So confused?

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Cassci
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So confused?

Postby Cassci » Mon Aug 29, 2016 1:10 am

Hey all, thanks for taking time to read this, 27 yr old, generally healthy female. Today I went to the ER because I was passing mucous tinged with blood. I have not really had watery diarrhea but twice earlier in the week, and have had firmer stools inbetween. What doesnt make sense is how I got this and is it severe? A lot of what I am reading says it is caused by antibiotics. I took 1, just 1 150mg clyndamycin on Thursday, Aug 18 before oral surgery and decided what the heck, Im not taking this after. I also took ibuprofen, the next 2 days I felt okay. Sunday we had a cook out and I ate as normal and had a mikes hard lemonade, soon after my stomach was an acidic mess. It hurt something terrible. Then Monday I had loose liquidy poo some cramping... Thought ai had either gastritis or the stomach flu. Wednesday, Thursday, mild cramping, nothing to out there. Friday, i had mucousy spotting after peeing. I didnt realize the light mucousy spotting was coming from my bottom. Saturday, i had a gassy, explosive BM and it was nothing but pinky mucous. Then today Sunday 8 /28 I had a somewhat firm movement with mucous, a firm without mucous, and now just little BM of just wet blood tinged mucous... I took a stool sample to the ER and tested positive for,cdiff and went into full panic mode. 1. Could one little clyndamycin pill cause all this harm? 2. Does this sound like a severe casebor a mild one? I cant tell because while my D is not frequent, I do have bleeding. 3. Should I go ahead and take the Vanco or wait a bit and tey probiotics?

beth22
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Re: So confused?

Postby beth22 » Mon Aug 29, 2016 1:27 am

Welcome to the site. Please read the first forum regarding posting and other information. I'm sorry that the one pill of Clindamycin did this, but Clindamycin is probably the worst drug for causing c difficile. If you are having bleeding, then it is probably time to treat and take the vancomycin. Did you ask the doctor about trying probiotics first? I had your same symptoms 8 years ago and asked my GI at the time the same question and he said that I needed to start the vanco. In hindsight, I wish that I had tried the probiotics, but I have no idea if it would have helped. Maybe you should call back and ask about that. We are not a medical site and can't really give you medical information. Do you have a GI? If not, call the ER and tell them you had a question about your visit there. Sometimes stopping the offending antibiotic is enough, but that does not seem to be your case.

amyc
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Re: So confused?

Postby amyc » Mon Aug 29, 2016 2:11 am

I personally would start the vanco. It's great that they gave you vanco instead of flagyl. I started treatment within a week of starting symptoms and was cured by vanco and don't deal with serious IBS issues like people who delayed treatment.

georgina
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Re: So confused?

Postby georgina » Mon Aug 29, 2016 3:42 am

Hi.
Another welcome to the site.Usually the bathroom descriptions belong for TMI thread!
Sorry you are dealing with Cdiff, and yes , you can end up with Cdiff from just one clindamycin pill .Clindamycin is the number one offender and unfortunately it can cause Cdiff in ANY form : pill , cream etc. And I agree with Amy and Beth ,if you tested positive and you have mucous and blood you should start taking the treatment that your doctor has prescribed for you. Do you have a GI doctor , if not , you should start looking for one , or also a infectios disease doctor will be more knowledgeable in Cdiff then a ER doctor , so you might wanna make an appointement for a consultation.

tonia
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Re: So confused?

Postby tonia » Mon Aug 29, 2016 7:03 am

I would just like to say, 2 clinda pills was all it took to do me in, so yes, unfortunately 1 pill could do it. I am so very sorry that you are going through this. Hang in there, it will get better.

Wish they would stop letting dentists/oral surgeons use that stuff. Save it only for last ditch life saving situations.

Cassci
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Re: So confused?

Postby Cassci » Mon Aug 29, 2016 4:15 pm

I'm sorry if I posted in the wrong spot. I wasn't sure which forum was most fitting for my post.
I go pick up my Vanco today.
The reason that they put me on Vanco is because I have an 8 month old baby that I exclusively breast feed.

Strange thing is, this morning I did go, had a bit of looseness and some mucous (maybe pink tinged?) and have not used the restroom and have felt fine all day ( other than the occasional rumbling.) My appetite has also came back with a vengeance today. I have not yet picked up the Vanco... should I wait a couple days? I took the offending antibiotic 10 days ago, got symptoms 3 days after taking it and had both normal and loose stools maybe 2-3 times a day and today seem to be getting a little better... My only real symptom was the mucous with light pink. Should I wait to see if it clears on it's own since it is a relatively new infection? I picked up some florastor and Activia yogurt.

With having a baby I nurse I would like to avoid antibiotics at any cost I can. I'm just worried this stuff will hit me with a vengeance... does c diff wax and wane or is it the type of infection that just progressively gets worse.

Jill79
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Re: So confused?

Postby Jill79 » Mon Aug 29, 2016 4:33 pm

I agree you should call the ER and voice your concerns and probably take the medication prescribed to you.

Also, when I was in the ER two months ago (before I was tested for C. Diff) I was told that the ER can refer you to a specialist (a gastroenterologist or infectious disease doctor in your case) and if referred by an ER physician, in some states they are required to get you an appointment within 72 hours in lieu of waiting for a "new patient" appointment that may take weeks.

Again, I'm just speaking from my own personal experience, but you should definitely follow up with either the ER, a GI or ID to address your issues.

I'm sorry to hear that you are also dealing with this horrible illness and hope you feel better soon!

NanciT
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Re: So confused?

Postby NanciT » Mon Aug 29, 2016 10:21 pm

I will jump in here also and say you can get CDIFF with one pill, we have people on the site who have gotten it with no antibiotics. If you tested positive in the ER and they gave you an RX for Vanco, I would start it.
Ask them to refer you to a GI, they should have a list or can also fax a referral if needed
Feel better soon
NanciT

georgina
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Re: So confused?

Postby georgina » Tue Aug 30, 2016 12:56 am

Untreated Cdiff is like lottery , it can get better within days after stopping the offending antibiotic or it can get worse or even life threatening . If you are experiencing bloody mucous it's definitely time for vanco!

AllisS
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Re: So confused?

Postby AllisS » Tue Aug 30, 2016 8:19 am

Cassci, welcome to the site though sorry you had to end up on it. I was another victim of clindamycin (C. diff in 2012; recovery with no recurrence so far). I hope you will fill out an Adverse Event Report on the FDA's website -- you can use the link at the end of my post to access it. Your experience with just one pill is especially important, as prescribing doctors are under the illusion that "it's just one 'small' dose" so can't possibly do any harm. The hope is that the FDA, despite its overall ineffectuality and its glacialness in pace when it comes to issuing warnings, will eventually have received enough adverse reports that it will at least be forced to issue a stricter black-box warning. We can't rely on the medical profession to document the harms that these medications are causing. Best wishes for a quick recovery.

Allison
If your illness was preceded by use of a medication, e.g., an antibiotic, please fill out an FDA Adverse Event Report at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/default.htm

Cassci
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Joined: Mon Aug 29, 2016 12:51 am

Re: So confused?

Postby Cassci » Wed Aug 31, 2016 11:49 am

Thanks AllisS,
I will definitely fill out a report!
Thankfully the past 3 days I have had one normal BM each day. The first 2 days has some bloody M mixed in, today no blood and have had no other symptoms. Dr. says that we can hold off on treatment as long as symptoms stay gone. :) Yay! Just stinks that now that I am feeling better I have to go this Friday to get the rest of my teeth extractions done for my braces and will be back in misery. Oy.


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