New to c. diff. - No antibiotics anymore?

Treatments, possible treatments, unsubstantiated/unproven treatments. Consult your doctor first.
NowThis
Brand New Poster
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Aug 22, 2016 2:02 pm

New to c. diff. - No antibiotics anymore?

Postby NowThis » Mon Aug 22, 2016 2:33 pm

Where to start? I have too many things going on to flood you with, but I will start by explaining that I have been sick for four years and am progressively declining. I have been diagnosed with Edema, Small Fiber Neuropathy, POTS, unintentional weight loss, fatigue … docs suspect amyloidosis and am on waiting list for tertiary centers. In the meantime, I developed Strep G back in April for the first time in me life. It came along with fever. I was treated with two back-to-back courses of Augmentin (10 days, then 14 days). When I continued to decline, doc added stool samples, and sure enough it came back positive for c. diff. Went on Flagyl and three samples later, I am officially cleared. However, 4 ½ months later, I still have the fever and am still testing positive for Strep G. An ENT recently suggested having my tonsils removed but admitted that was no guarantee that strep wouldn’t come back. Having been told I can no longer take antibiotics but still fighting a bacterial infection, I am at a loss. Having a fever for this long has become debilitating. Talking with my nurse case manager and trying to trouble shoot, we came up with in-home Vancomyocin Infusion possibly working. I realize taking it orally only treats intestines but infusions seem to treat systematically (my understanding).

Has anybody tried this? Or does anybody have any other suggestions?

Thank you for whatever input you might offer.

Best regards,
Tired and Confused

beth22
Long Time Contributor
Posts: 10852
Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2009 2:23 pm

Re: New to c. diff. - No antibiotics anymore?

Postby beth22 » Mon Aug 22, 2016 9:50 pm

Hi Tired and Confused. Sorry for all you have gone through. Please read the first forum regarding posting and other information. We have had people who had the IV vanco for surgeries and to treat some infections and it did not cause a relapse of c difficile for them as far as I know. IV vanco has been associated with hearing loss however, and you might want to discuss this with your doctor before starting treatment. However, having a fever for that long and the ongoing infection does seem to need some kind of treatment. Have they done a culture to see if the bacteria is sensitive to vancomycin?

georgina
Long Time Contributor
Posts: 2635
Joined: Sat Sep 12, 2015 10:07 am

Re: New to c. diff. - No antibiotics anymore?

Postby georgina » Tue Aug 23, 2016 1:02 am

Agree with Beth , a culture should be done along with a antibiotic sensitivity report , to see if the bacteria can be killed by vanco (or other meds).There is a list of antibiotics that can cause a relapse (or not) under the CDI section that you might want to check if vanco isn't an option for you . We had posters that did well with Zpack after Cdiff or Doxycilline.

Bobbie
Administrator
Posts: 12688
Joined: Sat Aug 06, 2005 8:00 pm

Re: New to c. diff. - No antibiotics anymore?

Postby Bobbie » Tue Aug 23, 2016 2:30 am

Pls read first forum for info about site and rules of posting. So sorry for your problems.

I tool vanco by IV several times - once for six to 7 weeks for ossteomyletitis in my jaw. Twice during surgery for shattered t elbow and operation on foot. I did well on I it bbut note two possible major side effects - hearing loss and kidney damage. Neither happened to me but check these out with your doc.

They will put a port in your chest and you will learn to give treatments yourself and then flush the line. I then went to work afterwards. They will take your blood one or two times a week to check for hearing/kidney damage.

Hope this works for you without a problem. Best of luck.

roy
Administrator
Posts: 4193
Joined: Sat Aug 02, 2014 1:05 am

Re: New to c. diff. - No antibiotics anymore?

Postby roy » Tue Aug 23, 2016 1:32 pm

I think Strep g is considered normal flora if it's in the right place (Skin and nose).
Did you have watery D or did your Dr treat you for c.diff just because you tested positive?
If your Dr's treating you for strep or c.diff without symptoms it's time to question the decision.

NowThis
Brand New Poster
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Aug 22, 2016 2:02 pm

Re: New to c. diff. - No antibiotics anymore?

Postby NowThis » Tue Aug 23, 2016 4:30 pm

Please let me first apologize and introduce myself. My name is Ann-Marie. I am a 45-year-old female. My apologies for not reading the first topics before posting and for any inconvenience or annoyance that has caused. I know if you are on this site you are not well.

I've been sick for years, but this fever which began in early April due to Strep G, is just taking the last bit of energy I have. They did cultures a couple months back if I recall correctly. And yes, tests in June were positive for c. diff. after days of WD. I was later told this was caused by the first rounds of Augmentin (for strep).

I talked with my nurse case manager this morning, and we both feel I'm likely headed to the hospital in the next day or two if the docs can't figure things out. On the verge of asthma kicking in from fires and know I cannot fight one more thing on top of fevers, Strep, and recurrent WD.

I am so grateful I found this site. Nobody really explained what a huge impact this would have going forward. There is so much information. Thank you.
Last edited by NowThis on Tue Aug 23, 2016 9:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.

amyc
Long Time Contributor
Posts: 2084
Joined: Thu Nov 10, 2011 8:15 am

Re: New to c. diff. - No antibiotics anymore?

Postby amyc » Tue Aug 23, 2016 6:33 pm

Sorry you are so sick. IV vancomycin won't treat C diff. Have they run blood cultures? If you end up in the hospital I would request that to try to figure out what is causing you to be so ill for so long. If you have pets or like to hike or camp they might want to test you for tick borne illnesses too? I would recommend requesting a referral to an infectious disease specialist.

Lisa33
Long Time Contributor
Posts: 2430
Joined: Mon Sep 29, 2014 1:45 pm

Re: New to c. diff. - No antibiotics anymore?

Postby Lisa33 » Wed Aug 24, 2016 3:18 pm

Hi Ann-Marie,

I am so sorry for all that you have been going through. And then to have to deal with c-diff on top of all of it. I totally agree with Amy that an Infectious Disease doctor would be the one to know exactly how to handle all of the issues that you are dealing with right now. The right treatment plan is so crucial for you as you need to get rid of a strep infection, along with a c-diff infection for good.

I hope that you get to the bottom of things soon and you start to feel better,
Lisa


Return to “Treatments”



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 4 guests