Taking Dificid 1 day after Vanco?

[Moopus]

Hi,
I got Cdiff after two weeks of antibiotics - Clindamycin and Amoxicillin. I did 10 days of Vanco and thought I was on the mend. This week, I noticed my anxiety level headed back up through the roof for no apparent reason. I had severe depression and anxiety my first round of Cdiff as well as while on the Vanco. I was retested at the 14 day mark and it's positive. Ugh. I don't have D but it's not normal, either. Formed but funky. The doctor prescribed Dificid but it's out of stock until Monday. He prescribed Vanco to take for the weekend to hold me over. I just came across someone on another forum saying that you can't take them back to back, that Vanco will interfere with the Dificid somehow. Is this true?

Does anyone else get panic attacks with this infection? Depression? I feel like I have zero serotonin and it's scaring me.

Thank you in advance

[AllisS]

Welcome to the site. Before you post further, take a look at the first thread on the homepage, entitled "PLEASE READ BEFORE YOU POST. Rules, Standard Intro, Testing."

Sorry that you've been coping with C. diff. Clindamycin is THE top-offending antibiotic that triggers C. diff; Amoxicillin is also a high-risk antibiotic. (Though any antibiotic can cause the infection.) You didn't mention why these two very powerful antibiotics were prescribed in the first place or whether you took them in succession or simultaneously. If the latter, that would appear to be an egregiously bad course of treatment on the part of whichever doctor ordered it.

Retesting for C. diff immediately following a course of treatment is also counter to protocol. The results from retesting so soon are not reliable. Are you being treated by a GI doctor or a primary care doctor? The reason that I ask is that a GI doctor, unless inexperienced with C. diff, should have known that C. diff is frequently followed by what is known as post-infectious IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), which shares many features in common with C. diff but is not C. diff. It can (and often does) take weeks to months for bowel function to return to normal following C. diff. That you no longer have D seems like a clear indication that it's now post-infectious IBS and NOT C. diff that you are experiencing. Also, I'm surprised that a doctor who regularly treats C. diff would prescribe Dificid under the circumstances that you describe, as it doesn't sound to me as though you currently have C. diff and it is not a good idea to deploy a powerful medication such as Dificid in its absence.

As for anxiety and depression, it's extremely common to have either or both during and in the period after C. diff. You might want to ask your doctor to prescribe a mild sedative such as Xanax to help you during this immediate post-infection period.

Finally, I hope you will use the link at the end of this post to submit an Adverse Event form to FDA, reporting your experience with clindamycin and amoxicillin.

I'm sure that other members of the site will come along with some additional input before long.

Allison

[Moopus]

I tested 15 days following my last dose of Vanco. No D, but increasing M, strange smell, and increasing discomfort. I was given Clindamycin for a gum infection. It didn't work so I was thrn given Amoxicillin. Infection cleared but still lost the tooth. A front tooth, no less.

I am being treated by my primary care doctor. I couldn't tolerate Flagyl so I took Vanco. The Vanco has greatly worsened my tinnitus which is why he prescribed Dificid.

I am not sure what to do now. Honestly, the emotional symptoms are the worst for me. I already take antidepressants and anti anxiety meds. It seems this infection messes with absorption which then causes withdrawal symptoms on top of it all.

[Moopus]

By the way, I'm 50, female.

[NikaNik]

Hi, Moopus,

So sorry you're dealing with this. Some people test positive for a while after their initial infection. Most docs say not to treat unless you have D 3x a day or more and/or severe symptoms. I agree with AllisS that it sounds like you may have P-IBS.

As far as taking Dificid after Vanco - Last year I had c diff and relapsed a week after taking Flagyl (which made me feel the worst I've ever felt in my life - anxiety and depression, suicidal thoughts, oral thrush and severe nausea). I went to Vanco (felt almost normal on that) but relapsed a week after that and was put on Vanco again. At that point, I sought out a c diff specialist in NYC who came highly recommended on this board (Dr. Carl Crawford). He switched me immediately to a 30-day taper of Dificid with Enteragam (a medical food for IBS that is supposed to heal the gut and absorb c diff toxins). At that point I had already been on the Vanco for 5 days and he told me to switch seamlessly to the Dificid, so I did. I felt fine on it and it worked! I've been healed a little more than a year now and am doing great, thankfully. I struggled with anxiety and depression before c diff but c diff flared it up to the worst it had ever been - I struggled during and even after the infection for a while but chose not to take medication (although I know it's necessary for some folks and it works great for them). I used CBT, staying busy (so thankful I was able to work during everything), exercise, meditation, prayer and I also found that time was a great healer. The further out I was, the better mentally and physically I felt.

