new here- long term effects of C.Diff?

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Dutchbabiesx2
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new here- long term effects of C.Diff?

Postby Dutchbabiesx2 » Thu Apr 05, 2007 9:18 pm

So I guess you need a little background. i contracted c.diff while on antibiotics for a c-section after the birth of my 2nd child. From the get go it was bad, I had many other issues with the recovery. My midwife actually suggested I had the flu . . . .I only spoke over the phone with my primary care doc to diagnosed it right then a there. I then spent a week in the hospital, being admitted on christmas and leaving my 2 week old, 14 month old and husband behind!
I had a pretty severe case due to late diagnosis. I was so dehydrated I could not breast feed my baby 9though we got through it ) I ended up with a pic line and home infusions (2 weeks total of IV vanco). I think it took 8 months to be 'cured'.
This was back in December of 2003- I've never felt 100%. I always have 2 loose stools a day, have IBS symptoms. Many of my metabolism norms changed . . .
I am currently taking my prereqs for nursing and am going over digestion. There is so much info (great prof too!) and it got me thinking of the after effects of c.diff.
I've tried on-line researching before and have only come up with that once 'cured' everyting should be fine . . .
but it is not. i don't discuss it with my doc since I manage, and so far it is not totally taking over my life.
But some days I wonder if I need to see a GI doc and just get myself checked out.
Am I the only one who's world has been turn upside down and never uprighted again?

- I am happy to report that the baby boy that went through that with me- he is absolutly fine!
Thanks

Bobbie
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Postby Bobbie » Fri Apr 06, 2007 2:31 am

Dutchbabiesx2 ,
Sorry the birth of your son was marred by this horrible disease.

Some of us (I am one) wind up with IBS after C. diff. even though I never had GI issues before & had a "cast iron stomach."

"Cured" is a relative term. Some waltz away from C. diff. with nary a side effect. Others aren't so lucky. (Again, I am one.) Some can take antibiotics again w/o a problem; others can't.

I've had C. diff. twice (the lst time for 4 yrs. after the antibiotic Vantin for pneumonia). The next time I had pneumonia (treated with Levaquin), I contacted C. diff. again. No antibiotics (except Macrobid) for 6 yrs. In November, I had pneumonia again & no one was more surprised than I was to escape another bout of C. diff. I continue to have IBS, developed a hiatal hernia & acid reflux & other problems --which could be related to C. diff., aging, genetics, etc.

Hope you've read Dr. McDonald's & Dr. Borody's articles on C. diff. & some of FAQ. They might answer some of your questions. Also, there have been numerous postings lately in Media Reports about using narrower spectrum antibiotics -- if possible. See FAQ-Antibiotics.

Evidently, you are young -- a "plus" in your favor. You might still return to "normal."

Pls. acquaint your fellow nursing students with C. diff. It's still unknown (or little is known about it) to many in the general public -- & also the medical field.

I would follow up with a GI -- for your own peace of mind -- especially if you plan to become pregnant again.

supersmurf
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Postby supersmurf » Mon Apr 09, 2007 12:41 am

Hi Dutchbabiesx2,
Sorry to hear about your bout with c-diff.

I had active c-diff for about 5 months over the 2006 summer and am now almost nine months off vanco.
As for the IBS and return to normalness, I think everyone is different. Something I have found that really helps me is maintining a specific diet. I have a good GI specialist, but she has not really made any specific diet recommendations - however I have also seen a naturopathic Dr, who has been very adament about letting my digestive tract heal after c-diff through diet. I think the idea behind this is that the infection damages the micro-villi within the intestines and they take time to heal, something that is slowed or stopped by eating foods that are hard to digest.
Essentially I have been on a low carbohydrate and no sugar diet. I think it has helped as my IBS acts up when I go off of it, when I am on it my IBS is pretty much non-existent.

Take care,
Sharon


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