has the highest cure rate of all. Remember, that it can take quite some time for your body to recover after c-diff and meds. Many of us are left with food intolerances and post infectious IBS. Recovery can be a rollercoaster ride and you may think you are relapsing, when in fact it's just normal recovery and IBS. See IBS-3 Day Rule under CDI Info under the Board Index. There is a ton of info on this site and we all know what you are going through. It is a very tough illness on your body and your mind. But know, that you will be cured of this.

Hang in there and hope you feel better soon.
Lisa

[Soimez]

Hi Lisa, thank you for the reply. I'm going to see the doctor who prescribed me the Vanco on Saturday, so maybe I will ask home for a few more days worth of Vanco cause they only put me on it for 10 days again. Because of this illness I also have been placed on Ativan and citalopram which is an antidepressant. I just want to rid this awful disease from my body and never have it come back. Also I have never had health issues before so this has been a real wake up call.. When I get better I will no longer stress the small stuff... Thanks again for the reply

[Lisa33]

You are not alone. We all understand the mental stress, anxiety and depression that goes along with the physical aspect of this illness. It can take a toll. Just know that you will get through it. It can take some time, but you will improve and get better. With time, the fears and anxiety get better too.

[NanciT]

Hello Soimez

I am sorry you are going through all of this, so many of us reach this point. Lisa has given you great advice and I also read your post and wondered about the dose given. You can look under CDI and treatments and you will see what typical dose for these medications are. Of coarse there are many different ways of prescribing and your doctor will hopefully get you on the right tract. I read your usual MD is out on vacation, someone will be ON CALL for him, call the office and explain to that doctor you have been treated at a walk in clinic. Make sure to let them know what point you are at with this. I would then ask for a referral to a Gastroenterologist. If the doctor on call wants to see you, I would push for that soon. I always recommend getting a GI specialist and possibly ask if they have experience with CDIFF.
Hope you feel better soon
NanciT

[Soimez]

Hi Nanci, thanks for the reply, both times they put me on Vanco 125/4 times a day for 10 days, I'm going back to the walkin clinic on sat and that will be around day 7 of the Vanco I will ask him if he can give me a few more days worth or if we can do a taper.. Also how many Florastor should I be taking and for how long, I just started them today and I'm taking 3 250 mg a day is that fine or should I be taking 4 a day and then how many after I'm done the Vanco per day? Any advice would be great.. Thanks again..

[NanciT]

Everyone is different on the Probiotics. I was unable to take Florester due to a rash, I am on VSL#3 and took 2 while going through CDIFF and now have gone down to one. Due to the fact they effect everyone differently, it is very individual. Some will add Kefir which I took early on and felt it helped. It's a matter of trying one at a time to make sure you are not having any adverse effects or increased GI issues with them. It is not a case of the more the better, it is what works for you. Take a look under CDI, there is info there on the Vanco taper. If you need to, write it down for you MD. I did this when I went on DIficid, I brought in alot of information with me.
Let us know how you do
NanciT

[Soimez]

Thanks for the reply Nanci, I took 3 last night and was extremely gassy but I also ate some dairy.. I'm gonna try just two today plus the bio k and see how tonight goes.. Thanks again for the reply and I will keep everyone updated......

[Lisa33]

Too many probiotics can make you gassy. Maybe start off with one, and see how it goes. It took my body a bit to adjust to probiotics. In the beginning, I was very gassy and bloated, but it was tolerable. After a while, my body seemed to adjust and those symptoms subsided.

[Soimez]

Hi Lisa, thanks again for the reply I'm gonna just go with 2 Florastors and the bio k today and see how things go.. I've been taking the bio k ever since I got the c diff two months ago so I'm not sure if this bio k is really helping. Plus it $45 every two weeks or so.. Maybe I should just go with kifer and the Florastor??

[Lisa33]

Probiotics are really trial and error and very individual, as what works for me, may not work as good for you, or vice versa. The two most used probiotics seem to be VSL-3 and Florastor. A lot of posters also drink Kefir. If you switch up your regimen, I would give it a few days to a week to see how you do. If you have issues, then you know what the culprit is and can stop taking it. I believe Bio-K is a live bacteria probiotic, so is completely different from Florastor, correct? If so, then maybe take one of each, so that you are getting both types of probiotics - both live bacteria and a yeast probiotic (sacch boulardii). It's really up to you though.