Hi guys,
I recently started showing symptoms of C Diff 3 weeks ago. My stool had a foul smelling odor and my stools were very loose, along with blood. I made an appointment a week later with the GI. Turned out the blood was from a fissure... which healed after using Recticare for less than a week. But, my stools were still very loose and foul. I went back to the GI and they asked for a stool sample, because of the Thanksgiving season, it took them a little longer to get the results back. I had a follow up appointment on Thursday and they had to call the testing site for the results. It concluded that I have C Diff. The doctors didn't go too much in detail about it, just saying "I'm so sorry." I didn't realize how bad it can be until I got home and looked up more information.
It seems like my C Diff is mild (Doctor hasn't said it, but from what I have compared myself to on this site). Really, the only thing that has changed since being diagnosed and the couple of weeks leading up to the diagnosis is my stool (I have maybe 3-4 BM a day now), a slight stomach ache that comes and goes, and slight chest pain(which I experienced for maybe 4 days off and on). I have been taking Metamucil to make my stool firm, which helped (started 2 weeks ago when I first went to the GI). But, I don't experience loss of appetite or weight loss.
My GI doctor prescribed me Flagyl 250mg, 3 times a day for 15 days. Now that I have been searching around online, it seems like this is such a strange prescription. Most people either do Flagyl 250mg, 4 times a day or 500mg 3 times a day. Should I ask to raise the dosage?
Yesterday I started Florastor 250mg twice a day, started drinking Kefir since Friday, and bought Culturelle last night, which I'll start taking once a day today.
I can't pin point where I got C Diff. I can't remember the last time I took antibiotics, probably when I got my wisdom teeth removed in late July. My internship this semester required me to travel to hospitals and nursing homes, which I fear may have triggered this. I'm 22 years old, healthy, and about to graduate from college next week. I can't help but crying at the thought of me having relapses in the future and worrying that it will escalate into something severe. I just started applying to jobs and it makes me worried that I may only work for a few months until things get worse and I have to start calling out. And, I'm afraid that I'm going to spread it to my family, friends, dog, and roommate. I frequently wash my hands whenever I am about to touch something and take all the precautions to avoid contaminating, such as bleaching light switches, toilet bowl, toilet handle, sink, door knobs, shower knobs. I don't have accidental stools in my underwear or clothes, so I don't want to bleach them.
Recently Diagnosed
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seekingcure
- Long Time Contributor
- Posts: 1907
- Joined: Mon Mar 25, 2013 1:28 am
Re: Recently Diagnosed
STANDARD INTRODUCTION:
Welcome to the site. Read the first forum “All Users Read This First” and subtopics “Site History” and “Information and Guidelines for Posting to our Discussion Boards.” (Note limits on posting.) This will guide you in using the site and answer some of your questions. Read Dr. Borody's articles. Also see the topics under “CDI” – particularly Recent CDC Report, The C. diff. Bible, Tests, Antibiotics, Hygiene, and Nutrition.
“Doctors” lists physicians our posters recommended and also a list of C. diff. specialists throughout the world with contact information. (Many perform FMT's.) See the new forum “FMT’s and FE’s” or “Media Reports” for new information on C. diff.
The majority of patients (about 70%) recover with one to two rounds of Flagyl or Vancocin. An unfortunate small percentage doesn’t and can suffer for months. Most recover unless there are factors such as advanced age or other severe health problems. New treatments include FMT's, which have a high cure rate, and Dificid. Other drugs and treatments are in the pipeline, and there is increased recognition of C. diff. You can help by educating your family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. Help us make others aware of C. difficle – which will lead to further advances in treating and/or preventing the infection. If antibiotics contributed to your C. diff, be careful about taking them again. Some people tolerate them; some develop C. diff again. Don’t take medications for C. diff. unless you are tested.
