Vanco taper possibly not working

[Malfal88]

I apologize in advance for the descriptions, but I guess that's why there is a TMI board. Ok, so I'm on the vanco taper and I started with 4 pills a day (250 mg) for two weeks and then dropped down to three. Every time I drop to three pills my D has returned with green M, so I keep getting bumped back up to 4 pills. This has happened twice. My ID doc decided to try 3 pills a day again. I started on Monday and as of yesterday my D is back, but there is absolutely no M. It's different this time. It's not watery, but kind of "fluffy" and it makes the water bubble like champagne (sorry gross)! I also have abdominal discomfort (never really went away) and stabbing pain on the left side, but it's not constant. I'm also drinking four 1/2 cups of kefir a day. Does this sound like it's coming back or just my gut healing? It's just odd that symptoms return every time I decrease to three pills. This has been going on for 4 months and I'm just fed up and scared. I was tested for UC, crohn's (through colonoscopy) and celiac (blood work) and all were negative. My doctor thinks I must have an underlying issue because according to him no 29 year old should have reoccurring c diff infections. Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated. Thank you!

[NikaNik]

Hi, Malfal88,

So sorry you're dealing with this. It's so incredibly frustrating and anxiety producing. I, too, was fed up and worried I would never be like I was before this. But, thankfully, I'm doing really well and eating like I did before. So have hope! You will get better! : )

It's hard to say if your gut is healing or if you may need to keep on the 4 pills for longer before dropping down (I remember a few folks here who did the taper said their symptoms returned if they dropped too soon). But if it's been 4 months, has your doctor considered Dificid (either the standard course or a taper - a 30-day Dificid taper worked for me after 2 relapses) or FMT? At this point they are both good options to consider. I was 35 last year when I came down with c diff after taking Augmentin (but since antibiotics don't "cause" the c diff to be in your system, I must've picked up the bacteria during a hospital stay several months before that).

As far as your doctor's comment about "must have an underlying issue"... Yes, some folks do have other issues. However, c diff can happen to anyone, of any age, at any time. It's caused by ingesting a c diff spore (transmission is fecal/oral although some have gotten it fecal/fecal through contaminated colonoscopies). That's why, on this board, you'll find everyone from seniors to young mothers, college students, even children who have gotten it. C diff spores are most prevalent in medical facilities (hospitals, doctor's offices, nursing homes) because some folks who have c diff there can't/don't wash their hands after using the bathroom, therefore leaving traces of c diff for visitors, nurses, doctor's or other patients to pick up on their hands and accidentally ingest when they touch their mouths to eat for example. Hand sanitizer does not kill c diff. It is preventable with proper cleaning and hand washing. After ingestion, there have been folks who have gotten ill right away but for many (and a lot of us here) the c diff can become part of normal gut flora (you won't even know you have it/no symptoms) until you take an antibiotic and/or PPI which wipes out your good flora and can make the c diff active.

Do you have any c diff specialists in your area? Keep hanging in there.

Blessings,
Nikki

[beth22]

Kefir can cause GI upset too. Maybe you don't need to drink as much with 3 pills a day. You could try to cut down and see if that is part of the problem.

[NikaNik]

Thanks for adding that, Beth! I had it in my mind to include that and forgot. Some people have mentioned that they get GI symptoms from probiotics/kefir etc. so it's certainly something to consider.

[Malfal88]

Thank you so much for posting a reply!! I'm definitely going to call the infectious disease doc on Monday if things haven't improved. I will try reducing the kefir, but I am hesitant to do so. Unhappy guts equal very unhappy skin for some people and I'm one of them. I haven't had acne since my teenage years and to put it frankly, I'm a walking pimple right now. I mean, it's all over my back, shoulders and face! It all popped up when I got sick, so I'm assuming it's from all the toxins. I was hoping the probiotics would help, but I guess this is not the time to be vain and just try anything. I will add that I have incorporated veggies back into my diet the past few days because I've literally been living off of rice crackers and toast for 4 months and my body is SCREAMING for nutrition. Maybe that has something to do with the added GI upset. I guess I'll try the dreaded brat diet again. I'll mention Didicid or FMT if things get worse.
This is such a physically and emotionally draining infection. I'm so glad you two are doing so much better! I needed a spark of hope today as all mine is gone. Thank you!

[ResearchGrandma]

Before C. diff I loved plain yogurt and salt free cottage cheese. Early on when I had C. diff an infectious disease doc told me to stop all dairy, including the kefir. Now (3 years past C. diff) I still can't tolerate any dairy, even lactose free. At some point towards the end of my 2 years with C diff I decided to eliminate gluten. At that time I was not sure if eliminating it helped or not, but now when I have any gluten I feel weird, tired, and "off" the next day. So I am not sure whether stopping the dairy and gluten is what caused me to become intolerant of them, or whether it was the C. diff infection itself. Raw veggies and fruits are often a problem for a C. diff irritated GI tract- well cooked ones somewhat better tolerated. I was able to eat chicken, tofu, smooth peanut or almond butter, eggs, salmon, oatmeal all throughout my C. diff.