new guy here

[bc]

This is a very informative site, thanks to everybody that has contributed.

I was on Amoxicillin (sp?) for about a year – from the dermatologist. Last September I began developing D that got progressively worse until I finally had to go to the doctor. I stopped taking antibiotics and have not taken any since. My symptoms included bloody D, occasional chills and worsening stomach pain.

They suspected cdiff, but my one and only stool sample tested negative (I have since learned here that this sample was likely mishandled by me and the lab). My GP put me on Flagyl anyway and it worked! One course and done!

Flash forward to about two weeks ago (90 days+ since being “cured”). My 7 year old son had two stomach bugs within this 2 week period (vomiting and D - poor guy). He was ok within 12 hours each time. However, I started having “loose” problems again that progressed to D just as bad as in September. At first, I thought I just had this bug, but it has been 6 days now and things are getting worse and this is exactly what happened before - exact same symptoms.

I went back to the GP who now says she does not suspect cdiff (?!) and that Flagyl will “resolve other kinds of colitis, you have never tested positive, and blood is not usually associated with cdiff”. She is sending me to a specialist for a colonoscopy – which is probably a good thing. I am also submitting three stool samples this time along with blood work.

I do have some questions, any help would be appreciated:

1. Exactly how should a stool sample be handled by me in terms of time to get it to the lab, refrigeration, etc?

2. Does Flagyl really help/cure you if it is NOT cdiff that you have?

3. How rare is it for cdiff to come back after 90+ days of being “ok” and without taking any antibiotics?

While cdiff sucks – at least I thought I knew what I was dealing with, but now I am not so sure, and I know nobody here can tell me either, but I would appreciate any opinions or information.

[anlockwood]

Welcome BC! You will get the standard welcome from the mods very soon. You have many good questions and too many of us who have had c diff there are many red flags in your post. I will try to help as much as I can. Ok first off I would say it sounds like you had c diff to me, based on symptoms and be on antibiotics so long and if the flagyl helped then I would say you defintely had c diff.

With your son having the stomach but and then you thinking you had that and then getting worse. I actually have experience with this one. Myself and my 10 month old have both had c diff. We both hit our 70 day mark post treatment with flying colors. Well next thing you know he gets a nasty stomach bug, vomitting the whole works. Then the D kicks in. We thought it was probably part of the bug he caught but tested him anyways just to be sure. He had c diff back in full force. I saw another post on here about her son getting flu and then it leading back into a relapse. It seems that the flu bug can sometimes lower the good bacteria enough that it triggers a relapse of the c diff. 6 days is a long time to have D and you have every right to be concerned.

Ok you need to see someone else immediately because your GP is not well versed in c diff. Blood is a very tell tale sign of c diff so your GP stating it is not associated with c diff states they know very little about c diff. I think the specialist is a good idea but you really need to get your samples in asap so that you can start treatment before seeing the specialist if you have c diff back. It is not a wait and see thing. C diff can make you very ill very quickly.

For test see under FAQ section and look under tests it has all the rules there. Number one rule is to keep it cool in the fridge but a c diff test needs to be done within 4 hours of collecting the sample. So if your dr off ice is closed ask them if the lab is open. We dropped our samples off at the hospital lab because they are open 24/7 and they would test them asap instead of letting them sit at the dr office waiting for a courier to come get them.

My personal opinion is if Flagyl made that dramatic of a difference for you then you probably had c diff.

The third question is tricky. It can be rare but does happen as with my son the stomach bug was enough to let the c diff flare up again.

Amanda

[Nancy1]

bc,
Since I would guess that you have cdiff again, here is the standard welcome: Welcome to the group that no one wants to join. Be sure to read All Users Read This First, Dr. Borody's article, Dr. McDonald's article (in the FAQ section under Articles by Experts), and all areas in FAQ that interest you.

Amanda has given you lots of good advice. I was told that if I couldn't get a sample to the lab right away, because the lab wasn't open, to freeze it. When you bring it in, tell them it is for cdiff and they should keep it frozen until they can process it. There are many false negative test results for cdiff. I only tested positive once in my 8 months of cdiff.

I had blood with every relapse. At first I went to the ER each time, but I finally learned that this was normal for me. If you have cdiff again, I surely hope it's cured fast again! Good luck. Let us know how it goes.

[bc]

Thanks for the replies. Yeah, this feels EXACTLY like last time and the Flagyl did the trick then. Hopefully, my samples will test positive and they will give me an Rx, but I have doubts because this "lab" is only a collection site and they have already completely bungled the paperwork (they refused my samples this am because of a clerical error and now that I have turned them in again it has been 4 hours+ with no refrigeration...).

That is very interesting about a stomach bug causing a relapse...pretty much confirms what I already know - the cdiff is back.

Thanks again.

[bpagan]

bc,

This is something that has not been mentioned thus far but may be of assistance. Most of us who have had c.diff. associated D have noticed a distinctly noxious smell to our stools. It is not something you forget once it happens and many of us still hope not to have to experience it again. If you notice this characteristic you probably have c.diff. ___ whatever the result of your culture.

Best of Luck,

Bob

[bc]

Yeah, thanks Bob. I dunno about the odor thing. I mean, it ain't pleasant but I am not experiencing the "horrific" smell I have heard so much about - I don't think (my wife might tell you different). I didn't have that last time either. It is actually one of the things that makes me wonder...

[anlockwood]

Smell is a tell tale sign for some but not others. When my D was full force it really didn't have a odor. Neither does my sons so I don't know on this one. Some people have it some don't.
Amanda

[bc]

So an update:

Had colonoscopy about 10 days ago. Asked for and recieved Flagyl afterwards - 14 days. On day 10 now and things are improving, just like last time. Doc called today and said he does not suspect cdiff, says it is IBD - probably ulcerative coilitis, but he can't be sure, no way to really tell (?). I said things were improvng with the Flagyl, he said Flagyl will resolve other kinds of coilitis, not just cdiff. He Rxed Asocal, wants me to start on that after I finish the Flagyl if symptoms persist.

So, now my GP and specialist say they do not think it is cdiff. Yet, the Flagyl is working. Of course, the lab screwed up my samples and I don't have any test results to go by other than the scope.

I am confused, I guess I could have UC, but seems kinda weird that Flagyl is helping me so much...people are starting to think I'm nuts because I still believe its cdiff. Oh well, I guess it won't matter if I don't relapse again...

[JohnB]

bc, I know the uncertainty you're feeling right now. I went through it too. I had a couple doctors tell me it wasn't C. Diff, but my symptoms and instincts told me otherwise. The only advice I can offer is to go with your instinct over any test result or doctor's diagnosis. You know your own body better than anyone else.

John