You will get better! Hang in there. You've found a great place for support.

Blessings,
Nikki

[getwellsoon]

I took both together at one point, they overlapped and I finally was cured with the Dificid. It does sound like you might be trying to kick this on your own, which is good. The real healing doesn't start until after meds are stopped and your bowels will be funky for a while. It took me almost 2 yrs to get back to my new normal. If you are on other meds you need to talk to Dr. about them. Anti anxiety meds and depression meds are good short term but can come with a whole set of their own symptoms to the bowel. Don't take something like xanax long term, it can be very addicting. Talk to Dr. Hope you feel better soon.

[Lisa33]

Without the frequent D, I am not sure treating again is the right choice. You may want to wait and see if things improve on their own, as this could be PI-IBS as the others said. Mucus is caused by irritation and is also part of IBS as well. I know it's so hard to know what the right thing to do is. A positive test always puts us in to a tailspin. The proper protocol is to treat based on symptoms alone, so that you don't over-treat. However, many doctors still retest for a cure.

And all of your feelings of extreme anxiety is very normal with this horrible infection. As Nikki said, it does get better with the more time you get under your belt in recovery. You have to find what works for you to ease the anxiety - whether it be meds, working, therapy, etc. The anxiety will only add to IBS. Unfortunately, time is truly the real healer of all of it.

We all understand what you are going through. I am 17 months out, and have had to just start an antibiotic for a nasty sinus infection. The anxiety is very real for me right now. Taking an antibiotic for a sinus infection is what got me into trouble with c diff in the first place. This illness can really affect your mental state at times. But, you have to try and not let it take over your life. It really just makes things worse GI wise.

I hope you feel better soon,
Lisa

[Moopus]

Thank you all for your responses. Very much appreciated.

I am still undecided but I am leaning towards holding off on the meds. I will, however, pick up the script just in case. The doctor will order a retest in 2 weeks and my fear is that it'll come back positive again. If he finds out that I never took the Dificid, he will likely be annoyed. I am unable to change doctors at this time for other reasons unrelated to Cdiff.

So far, I have a burning type sensation in my stomach and I have nausea... and the crazy anxiety. Can IBS cause those symptoms?

And yes, antidepressants and benzos come with their own nightmare. I am going through hell trying to taper off of them ever so slowly. This infection has made it so much worse and I'm on the edge of insanity. I do not and will not ever trust another doctor. Ever.

Thank you all for being here.
M

[Sweet]

so will metro make you go to the bathroom more then when you did not take it? I started last monday on metro and have been in bathroom more then i was when not on it. Is it working or is that making me worse?

[Moopus]

Sorry, I don't have an answer to your question.

[Moopus]

I can't make up my mind. I am concerned that I do still have it. I never had watery D. I had mush and I had mucous and some other weird stuff. I only went a few times per day when it was at its worst. I am seeing a return of the weird stuff which is making me very nervous. I may skip the Vanco this weekend but now I'm leaning towards taking the Dificid starting Monday, just in case.

Of course, I may change my mind again. The nausea, bloating and gurgling in my esophagus is bothersome, though.

[roy]

I dont think I would take Dificid straight after vanco.
Personaly I would keep it in hand and only take it if full on D returned.

C.diff is very much a disease of the colon and thats around 18 feet away from your esophagus!
upper GI symptoms are almost certainly not c.diff related.

[beth22]

Vanco gave me nausea, so that could be part of the problem too. I agree with Roy. I would hold off on the Dificid and if you get a positive test along with full blown symptoms, then I would take it. I have had positive tests, but not full-blown symptoms and only took Pepto Bismol and it got better. You don't want to over treat either.

[Moopus]

I only took 1 dose of Vanco. I have had nausea all week along with a burning feeling in my belly. I think the gurgling in the esophagus is from yeast, actually. The Vanco caused thrush and yeast in my esophagus (pretty sure as I've had it before).

I will get the Dificid, regardless. If I test positive in 2 weeks again, then what? My doctor will have thought I took the Dificid course. Not that I'm overly concerned with pleasing him, don't get me wrong. I have other stuff going on and I need his cooperation.

The test I had was a Cdiff toxin, PCR. So, there are false positives when testing for toxins? Or just the bacteria?

Thanks,
M

[Lisa33]

I believe you can have a false positive when testing for toxins if it's soon after meds. Your symptoms are not typical c-diff symptoms. I think you need to have a conversation with your doctor on whether to treat or not. I think you need to both be on the same page. He should listen to your concerns.