Road trip while on vanco taper

[nodakgal]

Hi! I am a 66 yr old F who contracted c diff after being prescribed amoxicillin for a cold with cough, high wbc, low fever. I would see a doctor for yearly checkups and can't remember how many decades since I had an antibiotic. In retrospect, I would love to go back and say "no thanks " to the antibiotic, but here I am. I live in a small town in ND so this board has been a godsend for support and information. Five days after my last dose of amoxicillin, watery diarrhea multiple times a day began, but after checking online, saw that was a common side effect of the drug, lasting sometimes up to 2 weeks. So I stayed home and didn't go in until ten days later. Then it took 5 days to get a stool sample result (it was over a weekend and needed to be sent away). I tested positive for c diff and did a ten day vancomycin regimen starting on May 7, 2019, but relapsed after ten days, and so have started a vanco taper: 4 a day for 10 days, 2 a day for 7 days, then daily for 7 days and then every 3rd day for 4 weeks. I have tolerated the vanco well (knock on wood) and have stuck to a bland diet. My questions: We have a long-planned road trip to Washington to see our son and leave in 5 days. I will be on the 2 a day and once daily while we are gone. What are the chances I have symptoms during this tapering phase? We are staying with friends on a number of nights and don't want to take any chances. (I am bringing my bleach wipes.) Also, what food choices are conducive to 10 hours in a car? I have lost 7 pounds and was thin, very active, and rarely sick before this. C diff has hijacked my life and makes it hard not to get depressed. Thanks for any help.

[beth22]

Hi nodakgal and welcome to the site. Please read over the first forum for information for new posters. I traveled with a relapse of c diff, but I was on full strength vanco - I think 3 times a day 250mg or it may have been 4. I did well with twice a day, but I did relapse when I had been on vanco once a day for about a week. I would take along enough vanco to increase your dose if you relapse (ask your doctor for more if you need it and explain about the travels). I also found that Pepto Bismol was helpful for more minor issues. On a road trip, at least you can stop at a bathroom when needed. I would call your doctor and tell him or her and see what suggestions are offered to you.

[nodakgal]

Thanks, beth22! I plan to bring along all of my vanco capsules and will call my NP if I have a relapse. What to eat has been a big problem while at home so not sure how I will manage for the ten days we are gone. I read "bread is bad due to the yeast" and "stay on the BRAT diet" but then, toast. Any diet suggestions out there would be so helpful.