Surgery after cdiff

Please limit your post to questions only. You can ask multiple questions in the post. (One post per person per day about yourself. See exception in General C. diff.Discussion.)
Mindy
Regular User
Posts: 59
Joined: Sun May 03, 2015 1:58 pm

Surgery after cdiff

Postby Mindy » Tue Jul 11, 2017 12:22 pm

Hello, I was diagnosed with c diff in April of 2015. Failed a round of Flagyl and Vanco. I lost 35 pounds in ten weeks and was hospitalized 4 times. I was sure I was dying. I ended up having an FMT followed the next morning by 20 or 30 poo pills. It's been a long road, but have tested negative since. I have caught a flu bug about 4 months ago which resulted on vomiting and diarrhea for a day. I was scared, but tested negative since that time.
My dilemma is that I am having female problems at age 50 now, and may need a hysterectomy. I am just terrified to have any surgery or antibiotics. Does anyone have any advice on antibiotics or probiotics to gear up?

Thank you.

OCmama
Regular Contributor
Posts: 257
Joined: Sun Mar 12, 2017 10:44 pm

Re: Surgery after cdiff

Postby OCmama » Tue Jul 11, 2017 12:40 pm

Hi Mindy! It really sounds like you have been through it, I am so glad you are in recovery!

I was planning on having a prophylactic double mastectomy after undergoing genetic counseling for a raised risk of familial breast cancer. After having been through C. diff, as things currently stand I am planning on instead just continuing with close monitoring. So I understand your trepidation at the thought of undergoing surgery after C. diff...

It is fantastic that you are two years out. None of the C. diff specialists could give me an exact answer as to how long the dormant C. diff spores remain in the human gut. I pushed my daughter's ID and gastro for an answer, as they have suggested that she take Vanco with any required future antibiotics. When I asked for how many years the additional vanco would apply, the answer seemed to be 2 years, although they weren't entirely sure.

I know I sound like a broken record, but I would strongly reccomend Bio-K, their studies are very impressive, they were awarded best pro-biotic by pharmacists 2016 and have been adopted for use in Canadian hospitals.

Wishing you an uneventful surgery, and a C. diff free recovery!

Acres
Regular Contributor
Posts: 172
Joined: Sat Jan 23, 2016 11:24 am

Re: Surgery after cdiff

Postby Acres » Tue Jul 11, 2017 11:10 pm

Hi,
I used Florastor and Vsl3 during the nightmare....
I still take 1/2 vsl3 every day....

I understand the fear of taking antibiotics for a medical procedure after having c diff....
Scott

notheidi
Regular Contributor
Posts: 266
Joined: Sun May 17, 2015 11:24 am

Re: Surgery after cdiff

Postby notheidi » Wed Jul 12, 2017 12:30 am

I'm here to tell you that I survived a hysteroscopy (the scope, not the -ectomy) after c diff and I didn't get c diff after the procedure! I expressed my concerns to my MD and he said, "I'm glad you told me, usually we give an IV antibiotic before the surgery but I won't do that in your case." [Which in itself scared me, but I came through it all ok!]

Are you familiar with the Hyster Sisters web site? Great resource.

Follow any MD recommendations for probiotics before/after.

Try doing stuff that makes you feel like you have more control, such as looking up the hospital's c diff rate and going with the hospital with the lowest rate (I think they have to publish that somewhere, not entirely sure?). Maybe even ask to meet in person with the hospital's infection control manager (not the MD, but the administrator responsible for infection control) prior to your procedure and ask about their c diff prevention and infection control strategies, tell them that you'll be coming in for a procedure and ask them to follow up with hygiene reminders and visits for the staff on the unit where you will be recovering. For example, maybe the infection control person is responsible for audits. Ask if they can be done while you are on the unit, which will make all the staff more conscious about hand hygiene and infection control.

Good luck!
2010 mod/sev w/leukocytosis, cefdenir-sinus inf, metro rx'd wrong, resurged during tx. recovered w/dose change, lost 40 lbs. 2015 mod recur fr SNF, no abx, resolved w/vanco. 7/2022 mod recur, community acq, no abx, intermittent prodrome but didn't realize

beth22
Long Time Contributor
Posts: 10852
Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2009 2:23 pm

Re: Surgery after cdiff

Postby beth22 » Wed Jul 12, 2017 1:54 am

I had two surgeries after c difficile. The first was to remove a parathyroid gland, so basically they cut my throat open. I told the surgeon about my c diff history and they did not give me antibiotics. It went fine and I had no relapse. The same year about 6 months later, I had breast surgery. I also did not have antibiotics. Instead, I had to wash with some type of prescription soap the night before my surgery and the morning of. I did not get an infection nor any relapse.

As far as the spores go, in some people they will always be there. I tested negative for about 4 years and last year I was hospitalized and had to have antibiotics for complications of the flu and 6 weeks later, I got D and tested positive. The D subsided, but ever since I still show positive on PCR, although not on EIA. I don't think anyone really knows for sure. Personally, I think they are always there.

georgina
Long Time Contributor
Posts: 2635
Joined: Sat Sep 12, 2015 10:07 am

Re: Surgery after cdiff

Postby georgina » Wed Jul 12, 2017 4:08 am

Did your doctor told you about the kind of technique he's going to use? Hysterectomies can be done classical or laparoscopic. Laparoscopic hysterectomy involves removing the uterus through 4 small incisions instead of through a large cut so it minimizes the risk of infection (and antibiotic use) and the need of a longer hospitalization.

