Teenager struggling with after C-diff

This forum is for discussions related to C. diff. including symptoms, doctors, medical advances, medications, If you are a new poster (joined within the last month), you can post more often for two months from your date of joining. After that time, one post per day only about "you." You can post more often to support others. Post other topics in Free Form Discussion and Chat Forum.
maria140
Brand New Poster
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Mar 27, 2018 2:33 pm

Teenager struggling with after C-diff

Postby maria140 » Tue Mar 27, 2018 3:04 pm

I’m a 17 year old female who is relatively pretty healthy and active. Prior to my C-diff infection I had not taken any antibiotics in the past years. I had woken up one day with some pretty nasty diarrhea and body cramps along with fever and had decided to stay home from school to go to the doctors, there they decided I probably had the flu and sent me home to rest over the weekend. I didn’t think I had the flu but instead that something I had eaten didn’t sit well and that I’d be better by Monday. By the next day I was constantly visiting the restroom with severe cramps and a high fever. These cramps were like nothing I had ever experienced before and would make me cry out constantly in pain. A week passed and on Thursday I had begun to pass nothing but blood and had severe vomiting. My mother decided to take me to the local urgent care where they gave me an injection of zorafran for my nausea after I threw up the pill and my doctor transferred me to the Children’s Hospital ER, there they kept me in the ISU for about four days where it took them two to finally diagnosing me and begin flagyll then later vancomycin after it did not work. After the seventh day in the hospital I could keep some fluid down myself and my diarrhea had greatly slowed down they released me with another week of vancomycin. It has been about three weeks since then and I still have a very hard time eating and am anemic. I still suffer from very intense cramps especially after I eat and I can only eat about a meal a day and get very bloated all through the front of my stomach and side and constantly get very nauseous. I feel very uncomfortable also when I need to pass stool and am struggling to find solutions. I am taking probiotics and am on a soft diet still and cannot seem to get rid of many symptoms. I am growing very restless and frustrated with how uncomfortable and exhausted I feel on a daily basis and attempting to balance it with my daily life. There are many days where I don’t leave my bed with how horrible I still feel nor want to. I had never even heard of C-diff prior to getting it and struggle even with my pediatrician in getting follow ups after the first follow up showed my bacteria count was not going down and advice. Please help I am sorry for the long post.
Thank you.

NanciT
Long Time Contributor
Posts: 3035
Joined: Thu Sep 18, 2014 12:01 pm

Re: Teenager struggling with after C-diff

Postby NanciT » Tue Mar 27, 2018 10:41 pm

Hello and Welcome to the site Please read the firs thread for all new posters

I am so sorry you had to find us and are having a difficult time. You do not mention seeing a Gastroenterologist, please ask your pediatrician for a referral to see one if these symptoms and pain continue. Possibly have a parent call. It can take time to recover once you have finished the medication but you were hospitalized and I would see a specialist.
Try and stay on a bland diet for now until you can get in. I lived on bland chicken, baked potatoes,toast, crackers,mild soup(no cream) no dairy, ice pops, water with electrolytes( Smart Water) then added things like cooked spinach, cooked green beans, canned peaches...it was a slow process. I used "Sea Bands" for the nausea which really help, you can find them at any drug store or Target, Walmart etc. I also used a heating pad on my abdomen which also helps, sometimes a warm bath helps too.
The symptoms should be improving and if you are still having cramps, see a specialist.
Take Care and I hope you feel better soon
NanciT

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

Re: Teenager struggling with after C-diff

Postby georgina » Wed Mar 28, 2018 12:34 am

Sorry you have to go trough this Maria , it seems you had a pretty bad case of colitis . Because it was left undiagnosed a longer period you intestine had suffered high damage and will need a long time to recover. Recovery after Cdiff is really hard and slow but you will get there , it just takes time , effort , diets , and sometimes (for most of us ) even needs antianxiety treatment. Have you discussed with your GI about taking treatment for pain? There are antispasmodics that can help with that , also peppermint tea has calming effect on the gut . Be careful with the amount of probiotic you are taking , probiotics can help but if they are used in high amounts they can give you discomfort : gas , cramps , more loose stools.
Hope you get some relief soon!

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

Re: Teenager struggling with after C-diff

Postby beth22 » Wed Mar 28, 2018 1:25 am

I could not tolerate probiotics in the beginning at all. You might try to stop them or cut down for a day or two and see if your symptoms improve at all. What strength of vancomycin are you taking? Sometimes the 125mg dose is not enough and 250mg is needed. I definitely would ask your pediatrician for a referral to a GI, especially since you were in the hospital. Ask a parent to call and request that.

maria140
Brand New Poster
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Mar 27, 2018 2:33 pm

Re: Teenager struggling with after C-diff

Postby maria140 » Thu Mar 29, 2018 8:35 am

Thank you for all the replies, In the hospital I did see a gastro twice where I got an X-ray but have not since, I will look into getting an appointment with a new one. I told my mom about the probiotics and she was very surprised so I will not be taking them for a while. Me and my mom have been trying to get an appointment with my pediatrician but they haven't called us back for an appointment as much as we call. I was taking 125mg, I wonder if it wasn't strong enough... Thank you for all the advice you've all given me!! I am very grateful

NanciT
Long Time Contributor
Posts: 3035
Joined: Thu Sep 18, 2014 12:01 pm

Re: Teenager struggling with after C-diff

Postby NanciT » Thu Mar 29, 2018 10:33 am

If you have your Mom call the hospital and find out who the GI was that saw you, then call his office they should be able to get you in. I would have her express you were IN the hospital and he saw you twice and need a follow up
NanciT


Return to “General C. diff. Discussion”



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 17 guests