New here - C-Diff because of 7 months of antibiotics because of kidney blockage and infection

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JEJ
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Re: New here - C-Diff because of 7 months of antibiotics because of kidney blockage and infection

Postby JEJ » Sat Nov 04, 2017 9:48 pm

I know it's not funny, but...hahaha...welcome to my world! haha. I just kinda expect this stuff. That's why I'm glad my brain has come back and I can actually think, too. I will be calling Monday to try and get my case handled and settled to get me done with all of this so I can stay away from doctors again. I'm glad I've gone back to taking the 50 billion probiotic that puts a couple of important ones back in. At least the "color" is back since yesterday -
Friday. It WAS all mucous and pus. That, I believe, is a good sign...along with only about 15 times in 24 hours and able to get a few hours of actaul sleep now. I even had a dream last night!! Couldn't get away from the dream because I wanted to end it and couldn't get a good enough ending...I dreamed that I had a big red car, floored the thing while in reverse and the brake on...let go of the brake and literally flew in the air backwards!! I looked toward our house because I was going backward and one of our friends was signaling me to turn the wheel a certain way which made me land lengthwise in our neighbors front yard without damaging anything at their house. Only thing is, the car was totally destroyed and no one could figure out how I survived, including me. Hmmmm....C-dif dream? hahaha - wondering how I survived these past 10 days/7 months? hahaha.

amg
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Re: New here - C-Diff because of 7 months of antibiotics because of kidney blockage and infection

Postby amg » Sat Nov 04, 2017 9:53 pm

Well, plenty of people ARE cured by Flagyl (Metronidazole). But yeah, if I were you I would definitely talk to your doctor about both the med choice itself as well as the dosage. And again, given the complexity of your situation and your possible need in the future for more antibiotics, an ID person would be a really good resource for managing things.

JEJ
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Re: New here - C-Diff because of 7 months of antibiotics because of kidney blockage and infection

Postby JEJ » Sat Nov 04, 2017 10:13 pm

Oh yeah, and through this, my regular family doctor has been off the week, so this have been a Physicians Assistant and a nurse helping me. At least THEY were trying...unlike a certain kidney guy and the GI. When the family doctor is back next week, I'm hoping the PA and nurse will talk to him about what's been going on with me. I DO know the nurse was pretty upset with the kidney doctor and couldn't believe he not only fluffed off probiotics for me, but also not concerned about C-Dif after all these months of Cipro, Cephalexen and Keflex.

Thanks for your guidance and help. I really appreciate it!

JEJ
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Re: New here - C-Diff because of 7 months of antibiotics because of kidney blockage and infection

Postby JEJ » Thu Nov 09, 2017 9:35 pm

No, no, no no....please tell me that I am NOT having a relapse... Started yesterday I think it was ( had been on the medicine for 8 days at that point) and I had to go quite a bit... maybe 4 or 5 times yesterday. Today I have gone 3 times and in the past hour I have been 4 times and am about to leave again which will make 8 times, but it's getting closer in when I have to go. Is it POSSIBLE I just have a case of diarrhea? Yes, I will call the doctor's tomorrow ESPECIALLY because it will be Friday and that seems to be a target day for me.

georgina
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Re: New here - C-Diff because of 7 months of antibiotics because of kidney blockage and infection

Postby georgina » Fri Nov 10, 2017 1:24 am

So sorry you are having issues again . Good idea to call your doctor if your frequency increased , especially since weekend is coming.

JEJ
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Re: New here - C-Diff because of 7 months of antibiotics because of kidney blockage and infection

Postby JEJ » Mon Nov 13, 2017 2:42 pm

On Vancomiacin now. At least the C-Dif is not AS bad as it was...only 10-15 times a day now, so the metronidazole helped, just didn't kill it. A little concerned as this med says to tell your doctor if you have kidney disease (he knows about the kidney issues), mine was operated on in July and even though the blockage was removed and the "thing" taken off the kidney, the kidney remains swollen and it's supposedly infected yet. Pouring chlorox down drains and in toilet, spraying toilets with chlorox...hands so sore, but using cream after all the cleaning to help them a bit. Laundry done a LOT including towels and whites done in chlorox. Am I forgetting anything?

georgina
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Re: New here - C-Diff because of 7 months of antibiotics because of kidney blockage and infection

Postby georgina » Tue Nov 14, 2017 1:42 am

Sorry you have relapsed , Flagyl is failing more and more these days and it should not be given because it's not even approved by FDA as a CDiff treatment. Vanco has a higher cure rate and less side effects , should be well tolerated and hopefully it will do the trick. Hope you get well soon!

