Upper Left Abdominal/Side/Upper Back Pain

[Bryan30]

I've read a few posts about this same exact pain with C-Diff. Bgburke and Pinkangel were the posters. The post was a couple years old and neither have been active for a while. I was curious if anyone else had these symptoms? C-diff was brought on by antibiotic use after I tested positive for Giardia over a year ago. I had c-diff I treated for 7 months because my doctors kept telling me my symptoms were just PI-IBS. I finally was given stool analysis and tested positive. I have since relapsed 3 times and am on vanco for a 3rd time. I have had every blood tests... abdominal ct with constrast, ultrasound, MRI/MRCP, colonoscopy, endoscopy, all normal... current symptoms are constant mild nausea, reflux, gas, loose stools, and upper left abdominal, and upper back pain. EVERYTHING normal except C-Diff toxins! Dr's are saying IBS but these symptoms are constant. Currently on day 3 of 14 vanco. I see infectious disease specialist this week. I'm wondering if this parasite is still lingering even though tests were negative. Giardia can be tricky.


Thanks, Bryan

[beth22]

I have had those pains and still get them sometimes. My doctor said it is pain from the colon. When I took vanco, after a while, it irritated my colon too, and caused more of these types of pains. The pain is most likely from the colon. What is causing it can be different things - IBS, c diff, another infection or just the inflammation from all the abuse the colon has had from the infections and medications. In my case, I took vanco for a long time and the more I took, the more irritation I got. Talk to your ID when you seem him or her and see what the recommendations are.

[sophie]

Hi, I can't help you but Im curious. If your doctors believe you are displaying post IBS symptoms, why did a doctor prescribe Vanco??
My doctors will not prescribe any c-diff drugs for me unless I have the WD. I do have the upper left abdominal pain a lot right now.

[Bryan30]

Sophie,
Sorry if my post was confusing. After giardia treatment, I was still having symptoms similar to the ones while I had giardia yet was testing negative for giardia. They told me it was PI IBS... months later I couldn't take it anymore... I begged and pleaded and it turned out I had c-diff from the flagyl I was given for the parasite. It was 6 months of c diff before I was diagnosed... then 3 more months because after first vanco, they did not retest me and c-diff was not gone.... I've relapsed multiple times on vanco...

[sophie]

Bryan30,
Thanks for the clairification. I feel bad for you and hope your ID gets things figured out when you visit this week. Good luck, I know how terrible it is for all of us.

[OCmama]

I had terrible back pain with my infection. I hope you feel better soon, a good ID is the way to go.

[georgina]

If Vanco failed so many times , why don't you discuss with your doctor about Dificid? A long course of Dificid after so may relapses can be your magic bullet .

[Bryan30]

I have an appointment this Thursday with an infectious disease specialist. I made a Microsoft excel spreadsheet with dates, symptoms, treatment, and results. I feel a lot better about it when I can be sure they know exactly what has transpired. I would like the doctor to understand more than "Tested Positive for C-Diff on XX/XX/XXXX". I will tell him I have been treated with vanco for 14 days numerous times and it has failed. It is time to move forward. My GI specialist is a very nice guy but I do not believe he knows enough about c-diff. I always feel like he is upset when I am able to give so many c-diff facts. I explain the only reason I know anything is by support from friends who too have dealt with this horrible infection. They do not like their toes stepped on...

[Lisa33]

Good luck with your appt. Regardless how he feels about your "facts," it is good that you have educated yourself and can speak to the doctor about all of your concerns. Considering that vanco has failed, I agree with Georgina about discussing Dificid or even a Dificid taper. Many posters have been cured by Dificid after vanco treatments have failed.

Lisa

[georgina]

Good luck with your new doctor , hopefully he comes up with a great treatment plan for you. Keep us posted!