Can it come back after 4 years?

[mommyg]

I got C-diff around 4 or 5 years ago. I was doing my clinical in a nursing home to become a CNA. I was so sick did not know what was wrong. Lost 17 lbs in less than 3 weeks. I would just smell food and have to go. My question is can it come back after 4 or 5 years? I am now in nursing school, entering my 2nd year. I did a clinical in geriatrics last March, which was 6 months ago. Last Friday I came down with D and have had it since. It doesn't smell like C-diff as when you have that you will always remember the smell!! I have had loose stools for 5 days now. Severe cramps....running out like water at times. Now I have cramps but it is more stringy. I am going many times a day and the smell of food makes it worse. I would think if I was going to get it back I would of had it before 5 years. All the symptoms seem similar to last time I had it but it isn't foamy and stinky. If anyone knows would love response.
Thanks

[MaryT]

I got it back after two years. I never got it from an antibiotic or hospital stay to begin with and same thing second time around. My doctor feels I have a 'low level' so I don't even have D all the time and right from the beginning to now I never had the smell everyone talks about.

[Bobbie]

mommyg,
Our usual welcome to the "site no one wants to join."

Read the first forum ALL USERS READ THIS FIRST & its subtopics. They will guide you in using the site & answer some of the most frequent questions. Read Dr. Borody’s & Dr. McDonald’s articles and some of the topics in FAQ – especially Hygiene, Nutrition, & Testing.

I doubt if C. diff. could come back after all this time if you haven't been on antibiotics or exposed to it through direct or indirect contact, but I am not a doctor, and as you already know, C. diff. can be a strange disease. Once you have it, you have an increased risk of getting it again.

If your symptoms persist, I'd get to a doc. ASAP & be tested.

Pls. let us know how you are doing, but if you want to list explicit details, list them in the TMI forum.

Good luck. Let's hope this is just a "summer flu."