If a medication contributed to your case, please fill out an Adverse Event Report online at: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/default.htm. Under "Resources for You," in left-hand column, click on "Report a Serious Medical Product Problem Online." (Allison provided this information.)
The best protection for you and others is thorough hand washing and good hygiene. (See Dr. Borody’s articles and “CDI.”) For more information, see other support groups on Facebook, including http://www.peggyfoundation.org, the Mayo Clinic and Web MD web sites, and “The FMT Foundation” under “Links” on the homepage.
This is a support site not a medical site. We can’t give you medical advice but can tell you what worked for us and offer support. No one will understand what you are going through except someone who has/had this unpredictable disease. All of our moderators and frequent posters had/have C. diff. (or a loved one with it) and know how physically, emotionally, and financially disabling it can be.
Again, welcome. Remember, the odds are in your favor. (End of letter.)
I'm so sorry to hear you are dealing with this illness. You may very well be correct in your guess that you were exposed to this at a hospital or nursing home. I believe I may have picked it up at the nursing home where my mother was. At that time, I didn't know that hand sanitizers don't kill c-diff and would occasionally eat something while I was there, after having used hand sanitizer. The lesson I learned is that hand washing is the very best preventative for c-diff, of course after using the bathroom, but also before eating or cooking.
Your dosage of Flagyl is, indeed, a bit odd. I would ask a trusted pharmacist and, based on that, bring it up with the doctor. For a mild case such as yours, I believe the usual recommended dosage is 250 mg. four times a day for ten to fourteen days, so you would just need to add an extra dose per day.
I'm curious as to which antibiotic you took when you had the wisdom teeth removed. If it was Clindamycin, which is a favorite among dentists, it is one of the most-widely known antibiotics for causing c-diff. I suppose it's possible that you have had a low-grade case of c-diff since you took the antibiotic in July.
Of course, working in the medical field, you will have to be extra diligent to avoid antibiotics in the future when possible and to exercise extremely good hand hygiene, washing your hands (not just using hand sanitizer) both before and after tending to each patient. I also think clothes worn in the hospital or nursing home should be washed in hot water and/or a small amount of bleach when possible. If it were me, I would also clean my "hospital" shoes with Clorox Germicidal Bleach wipes, especially on the bottoms. I remember a nurse onsite reporting that her dog caught c-diff, she assumed from her tracking the bacteria in on her shoes from work.
Keep in mind that most of us who are posting regularly (particularly the moderators) have had an unusual course with c-diff. The many, many people who were cured with one round of medication aren't on the internet posting like we do, so a lot of what you will read here is worst-case scenario. You have the advantage of youth and good health on your side and will, in all likelihood, recover with one round of medication.
Good luck and keep us posted on how you do.
Welcome to the site. Read the first forum “All Users Read This First” and subtopics “Site History” and “Information and Guidelines for Posting to our Discussion Boards.” (Note limits on posting.) This will guide you in using the site and answer some of your questions. Read Dr. Borody's articles. Also see the topics under “CDI” – particularly Recent CDC Report, The C. diff. Bible, Tests, Antibiotics, Hygiene, and Nutrition.
“Doctors” lists physicians our posters recommended and also a list of C. diff. specialists throughout the world with contact information. (Many perform FMT's.) See the new forum “FMT’s and FE’s” or “Media Reports” for new information on C. diff.
The majority of patients (about 70%) recover with one to two rounds of Flagyl or Vancocin. An unfortunate small percentage doesn’t and can suffer for months. Most recover unless there are factors such as advanced age or other severe health problems. New treatments include FMT's, which have a high cure rate, and Dificid. Other drugs and treatments are in the pipeline, and there is increased recognition of C. diff. You can help by educating your family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. Help us make others aware of C. difficle – which will lead to further advances in treating and/or preventing the infection. If antibiotics contributed to your C. diff, be careful about taking them again. Some people tolerate them; some develop C. diff again. Don’t take medications for C. diff. unless you are tested.