JEJ
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Re: New here - C-Diff because of 7 months of antibiotics because of kidney blockage and infection

Postby JEJ » Tue Nov 14, 2017 10:18 am

Just a quick note...like I said, this is how MY world works: I did NOT start taking the vancomiacin yet because...hahaha....my pharmacy only had ONE pill left and I have to take it 4 times a day. They WILL have them in by noon today and will call me to come in for the prescription. hahaha. SO glad the relapse is nothing like my initial bout with it because I can handle the wait.

amg
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Re: New here - C-Diff because of 7 months of antibiotics because of kidney blockage and infection

Postby amg » Tue Nov 14, 2017 12:04 pm

That happened to my daughter one time, and I asked them (our pharmacy is a chain) to check other stores to see if it was in stock somewhere else. I drove a little further, but we were still able to get it that same day.

I'm glad your symptoms are not that bad, but in general, once you've been diagnosed with c diff or a relapse, it truly is better to start meds ASAP. For a few reasons, including you can get much sicker really quickly.

Machaon
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Re: New here - C-Diff because of 7 months of antibiotics because of kidney blockage and infection

Postby Machaon » Tue Nov 14, 2017 12:19 pm

Hi jej!

You might be interested in an Oxford University Press article about clinical tests where significantly fewer patients relapsed taking "one gram" of Saccharomyces Boulardii along with the vancomycin. Those, in the study, not taking Saccharomyces Boulardii, with the vanco, relapsed 50%. Those taking Saccharomyces Boulardii relapsed 16.7%.

The article title is: The Search for a Better Treatment for Recurrent Clostridium difficile Disease: Use of High-Dose Vancomycin Combined with Saccharomyces boulardii

Link: https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/31/4/1012/372121

After reading that article, I took 1¼ grams of Jarrow Formulas Saccharomyces Boulardii (5 capsules) for the 10 days that I was taking dificid, and I've continued to take ½ gram (2 capsules) ever since, along with other probiotics. Even though I have had a full recovery, 63 days after the dificid, I am nervous about stopping taking them. I only take probiotics in which there are positive C-diff comments on Amazon.com.

I figured, if one gram of Saccharomyces Boulardii is effective with vancomycin, it should do even better with dificid.

I can see why your friends are angry with your kidney doctor. I am also angry with the jerk! He should have chosen an occupation where he couldn't harm others with bungling, incompetence and non-caring. If you have any enemies and they have kidney problems, recommend him to them!

I'm a little older than you, at 73, and I have seen more than my share of misdiagnosing doctors and specialists. The medical professionals who are really good and can diagnose with great skill, are in the minority. We need to be very pro-active and knowledgeable about our own health issues, so we can judge the credibility of medical professional's diagnosis and recommendation.

I really hope that the vancomycin is effective against your C-diff, but also is effective with your kidney problems.

Take care, and I wish you the best with your health, Bob
Last edited by Machaon on Sun Nov 19, 2017 12:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Male 77 S.Florida

900 weight lifts 750 knee bends day

Since 1987 had CHF afib asthma

I inhale $6 Flonase nasal spray for asthma :)

Ex C-diff (4/19/17- 9/12/17) after 10 days dificid

Diet:6 meals ~1500 cals 2 eggs 2 steamed broccoli, apple, bagels

JEJ
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Joined: Mon Oct 30, 2017 10:22 am

Re: New here - C-Diff because of 7 months of antibiotics because of kidney blockage and infection

Postby JEJ » Tue Nov 14, 2017 8:10 pm

Thank you, Bob. I just ordered a bottle from Amazon because I don't see that one on my probiotic. And yes, amg, my symptoms DID get worse, but still not nearly like before I had anything. I started this one this afternoon and within two hours, the headache was back, so I'm thinking this stuff fighting the C-Diff is the cause. I take an Advil or two and it DOES go away unlike when I've had migraines. Also, Amg, I COULD've gone to one of their other two stores, but they're about 40 minutes away and I just wanted to stay nearer home...even this pharmacy is 15 minutes (we live in the country) and I refuse to go to Wrong Aid. Georgina - thank you. I sure do hope this goes away. Not doing Thanksgiving here this year and thinking I might not be going to our nephew's next week. I wouldn't use the facilities, but I don't want to risk having an issue or CAUSING one. I DO want to go visit my mother in the home which is 40 minutes away, but not ready just yet. I want to make sure I can hang in there for 3 or 4 hours. I read up on this Vancomycin and see that it can cause VERY BAD kidney problems. ... great .... Hopefully a 10 day regimen of 4 pills daily won't be enough to damage the bad kidney more or hurt the good one. Geeesh!!!

