Post c diff recovery help

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.)
Aoifexx2
New User
Posts: 9
Joined: Fri Nov 10, 2017 5:10 pm

Post c diff recovery help

Postby Aoifexx2 » Fri Nov 10, 2017 5:46 pm

Hi everyone,

I really hope someone can help. I'm two weeks out of hospital after being treated for a 7 week bout of c diff ( I contracted from clindamycin) I had two failed oral doses so I was eventually admitted for flagyl iv and vancomycin.
I now either have no bowel movements or up to fifteen a day which isn't my biggest issue. What been disabling is the exhaustion I can't leave the house if I move from one room to another I'm left feeling faint I'm having 20 heart palpitations plus a day (I'm awaiting a holster monitor) and I'm just at a loss I live on my own with my daughter and I am (was) a 27 year old athlete. I'm open to anything and I'm trying my best probiotics eating well etc I feel like my body isn't my own. The doctors say I was very sick so it will take time but I literally can't do anything i just want to get better for my daughter! I would really appreciate if anyone could help in anyway

Thanks

Aoife

roy
Administrator
Posts: 4193
Joined: Sat Aug 02, 2014 1:05 am

Re: Post c diff recovery help

Postby roy » Fri Nov 10, 2017 6:17 pm

If your still going 15 times a day you should go to your Dr or go to hospital.

Aoifexx2
New User
Posts: 9
Joined: Fri Nov 10, 2017 5:10 pm

Re: Post c diff recovery help

Postby Aoifexx2 » Fri Nov 10, 2017 6:28 pm

Thanks Roy, I went and they performed another stool sample (negative) so I am awaiting an colonoscopy in what they say is next couple of weeks. It's the lack of information from the doctors which is the most difficult they say they've never seen someone my age contract this and they can't understand why I am not better. From what I've read here a lot of young people seem to have contracted this. Any advice on exhaustion? Also can tolerate very little food but hoping this will get better in time!

Ril
Long Time Contributor
Posts: 1837
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2012 2:45 pm

Re: Post c diff recovery help

Postby Ril » Fri Nov 10, 2017 8:50 pm

Hello and welcome to the site Aoife. Please read the first thread on rules for posting for new members.
It is very important that you post in one place. We can’t follow you and give you give feedback if we have to bounce around from place to place on the site for duplicate and triplicate postings. This is the third identical posting. It is not good for you or us. We understand you are anxious and would really like to help.

If you are seeing a PCP and not seeing a GI or ID dr I would make an appointment with one of those specialists. I would certainly get a second opinion if any dr told me that age was a reason I should not have c diff. It appears in people of all ages. Perhaps another dr would have more expertise and you would get more information.

Do I understand correctly from another post that you no longer have the frequent d? It’s difficult going back and forth between 3 posts. That’s why it’s important to post in one place.

Try eating small amounts several times per day rather than big meals. Avoid high fiber and eat bland food but make sure you have some protein.
Rita

MKW
Regular Contributor
Posts: 392
Joined: Mon Sep 26, 2016 9:49 am

Re: Post c diff recovery help

Postby MKW » Fri Nov 10, 2017 9:18 pm

Hi Aoife, very sorry to read your story and all that you have suffered. I am way older than you (46) but divorced with two daughters, 20 and 13, and worrying about taking proper care of your child is an additional major emotional stressor on top of all you are going through with your health.
I developed C Diff after taking Clindamycin from my dentist. I had 3 recurrences and finally a successful FMT in March. I still suffer with some PI-IBS but had great results (considering) from the FMT.
I am not a medical professional, just a fellow sufferer, but the best advice I can give you is find someone who specializes in C Diff and is experienced at treating recurrent sufferers ASAP. Hopefully, you are in the clear, but you do statistically have a chance of relapse. So you need a plan for care if that happens. You also need help with recovery and an understanding of your symptoms you are experiencing. Lots of people deal with PI-IBS following C Diff, food intolerances, etc. My first GI doc told me I would not recur because I wasn't old. Down the road as I educated myself more, I realized he was ignorant and very inexperienced at treating C Diff. What you need to do now is read, read, read and read more... on this board, medical articles, etc. to educate yourself about C Diff. You need to be able to be your own advocate, because your current doctors self admittedly are inexperienced at treating a case like you.
You describe you feel physically weak, so try to find the best ways you can to be hydrated and get proper nutrition. This can be hard when you are experiencing food intolerances post C Diff. Peanut butter, eggs and chicken breast were my main nutrition sources when I was bad off. Quinoa is great too, it's a complete protein source, unlike rice. Olive oil is a great source of healthy fats. If you can tolerate Ensure, that might be something to try too.
Make sure to read over the rules of posting, so you can get your questions answered. The Moderators and long time posters on here are a WEALTH of knowledge and experience. You can learn a lot here! - Melanie

