Concerned Carrier
Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2018 9:47 am
Good morning,
I am a 21 year old male who recently received positive test results for C.Diff infection around a month ago. Now, I would like to add a bit of my backstory before I ask my question.
I took bactrim for around 1 year in order to treat persistent acne that I had since around the age of 17. While on the medication, I rarely noticed any side effects save for an increase in the amount of flatulence that I was producing daily. However, once I ended treatment, I had what I believed to be a vomiting virus (including diarrhea) for a few days. After feeling horrible for around a week, I suddenly began to get better. Thus, at the time, I did not believe there was cause for concern. However, fast forward a few months later and I was still was having symptoms (bloating, excess flatulence, stool and gas that smelled horrific, mucus in stool, etc). After voicing my concerns to my mother, I set up an appointment with a gastro and was tested for a number of things which came up negative. Once I tested positive for C. Diff, my doctor suggested I take Flagyl, however, I refused since I don't consider my symptoms to be extreme enough to use such a risky form of treatment.
I've been using natural treatments (oregano oil, saccharomyces boulardii, etc) and maintaining a healthy diet since my diagnosis. I do not generally have D throughout the day, however, I'm still experiencing minor symptoms including occasional blood on the toilet paper and what appears to be blood streaks in my stool.
My questions are as follows:
1) Am I being naive by not following my doctors advice to get on antibiotics, and should I set up another appointment?
2) Do I possibly have another condition (Ulceritive Colitis, Crohns, etc) that I need to get checked out with a colonoscopy or something similar?
This is stressing me out a great deal in addition to being a university student and I would appreciate any advice you may have.
I am a 21 year old male who recently received positive test results for C.Diff infection around a month ago. Now, I would like to add a bit of my backstory before I ask my question.
I took bactrim for around 1 year in order to treat persistent acne that I had since around the age of 17. While on the medication, I rarely noticed any side effects save for an increase in the amount of flatulence that I was producing daily. However, once I ended treatment, I had what I believed to be a vomiting virus (including diarrhea) for a few days. After feeling horrible for around a week, I suddenly began to get better. Thus, at the time, I did not believe there was cause for concern. However, fast forward a few months later and I was still was having symptoms (bloating, excess flatulence, stool and gas that smelled horrific, mucus in stool, etc). After voicing my concerns to my mother, I set up an appointment with a gastro and was tested for a number of things which came up negative. Once I tested positive for C. Diff, my doctor suggested I take Flagyl, however, I refused since I don't consider my symptoms to be extreme enough to use such a risky form of treatment.
I've been using natural treatments (oregano oil, saccharomyces boulardii, etc) and maintaining a healthy diet since my diagnosis. I do not generally have D throughout the day, however, I'm still experiencing minor symptoms including occasional blood on the toilet paper and what appears to be blood streaks in my stool.
My questions are as follows:
1) Am I being naive by not following my doctors advice to get on antibiotics, and should I set up another appointment?
2) Do I possibly have another condition (Ulceritive Colitis, Crohns, etc) that I need to get checked out with a colonoscopy or something similar?
This is stressing me out a great deal in addition to being a university student and I would appreciate any advice you may have.