JEJ
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Re: New here - C-Diff because of 7 months of antibiotics because of kidney blockage and infection

Postby JEJ » Fri Nov 17, 2017 8:41 pm

Bob - (Machaon) - I'm taking that Saccharomyces Boulardii and don't know how to figure out how much a gram is. How do I find that out? The vancomycin I'm on is 1000 ML a day or 4 capsules, 4 times a day. The Saccharomyces Boulardii probiotic says to take one tablet before bed on an empty stomach. Should I just take the one at that time? I get up about 1-2AM to take the vancomycin...in other words, I take that at 1, 7, 1 and 7 through the 24 hour time. I don't want to create any more problems with my system than I already have. I DID take the regular probiotic I usually do this afternoon which does not have the Saccharomyces Boulardii in it. I'm thinking I'll just take the new probiotic around 9 to keep it away from the vancomycin a little.

Ca5per03
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Re: New here - C-Diff because of 7 months of antibiotics because of kidney blockage and infection

Postby Ca5per03 » Fri Nov 17, 2017 10:38 pm

I took mine at the 3 hour mark in between my doses before bed. I took mine at 10am, 4 pm, 10 pm and 4 am and took my probiotic at 7pm. Mt last does of vancomycin was late Friday at 10 am. So far so good, knock on wood! Hope this round clears you!!
30, female
C-diff positive 10/19 tested negative 11/26

JEJ
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Re: New here - C-Diff because of 7 months of antibiotics because of kidney blockage and infection

Postby JEJ » Sat Nov 18, 2017 11:02 am

I emailed the company that makes the probiotic I'm on that has the S B in it. They said to take 3 tablets a day, 30 minutes before each meal while I'm on vancomycin. I started that today and will see how it goes. I have a full 6 days left of the vancomycin. Except for the headaches like I also got after being on metronidazole, I AM feeling better and able to go on some short trips like to the grocery store AND I was able to visit my mother in the home yesterday. Things are looking up.

Machaon
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Re: New here - C-Diff because of 7 months of antibiotics because of kidney blockage and infection

Postby Machaon » Sat Nov 18, 2017 11:53 am

JEJ, first of all, I am glad that you are feeling better! Nice!

From what I understand, 5 billion cells Jarrow Formulas Saccharomyces Boulardii ( one capsule ) is equal to ¼ of a gram. I mistakenly took 1¼ grams of Jarrow Formulas Saccharomyces Boulardii (5 capsules) while on dificid. I wanted to mimic the successful clinical results with vancomycin and 1 gram of Saccharomyces Boulardii. I miscalculated. I should have only taken 4 capsules (20 billion cells or 1 gram). But... I am glad that I tolerated and was able to take the 5 capsules, since I am now over two months post dificid and feeling pretty good!

My wife can't even tolerate ONE Saccharomyces Boulardii.

I take all my probiotics and vitamins/minerals at around 11am, after eating.

I feel that it is important to consider taking at least one gram of Saccharomyces Boulardii during treatment with an antibiotic, like flagyl or vancomycin or dificid, and to continue taking it after treatment. I reduced from 5 Saccharomyces Boulardii to two of them after the dificid.

The only supplement or probiotic that I've read, that is effective against C-diff is Saccharomyces Boulardii. Am I sure that it helped me recover from C-diff. No, but I am glad that I took it in the dose that was tested in the clinical trial. I also take one Dr. Tobias Deep Immune probiotics; and one Dr. Tobias 30 Billion CFUs probiotics; and one NOW 25 Billion Probiotic-10 plus multivitamins and 3000 mg omega3, all of which I also took while on dificid.

What worked? What didn't? Who really knows!? But, I got better and am staying better. That's what counts.

Regards, and stay well! Bob
Male 77 S.Florida

900 weight lifts 750 knee bends day

Since 1987 had CHF afib asthma

I inhale $6 Flonase nasal spray for asthma :)

Ex C-diff (4/19/17- 9/12/17) after 10 days dificid

Diet:6 meals ~1500 cals 2 eggs 2 steamed broccoli, apple, bagels


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