freaking out...

[mach1320]

So, tested negative around thanksgiving. Had a colonoscopy in mid December and everything has been fine. Up until now, had a nasty cold/respiratory infection this last week and I'm finally getting over it. When yesterday I wake up feeling like crap, go to work feel crappy all day and not hungry. Get home and sleep for hours. Still feel ill. Now I've got really watery D.... Its possible the chicken I had thurs night was a touch undercooked which I'm hoping it's something along those lines Or a stomach bug I picked up. I hate the anxiety c diff leaves you with... Ergg

[beth22]

I had undercooked chicken and got campylobacter - watery D too. I tested for c diff and did a stool culture and the c diff was negative, but the campylobacter was found. It did not need treatment and cleared on its own. I just took Pepto. You might have an intestinal virus. There are lots of them going around and some people get the upper respiratory symptoms first and then it seems to go into the intestines. Hope you feel better.

[mach1320]

Thanks for the kind words Beth. Praying this will resolve itself in a few days just trying to stay hydrated. This is like colonoscopy prep all over again...

[beth22]

If it doesn't get better, ask your doctor to test your stool for everything - c diff, culture for other pathogens and also parasites. A number of posters got parasites after c diff. I think having c diff leaves us wide open for other intestinal ailments because so much of our good bacteria that protects us is killed off by the antibiotics and perhaps the c diff itself. Hopefully, it is just a virus.

[mach1320]

Yea let's hope it doesn't come down to that. I had tested negative for c diff around thanksgiving and that was 6 weeks after stopping Vanco. Was fine after that and even my colonoscopy didn't cause anything like I had worried. I felt crummy all day Friday but had normal bowel movements. Even Friday night. Then at like 6am I wake up passing water.

[Bobbie]

Could be undercooked chicken. Could be just "a bad day" and you will continue to have them throughout your recovery. Could be IBS. Many develop it after C diff. See CDI three day rule and CDI IBS. If this gets worse contact your doctor. Otherwise just hang in there. Let us know what happens.

If you hadn't had c diff, would you have reacted over this.? C diff makes cowards out of all of us. After all these years I still get upset about elements of c diff. Damnable disease!

[mach1320]

You know without c diff no id say it was a bad stomach bug. Knowing all that I do now regarding gi health and how dangerous it can be I freak out much easier. Part of me wants to try soup or something more solid to see what happens but I'm a bit worried to. Can't tell if I'm dehydrated or not. This is just like the scope prep. Drink water and in 10 mins your gut gurgles at your stomach and you can literally feel it gurgle through you until it hits the exit door....

[beth22]

I would call the on-call doctor and ask if you can take something like Pepto Bismol. It can help for IBS and won't stop you up completely in case it is c diff. Don't take Imodium though. If it is c diff, that will just trap the toxins.

[mach1320]

It must vary by person. I have immodoum I bought for ibs but never had to use it before. I do find one table spoon of pepto plugs me like a cork

[mach1320]

So they ordered a c diff test. I'll have to do it tomorrow morning. Really concerned if it's negative and I need an antibiotic. I've gotta do something so I can back to work plus going on 4 days of diarrhea can't be healthy for me

[mach1320]

Just an update, the c diff test came back negative which is great. Now I'm battling what is mild constipation with some very green movements when i actually can. But I'll take that over the debilitating diarrhea anyday. I figure the bacteria in my gut was totally wiped after that episode so im not too shocked. Drinking a glass of kefir each day and easing back into my normal diet. Hopefully everything will resolve itself within the weekend. It was good timing as I have a follow up visit with my specialist on Wednesday for the colonoscopy so i can discuss this with him.

[getwellsoon]

Glad to hear it. It always is so wonderful when we get that neg. result. I'm a worrier also and I hate it. Kefir is good idea, hope you feel back to normal soon.

[beth22]

If the green color continues, tell your doctor because certain parasites can do that. But, if you are not having D, then most likely it is not a parasite. Do you eat a lot of green vegetables like spinach, broccoli? Those can cause greenish stools. So can iron if you are taking supplements.

[mach1320]

No supplements or anything and didn't have a bunch of greens until Yesterday, got Thai food with no spice so that has lots of veggies.