Second Round of Vanco - Should I Wait?

[Kjenkins]

Hello! I’m a 33-year-old female. I was diagnosed with C. difficile after being on Keflex after sinus surgery. In the beginning I did not have a fever, but looser stools, never watery diarrhea. I have ulcerative colitis and I am very aware of c diff so I immediately contacted my GI doctors office who ordered a test (PCR) which was positive for toxins.

I started a 10 day course Of Vanco and finished that last Friday the 27th (5 days ago). I also used S Boullardii, Bio k, fermented foods and non dairy kefir while on Vanco. I had solid stools on Vanco by day 3 and for the rest of the course had poops so firm I had to push (lol). I have a full cleaning regimen, use Clorox Healthcare Bleach spray and wipes, wear gloves when I have a BM, bleach after every BM and have been washing my clothes separately.

Over the course of the weekend, we went away to the coast and my stools started to get softer, but still only 1-2 Bowel movements a day. I was eating foods that I don’t normally eat but relatively calm diet (oatmeal, bananas, but some fish and other vegetables). While on Vanco I was close to a 3 on the Bristol stool chart. Now I’m closer to a 4/5. My doctor gave me an RX for a 2nd round of Vanco just in case. I messaged her today and she said although it’s not a clear recurrence, it would probably be safe to take the second round of Vancomycin. I do not have a fever and feel relatively good (working out, walking my dog). I am wondering if I should wait another day or two to see if things steady? With IBD I know I’m more compromised than a normal person with c diff so I’m honestly scared to wait too.

Any advice would be appreciated I know the 3x3 rule that is referred to on this forum however I have an autoimmune condition of the gut so that offers more complexity to the situation. I do not use biologics for my UC I take mesalamine, an oral inflammatory.

[georgina]

Welcome to the site ,please check first forum for rules of posting , tips for nutrition , probiotics etc.
I would give it a few days if i were you just to see if things settle down.The more antibiotic you take ,the more damage to the healthy gut flora you will do, recovery you take longer , more food intolerances etc. The fact that you also have a IBD can complicate things a bit ,but it may also get better .It would be wise though , to get a script for a second course of Vanco ,or better ,a script for Dificid just to have it with you if , GOD FORBID , you start to get classic relapse symptoms.
You may also want to limit the probiotic intake to a single brand , too many probiotics can also give looser stool , gas , more frequency.

[Kjenkins]

Thank you Georgina!

I drastically reduced the probiotics yesterday and ate relatively calmly. This morning I just had a bowel movement and it was pretty much a 5 (came out feeling formed but fell apart in the toilet).

The only thing that concerns me is if I do still have it and I get even worse than before. I have the vancomycin pills in my cabinet because I filled the RX just in case (since I met my deductible last month). I asked my Dr about Dificid and she said insurance usually will not cover unless a few rounds of other medications have been tried. So I have that 10 day course of Vanco waiting for me if I need it.

I noticed I’ve been having hot flashes at night but honestly I’m a week out from my period and that’s normal for me so it may just be hormones. I keep checking my temperature and have no fever. However I didn’t have fever when I was diagnosed with c diff either.

I’m going to give it another day since my GI docs office is open tomorrow after the holiday. My UC could possibly be triggered and I might be having after shocks from the c diff on my condition. I was in remission for almost two years before this, so frustrating. I was so sick years ago from my UC (bleeding for 9 months!) and finally got to a point of wellness now this! I want to cry but I can do it, it’s just going to take time.

[beth22]

I would talk to your doctor tomorrow. It is not good to treat unless you have to. I am living proof of that. I believe the vanco did more harm to my GI tract that the infection, but hindsight is always 20/20. You could always re-test to see if you even have an active infection.

[Kjenkins]

Hi Beth,

I’m going to call tomorrow morning! That’s what I’m worried about, doing more harm than good. But my GI is an IBD specialist, I am thinking perhaps she recommended the second course because of my compromised gut due to Ulcerative Colitis?

I finished the Vanco last Friday would it be too soon to retest?? I’ll ask her tomorrow too!

Thank you so much for your insight I will keep you all posted!!

