Why Don't These Doctors Warn About C-Diff?

[shanor49]

I'm just going to vent for a second or two and thank you for these forums that allow me to realize unfortunately I'm far from alone with these ordeals with c-diff. I went to my primary physician due to a sinus infection. He put me in Amoxicillin and gave me ZERO WARNING ABOUT C-DIFF OR ANTIBIOTIC INDUCED COLITIS. The sad thing is he just asked me how my ulcerative colitis was doing during this same visit. I told him I WAS DOING THE BEST I EVER HAVE BEEN SINCE BEING DIAGNOSED WITH UC. So, two days after completing my antibiotic I am sent into a severe cramping, yellow, bloody diarrhea with mucous and 8 bowel movements a day thing. I immediately contacted my wonderful gastroenterologist who said that was the worst medicine I could have been on, and now I am on my second round of Vancocin and also Prednisone. Honestly, I was soooo angry that I simply was not warned at all about the POSSIBILITY OF THIS ANTIBIOTIC SENDING ME INTO A FLARE-UP...especially after he asked me how I was doing with my colitis. No warning...nothing. He didn't even tell me to eat yogurt to keep the good bacteria multiplying. So, I contacted his office and made sure he knew that the medicine he put me on was the WORST POSSIBLE MEDICINE THAT HE COULD HAVE PUT ME ON. What he doesn't realize is that my quality of life has changed since then. For two weeks plus, I have not been able to take my son to preschool because of my numerous bowel movements. I also have a 1 1/2 year old and I just love leaving him in the family room while I run to the bathroom. I can't go to the grocery store because my urgencies are so bad, I almost go in my pants. THANK GOD I have prescription insurance because my pills are $6400 so far. If I would have ever known that I could have gone from feeling the best I have ever felt with my colitis to this c diff, I would have suffered through the sinus infection or found another way to treat it. But, that's the role of the physician is to treat you and make you better...He has made me far worse. Maybe someone else won't go through what I'm going through!

[supersmurf]

Hi Shanor49,
I'm sorry to hear about your troubles, especially in combination with your UC. Unfortunatly, your dealings with contracting c-diff is the case for many people - they are not warned or aware of the side affects of the antibiotics they are taking - I know I certainly was not.
Since getting c-diff last year I have made it a point to tell people where the illness I had came from and ways that they can hopefully prevent it. If I can save anyone from the pain of c-diff it is worth it.
The bracelets are a good starting point I find (Christina is in charge of them if you want one) - people ask what the heck is c-diff and many people are very surprised to learn what it is and how it is caused.
I hope you have a speedy recovery.
Supersmurf

[Sheila1]

Shanor49,

So sorry to hear your story...UC is tough enough to deal with by itself. Your frustrations and anger are not only understood, but shared by many.

My doctor gets perturbed at me sometimes because I'm always asking for a referral to this or that specialist but your story is the exact reason why. A GP just can't know everything - and I will never understand why, when someone has a particular condition like you do, they don't consult before prescribing!..... seems like common sense to us doesn't it?

I don't know where you're from (the U.S.?) but the majority of doctors in the U.S. aren't aware that CDiff is reaching epidemic status here. Remember - the antibiotic did not give you CDiff, you had to acquire the disease somewhere before taking the antibiotic; then the antibiotic destroyed your good bacteria and allowed the CDiff bacteria to flourish and take over.

It is important to spread the word about being extremely cautious in taking antibiotics; but it's equally important to spread the word that CDdiff, both community acquired and hospital acquired, is dramatically increasing. If doctors were aware of this maybe they would be much more careful about prescribing antibiotics.

As I talk to people about antibiotics they just shrug their shoulders because they've taken antibiotics many times and never had a problem, so they think nothing of it. What they need to understand is that CDiff is out there in-force and they may have picked up the disease without knowing it; and the next time they take the antibiotic instead of "2 aspirin and call me in the morning" may be a very different story.

Be sure and read the FAQ section, lots of information there, especially the Hygiene section.

Wishing you very, very speedy healing!!

[Nancy1]

shanor49,
I am so sorry to hear of everything you are having to deal with. And with 2 little children too. Argghh! Doctors take an oath which says: first of all, do no harm. But too many of them have harmed us. I remember my days of being chained to the toilet, and being afraid that I would never have a life again. I had cdiff for 8 months, and with time and higher vanco dosages, the frequency got more under control.

