Hi All, I have a question!!

[Zoe]

First off thank you everyone for posting on this site. I have been suffering with C-Diff for about 3 years (finally diagnosed in Feb. of this year). I found this site awhile ago, and every question I had someone already had posted it. So I have never posted, just read a lot!!!

Anyway, since I have been diagnosed I have had 2 rounds of 10 day Flagyl, an 18 day round of flagyl, 1 month of Vanco, I am currently taking another 2 week of the Vanco.(all of these have been from my regular doc, and the Emergency room).-Oh ya, and I have been eating and drinking TONS of yogurt.

Well today I finally was able to get into a specialist. He has now prescribed Xifaxan (1 week-twice a day, 1 week-once a day) and a probiotic (the script says VSL #3)- I am suppose to take it 3 times a day.

Has anyone heard of the med Xifaxan, and has anyone had any luck with it??? I am starting to get scared because this isn't going away!

Oh and for anyone who is trying to keep track of the age, how they got the C-Diff, and such here are my stats. I am a 30 year old Female, I originally had a severe kidney infection and was put on very very strong antibiotics.- So this is most likely how I came to get this horrible infection. I have been otherwise very healthy. If there is anything else you would like to know, just ask!!

And if anyone has any insight to the Xifaxan I would greatly appreciate it, also any other suggestions will be appreciated!!!

[fire7163]

I've used it twice during relapses and it seemed to work after the vanco didn't. I used it as a chaser taper after a 30 day taper of vanco. I had no side effects from it

Call it up using the search mode, you'll find quite a number of posts dealing with it. It's also called Rifaxamin and is most commonly used in patients who relapse after vanco courses.

Lots of luck,

Fire

[Jenny]

Hi Zoe,

I too have taken Rifaximin for two weeks after taking Vanco for a month. I am only on day 9 off of the Rifaximin. I am feeling great in that respect. The rifaximin did cause some c diff like symptoms in me so don't panic. Extremely bloated, cramping (though not too bad), frequent bathroom visits and a change in consistency but no D. Gas X helped with most of the symptoms. Once I stopped the Rifaximin I felt much better and just kept up with the culturelle and florastor. Keep up with the yoghurt.

Feel better soon.

Jenny

[nsewell]

I took Xifaxan after a long course of vanco. I ended up taking 20 days of it. ANd I have cdiff free for 2 years.

[Nancy1]

Zoe,
Welcome to the group that no one wants to join. It sounds like you have done a lot of reading already, but if you haven't read All Users Read This First, Dr. Borody's article, Dr. McDonald's article, and FAQ, be sure to check those out.

I hope that the xifaxan kicks out cdiff for you this time. They tell me that everyone beats cdiff eventually. Don't give up hope. Let us know how it goes.

[Zoe]

Thank you all SO much!!! This site is wonderful, it has given me a lot of hope when I didn't have any left! I live in a really small town and there isn't a lot of information about C-Diff, so this site has been a great life line for me.....thank you SO much! I am very hopeful with this new doctor, he has been to seminars about c-diff and researched it greatly....I have to drive 2 hours to get to him, but it is worth it!!!
Much love to all and I hope everyone recovers quickly!!!!

[mommy2maddi]

Hi,

welcome to the group! I certainly have a lot of experience with Xifaxan. I had SBBO a year and a half ago and took it for 6 months which FINALLY got rid of it! When I got the CDIFF I wished I could take the Xifaxan but I am pregnant and it is not safe. I found it to be much more tolerable than the Flagyl that I took, and easier in general. I will say it can cause some loose stools so do not be suprised if that happens. Good luck I hope this kicks it for you! Ps- don't forget to take a good probiotic.

Best,

Nicole

Mommy to Maddi 1/3/06
Jack due 7/4/08