Diverticulitis and possible cdiff?

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thytays
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Joined: Tue Apr 17, 2018 3:55 pm

Diverticulitis and possible cdiff?

Postby thytays » Thu Apr 19, 2018 5:55 pm

I started hurting 11 days ago in my lower abdomen with extreme diarrhea,bloating,gas,nausea,and no appetite. I was exposed to my mom who had cdiff that tested false negative and ended up having part of her intestines removed and a colostomy bag and still in the hospital. I was exposed to her for weeks not knowing she had cdiff. I did DNA stool sample test yesterday that came back negative. Dr says if it's negative shes 100% sure I don't have cdiff but my mom tested false negative twice. The pain is increasing I'm at a steady 6 on a scale 1-10 and all symptoms worsening, have not had solid food in 6 days. I had to demand a CT scan be done and I'm waiting on it to be scheduled and the nurse I spoke to thinks I have diverticulitis. If I do I will be started on antibiotics. This is exactly how my mom's symptoms started. They told her after negative cdiff samples she had diverticulitis and gave her antibiotic and said she'd be fine. 1 week after her starting antibiotic she was having emergency surgery. They found she had cdiff only after sending off testing from the abscesses she had. I'm extremely nervous if they start me antibiotics I will suffer the same fate as my mom. Opinions only of course, would vanco be the best antibiotic to request if I need antibiotics? I had vanco a year ago with a surgery for infection on my head and tolerated it well. Can vanco cause cdiff? I'm scared I have picked up cdiff from my mom and like her, getting false negative stool test, and will end up where's she at. I've never had diverticulitis or any symptoms like I am now and only had symptoms after being around my mom. Is diverticulitis usually accompanied by cdiff? If diverticulitis is infection, how to know what bacteria is actually causing the infection or whether it is cdiff or not? Anyone been told cdiff only existed in abscesses and not in the GI tract? That's what my mom's surgeon is saying which makes no sense to me. Just very worried and looking for opinions.

AllisS
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Joined: Fri Sep 07, 2012 10:52 pm

Re: Diverticulitis and possible cdiff?

Postby AllisS » Thu Apr 19, 2018 11:18 pm

According to a recent (2014) article in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), diverticulitis that is chronic or recurrent is being overtreated with antibiotics. However, if you are diagnosed with diverticulitis, it will be the first time you've had it, per what you wrote. Article's link: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/a ... irect=true

I don' think that C. diff is a common accompaniment of diverticulitis. Regarding your other questions, I'm not equipped to answer them, as I'm not a medical practitioner. I think I suggested, in responding to a post in your earlier thread, that you try to get a consult with an infectious disease doctor, and you said your hospital was a small community facility with generally poor care. I still think it might be helpful to get a consult, even if you have to travel to another facility. Your mother's surgeon sounds either not very savvy or like he's not a good communicator. (Many surgeons aren't.) You deserve an explanation that you can understand and a diagnosis that you can have confidence in. What's the nearest major city to where you live?
If your illness was preceded by use of a medication, e.g., an antibiotic, please fill out an FDA Adverse Event Report at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/default.htm

Lisa33
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Joined: Mon Sep 29, 2014 1:45 pm

Re: Diverticulitis and possible cdiff?

Postby Lisa33 » Mon Apr 23, 2018 10:40 am

I also agree with AllisS and try to find an ID doctor in the closest city near you. You do need a better explanation. I've been on this board a long time, and maybe I'm mistaken, but this is the first time that I'm reading a poster with negative tests but positive c-diff through testing abscesses. I know it's very hard to find the right doctor, especially when you aren't feeling well, but I think it may be worth it, even to get a second opinion. So sorry you and your mom are going through this.

Lisa

Ril
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Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2012 2:45 pm

Re: Diverticulitis and possible cdiff?

Postby Ril » Tue Apr 24, 2018 7:01 pm

Because this is not a medical site, I cannot really give you more information. What I can tell you is that I do not believe either you are understanding the surgeon correctly or the surgeon is not clear on infections which I find unbelievable.

In any case, most communities have GI drs and/ or infectious disease drs and I would seek one out immediately. You make no mention of what dr you saw and it may not have been a specialist.

By the way, because your mom (may have) c diff, does not mean you have caught it from her. It is so not easy to catch it from others if you are young and otherwise healthy.


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