C diff and constipation

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Lovelove
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Re: C diff and constipation

Postby Lovelove » Sun Jun 11, 2017 5:34 pm

Oh usc Dr said to not change medication to dificid , because its better to stay on same medication from first round. Like I said these Drs confuse me so much.I think 30 days of vanco is dangerous to my liver and kidneys, uggg Im just so confused....Ive never in my 49 years of life felt so helpless and not understood about this horrible cdiffe, I have no confidence in any of the Drs ive seen for this, its like they dont care at all , and dont know what they are doing,,,

roy
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Re: C diff and constipation

Postby roy » Sun Jun 11, 2017 8:18 pm

Have you considered that the Dr that looked at your test result and symptoms together might be the one that truly understands the disease that c.diff can cause?
Test results are only part of diagnosing c.diff as a disease the other part is the symptoms and normaly that means copious watery stool.

Lisa33
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Re: C diff and constipation

Postby Lisa33 » Mon Jun 12, 2017 9:28 am

Being that constipated is usually not a symptom of c-diff. I definitely feel like you should have further testing to see why you are so blocked up. Just to address if you can spread the spores...if you are practicing proper hygiene, such as proper hand washing, especially after using the bathroom or before preparing food, you should be fine. Since you are not having the copious D, the chances of any accidents are slim which would also make it harder to transmit to somebody else. C-diff is transmitted by the oral-fecal route, meaning that somebody has to touch a contaminated surface and put their hand in their mouth. So the bacteria (spore) has to be directly touched and orally ingested. It's rare that people pass this illness on to others if they are careful with hygiene. However, if you have an active c-diff infection, my opinion would be that you shouldn't be around the elderly or a nursing home where you would use their bathroom. Others may disagree with that, but having an active infection would make me uneasy with even the possible exposure to the elderly. But, I didn't even want to leave the house at all when I had an active infection, as I was super sick.

Lisa

Lovelove
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Re: C diff and constipation

Postby Lovelove » Mon Jun 12, 2017 10:19 am

Thank you Lisa ,,Its just so strange i have all symptoms but not D,even positive pcr,,im trying to find a Dr that deals with this superbug and see what is going on with me,, I do bleach my bathroom sinks bed with bleach products . Wash hands 20 seconds use papertowels to dry hands .Im not going near the elderly ,no way ,but I do the grocery shopping for a group of them ,my concern is that in touching the surfaces of bread milk etc my spores could lay on these items ,i was thinking of just wearing gloves when i shop and have someone else bring the food in ,any thoughts in this ,also can i get nails done sit at a resturant, get botox ( love botox),i dont want to infect anyone

beth22
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Re: C diff and constipation

Postby beth22 » Mon Jun 12, 2017 7:29 pm

Have you tried Cedars Sinai GI department? They have motility specialists there. I go there myself. Your constipation issues probably contributed to your c diff. I used to be C too - not as bad as you and it caused the toxins to stay in my body. Before you treat for c difficile, I would definitely have this checked out.

afroney
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Re: C diff and constipation

Postby afroney » Mon Jun 12, 2017 11:03 pm

Your experience sounds similar to mine.

My Cdiff started after a long battle with Diverticulitis and Sepsis.
Shortly after my surgery, I wound back up in the hospital with a diarrhea/constipation mix. It turned out to be Cdiff and a bowel obstruction, due to the recent surgery and cdiff related inflammation.

I remember the ER doc saying "It cant be cdiff if you are constipated." Boy was she wrong.

Lisa33
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Re: C diff and constipation

Postby Lisa33 » Wed Jun 14, 2017 10:43 am

You wash your hands thoroughly, so I wouldn't worry about touching the food when shopping. I don't think you need to go to the extreme with wearing gloves. I also think that you should live your life normally. The extra precautions should just be with washing your hands after using the bathroom and before preparing food, keeping bathroom surfaces clean and making sure your clothes are properly washed. Other than that, my opinion is to live your life.

cnatra
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Re: C diff and constipation

Postby cnatra » Sat Jun 17, 2017 9:30 am

I had an active C Diff infection Jan-Feb 2016 and then I've been battling it again for the last 6 months.

Last year and this year with only a couple of exceptions I would typically alternate between a couple days of C and then a couple days of D .

If I ate mostly liquid to soft diet no C but any significant solid food volume would bring about C.

