Please Help!!!

[MeliMel]

Hello All. Any suggestions and/ or advice is welcomed. In September I was given numerous Antibiotics to treat a Ear/Sinus Infection and Salmonella. I was tested positive for Salmonella again in October. A week after treating Salmonella I still did not feel well. However I was mostly experiencing constipation. If I did have a BM it was pebble stools with lots of mucus. I requested to be tested for CDiff from Urgent Care as I was quickly feeling worse.This past Sunday I was told I am CDiff positive. I was started on Vancomycin 4x a day for 10 days. My constipation continued which was very concerning. Finally after eating a beet yesterday morning did I start to have diarrhea (6 times). It has continued twice this morning. Has anyone had a similar experience? When should my stools start to at least semi form? I also still have a significant amount of nausea although I have yet to vomit. My stomach is still full of aches and pains, mostly right side. I had my Gallbladder removed last year and notice I at times get pains that feel how my GB felt. Also lower right pain above pelvis area. I remain dizzy off and on and at times light headed. I just feel as though I am not making any progress. My anxiety is through the roof as for many. It has been very difficult controlling my emotions, I cry often throughout the day. My doctors have been little to no help. I was scheduled to see GI yesterday and when he found out I had CDiff he cancelled me and told me to finish my Rx and reschedule after if needed.

[beth22]

Welcome Melimel. Sorry you are feeling bad. Please read the general introduction information in the first forum for new members.

Now that you have started vanco, you should finish it. I am not sure if I would have treated C with M with it. What did you take for the salmonella? I would tell your doctor about the anxiety. There are some medications that they give to treat GI symptoms as well as anxiety. The doctor would have to decide if that is right for you. Vanco made me nauseated and I also got looser stools from it. I added probiotics and it helped with that.

[MeliMel]

I too thought it was odd having the constipation with CDiff but I
know it can happen. I was given Augmentin for the Ear and Sinus Infection. Then Levaquin for Salmonella both times. The second time my PCP bumped me up to 750mg. A week later all of this started. I went to ER a few days after the UR trip, they ran a stool test and that was Positive for CDiff as well. I ended up in ER again last night as I feel I am taking 10 steps back. The doctor was concerned and about my two previous Salmonella infections. She consulted with Infectionous Disease and they requested I do a 5 day Z Pack to ensure Salmonella is gone. I only have 3 days left of Vanco. I don't even feel good being on Vanco and they want to expose me to another Antibiotic?! IDK what to do. My stomach pains are awful. I have a burning feeling in the center of my gut.

[roy]

What were the symptoms that led to the salmonella diagnosis?
It sounds like your Drs treating test results and not the patient.

[MeliMel]

With Salmonella I had horrible D with mucus. Fatigue. Weight loss. No appetite. Saw my PCP, submitted a stool. Few days later I felt congestion and headaches. Went to Urgent Care and they proscribed me Augmentin. 4 days into A. PCP called positive for Salmonella, discontinued my Aug and started Levaquin 500mg. 5 days later I was back at the doctors with my ear and sinus symptoms, this doctor had me start Augmentin again with the Levaquin. A few days in I was having awful side effects being on both, doctor took me off Levaquin. This was all throughout September. Come October same symptoms as before, D, stomach cramps, all again. Tested for Ova and Para, Negative. CDiff, Negative. Salmonella, Positive. PCP put me on Levaquin again but 750mg. After felt fine for a week until I was constipated for 4 days. Then 2 days of stool. Followed by the pebble stool and mucus which is what lead to the 2nd CDiff testing. I only have 2 days left of Vanco and don't believe I am where I should be in progress. It's difficult to have a stool, takes forever to finally happen and when it does, it's mush.

[roy]

Cant diagnose by internet but it's possible this is just the after effects of salmonella and/or all the meds.
Testing positive for c.diff does not always mean you have it as a disease.
All those antibiotics certainly put your gut into a poor condition that was ideal for c.diff colonization but that's not disease unless it causes frequent D that does not resolve.
It's not the test that counts, it's the symptoms!
Dont be tempted to test again to prove it's gone, no tests can do that and some Drs wrongly keep on treating.
Give it some time and with average luck your gut will return to normal once your off meds.

[MeliMel]

In your personal opinion do you find it odd that if I do have CDiff I haven't felt better this far on Vanco? My stomach is constantly in knots. I have alot of GB area pain which last night at ER I found out fluid is in the area, doctor said it may be a leak, I will have to follow up with my not so great Gastro Doctor. It's difficult at times to pass gas. Sometimes it hurts. When I use the bathroom it's like my bottom and gut don't feel connected when trying to push BM. My left side hurts too occasional back pain. Does this sound familiar to anything else you may be aware of? My body is in a complete mess at this point and I don't know what to do next.

[Ril]

If you do’ll like or trust your not so great gastro dr make an appointment with another one for a second opinion!

[MeliMel]

I have been trying to get in with another Gastro but am not having any luck. I made an appointment with another just incase but she can't see me till Jan. I definitely know I have GI issues going on with how I have felt and still feel but am at a loss at what it is and which doctors to trust. Although the care from ER last night was the best I've received I was surprised at their direction to get on a ZPack before confirming if I truly need it or not. Stool samples won't be in for a few days.

[beth22]

I would get a second opinion as well. I know that vanco can give some people worse symptoms. Levaquin 750mg is a lot to take. That is a very strong drug and has a black box warning on it. I got c diff after taking Cipro and have since read the guidelines about that class of antibiotic. It is supposed to be used only when other drugs would not work. It certainly could have caused c difficile and GI irritation. Talk to your doctor about taking probiotics and see what he/she recommends. But, maybe see an Infectious Disease specialist rather than a GI. They are usually better at prescribing antibiotics that target specific infections.

[MeliMel]

Completely agree!!! I had side effects to the Levaquin the first time my doctor had me on it, which was also during Augmentin. That was why another Provider pulled me off of it. When I got Salmonella again I told my PCP I was concerned and she told me I had to take it. Wasn't long for the side effects to start and they were much worse. Since ER consulted with ID last night they set up a referral for me. ID should be calling me to schedule within the week. I may set up a ID back up just incase as wait times are horrible.

[MeliMel]

My PCP suggested Align probiotic, but didn't bother to clarify when I asked which one. And when my Gastro called Friday to cancel on me, he told me to get the cheapest one.....my medical team is clearly not the best right now, which makes all of this much scarier, but I continue to try to be my own advocate.

[beth22]

Align only has one strain of bacteria as far as I know. I would get a multi-strain probiotic. Check with your drug store. Many of us use VSL#3 that has to be ordered, but there are lots of others. Some also take Florastor which is a yeast-based probiotic. I did not tolerate it well as it gave me a lot of bloating and gas, but many like it. I don't think getting the cheapest is the answer. Look and see what is available and then try and get one with several strains.

Some posters have had good luck drinking kefir. It is in the yogurt section of the market. I could no longer tolerate yogurt after c diff, but kefir is supposed to be lactose free.

[MeliMel]

Any thoughts on whether or not I should start the ZPack?

[roy]

Salmonella is normally self limiting.
If your not vomiting or having D I cant see why you would need treating.
It's a very common infection and treatment is usualy rest and liquid diet.