Mindy
Regular User
Posts: 59
Joined: Sun May 03, 2015 1:58 pm

Re: Surgery after cdiff

Postby Mindy » Wed Jul 12, 2017 4:27 am

Thank you for all your wonderful advice. I will keep you informed. Going to doctor today. I appreciate this site.

AnxiousJ
Regular Contributor
Posts: 214
Joined: Fri Feb 24, 2017 2:24 pm

Re: Surgery after cdiff

Postby AnxiousJ » Wed Jul 12, 2017 1:28 pm

Hi Mindy,

I am a little more than one year post infection (My mom is in a nursing home and I think I somehow contracted it at her facility). I had gallstones and gallbladder surgery a little over 2 months ago and so far I've been okay. I was only given one dose of IV Cefoxitin. I've been on 2 Florastor a day for over a year so I continued that but also added 2 Bio K probiotics pills a day. They can be taken in pill form or bottle form (like a yogurt container) and so far this has worked for me. I was told to take the Bio K for up to 2 weeks after the surgery but I have continued with this. Good luck!!

OCmama
Regular Contributor
Posts: 257
Joined: Sun Mar 12, 2017 10:44 pm

Re: Surgery after cdiff

Postby OCmama » Wed Jul 12, 2017 1:58 pm

Beth22,

What reccomendations have your dr.’s given you for any future antibiotic use? (Are you supposed to take Vanco with the antibiotic or just probiotics and wait and see?)

Obviously it is my hope to never have anyone in our family ever use an antibiotic again, but seeing as how we are a young family the chance of some of us needing an antibiotic at some future date seems likely :-/

juweee
New User
Posts: 28
Joined: Mon Jul 10, 2017 8:26 pm

Re: Surgery after cdiff

Postby juweee » Fri Jul 14, 2017 10:24 am

I am following this thread closely. I was just discharged from the hospital with appendicitis and C Diff. I will need to have my appendix removed in 6-8 weeks. Surgeon says I will need one dose of IV antibiotics prior to surgery. I am very worried of relapse (odd to say, since I am still in the hell of my first episode). Dr said they would not pretreat with Vanco, but basically he is thinking that a single dose of antibiotics should be reasonably safe, and if C Diff pokes its head he would treat then. I would love more info and personal experience on this.

Bobbie
Administrator
Posts: 12688
Joined: Sat Aug 06, 2005 8:00 pm

Re: Surgery after cdiff

Postby Bobbie » Fri Jul 14, 2017 1:43 pm

See the list of "ok" antibiotics in th forum CDI. I am prone to c diff (3 times) but survived infections four times with a z pak. I took VSL3 at the same time although I usually do not take probiotics. A z pak in a "middle of the road" offender.

Good luck.

beth22
Long Time Contributor
Posts: 10852
Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2009 2:23 pm

Re: Surgery after cdiff

Postby beth22 » Fri Jul 14, 2017 6:02 pm

There is a new product that can be used together with IV antibiotics (not oral antibiotics) that is supposed to prevent you from getting c difficile. I don't think they would give it with just one dose and I can't remember the name of it. I know there is an article in the media section and I will look it up later.

OCmama - Recommendations for me vary from doctor to doctor. I took vanco together with levaquin in 2014 and I felt absolutely horrible. Vanco is also partly responsible for my hearing loss and I am going to try to never take it again. When I finished both of those meds, I had so many symptoms, that my doctors told me to do FMT enemas at home. I think I did something like 8 - 10 of them over a month. This was in February . In June I got whooping cough and took doxycycline for 10 days without any vanco and did fine. In fact, I felt better as it must have helped my SIBO. But, it was the wrong medication for whooping cough so I was given a Zpak. I did a few FMT enemas along with it and I did not relapse, or at least not then. In December, I tested positive, but without D. I had been with my mom in ER for 6 hours and then visited her in the hospital for a week.I did 3 FMT enemas, took Pepto Bismol and then tested negative until after the IV antibiotics last year in the hospital. I had asked for the drug that is given with IV antibiotics, but the ID assigned to me did not want to give it to me or perhaps it wasn't out yet . I'm not sure. I will look up the name of the stuff and post it later.

My choice is not to treat unless I get a full blown infection because in my opinion, I would never have had all these relapses had I not taken the vanco to begin with. I did not have D - just here and there. I had a lot of M, but formed stool. In hindsight, I would have tried probiotics first, but back then I didn't know much about them or c diff.

Everyone is different. This is something you need to talk to your doctor about and make a plan. I think it also depends on which antibiotic you take. I increased my probiotic when I was on the antibiotics. Doxycycline and a Zpak are not high risk offenders, but Levaquin definitely is. Cipro is what I was taking when I got c diff and Levaquin is stronger.

Mindy
Regular User
Posts: 59
Joined: Sun May 03, 2015 1:58 pm

Re: Surgery after cdiff

Postby Mindy » Fri Jul 14, 2017 9:44 pm

Thank you all for your thoughts. I appreciate all if them. I am waiting for my medical records so I can get a couple more opinions.

I am very anxious to know what drug may be taken with IV drugs to help prevent it's return. I'll keep you all posted. Thanks again.

beth22
Long Time Contributor
Posts: 10852
Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2009 2:23 pm

Re: Surgery after cdiff

Postby beth22 » Sat Jul 15, 2017 2:31 am

Ribaxamase is one that is being developed. I thought there was another one out too.

juweee
New User
Posts: 28
Joined: Mon Jul 10, 2017 8:26 pm

Re: Surgery after cdiff

Postby juweee » Sat Jul 15, 2017 9:51 am

Thank you beth22! If you find the name of the other one, I would love to know!


Return to “Questions about Clostridium difficile”



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 32 guests