Cdiff Diagnosis 1 year of discomfort...I'm tired...

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welpgate
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Joined: Sun Oct 14, 2018 6:23 pm

Cdiff Diagnosis 1 year of discomfort...I'm tired...

Postby welpgate » Sun Oct 14, 2018 6:46 pm

Male, 35

I've been very healthy all my life, rarely ever get sick with anything other than a sinus issue every few years. Other than some kidney stones blech. I was exposed to cdiff as my grandmother had it for a few months and it didn't respond to antibiotics and ultimately it took a FMT to cure. Not sure if this is were I got it or not...

December 2017 had a rough bout of d. Lasted about two days but cleared up on it's own. However after that my stool never seemed right. Smaller than normal, kind of clay like, felt like I turned into a play dough factory. I had lower right quadrant pain and pressure, nothing severe. Went to my PC and a GI was told I had IBS and "go home and try and relax". So I suffered with it till March 18, when I had another strong bout of d, that was followed by nasty lower abdominal pain. Could barely walk, and riding in a car was awful every bump almost made me sick from pain. Doc's weren't concerned and kinda left me to suffer it out. In about a week it cleared up on it's own, but stool's still weren't right, same as before. Then a few months later June I think I had another bout of pain just as before.

I'd had enough... So fired my current GI, got a new one. He ordered a stool test, the test came back positive for cdiff. This concerned me since I wasn't suffering with constant D, just the clay like stuff. Just feel like my bowels are swollen. Anyway, he prescribed metro 500mg 4x day for 10 days. This stuff was nasty and I don't recommend anyone take it if you can avoid it. But I survived it, and saw maybe a 5-20% improvement in symptoms temporarily. But now a month or so later and I'm right back where I started.

So back to the doc, took a month to get in the office. Now I'm staring at a bottle of Xiafaxin... I'm really not wanting to take another antibiotic.

EDIT: Also want to add I've had ton's of lower back pain. Can only stand for 30-45 min and I start hurting bad. Has anyone every had back pain with cdiff? Feel like I have a slipped disk or something. Never had join pain before this either.

I don't know what to do here and maybe just looking for some coddling. I'm very depressed, very tired, and starting to give up. Feel like i'm going to be stuck with this forever. I have nasty anxiety to start with and this isn't helping. I don't trust the diagnosis, I was rushed in my last doctor visit, I'm worried more antibiotics will cause me more suffering and no relief/cure. I frankly feel like the doctors I've been to don't care, I'm just a number and then rushed out the door.

Thanks for the read and any advice you might lend.

AllisS
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Posts: 1889
Joined: Fri Sep 07, 2012 10:52 pm

Re: Cdiff Diagnosis 1 year of discomfort...I'm tired...

Postby AllisS » Sun Oct 14, 2018 7:54 pm

Hi, welpgate. Welcome to the site. When you have a chance, please read the guidelines for new posters, first entry in intro thread. (We ask all new posters to do this.)

I'm sorry to hear about the long period of feeling unwell that you're still going through. Your discouragement and anxiety are certainly understandable. That said, I think you're right to have doubts about the diagnosis; your symptoms don't sound like C. diff, either now or earlier. C. diff is characterized by at least three days of profuse, watery D, three times a day or more. Your new GI doctor erred in treating your test result rather than your actual symptoms. Also, metronidazole (Flagyl), even if you had had C. diff, is no longer recommended as treatment; first-line treatment is either Vanco or Dificid. I'm not familiar with xifaxan being used to treat IBS, but my Google search indicates that it's generally used for IBS in which D is predominant, which doesn't sound like it fits what's going on with you, either.

Since this is a support site only, we're not qualified to give medical advice. If it were me, however, I'd want another opinion before taking an antibiotic that had been prescribed based on a dubious diagnosis. Do you have a PCP who could help steer you to a competent GI specialist? You definitely deserve a consultation that doesn't feel rushed or inattentive. There are such doctors out there, but it can take awhile to find one.

The back pain isn't a typical symptom of either C. diff or IBS. Again, I'd talk to your PCP if you have one. If you don't, it would be a good idea to become a patient in a PCP practice, since the role of these generalist doctors is to help coordinate care for a wide range of medical problems and to expedite referrals if you're having trouble with long wait times.
If your illness was preceded by use of a medication, e.g., an antibiotic, please fill out an FDA Adverse Event Report at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/default.htm

KatieW
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Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 10:25 pm

Re: Cdiff Diagnosis 1 year of discomfort...I'm tired...

Postby KatieW » Thu Dec 13, 2018 9:07 pm

Hey, welpgate!

Did you ever get an answer? I literally have the EXACT same symptoms and still have the knot like pain in my right abdomen. I actually did take antibiotics and that’s when my symptoms started, but my stools are always a mush pile or broken up not fully formed pieces. I have mild inflammation in my bowels still to this day but no answers as to why.

I’ve been pushed aside since October with pains and kept getting the “it’s IBS go home and do this diet answer.” Funny thing is, no diet change has helped. It’s always the same. Also, IBS doesn’t cause inflammation so.. I’m finally going to the Cleveland clinic Tuesday to see if they will actually try to help.

I really hope you have/get answers or relief soon!! I know how frustrating it is.


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