loved one is sick--protecting myself from relapse?

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KLor
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Joined: Sat Nov 12, 2016 5:24 pm

loved one is sick--protecting myself from relapse?

Postby KLor » Wed Oct 04, 2017 5:17 pm

Hello everyone,

It's been a long time since I posted on here (thankfully!)--just to recap, I contracted c. diff in Oct 16 during an unhygienic hospital stay. Went through Flagyl and 2 doses of Vanco before a round of Dificid worked. I have been infection-free and steadily more and more gut-stable since Jan 17.

My mom is having a tough time with diverticulitis right now--she is currently on her second round of Cipro in 2 months. I lived with her the whole time I was actively infected. As of today, she is exhibiting frequent WD.

I recognize that this could easily be a non-c. diff side effect of Cipro, or a symptom of the diverticulitis itself. I still worry that it *could* be c. diff.

I will be caring for her as she recovers--fixing her meals, staying at her house in case she needs help, getting meds, etc. I'm looking for some help to make sure I stay c. diff-free even if she is currently infected.

30-second hand-washing with vigorous scrubbing I've got; also paper towels instead of hand towels, spraying down the toilet with Clorox before I use them and flushing ahead with the lid closed; and I will work so, so hard to keep my hands out of my mouth.

What else can I do? Recovery has been hard-won, and I cannot go back to where I was--but my mom is still my mom, and I need to take care of her and make sure she doesn't feel like a pariah.

Suggestions are much appreciated! Thank you.

ResearchGrandma
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Joined: Sat Dec 31, 2011 6:27 pm

Re: loved one is sick--protecting myself from relapse?

Postby ResearchGrandma » Wed Oct 04, 2017 6:51 pm

If your mom is having watery D and is on a second course of Cipro I would suggest that she/you should inform her doctors and request that she be tested for C. diff

NanciT
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Joined: Thu Sep 18, 2014 12:01 pm

Re: loved one is sick--protecting myself from relapse?

Postby NanciT » Wed Oct 04, 2017 11:32 pm

If your Mom's D continues, have her tested. With your history of CDIFF and her recent CIPRO it is what I would do. Hand washing is number one with medical asepsis by far the most important thing we do so keep that up and continue with what you are doing.
I would also consider having her start a probiotic, eat yogurt etc. Check with her physician but many physicians are now putting patients on Probiotics while in the hospital and on antibiotics. I have seen this a great deal recently at several hospitals

Hope she is better soon!

NanciT

georgina
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Re: loved one is sick--protecting myself from relapse?

Postby georgina » Thu Oct 05, 2017 1:18 am

Definitely have her tested for Cdiff , Cipro is one of the high offenders , she could have developed the disease. Don't waste precious time because it can be dangerous , untreated Cdiff can be life threatening.

beth22
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Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2009 2:23 pm

Re: loved one is sick--protecting myself from relapse?

Postby beth22 » Thu Oct 05, 2017 1:26 am

Definitely have her tested and call her doctor tomorrow and ask about taking a probiotic. My mother had antibiotics after her bouts with c difficile and she took probiotics the whole time. She got WD, but it was not c difficile. Once she was off the antibiotics, the D stopped. The probiotics also helped. She had taken them regularly and then in the hospital they gave her a different one that did not agree, but when she got back on the one she was used to, the D got better.


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