new questions on waiting to test again

[cookie21]

I posted about a year ago and will try and recap as I have some new questions:

In my 50's and in good health. However, have always had issues with Diarrhea. Not uncommon for me to have loose or mushy, 1- to 3 a day for a week or so. Most always from stress. In Mar 2018, The D was over 10+ and WD. Plus, lots of pain. Not on any antibiotics or hospital. All went away on its own but came a week later. Tested positive for c diff and was put on Flagyl. In Aug 2018, I posted because I thought it was coming back. I got a test at day 4. And it was negative. D went away about a week later. Fast forward, had D and went to GI specialist. D was going between normal & mushy. Got tested in Mar 2019 and came back positive. I couldn't believe it! I took Vanco. One year later, right now again, I am having D. Started on Tuesday for 2 days. Stopped. And then nothing. Started back up last night- Sunday.

Questions: how long to wait until getting tested? It seems to be on and off for me. Even the 1st time.
Is it ok to take pepto? I took just 2 caplets, one dose this morning. Not sure really needed it. I seem to be fine by day and worst at night. Can stress bring on c diff?
I am also feeling depressed. As others have mentioned, panic every time I use the bathroom.
I would like to try and fight this without mediation. But I also don't want to cause more issues.
I am taking Florastor twice a day.

Thanks.

[Ril]

No, stress cannot bring on c diff but it can cause an IBS attack and/or d/GI symptoms. A whole multitude of other things can also cause attacks of d including viruses, food borne illnesses, a reaction to probiotics (Florastor) and several organisms that can be found in stool that are not c diff. It would be unusual to have c diff with no exposure or risk factor and it seems anxiety is escalating the situation, which would not be the case in c diff.

[beth22]

Stress in itself won't cause c difficile, but stress can lower your immune system, at least it has for me. When my immune system gets lowered, then I am more prone to get sick - colds, flu, even a relapse of c diff under the right circumstances. Make sure when you test to not just go by PCR results, because those can show positive even if there is not an active infection. If it is positive, follow up with an EIA test to see if toxins are present.

[cookie21]

Here were the results of my test from Mar 2019

Clostridium Difficile
Toxins, QL, Real Time PCR
Detected

The stool sample is POSITIVE for toxigenic C. Difficile.
This result is suggestive of C. Difficile infection(CDI)
If accompanied by appropriate clinical symptoms.

Simultaneous testing does not identify a genetic marker of the
Hypervirulent 027/NAP1/BI strain of toxigenic C. Difficile

What does this mean? Toxins or no toxins?
I certainly didn't feel I had the bad symptoms

[beth22]

That is a PCR and it picks up the genetic markers for c difficile. My hospital lab follows up positive PCR with an EIA to see if it is an active infection. I would call the doctor or lab and ask.