NanciT
Long Time Contributor
Posts: 3035
Joined: Thu Sep 18, 2014 12:01 pm

Re: Post c diff recovery help

Postby NanciT » Fri Nov 10, 2017 10:26 pm

Another Welcome and sorry you are going through this. Sadly MANY physicians AND nurses still believe this is an illness of the elderly. The statistics are changing and more are getting this, some without taking any antibiotics. I would consider another GI. The exhaustion you feel can take awhile to recover from. It sounds like you tested negative but I am unsure if you are still having D? If not, it takes time to recover. Start with bland diet and go slowly adding to your diet. I have continued taking 1 VSL#3 a day and eat activia everyday.
One thing I want to mention is if the exhaustion continues, ask to have your electrolytes checked, generally they would have checked that as you were discharged but if Potassium gets to low that is a major symptom.

Hope you feel better soon!

NanciT

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

Re: Post c diff recovery help

Postby beth22 » Sat Nov 11, 2017 2:42 am

The only thing I would add is that you should, in addition to having the electrolytes checked, also have vitamin and mineral levels checked. You could be anemic and low in iron, B12, B6, vitamins A or D. Many of us got low vitamin D or B12. Low B12 can certainly cause fatigue.

Aoifexx2
New User
Posts: 9
Joined: Fri Nov 10, 2017 5:10 pm

Re: Post c diff recovery help

Postby Aoifexx2 » Sat Nov 11, 2017 5:33 am

I'm s sorry about the multiple posts after I posted I couldn't see it anywhere and wasn't sure it had. I'll be more careful.

Thank you all so much for the advice. Some days I have no bm and some days I go up to 15 times. Doctor advised it could take months for this to ease.

I feel like I'm in a position that I need to tell the doctors information as awful as that is so I will definitely get everything you all mentioned checked asap. And hopefully I'll start to see an improvement.

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

Re: Post c diff recovery help

Postby georgina » Sat Nov 11, 2017 8:51 am

As you probably read , most of us develop IBS after Cdiff but your symptoms don't really sound like IBS to me , 15 BM per day is quite a lot of poop . Are you still taking Vanco and Flagyl? It will probably be a good ideea to consider switching to Dificid or discussing about getting a FMT. If you have finished the treatment and you are having this symptoms , you should get tested for Cdiff and maybe for other pathogens too : parasites , SIBO test , a calprotectin test to determine if you are dealing IBD , food allergens and as Beth suggested full blood work.

Aoifexx2
New User
Posts: 9
Joined: Fri Nov 10, 2017 5:10 pm

Re: Post c diff recovery help

Postby Aoifexx2 » Sat Nov 11, 2017 9:07 am

Sorry Georgina I hadn't done enough reading or explained myself well enough in my first post sorry I've been so all over the place! So I got c diff first two months ago after being giving clindamycin for cellulitis. When I stopped the antibiotic it subsided but returned two weeks later I had two failed oral doses of flagyl out of hospital and as I was reluctant to go as I didn't have someone to look after my daughter I eventually collapsed from severe dehydration I spent two weeks in hospital where the doctors were baffled as to how I possibly could pick this up due to my age. They also diagnosed me with pseudomemvranous colitis. I was discharged two weeks ago and have been off all medication since then. Done days I have d all day long and some days no Bm. I went back to the hospital Monday just gone as as well as d I'm in a lot of pain nausea palpitations and extreme exhaustion I tested negative so they sent me home and said it will take time. I'm taking multi vitamins and probiotics eating fermented foods and I'm struggling to do anything. To be honest I'm absolutely petrified that this disease is killing me I had bacterial meningitis and sceptima when I was 18(am now 27) and can honestly say this disease is putting me through 100 worse then what I went through then. I will get full bloods done again this week and am awaiting colonoscopy so I suppose I will just have to try keep going till then.