My system would only normalize if I was on meds for a sustained period of time. (less with Flagyl but more so with Vanco or Dificid)

Flagyl is wortless IMHO these days for treating C Diff (especially the NAP 1 Type 027 strain) and often undermines recovery because it also kills too much good gut flora in the colon.

Susan B
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Re: C diff and constipation

Postby Susan B » Sat Apr 06, 2019 2:16 pm

Had c-diff on Oct. 28, then Dec. 28th, no constipation but them around the First of March started feeling bad. I was on a probiotic twice a day. This 3rd Round of CIDFF was just found, my sample in the ER was clear mucus! Cramping, and constipation. On Bently for the pain and VANCO AGAIN! I asked about Dificid but he said "it too expensive" I have great insurance! This GI doc has a "mychart" and was on contacting him by mychart and PHONE CALLS! " forget it, he never reads it. I had my PCP do a CBC and I saw my white cells were up, he told me to drink more water come back in 2 weeks! Getting rid of him! Seeing another Gasto on Monday, the 5th in a year! i finally went to the ER the other day with cramps, hardly any stool, if so it is mucus and fluff type stool. UGH Has anyone had this, this way? The other two times I only had loose stools twice with the first round in October 28, Dec. 28 normal stool but mucus I went to ER and positive. They use to do the swab, not now, small cup and catch it!!!! FUN!. I am on Prilosec 2 times a day and zantac 2 times a day. Told me in 2 weeks to be off the PPI! Can use suclafate, and tagament. This should be fun. I am wondering if my colon is ripped up. I did the colonguard and was NEGATIVE for everything, 1-1500 chances for cancer,, not a polys showed up in DNA. About ready to call him on the weekend if it gets worse, (saturday) today and demand Dificid and see what the insurance company states. Pain is awful, even when you sit down, or cough if sitting and getting up, pain. Pain is very low, VERY LOW in the stomach, near the vaginal hairline. The fecal transplant, the do not do, since there is not enough studies on it. He also took me off the probiotics too! He said after this is gone. I have heard from many the this HCL3 probiotic is the way to go. Hard to find, but you can get it on line. CVS and WALGREENS does not carry it, but our grocery story does. STRANGE.

Don't know what to do, never suffered at all with the other 2 infections, just tired and brain fog. HELP FOGOT, First two c-diff infections were Type A & B, this time only A. HUMM asked what that means...WHO KNOWS!!! Great response.

Samie
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Re: C diff and constipation

Postby Samie » Fri Apr 10, 2020 4:10 pm

This is not my first round of CDIFF. Actually #5 if I remember correctly. Never presented in the normal way with "D". First time, thought it was the gallbladder, 2nd time constipation 3rd was clear junk coming out, YEAR LATER months of soft stool. I have been told it is IBS. I am DEATHLY afraid of a colonoscopy as so many people I know have had perforation, and 2 deaths. Done the colon guard and passed with flying colors. You can see on a CT scan if your colon is mess. WELL, this time, (you have to push) I asked for a stool study, all mush for months, ahhh, it IBS, DO THE STUDY, ITS MY INSURANCE NOT YOURS! Positive! Sad you had to get results on the web and not a call. So I called them, said I want Dificid, doc was not in so his PA called in for 10 days, I had no idea what to expect or anything but trusted the med and maker. Well during the whole 10 days I had mush, bad stomach pain, one good thing it did was get rid of my acid for some reason. Now DOC comes into the picture. Did another sample, again comes in via E-mail as negative. Good, but still mush! Then constipation! Got in to see him and told me to take miralax, I did for 2 nights, blow out the second morning! Called and no call back. Went thru 5 GI'S in this past year, been told I have pancreatic cancer, gallbladder needed to go, liver and kidney problems, all TESTED NEGATIVE! I have great insurance! AND YES NO to the colonoscopy. What could it be in the colon that since all these events with ccdiff you are going to shove a hose up there? Then it is FMT, do you know that is not FDA APPROVED! We are cases they use for study. WEll, read about those who have had it. I pray the Dificid does work, or it will be ER and my attorney. One GI called and he was on tape, that I need to go to Mayo then Cleveland Clinic that I was needing to see a shrink. Niece is one! She is reporting him to the AMA and other organizations. Hope all goes (really) well for all. Yes it is sad they don't care. Its a 15 minute talk and $350.00 to the insurance company. OH, NO BLOOD, tested that myself since no one else has, I know when I am getting it, I was getting blood work, look at your WBC, RBC and a few others and you will know if you have it. I have EVERYTIME!


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