Cdiff without D? How did you know?
Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2017 4:00 pm
Search is being wonky, so forgive me if I'm being repetitive. This is my first post but I've actually been stalking these boards since I had cdiff in 2011, and they have been a wealth of information.
So my question: With cdiff did you experience a gradual increase in stool frequency? And did you immediately have D or was that gradual as well?
My background: 37 y/o Female. After being hospitalized as a result of pancreatitis in 2011, I contracted Cdiff. My D was initially attributed to my liquid diet, and I was sent home. Within two days of my release I was diagnosed, readmitted to the hospital due to dehydration, prescribed flagyl, and sent home again. I was home for about a week, very bad experience with the flagyl, growing progressively weaker and was eventually readmitted for close to two weeks. This is partially because of how sick I was, and partially due to the fact it took TWO weeks to get coverage for my vancomycin prescription to go through. Meanwhile I was on IV vanco. I responded well to the first course of vanco and up to this point have had no recurrence.
Fast forward to this January. I got shingles, got the flu, fairly sure I have mono (my daughter does and I have her symptoms but dr wouldn't test me because of of my age which is... dumb). I also ended up with an upper respiratory infection that I went on a 10 day course of amoxicillin for. This was my first antibiotic use since having cdiff in 2011. About two weeks after ended that course of antibiotics, I was put on a 10 day course of Keflex/cephalexin. This was due to a staph infection on my chin that rapidly moved to my lymph nodes. I feel like my immune system can't catch a break since getting shingles! The doctor I saw for the staph infection understood my health history in regards to cdiff, but given the amount of time that has passed since my experience with it, combined with a very aggressive staph infection, we decided to risk it. About five days into the course of Keflex I started to experience mild digestive discomfort. I've had an increase in bowel movements (six yesterday) and my stools have gradually gotten looser but not yet full blown D. My stool smell is off, but I can't quite remember if it's THE smell (thank goodness I've mostly forgotten that smell!) The digestive discomfort has still been fairly mild, but it has gotten more frequent as well.
I'm patiently waiting things out, seeing which way my symptoms go, and trying not to get too inside of my head. I am at least comforted by the fact that I have good insurance now, will not allow myself to be messed around by drs in regards to meds, and am in much better health than I was even a month ago. Today is my last day of Keflex. If things don't get any worse I think I'll be fine, but if not I'm guessing Urgent Care gets to see me over the weekend and take some super fun stool samples.
So my question: With cdiff did you experience a gradual increase in stool frequency? And did you immediately have D or was that gradual as well?
My background: 37 y/o Female. After being hospitalized as a result of pancreatitis in 2011, I contracted Cdiff. My D was initially attributed to my liquid diet, and I was sent home. Within two days of my release I was diagnosed, readmitted to the hospital due to dehydration, prescribed flagyl, and sent home again. I was home for about a week, very bad experience with the flagyl, growing progressively weaker and was eventually readmitted for close to two weeks. This is partially because of how sick I was, and partially due to the fact it took TWO weeks to get coverage for my vancomycin prescription to go through. Meanwhile I was on IV vanco. I responded well to the first course of vanco and up to this point have had no recurrence.
Fast forward to this January. I got shingles, got the flu, fairly sure I have mono (my daughter does and I have her symptoms but dr wouldn't test me because of of my age which is... dumb). I also ended up with an upper respiratory infection that I went on a 10 day course of amoxicillin for. This was my first antibiotic use since having cdiff in 2011. About two weeks after ended that course of antibiotics, I was put on a 10 day course of Keflex/cephalexin. This was due to a staph infection on my chin that rapidly moved to my lymph nodes. I feel like my immune system can't catch a break since getting shingles! The doctor I saw for the staph infection understood my health history in regards to cdiff, but given the amount of time that has passed since my experience with it, combined with a very aggressive staph infection, we decided to risk it. About five days into the course of Keflex I started to experience mild digestive discomfort. I've had an increase in bowel movements (six yesterday) and my stools have gradually gotten looser but not yet full blown D. My stool smell is off, but I can't quite remember if it's THE smell (thank goodness I've mostly forgotten that smell!) The digestive discomfort has still been fairly mild, but it has gotten more frequent as well.
I'm patiently waiting things out, seeing which way my symptoms go, and trying not to get too inside of my head. I am at least comforted by the fact that I have good insurance now, will not allow myself to be messed around by drs in regards to meds, and am in much better health than I was even a month ago. Today is my last day of Keflex. If things don't get any worse I think I'll be fine, but if not I'm guessing Urgent Care gets to see me over the weekend and take some super fun stool samples.