POST POST C-DIFF dietary changes related or not?

[Ang]

I was overdosed with antibiotics and contracted C-Diff in May, cleared up with antibiotics, but was pretty bad. I am now exercising and have been trying to clean up my diet of processed food and dairy, but have found that some of the foods I could previously eat no longer agree with me; nuts and milk are two examples, but more keep popping up. I am finding this out in the most obnoxious way. It's like I am 80 years old and incontinent at times. I exercise regularly and am horrified that I might have have an episode. Is this typical of C-Diff veterans. All of the sudden you just start going to the bathroom.. without warning! Sometimes it is just a small "leakage". Either way it is foul, embarrassing and inconvenient. Anyone have any tips to controlling this? Right now I am trying to exercise on an empty stomach for fear of the rear!!!! FYI, I am 43 and used to be able to eat anything, love spicy food, beer, coffee, cheese etc.... most of those luxuries have gone out the door or the hatch...ewwww

[AllisS]

Hi Ang. A moderator should be along soon to officially welcome you. Meanwhile: many people find they have food intolerances that they didn't have before after C. diff. But take heart, these are unlikely to last indefinitely. There is no specific post-C. diff diet, and it sounds as though you're already on the right track by using trial and error. As to the episodes of incontinence, this is something you should speak with your doctor about; we can't advise, as this is a support vs. a medical site. Whatever the reason for them, you might get some peace of mind by using Depends or a similar product at least when you're exercising or outside the house. Again, this is highly unlikely to be needed long-term.

You mentioned that an antibiotic precipitated your illness. It would be great if you would fill out an FDA Adverse Event form concerning that antibiotic online (see link after my name). Though FDA is generally sluggish in implementing warnings about harmful drugs, these patient self-reports are apparently instrumental in the agency's generating such advisories after a certain critical mass has accumulated.

Best wishes with your recovery,

Allison

[Lisa33]

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Hi Ang - Welcome to the site, but so sorry you had to suffer with c-diff and now dealing with the lovely post-infectious issues that it leaves behind. I can't speak to incontinence as I do not suffer from this. However, it can take quite some time for our guts and colons to heal after battling such a serious infection. There are many on this site who can not tolerate many foods as they used to eat prior to c-diff. Dairy intolerance happens to many. I know that this isn't for everybody, but what really helped for me was eating gluten free. I battled c-diff from Sept-Nov 2014. In January of this year, I felt terrible. I had post-infectious IBS, I felt like I had a constant flu and just foggy and fatigued. I went to a new Internal MD, who also practiced in alternative medicine. She did an enormous amount of blood work, checking for everything, including any vitamin deficiencies. I winded up being deficient in Vitamin D, so she recommended supplements. She also recommended eating gluten free for 6 weeks to see if it helped. I was desperate, so did it 100% for the 6 weeks. After 2-3 weeks, I felt a significant improvement in my energy level, as well as, my digestion. I have continued on this diet, except for on the weekends, when I tend to go off of it. I am sharing this as it has worked for me, but I also know that diet and recovery is a very individual thing. Also, are you still taking probiotics? Probiotics can help with IBS and colitis issues, as well as, help to keep the good gut flora in check. You should definitely discuss your issues with your doctor though. I am 9 months out now, and the only food that I still have issues with is salad with balsamic dressing. I pretty much am back to normal with diet. At month 8, I finally had only 1 BM per day, although they are still not "normal" pre-c diff-like. I am probably jinxing myself, but it's been several weeks since my last bout of IBS. So, overall it took me a good 8 months to get back to a state that I consider "normal." You will get there too! It just takes time.

Lisa

[Ang]

Thanks Allison and Lisa,
Funny you say salad and balsamic vinegar bother you... Hadn't connected it, but I have been eating more greens, and frequently use balsamic vinegar dressing......

[Bobbie]

Love "for fear of the rear" and copied it in Humor. Might as well laugh when we can.

Glad you are exercising. It helped me keep my sanity during c diff. Wear a large sanitary pad or even an adult diaper - I know - yuck.

Dairy products bother many after c diff. I still have problems so take Laxr Aid tablets beforehand. Sometimes the tablets work and sometimes they don't.

I, too, had a cast iron stomach before c diff. Not anymore. I am able to tolerate more and more foods, however.

A microbiologist warned me not to eat lettuce many years ago because it is so difficult to wash well. I do eat it now, however - at home and in restaurants. Balsamic vinegar contains a lot of acid so this might be your problem.

See CDI - Nutrition. Best of luck. Keep us posted, and remember, the majority of people recover quickly. I hope you are one of the lucky ones.