Hello!
So I am a 34 y/o male, and I have been symptom free for 18 months following a severe bout of recurrent C diff infection. I have no specific dietary restrictions or IBS symptoms and I am at a healthy weight. And none of my family got C Diff from living with me.
18 months ago, I thought this thing might kill me- I was terrified, nothing would stop the D. I was in the hospital for 10 days, down to 115lbs at 5 10, it was terrifying. I was prescribed flagyl, which did positively nothing. I returned to the ER after a few days when things were getting worse, but the clueless ER doc didn't prescribe Vanco, just gave me pain and anxiety pills and told me to keep taking the Flagyl. I was miserable and defeated.
People on this board encouraged me to go to a walk-in clinic to seek effective treatment. A Nurse Practitioner who was actually knowledgeable about CDI wrote me a Dificid and Vanco script on the spot. Insurance wouldn't pay for the Dificid, but within 2 days of the Vancomycin my condition started to improve.
I posted a lot here while I was sick and early on recovering. The forum helped me hugely, not going through this alone was a lifeline. My screenname was maxny1 (I lost the password/email, so created a new handle).
After 2 months I had a recurrence. I was going through a lot at the time, and I'd started drinking again after a month, that was probably a mistake. We have to remain vigilant and take good care of ourselves to recover from this thing.
In any case, the second time around I was prescribed 2 weeks of Vanco followed by a 3 month taper pulse regimen. The ID Doc prescribed probiotics and kefir as well.
I took many broad spectrum probiotics, the 50-100 billion CFU 30+ strain varieties from Whole Foods (Jarrow, Renew Life Ultimate Flora, Nature's Way, Garden of Life Raw, and S boulardii), up to 1 trillion CFU per day. But it was definitely the Vanco Taper Pulse that saved my life.
If you are suffering, have hope, this too shall pass. Just eat and drink fluids, sleep, take your meds, and keep contact with your healthcare providers. This infection definitely can cause anxiety and mental health issues so bear with it.
Don't give up getting the treatment you need. Don't just accept Flagyl/Metronidazole if it isn't working, because current research shows that Vanco is more effective in moderate and severe cases, and the Tx guidelines have not been updated to reflect new research (many experts think Vanco should be the first line treatment now).
Edit, apparently treatment guidelines *have* recently been updated to recommend 10 day vanco course as first line treatment, but im sure many non specialist docs are unaware and continuing to prescribe Flagyl/Metronidazole. Source https://www.infectiousdiseaseadvisor.co ... le/744927/
18 Months C Diff Free, after Vanco Taper Regimen
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18 Months C Diff Free, after Vanco Taper Regimen
Last edited by maxny2 on Fri Jun 22, 2018 8:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: 18 Months C Diff Free, after Vanco Taper Regimen
Congratulations to you! This is so great to read. Thank you so much for posting your success story. This really gives hope to others currently suffering!
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Re: 18 Months C Diff Free, after Vanco Taper Regimen
That's the idea!
When I was suffering, the forum helped so much with three things- learning all I could, commiserating and validating all the physical and mental anguish I was experiencing, and having some hope for recovery.
I was kind of lucky, my case was severe, but within ~3 months of my last recurrence, I was eating my regular diet, which includes hot sauce, jalapenos, curry, legumes, fibrous fruits and vegetables- all the foods I missed for those months of infection. And by 6 or 9 months I felt as healthy as before.
The whole experience made me stronger and wiser. One big takeaway- I hope to never take antibiotics unless its absolutely necessary, and to raise my kid without them as well. Here's to a healthy balanced biome...
When I was suffering, the forum helped so much with three things- learning all I could, commiserating and validating all the physical and mental anguish I was experiencing, and having some hope for recovery.
I was kind of lucky, my case was severe, but within ~3 months of my last recurrence, I was eating my regular diet, which includes hot sauce, jalapenos, curry, legumes, fibrous fruits and vegetables- all the foods I missed for those months of infection. And by 6 or 9 months I felt as healthy as before.
The whole experience made me stronger and wiser. One big takeaway- I hope to never take antibiotics unless its absolutely necessary, and to raise my kid without them as well. Here's to a healthy balanced biome...
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Re: 18 Months C Diff Free, after Vanco Taper Regimen
Hello Maxny!
Could you please print here the full scheme of your vanco long course?
Could you please print here the full scheme of your vanco long course?
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Re: 18 Months C Diff Free, after Vanco Taper Regimen
AlexR wrote:
> Hello Maxny!
> Could you please print here the full scheme of your vanco long course?
So sorry for the 13 month delay in responding, but for anyone curious:
M taper was 12 weeks.
125mg 4x/day for 4 weeks
500mg all at once every 3 days for 2 weeks
375mg all at once every 3 days for 2 weeks
250mg all at once every 3 days for 2 weeks
125mg once every 3 days for 2 weeks
The ID Doc prescribed kefir and probiotics as part of the taper, too.
The 3 day pulse schedule is I think to allow time for the healthful gut bacteria to regenerate.
> Hello Maxny!
> Could you please print here the full scheme of your vanco long course?
So sorry for the 13 month delay in responding, but for anyone curious:
M taper was 12 weeks.
125mg 4x/day for 4 weeks
500mg all at once every 3 days for 2 weeks
375mg all at once every 3 days for 2 weeks
250mg all at once every 3 days for 2 weeks
125mg once every 3 days for 2 weeks
The ID Doc prescribed kefir and probiotics as part of the taper, too.
The 3 day pulse schedule is I think to allow time for the healthful gut bacteria to regenerate.
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Re: 18 Months C Diff Free, after Vanco Taper Regimen
Maxny2,
Thx and congrats.
Thx and congrats.
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