feeling of nausea and light headed after having a BM

[Jimmy34]

I've just finished another round of vancomycin on 2/29/16. And I am having solid bm. I thank God for that. But afterwards I feel nauseous and a bit light headed or dizzy. Does anyone else have these symptoms? And if so, for how long?

[Lisa33]

If you haven't had bloodwork done, it may be a good idea to make sure all of your levels are good. Many have deficiencies after c-diff and meds, including vitamin and potassium. I was lucky to be only deficient in Vitamin D. However, there are few posters that have had low potassium, which can lead to these symptoms that you are feeling. Just something to look into if you haven't already.

[Jimmy34]

I had blood work done last week. Was also only low on vitamin D. I am hoping it is just some after effects from being on antibiotics for the better part of the last 3 months. And are just the toxins leaving my body. And not c diff returning.

[Jimmy34]

Still feel nauseous and dizzy after bm. Seeing my GI on Tuesday. I pray it's not c diff trying to come back. But the nausea and light headed and dizziness are not getting better. They put me on an anxiety med as well. Lexapro. But don't feel any less anxious. Still praying that it's my body fighting to get things back to normal.

[Lisa33]

It could definitely just all be part of healing, so try not to get discouraged. I hope your appt goes well on Tuesday. Keep us posted.

[AllisS]

Lexapro is generally given for depression and anxiety -- that is, when both are present. This drug can cause nausea. If anxiety rather than depression is mostly what you're dealing with, you might want to ask for a more typical anxiety medication such as Xanax (lorazapam), as I think nausea is less likely with that drug.

[Bobbie]

Agree with Allis. Ask about using an anti anxiety med only. Good luck at doc appointment.

[georgina]

Xanax is alprazolam not lorazepam.Be carefull with lorazepam it's really addictive and hard to come off of it. Agree about Lexapro ,it's a SSRI given for depression i have tried it , made me worse : nausea , no appetite , looser stools.

[AllisS]

Thanks, Georgina, for correcting my mistake. I've used Lorazepam as needed for many years. I know it can be addictive, though I've not had any problems with it, since I seldom actually take it. Just knowing I have it on hand helps me with anxiety.

[Jimmy34]

Thank you all. The GI told me they want to do a colonoscopy to see why I am getting nauseous and light headed when I have a bm. As well as the procedure where they look down my throat. Forgot what that's called. I go in for that march 28th. They want to try and find the reason why it kept coming back. I have been 8 days off of vancomycin with no c diff. This has been the longest time period after antibiotics with no c diff. 4 rounds of antibiotics to fight c diff since Dec 29, 2015. I pray c diff continues to stay gone. And no more meds are needed.And hopefully the nausea and dizziness is just some kind of after effect. Still taking the florastor and the vsl#3. But the gi suggested I stay on the Lexapro. But I may call my primary and try to get it switched to something else. The nausea has been happening only when I have a bm. And has been happening before I started the laxapro. But I'll definitely bring it up to my doctor. Again thank you all for your information and your support. It has helped me greatly.

[NikaNik]

Hi, Jimmy,

I hope you feel better soon. Some here advise not getting a colonoscopy as it can disturb/wipe out good gut flora and allow any remaining dormant c diff (if present) to grow causing a recurrence/relapse (a few posters said they have had this happen and my c diff specialist mentioned that it could be a possibility, particularly if done close to the initial infection).

Just because you relapsed doesn't mean there's anything "wrong" per say - c diff is a stubborn bug. I was lucky to have only had c diff for a couple months (even though ONE day is too long!). I took Augmentin for a sinus infection (which was probably viral anyway) and got c diff (since you must ingest c diff for it to be present in your gut, I must've ingested the c diff bacteria the year prior when I had outpatient surgery in the hospital and the Augmentin made it active). I relapsed a week after Flagyl and a week after Vanco and then a 30-day Dificid taper (not the standard dosing) with a medical food called Enteragam did the trick (almost 11 months out now and doing great, thankfully). My doc's office mentioned that a colonoscopy was only warranted if I had lots of blood or was testing negative after a few months and still had severe symptoms.

Recovery can be up and down and post-infectious IBS is common. Try not to worry! This could be the end of treatment for you. Also, has your doctor mentioned FMT? It has a great success rate and could be an option if you were to test positive again with symptoms (hopefully you won't need it at all). That would've been my next step if the Dificid taper with Enteragam didn't work.

Hang in there. You will get well!

Blessings,
Nikki

[roy]

Its a fact that blood pressure can rise or drop when defecating.
Thst could be whats causing your mild temporary symptoms.

I dont think I would be going through the invasive investigations your Dr suggested.
Your getting well.
If it ain't broke don't fix it!!

[Lisa33]

I also opted out of doing a colonoscopy soon after c-diff. I was not willing to take the chance of a relapse. I would get a second opinion on whether or not it is needed. My first GI wanted to do a list of tests just like yours. It included a colonoscopy and an endoscopy. I did not feel like my symptoms really warranted so many tests. I went to a new GI, and he said that based on my symptoms, no tests were needed. He said unless you are having bloody stools, then not to do any invasive testing at this time. Every doctor is different, and you need to be comfortable with your own decision though.

[Jimmy34]

Thank you all. I definitely have some decisions to make. I have a few weeks still to opt out of the procedures. So I think I will see how my recovery goes. And if I'm improving in the weeks to come I will either postpone or cancle them. I definitely don't want to do anything that will increase the chances of c diff coming back. But also the other side of the coin is that maybe something else is the reason it keeps coming back. I definitely appreciate all of your personal ininformation and all of your extensive knowledge. I would be lost without it. I am thankful for it and I pray for you all daily. I am feeling good today and my 1 bm this morning was not followed by any nauseousness or dizziness. I pray that is a trend that continues. I still have no real appetite. But that could be because of the stress. I did not take the anxiety meds today either. They don't seem to help much. Only make me drowsy and gave me a headache yesterday. Many have told me that Lexapro didnt help them either. And with similar side effects. Was also wondering do or did any of you feel a bit nauseous after eating? Just ate a sandwich about 30 minutes ago and feel a bit off. Sorry the recovery part is new to me. This is the longest ive gone without a relapse. 9 days.