Help! I'm so scared!

[pwood62]

I was just told I have SIBO after finally testing negative for C-Diff (4 stool samples and scope). This has been going on for 5 months! Now they are prescribing Flagyl! Will this make the C-Diff come back? I am so scared.

[Vikingjeff28]

Well, at least it is one that is used to treat C diff(not saying it can't cause it but not as likely at all as others) in the first place. Are your SIBO symptoms bad enough to warrant antibiotic and are they picking the correct one? I know a TON about C diff now but not SIBO. A couple of others her ehave had it and will pipe in I am sure, get well.

[pwood62]

Thats what I'm praying Jeff. In answer to your question yes it has to be treated, it won't go away and is making me quite ill. Some say from what I have read it is just as bad as the Cdiff if not worse. Plus very drastic weight loss which I don't need at all. I have an appointment at GI's tommorow. I am afraid I very well may end up in the hospital. I really felt as if I was going to have a nervous breakdown at one point today. Thankfully they prescribed me Lorazapam which is Valium. I have taken 2 little happy pills and I feel calmer now. Thanks for your kind words and support. I know you have had a bad time too and I hope you are on the road to recovery soon.

[MaryT]

How did they diagnose the SIBO?

[beth22]

I had one of the worst cases of SIBO that the specialist had ever seen. Mine was off the charts and this doctor has treated thousands of people for SIBO and wrote the protocol for treating it. He put me on Xifaxan. It helped, although it made me sick while taking it. It did not make my c difficile come back though. I did that myself later on when I took Cipro. I took one round of Xifaxan for ten days and then the doctor wanted me to take Flagyl together with Xifaxan, but I did not tolerate the Flagyl.

The SIBO was worse than the c difficile. It was with the SIBO that I got the food intolerances and the drastic weight loss. Ask your doctor about Xifaxan. There is also a book my doctor (the SIBO specialist) wrote that you might want to read. It is: A New IBS solution by Mark Pimentel M.D. This doctor does not believe in taking probiotics, but I found that they did help me after I took the Xifaxan. I take VSL#3.

Good luck to you. I understand how you feel exactly. I thought when I got rid of the c difficile things would be better, but they got worse with the SIBO. I'm not sure if Flagyl is the right thing for it though, at least not by itself, as many people wind up with SIBO or IBS after taking Flagyl.

[pwood62]

They diagnosed the SIBO through a breath test. I was prescribed a 14 day course of Flagyl 3 pills into my course and I feel great! It is a very high dose of Flagy. I went to the GI today and he said it is doubtful I will relapse since Flagy is what is used first to treat C Diff. I have had Flagy before and tolerate it well so I hope this will do the trick. My stool samples and scope all came back negative for C Diff, so he thinks this SIBO is just a minor setback. He said it has to be treated it won't go away on its own. I feel better today then I have in months!

[pwood62]

I wanted to add to Beth that I too was told I had some of the highest levels they had ever seen. I will continue to take my Align and eat my Stonyfield yogurt (which is in my opionion the best since it contains 6 of the good probiotics found in our Flora). I wish everyone health and happiness.

[beth22]

When you first got c difficile, did you take Flagyl or did you go on vanco right away? I never took Flagyl and wonder if that is why my levels were so high? Vanco does not seem to act on the bacteria that causes SIBO.

[pwood62]

I took Flagyl first but only for a few days. I didn't really give it a chance it gave me thrush so they put me on Vanco (which took 5rounds and almost bankrupted us) before it finally kicked in and killed the C Diff. I spoke to my GI today and he does not think the Flagy will make me relapse sice that is what they use first for C Diff. I feel tons better today after 2 days on FlagylsoI know I have SIBO. Plus my levels were so high. They also gave me something for the D. I tell you SIBO mademe almost as sick as the CDIFF! Anyway I hope this is the last of this disgustin illness I have had this for 5 month going on 6 and I am sooo done with it. I now have severe anxiety from this and have to go see my primary Dr for that on Friday. I felt I was going to have some kind of nervous breakdown yesterday when they told me I had SIBO after I thought this was all over. I am left so nervous now.

[pwood62]

Hi all, 5 days into the Flagyl and I feel great! I noticed an immediate difference after just the 3rd dose. So far no D and the GI highly doubts a return of C Diff sice Flagyl is used to treat C Diff. This is the best I have felt in 5 months. Told DH I had forgotten what it felt like to feel good. I am cautiously hopeful... I now want everyone on this site to get well and will continue to keep each and everyone of you in my prayers.