Thank you all so much the information here is incrediblely helpful

roy
Administrator
Posts: 4193
Joined: Sat Aug 02, 2014 1:05 am

Re: Post c diff recovery help

Postby roy » Sat Nov 11, 2017 9:55 am

Psudomembronous colitis is another name for c.diff! NOT a SEPERATE or new diagnosis.
It can be seen by colonoscopy NOT by any other tests.
A colonoscopy just confirms the typical c.diff damage is there and confirms the stool test results.
If your Dr used that term before a colonoscopy they just guessed what's going on.
If your stool tests are negative it might be you need to give your gut time to heal, but I am not too sure if having a colonoscopy so soon into recovery would be wise.
If the D has stopped you might not need anything but time to make a full recovery.
Panicking into demanding more treatment and tests might make it worse.

Aoifexx2
New User
Posts: 9
Joined: Fri Nov 10, 2017 5:10 pm

Re: Post c diff recovery help

Postby Aoifexx2 » Sat Nov 11, 2017 10:42 am

I can't believe I didn't know that I had presumed it was a side effect or complication from c diff that was the impression I got from my doctor shows how little I know! Thanks so much for clarifying that for me.

The doctor I'm under at the moment isn't a gastroenterologist so I think that should be my first step if symptoms don't improve but I will now definitely give my body a bit more time to recover.I was never aware that a colonoscopy could interfere in any way.

Thanks Roy

NanciT
Long Time Contributor
Posts: 3035
Joined: Thu Sep 18, 2014 12:01 pm

Re: Post c diff recovery help

Postby NanciT » Sat Nov 11, 2017 11:12 am

Find a gastro, you can even call the ER where you were seen and speak with them. Find out who covers that hospital if your primary wont refer you. If you are going 15 times a day that can cause severe dehydration and cause weakness. Make sure to keep up with fluids and drink "Smart Water" which has electrolytes in it. When you call the Gastro, give them a quick history and let them know how long you were in the hospital.
NanciT

amg
Regular Contributor
Posts: 275
Joined: Sat Oct 01, 2016 3:16 pm

Re: Post c diff recovery help

Postby amg » Sat Nov 11, 2017 1:13 pm

The way a colonoscopy "interferes" is that the prep which is required cleans out all of the stool from your colon, until you're literally passing clear water type liquid. This means that your good bacteria is flushed out at a time when we really need our good bacteria to build back up, for keeping c diff away and returning to good health.

Machaon
Regular Contributor
Posts: 254
Joined: Sat May 20, 2017 11:50 am

Re: Post c diff recovery help

Postby Machaon » Sat Nov 11, 2017 1:29 pm

amg, thanks for explaining the harmful effects of a colonoscopy on the good bacteria in one's guts. In as such, as one who suffered from C-diff, I am going to avoid having a colonoscopy unless it is medically urgent. I just returned yesterday from a followup at the hospital, where they suggested a colonoscopy. I turned it down because I can't drink the cleansing fluid. Now I have an additional and more important reason to turn it down!

I feel that my full recovery from C-diff can be significantly attributed to rebuilding my good gut bacteria and restoring the health of my gut, which will always be a work in progress.

Thanks for posting that info!

Regards, Bob
Male 77 S.Florida

900 weight lifts 750 knee bends day

Since 1987 had CHF afib asthma

I inhale $6 Flonase nasal spray for asthma :)

Ex C-diff (4/19/17- 9/12/17) after 10 days dificid

Diet:6 meals ~1500 cals 2 eggs 2 steamed broccoli, apple, bagels


Return to “Questions about Clostridium difficile”



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 15 guests