PCR testing.

[Justanotherday1]

I recently used antibiotics for dental infection, was on them for three weeks (amoxcisillion). After one week of treatment I started having bad diarrhea, I immediately feared c diff because I had c diff a few years ago and was cured with flagyl. One week later of bad D I saw a doctor who said all my symptoms sounded like c diff, so she treated me for it with flagyl even tho I hadn't yet tested positive, but was very ill, couldn't eat and had strong abdominal pains and nausea. I used flagyl for a day and a half total of three 500 Mgs pills. Then I the second day I stopped because of bad side effects, head pain sob and confusion. The following day I got very bad D again and had it tested right away with a OCR test my doctor order. Two test were not tested prior because they were not watery enough. Very frustrating process because I was in lots of a do
Inal pain and couldn't eat much. Finally my PCr test was in and in the ER a doctor told me it was negative. I'm concerned of the results that it's a a possible false negative because i had started treatment with flagyl one day before testing. Still have all symptoms and stomach pains. Should I retest or should I not?!??? Please any help.

[Justanotherday1]

How accurate is this PCR test? And how does it work. Also has anyone had a false negative test using this PCR testing method? I still have diarrhea but not sure if the flagyl is responsible. I stopped using it two days ago.

[getwellsoon]

So sorry you are suffering again. Yes, it is very possible because of the Flagyl you got a false neg. You really need to be off ATX for at least 7-10 days to get a correct result. I don't know if it would do any good at this point to test further. YOu'll have to check with the Dr. I would also ask to be switched to Vanco, much easier med to tolerate. Call your Dr. and tell him you are getting too many side effects from the Flagyl and need to be switched. Hope you feel better and let us know how you do.

[seekingcure]

The PCR is over 90% accurate, but any test can have false negatives or false positives. The results must be interpreted along with symptoms. I would be concerned that the test could have been a false negative due to you being on Flagyl, even though it was only for a short time. Most doctors recommend being off antibiotics for 10-14 days before testing. I would contact the doctor again and explain what is going on or go to the ER, especially if symptoms are worsening. If things are improving, that's a different story. Sometimes just stopping the offending antibiotic is enough and allows your body to fight the c-diff off on its own. You must go by your symptoms in deciding what you need to do.

Good luck and keep us posted.

[seekingcure]

Please try not to post in multiple places with the same information and same questions. It's very confusing for us moderators. I have deleted the duplicates and merged an earlier reply from Carol that I discovered after I had posted my reply to you. I know you are freaking out and, believe me, no one understands better than we do; but you will get more cogent responses if our answers aren't spread all over the site. We are all volunteers onsite and we will try to get to your questions as soon as we possibly can, but please be patient with us. We want to help you.

I'd also like to welcome you to the site.

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.)

[Justanotherday1]

I'm sorry, I'm getting used to this new forum. Thank you for all the links, I'm a little down and simply looking for help. Sounds like a 14 day retest is the way to go. If Diarrhea continues how soon before requesting another test?

[seekingcure]

No problem, justanotherday1. It takes awhile to know your way around onsite.

Believe me, we've all been where you are now; and we know it's not a good place to be. This illness definitely gets you down with all the unknowns and what-ifs. If I were you and continuing to have diarrhea, I would contact the doctor on Monday, unless, of course, you're having severe pain, blood, going so much that you are getting dehydrated. In those cases, I would go to the ER tonight or tomorrow. You really have to try to get treatment based on how bad your symptoms are. It might be that the test would show up positive now if it's been a few days since you took the Flagyl. I'm not sure. That's something you need to discuss with your doctor, but don't put off getting treatment if you are suffering severe symptoms. As Carol said, maybe the doctor would want to go ahead and prescribe Vanco for you at this point without another test.

In the meantime, if you're not already doing it, try the BRAT (bananas, rice, applesauce and toast) diet to see if that helps any with your symptoms.

Keep us posted.

[beth22]

If you tested right after you took the Flagyl, the test may have been accurate because I was told that when you have c diff, it takes a few days for the toxins to get out of your intestines, even after you start meds. When I would start vanco for my relapses, I would have M and loose stools for about 3 or 4 days before it cleared. The test picks up the toxins and the meds don't kill the toxins, they kill the bacteria that produces them, but the toxins that are still in you, have to clear. If you tested 3 or 4 days after starting the Flagyl, that would most likely give you a false negative. I would still re-test if I were you. Have you tried taking some probiotics? My mom took 3 rounds of antibiotics for a UTI last year and she got D, but it was not c diff. It was from the antibiotics and it subsided after a while. She took probiotics.

[Justanotherday1]

Iv had d for two weeks after I stopped antibiotics. It's been a very bad few days, I finally excepted what I felt was a good call from a doctor, start fragyl without a positive test. So I started on a Tuesday and then the next morning had a third pill of flagyl 500mgs that gave me horrible side effects so I stop that day. The next day I stared having horrible diarrhea so I had samples tested with the pcr test me doctor had order. Next day was dehydrated and ended up in ER, there the ER doc told me my test was in and it was negative. Having a hard time understanding the results. And now fearing of a possible false negative test. But I hear of people who have tested positive after treatment and and it takes time to covert to negative. I guess everyone's different. But I also heard from a doctor who said it would still show positive if infected because the tested looked for the Gene not the actual infection. Difficult to know for sure.

[seekingcure]

Is your diarrhea improving now? It's possible to get diarrhea from taking antibiotics without it being c-diff. The antibiotics throw off your natural flora and it can take awhile to get back to normal. If you're improving, maybe that's what is going on. If you are not improving, perhaps you should ask your doctor to test for other pathogens besides c-diff. Just a thought.

[Justanotherday1]

I was ok for the weekend, I tuck a probiotic lactobacillus pill that made me constipated. But as it slowly leaves my body two days later my d was back and so was the nausia. Does this sound normal to you, do probiotics temperarly stop the d??? It seems as if I'm not using a probiotic, when I stop the d returns with a vengeance, and the nausea. How soon can I be retested?

[beth22]

If the probiotic stopped your D, then it is very unlikely that the reason for the D is c diff. Otherwise, people could just take probiotics and have it cure their c diff. When you have an imbalance of good and bad bacteria and not enough good bacteria, that can cause D and IBS. If the probiotic is helping you, I would continue it. You can always re-test for c diff. The probiotic will not prevent an accurate test.

[Justanotherday1]

Thank you Beth. I'm not feeling to hot and doctor actuall just texted me and said he wouldn't retest me. Wow! If my D continues I'll be at his office demanding a repeat. But hope by all means he's right. U should of never taken the flagyl before testing, even if it was just for a day and a half. Now I he won't repeat. And now what.