Most people are cured after 1-2 rounds of Flagyl or vanco, and I see you are on your second round, so I really hope this one does it for you. Good luck.

[Christina]

There of course is no excuse for what the Dr.'s are doing or the way they are prescribing antibiotics and I am so sorry that you have to deal with this horrible illness. when I contacted the Dermatologist who prescribed the antibiotic that caused my c-diff he told me he always knew that this would happen to one of his patients. It was just a matter of time. I was the first or at least the first who reported it to him. He was very ignorant about the whole thing and told me he felt my GI Dr. did not know what he was talking about nor what he was doing because even if I had c-diff it never,ever survives a round of Vanco or sticks around for a year and a half. HA! Who doesn't know what he's talking about ???????????????????

Anyway, although the Dr.'s should warn about antibiotic dangers(and most don't)if you read the print outs now from the pharmacy for antibiotics they now include a warning about c-diff. I guess unfortunately, it is up to us as the consumers to read and protect ourselves as obviously the Dr.'s are not going to do it for us. One thing I have learned with my c-diff experience is to be extremely proactive in my health care. I question everyone and everything and always ask for all of the available options before making my decision as to treatment. I know my GI Dr. will agree!

If they aren't going to look out for us we have to be the one's.

[Bobbie]

Christina said it so well. We are are the best advocates for ourselves and our families. There are so many new meds. (including antibiotics) "out there" now & sometimes I doubt that docs./ dentists are that familiar with many. They rely on the PDR & the drug reps. -- who, of course, are selling something.

When my pulmo. tried to put me on Avalox for pneumonia, I called the pharmacist when I got home. He said Avalox was similar to Levaquin -- which caused my 2nd C. diff. episode. I asked for a Zpak instead. It worked (altho. the pulmo said it wasn't "the drug of choice) & didn't cause C. diff. (altho. it has in others.).

If you question a medicine, read the pkg. insert, call your pharmacist, check it on the some of the reputable health sites, & don't hesitate to call your doctor back & tell him/her your concerns.

[shanor49]

I just wanted to say, "Thank you" to all who responded. It's nice to know there's a community of support out there. It's sad to know c-diff is spreading as well. You know I completely place the blame for my c-diff on my primary physician since he should have let me know that since I have a condition like colitis, there's a possibility that putting me on this antibiotic can disturb my good bacteria and send me into c-diff (or antibiotic-induced colitis) In fact, my brochure from my pharmacy which I read completely, made no mention of c-diff, and it should have. The closest thing it mentioned was mild diarrhea - which I've heard is common for antibiotics. My symptoms just exploded two days after treatment with the antibiotic. Even after I contacted his office immediately after I finished the antibiotic and was having trouble, he simply called in an anti-diarrhea medicine which when somebody has colitis, that's the last thing you want them on. And if you have c-diff, they do not encourage anti-diarrhea medicines either. That tells me how MISINFORMED that doctor is or stupid (ha-ha). Thank God, I have my gastroenterologist whom I trust and will run by all my medicines I'm ever given any more. But again, you can hear the anger still in my words. I want him held accountable for what he has done to my colon (ha-ha). My colitis was so wonderfully in control. That's the most upsetting thing of all for me. I felt so normal for a while there. I never wanted to be on Prednisone again and here I am taking 20 pills a day total. But, I have to realize others have it much worse. Sadly for instance, the ones that may not be able to affort this medicine. Thank you everyone. You're responses are greatly appreciated.

[Bobbie]

shanor49,
Vantin is the antibiotic that "set me up" for C. diff. altho. my son had it twice many years earlier. (Perhaps a genetic component.) At that time, it was "the drug of choice" for many infections & was on the end cap in many pharmacies. Not only didn't it cure my sinus infection, but I was hospitalized with sinusitis, pneumonia, a UTI, & C. diff. & then developed other infections. I had never had a GI problem prior to C. diff.

A pharmacist at Mayo told me that regardless of all tests, "they" never really know how a med. is going to affect many in the "general population" until it's been on the market for at least a year. My ENT told me the first 3 patients he gave Vantin developed C. diff. so he stopped using it. It's still used but not as often.

Am I bitter? You betcha. But not much I can do about it.

Glad the web site has helped you. Be sure & read FAQ-Antibiotics.