If a medication contributed to your case, please fill out an Adverse Event Report online at: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/default.htm. Under "Resources for You," in left-hand column, click on "Report a Serious Medical Product Problem Online." (Allison provided this information.)
The best protection for you and others is thorough hand washing and good hygiene. (See Dr. Borody’s articles and “CDI.”) For more information, see other support groups on Facebook, including http://www.peggyfoundation.org, the Mayo Clinic and Web MD web sites, and “The FMT Foundation” under “Links” on the homepage.
This is a support site not a medical site. We can’t give you medical advice but can tell you what worked for us and offer support. No one will understand what you are going through except someone who has/had this unpredictable disease. All of our moderators and frequent posters had/have C. diff. (or a loved one with it) and know how physically, emotionally, and financially disabling it can be.
Again, welcome. Remember, the odds are in your favor. (End of letter.)
I'm so sorry to hear you are dealing with this illness. You may very well be correct in your guess that you were exposed to this at a hospital or nursing home. I believe I may have picked it up at the nursing home where my mother was. At that time, I didn't know that hand sanitizers don't kill c-diff and would occasionally eat something while I was there, after having used hand sanitizer. The lesson I learned is that hand washing is the very best preventative for c-diff, of course after using the bathroom, but also before eating or cooking.
Your dosage of Flagyl is, indeed, a bit odd. I would ask a trusted pharmacist and, based on that, bring it up with the doctor. For a mild case such as yours, I believe the usual recommended dosage is 250 mg. four times a day for ten to fourteen days, so you would just need to add an extra dose per day.
I'm curious as to which antibiotic you took when you had the wisdom teeth removed. If it was Clindamycin, which is a favorite among dentists, it is one of the most-widely known antibiotics for causing c-diff. I suppose it's possible that you have had a low-grade case of c-diff since you took the antibiotic in July.
Of course, working in the medical field, you will have to be extra diligent to avoid antibiotics in the future when possible and to exercise extremely good hand hygiene, washing your hands (not just using hand sanitizer) both before and after tending to each patient. I also think clothes worn in the hospital or nursing home should be washed in hot water and/or a small amount of bleach when possible. If it were me, I would also clean my "hospital" shoes with Clorox Germicidal Bleach wipes, especially on the bottoms. I remember a nurse onsite reporting that her dog caught c-diff, she assumed from her tracking the bacteria in on her shoes from work.
Keep in mind that most of us who are posting regularly (particularly the moderators) have had an unusual course with c-diff. The many, many people who were cured with one round of medication aren't on the internet posting like we do, so a lot of what you will read here is worst-case scenario. You have the advantage of youth and good health on your side and will, in all likelihood, recover with one round of medication.
Good luck and keep us posted on how you do.
Bea
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beth22
- Long Time Contributor
- Posts: 10853
- Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2009 2:23 pm
Re: Recently Diagnosed
If it were me, I'd ask to increase the dose to 4 x per day. You don't want to undertreat and then wind up with a relapse. I have not heard of 3 x per day unless it is 500mg, as you said. For most people, as you can see in the intro letter, one or two rounds of meds cure c difficile. Hopefully, you will be one of those 70%. You have youth on your side and if you don't have other underlying health issues, that is also in your favor. Let us know how you do.
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Bobbie
- Administrator
- Posts: 12688
- Joined: Sat Aug 06, 2005 8:00 pm
Re: Recently Diagnosed
Chris
See CDI - Nutrition, Hygiene, and Three Day Rule. Is she going to breastfeed when she gets home? Bea mentioned something the other night about breastfeeding and Flagyl. See CDI for info on that topic.
Glad she is under professional care you are happy with.
See CDI - Nutrition, Hygiene, and Three Day Rule. Is she going to breastfeed when she gets home? Bea mentioned something the other night about breastfeeding and Flagyl. See CDI for info on that topic.
Glad she is under professional care you are happy with.
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