Any advancements in c. diff treatment since 2014?

[BonSong]

Hi everyone -

Last I was here for c diff was 2014 before my FMT cured me.

I've been c diff free since May 2014 when I had a hospital administered "poop pills" FMT. I've managed to avoid antibiotics and relapse since then.

Unfortunately, I think I may need an antibiotic for a bacterial sinus infection in my right sinus. I got the flu off my spouse 3 weeks ago. I had a fever of 103 and then things improved for a week, but now my fever is creeping back up too 100 with sinus pain, pressure hurting behind my eyes and into my teeth on the upper right hand side, and the dark yellow/orange nasal discharge is not clearing up.

My infectious disease specialist office indicated they'll b on vacation for Memorial day until 6/6.

Has there been ANY advancements in the treatment of c. diff since 2014? Anything at all?

I'm thinking about freezing some of my own stool to do a DIY FMT after my antibiotic induces c diff relapse in me. Either that or use my spouse's stool but he's a type 1 diabetic and I don't know if that's safe. I have no other potential donors. The donor I had from the out of state hospital was anonymous and pre-screened by the hospital and I didn't do well after it at all. I had severe post infectious IBS for months and I developed thyroid disease.

[Ril]

Hi BonSong. I remember you from back then, before I was a mod but was on the site a lot.
Before taking antibiotics for your sinus infection do some research. There are a lot of treatment suggestions on this site in the CDI section. You can try some of those things. My ENT had me use betadine in nasal irrigations saying it would act as an antiseptic. I recently had a sinus problem again and he had me irrigate with Bactrim ointment (prescription), which is water soluble, in the saline solution. If I were to absolutely need abx he was willing to try them by inhalation due to my c diff history. However some research also shows that unless the infection is in your high sinuses there is no harm other than your discomfort in letting it run its course and not treat. But you must do your own research and talk to your dr.

Btw, colored mucous does not always mean bacteria. I would definitely not take antibiotics without a culture. It can still be viral and abx won't help or you can get the wrong, or a stronger abx than necessary. If you go the abx route take the list of abx by offender status from the CDI section.

And I had a viral sinus infection for about 7 weeks that never became bacterial.
Good luck,
Rita

[BonSong]

Hi Rita! I remember you, too!

Those sound like really good suggestions. I'll have a look. I haven't seen an ENT in years, and I'm sure he's got a long waiting list. I'm not sure my PCP would help me in this way - he just prescribes abx.

The thing about this sinus infection is that it feels like it is very deep into my right sinus cavity. I have a deviated septum, so this doesn't surprise me. It hurts all the way into my teeth roots on that side, and it hurts behind my right eye which is watering, it hurts in my head. It clicks and it's just on the right side. There isn't a lot of mucus production except in the morning I blow out some dark yellow thick, chunky pus (sorry) then the rest of the day it is just a lot of pressure and clicking noises up in there, and I can breathe through it. Blowing my nose hurts my teeth. My footsteps even hurt. It seems localized. This whole thing with the localized sinus infection started up about 4 days ago and I came down with the virus (which made my fever go up to 103!) in very early May. At least 3 weeks ago. I'm so devastated!

Because of my c diff history, I get dental exams and xrays every 6 months instead of yearly, and I get dental cleanings every 4 months, to fill any cavities right away. No cavities in 3 years, and I'm so OCD about that... so I don't think it's dental.

I did some saline sinus rinses, but that doesn't seem to be helping. Vitamin C. Using oregano oil in a diffuser. Staying hydrated, but like I said, it seems like it's so deep into my tissues that it's not even producing that much mucus. So weird! But the mucus I do get out is very dark yellow/orange.

What concerns me is the fever keeps creeping up.

Anyway, sorry to ramble on. Tuesday I'm going to be making lots of phone calls but I'm just so panicked right now.

What is the probability of relapse?

I wish there was some progress made in the years I'd been cdiff free with pharmacological treatments for this. unbelievable

[georgina]

BonSong
Do not start taking antibiotics unless you do a culture at first. Viruses can be very tricky and about 70% of the sinus infections are viral , so you have to make sure that you are dealing with a bacteria before you jump on antibiotics.
I had a terrible flu in april with nasty cough , fever and chills , chest congestion , lots of phlegm and blowing my nose and green mucus chunky like was coming out, went to my pulmo doc. and was diagnosed with purulent bronchitis , was terrified because I thought I would need antibiotics but didn't wanna take anything before I do a culture , surprisingly the culture was negative and the infection was viral . I had antiviral meds , drank lots of fluids , Vit C , Tylenol , mucolytics and I felt improvement by the third day.

[beth22]

The same thing happened to me last year. I caught influenza B from my husband, but I wound up in the hospital with IV antibiotics and then some to take at home. I understand that there is a type of treatment that an ENT can put the antibiotic straight into your sinuses by some kind of infusion. But, as Georgina said, do a culture first and make sure it is really a bacteria.

[Benh]

If you must take antibiotics, you may want to ask your ID dr about taking vancomycin 2x a day at the same time. That was the advice that my ID gave me when I asked the dreaded question of what if I ever need antibiotics again. Not sure how standard that is but worth asking. I agree with the others, I would want to be as sure as possible that it was indeed bacterial prior to starting the antibiotic. I hope it is not and you begin to feel better soon!

[BonSong]

beth22 - when you wound up in the hospital with IV antibiotics, did you relapse with c diff from that? What you explained essentially sounds lik what is happening to me. I caught this off my spouse. I'm pretty sure it was influenza as the fever went up to 103 for a few days. Here I am weeks later with a localized sinus infection and running a fever again, but the virus and viral symptomatology is gone. So I guess that's why I'm pretty sure it's bacterial. I will see if my doctor will give me a culture. I don't know if he will.

georgina it sounds like you had a virus if it went away so quickly. This started out viral and has seemed to have gone bacterial over the last weeks.

Benh I have heard about people doing that as a precaution but I'd be concerned that the Vanco would wipe out any good flora I may be clinging on to.

I'm so scared, you guys. I'm just so scared.

[Bobbie]

BonSong.
I remember you. Follow the others' advice and make double, triple sure you have a bacterial infection. There were nine years between my second and third episodes of c diff. Others, however, can take antibiotics again.

I have beeen able to tolerate a z pak 4 times (pneumonia and a foot infection) but do not know if it is effective for sinus infections. Call a pharmacist and ask. It is a "middle of the road c diff offender."

I would see an ENT if possible. Call and beg! Often, a culture will help - but is not always accurate because different bacteria are in the sinuses and nasal cavities. X- rays are helpful in determining if sinuses are blocked.

See CDI - Infections. I do nasal irrigation 4 to 6 times a day with an infection. My ENT recommended gentamycin added to,the saline irrigation.

New info,recommends saline water for the irrigation and clean up. I use the Neil Med bottle.

I have not seen an ENT (and I loved mine) for years after sinus surgery.


Good luck to,you.

[beth22]

Yes, Bonsong - I tested positive after taking those antibiotics, but it was not a full blown infection and I wound up doing FMT enemas at home per my doctors advice. I did not take vanco, nor will I ever take it again if I can help it. When I took it before along with antibiotics, it was worse than if I had not taken it and I had to do FMT enemas at home over a period of a month. My doctor said not to take it along with an antibiotic. If I ever relapse again and need to treat, I would take Dificid. Vanco helped my hearing to get very bad and now I need a hearing aid when I work. I don't think the vanco ever helped me prevent anything, but everyone is different and different doctors recommend different things.