Symptoms of c diff?

[gwang]

It's 4 months post-FMT.

I still feel pretty miserable in terms of GI symptoms. Loose stool, burning stomach, food poisoning feeling everyday, abdominal pain, gas that feels like stool is coming out, foul smelling stool (smells like a dead animal)...

The caveat is im going only twice a day. But the stool is never formed and burns like crazy on the way out...

Should I get retested? I know the 3 day rule with 3x watery D everyday; however, I never had watery D (only loose mush) while with active c diff.

Is it possible to get c diff again after FMT 4 months out? I haven't taken any antibioics.

[georgina]

I am six month out from my infusion and i have those symptomes (no burning or pain) at least once a week.Recovery it's a looooong and bumpy road , your gut needs time to heal , months. You have two options here : you can wait it out , or ask to be tested for a peace of mind. It is your decision.

[gwang]

There has to be a reason why there are symptoms.

Is it mast cells, visceral hypersensitivity, SIBO, Bile acid malabsorption, gut dysbiosis? Just waiting and seeing how recovery is just doesn't make sense to me :/. How are peoplel able to keep a job and raise a family with such on going symptoms?

[georgina]

I think symptoms are due to gut dysbiosis and IBS. It can last for a long period of time so , unfortunately , you have to learn to live with it.

[beth22]

SIBO is gut dysbiosis. You can get tested for it and if you are positive, opt to treat. The treatment is usually Xifaxan, so you have to weigh if that is what you want to do.

[amyc]

Did your local GI do your FMT? If not, do you have a local GI you like? Your questions are all good ones, but they really need a doctor's answers. You can try to eliminate some possibilities while you wait for your specialist appointment by asking your primary doctor to order the C diff test and sibo test. You can try the FODMAP diet to see if it helps you. If you want to explore the mast cell possibility you can google mast cell disorders or order Dr. Afrin's excellent book from Amazon. I personally was helped enormously by taking cheap OTC antihistamines twice a day, but ask your doctor if you can do that. There used to be a great mast cell disorder patient forum like this one where you can get doctor recommendations for your area. I haven't visited for a while, but would guess it's still active.

[gwang]

I actually have 3 GI's (2 from stanford and stollman)

One of them is my RX guy, the other is the one who did the transplant, and then theres Stollman.

They've all said its PI-IBS, none of them feel the need to dig deeper. Only one of the stanford guys mentioned it'd be helpful to get a biopsy, but at this point in recovery I'm not trying to go under the scope.

[beth22]

I would ask to be tested for SIBO at least. I had a bad case of it after c diff and my FMT.

[gwang]

I'm doing my lactoluse breath test in an hr. Should give me some insight.

Dr told me to take rifaximin before the at home FMTs, which I kind of disagree with, but it my SIBO comes back positive then I'll feel a bit better from taking another antibiotic