[D1dad]

It doesn’t sound like a true relapse at this point. I’m going on 4 months in which a 10 day round of flagyl didn’t totally work, but an additional 7 days did. I pretty much relapsed after 48 hours following the first ten days and there was no mistaking it. It’s taken a couple months for my immune system and stomach to recover from all the antibiotics. My Gi recommended benefiber which really helped get things back to a normal balance. Starting another course of AB May set you back especially considering you haven’t become best friends with the commode.

[D1dad]

georgina wrote:
> Welcome to the site ,please check first forum for rules of posting , tips
> for nutrition , probiotics etc.
> I would give it a few days if i were you just to see if things settle
> down.The more antibiotic you take ,the more damage to the healthy gut flora
> you will do, recovery you take longer , more food intolerances etc. The
> fact that you also have a IBD can complicate things a bit ,but it may also
> get better .It would be wise though , to get a script for a second course
> of Vanco ,or better ,a script for Dificid just to have it with you if , GOD
> FORBID , you start to get classic relapse symptoms.
> You may also want to limit the probiotic intake to a single brand , too
> many probiotics can also give looser stool , gas , more frequency.
This. After my treatment with AB I went on a (more is better approach) taking florastor, digestive advantage, culturell and pro50 and couldn’t figure out why my stomach was so bloated and aching. I eliminated all but one at a time and found that the only one I could take was pro 50. Your supposed to take two a day but I only take 1. There’s days when my immune system feels a little sluggish so I’ll pop one more but I highly doubt it’s doing much.

[Kjenkins]

Just got a note back from my GI. She says hold off on the vancomycin and see how things go over the weekend. She says she tries not to test too soon bc of residual c diff still in the gut. I’m going to hold steady and see how things go. Only 2 bms today, still soft. But no other symptoms. Just got out of a dance class and feel great and am sleeping ok. No hot flashes last night either so maybe things are stabilizing. Thank you all for your help!!!

[Bobbie]

Your GI sounds like a keeper.

Good luck in your journey of recovery.

[Kjenkins]

Little update.... Had two bms today, not award winning, still soft. It’s weird it feels firm coming out then when it hits the bowl gets softer.

I wanted to ask, can c diff increase your heart rate? I wear an Apple Watch and track my heart rate. It’s been higher than usual. I woke up in the middle of the night feeling like I had dry mouth (although I’ve been drinking over a gallon of water a day) and had a higher heart rate. Yesterday after my dance class my heart rate was higher for the rest of the day. I also woke up feeling hot many times but had a 97.3 temp (my normal, I run cool). Maybe I overdid it and I was just overworked?

I’ve also had some slight feelings of discomfort kind of under my left ribs (stomach?). In the past I’ve dealt with acid reflux but haven’t taken any Zantac for a month due to my c diff battle. Maybe it was acid pain?

Gosh this dang disease is no joke. Ulcerative Colitis has made me hyperaware of my body and this just adds the complexity! Thanks for your support and insight!!!

[georgina]

You are recovering , in recovery abnormal stool is to be expected . Stop looking in the toilet , it will only give you unnecessary anxiety!

[Bobbie]

Ditto: Don't look. Don't count.

Exercise increases your heart rate. If still concerned, contact doctor.

Keep dancing.

[Kjenkins]

Quick update: started having dark blood in toilet bowl for some Bowel movements but not all. Only 1-2 bms and today had some bright red blood when I wiped and some m.

Messaged my GI to check in. My left side has been having my usual occasional pinchy pain when my UC is acting up. I think this could be the beginning of a UC flare.

Although I’m trying not to look I am conditioned to look in the bowl due to my disease. Blood is a sign that my condition can be flaring up so although I try not to inspect my BMs, with Inflammatory Bowel Disease it is an indicator of my chronic disease.

[beth22]

With your history of UC, check with your doctor for sure. For a person who is healthy, bright red often indicated hemorhoids, but obviously it can be a flare up of your condition. I get increased heart rate with any infection - colds, GI and when I have pancreatitis. Anxiety can also do it. Best to speak to your doctor about it. Make sure you drink enough and are not dehydrated.

[georgina]

Definitely blood in your case is concerning . Call your doctor!