New Member, Symptoms versus Recovery

Since c-diff is a disease of the "lower half", so to speak, we find that many of our members cannot refrain from discussing what comes out the bottom end. If you must do it, please do it here.
Musings
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New Member, Symptoms versus Recovery

Postby Musings » Tue Nov 01, 2016 9:42 am

I am a 30 year old woman who was recently diagnosed with C.diff via a PCR test after two rounds of antibiotics (not sure which, if not both, caused the C.diff). My PCP gave me little to no information on C.diff other than it can be caused by antibiotic use and that I needed to take a 10 day course of flagyl and if that didn't work there was other medication I could try. Thankfully, found this site.

By the time I was diagnosed with C.diff, I was not having any episodes of WD (had it for 2-3 days) but was having loose stools several times a day primarily in the morning. My test was done on a loose stool, not WD. Along with the loose stool was mucus and sometimes a little bit of blood but it seems I also have hemorrhoids so that could be the cause. Aside from some bloating and gas, have had little to no pain associated with my C.diff (and count myself lucky).

I am five days into my course of flagyl and still having several loose stools a day along with increased mucus for the last day or so. From reading here, not sure if these symptoms are indicative of my C.diff continuing or just part of the recovery process. Am planning on finishing the 10 day course of flagyl but guess just looking for some insight into what to expect and when/if I should talk to my PCP about seeing a GI specialist.

NanciT
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Re: New Member, Symptoms versus Recovery

Postby NanciT » Tue Nov 01, 2016 11:42 am

Hello Musings and Welcome to the site Please read the first thread for all new posters

As you complete your treatment, keep an eye on BM's and if things are not improving call your PCP. If symptoms do improve often people don't actually retest( my GI never did). I was only retreated if symptoms returned.
As far as having a GI, I always think it's a good idea when dealing with this illness even if you recover. I like to have one on board. A consult and review of the CDIFF history is good to have documented with a GI if anything were to come up in the future and even if you were to become sick and need an antibiotic in the future it would be far easier to get in as an established patient.
Hope you feel better soon and the flagyl takes care of things
NanciT

Lisa33
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Re: New Member, Symptoms versus Recovery

Postby Lisa33 » Tue Nov 01, 2016 11:47 am

Hello Musings - Another welcome to the site.

So sorry that you are dealing with c-diff. However, it does sound like you didn't have it very intensely, thank goodness. Like you said, you should probably finish the flagyl. It's not unusual to have loose stools with mucus into recovery. It can take some time before things go back to some sort of normalcy. However, if symptoms get worse and the D becomes more watery and frequent, then it's time to perhaps take vanco or dificid. I also think that it may be a good idea to have a GI appt lined up. Sometimes it's not easy to get an appt quickly, so it's good if you can get on a calendar now in case you need further treatment. Are you taking any probiotics? If you can tolerate them, it may be beneficial to take probiotics to help to replenish your good gut bacteria that has been depleted by all of the meds. The good gut bacteria is what wards off the c-diff. Unfortunately, flagyl also kills good gut bacteria as well. Many of us find VSL-3 and Florastor to be beneficial. VSL-3 is a live lactic acid bacteria. Any live bacteria needs to be spaced apart from meds though as the meds kill it off. Florastor is a yeast probiotic called sacchromyces boulardii. It is not killed off by meds. Others also like the probiotic drink Kefir and eat yogurts with live cultures and fermented foods. You may not want to do all of these things, but find what works for you. I took 2-VSL3 probiotic pills with active c-diff, as recommended by my GI. In recovery, I switched to 1-VSL3 and 1-Florastor. I drank Kefir and ate 1-2 yogurts daily with active c-diff and early recovery. My gut was able to tolerate this though.

Hopefully, one round of Flagyl will do the trick and things will start to improve. Good luck and feel better.
Lisa

Musings
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Re: New Member, Symptoms versus Recovery

Postby Musings » Tue Nov 01, 2016 1:03 pm

Thank you, both.

Just sent my PCP a message via our portal about getting a referral to a GI specialist so will see what she says. Have had IBS symptoms in the past so probably not a bad idea to have one I can go to if needed.

Am currently on a probiotic but not the ones recommended here so will see about trying those instead. Have been on the probiotic since starting the second antibiotic and also try to have yogurt a few mornings a week but starting to think lactose is not being tolerated well so might have to stop that.

amg
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Re: New Member, Symptoms versus Recovery

Postby amg » Tue Nov 01, 2016 2:35 pm

I don't know, but having several loose stools a day and increased M FIVE days into a course of Flagyl doesn't sound to me like the Flagyl is working very well. My daughter had firmed up stool within 2 doses of Flagyl.

Plus, if Flagyl kills off more of our "good" gut bacteria, I just don't understand why it's prescribed first so often. Seems like it could be part of the reason people get into the cycle of recurrences. If I'd known this when my daughter first got sick, I'd have insisted on Dificid early on.

Good luck to you, I hope things start improving quickly.

roy
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Re: New Member, Symptoms versus Recovery

Postby roy » Tue Nov 01, 2016 2:52 pm

Sounds like you were getting better before starting meds.
Probably a lot of c.diff just goes unnoticed and is only a few days of inconvenience.
With average luck it will not come back.
Be cautious if the GI tests but you don't have D.
A good GI would not treat only on test results.

Musings
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Re: New Member, Symptoms versus Recovery

Postby Musings » Tue Nov 01, 2016 3:11 pm

Yes, starting to think I should not have been put on the medication since I was no longer having WD but of course did not know that at the time and don't want to come off the medication early. My PCP is also pushing back on my request for a GI referral which is frustrating. Looks like I need to have another appointment with her and hopefully she will put the referral in for me.

georgina
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Re: New Member, Symptoms versus Recovery

Postby georgina » Wed Nov 02, 2016 1:21 am

I also think you have rushed with the treatment , you should've waited to see if you can get better on your own and with the help of a few probiotics. Flagyl does kill a lot of your good flora that it will take a long time to recover. Are you taking probiotics with the flagyl course?

Musings
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Re: New Member, Symptoms versus Recovery

Postby Musings » Wed Nov 02, 2016 7:36 am

Yes, am taking probiotics and picked up some Kefir smoothie yesterday and having it for breakfast this morning.

Musings
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Re: New Member, Symptoms versus Recovery

Postby Musings » Fri Nov 04, 2016 11:20 am

Still having loose and/or thin stools - usually yellow but occasionally brown. Have also passed a small amount of just mucus the last few days which really has me disheartened. Just left a message with my PCP inquiring about the continued loose stools and now the just mucus as I am on day 8/10 of the flagyl. Really wish I never went on it at this point...

christos
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Re: New Member, Symptoms versus Recovery

Postby christos » Sun Dec 18, 2016 3:48 am

Deleted my post, Musings history has moved here: viewtopic.php?t=18263

Bobbie
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Re: New Member, Symptoms versus Recovery

Postby Bobbie » Fri Jan 06, 2017 1:00 am

Cristos,

Do not understand,last post re. Cristos. Pls explain.

christos
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Re: New Member, Symptoms versus Recovery

Postby christos » Fri Jan 06, 2017 3:16 am

I posted a lengthy reply to musings, wishing luck and that they would be OK, but then I found they moved the discussion to another location and my post became irrelevant and wrong. I tried to link to the other thread where treatment discussion is continued for musings in case someone else comes across this thread. you can probably lock this thread now?


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