Please help. Losing hope.

[armak]

Hi guys. I was hoping to stay off this forum until I came back with a success story but I’m clearly not there. I’m a 27 year old F and contracted c diff after being on 4 weeks of high dose cefazolin due to sepsis. I was also in the hospital for 7 days while they tried to figure out what was going on. I had D for 3 weeks after finishing up my antibiotics before calling my ID doctor and telling him I couldn’t kick it (mind you I had no idea what c diff was or something that that associated with antibiotics/hospital stays). He prescribed me vanco 125mg 4x/day for 14 days. 2 weeks later, started getting symptoms again, so went ahead and prescribed me a vanco taper, 125mg 4x/day for 2 weeks, then 125mg 2x/day for 1 week, then 125mg 1x/day for 1 week, then 125mg every of day for 2 weeks. I’m one week shy of completing my last leg of this taper and I’m almost positive I’ve had another reoccurrence (I’m currently on the “every other day” portion of the taper). Just went 2x already this morning and it’s probably a 6 on the Bristol scale and bright yellow. I’ve only eaten oatmeal, bananas, quinoa and a little fish the last couple of days and I really haven’t had a true formed BM for the last couple of days, but have only gone twice at most. And they all disintegrate after I go. I’m so scared. I don’t know what to do and I’m devastated that I could be having a relapse while on a taper. I’ve also had increased gas and burping for the last week as well as some increased abdominal cramping. I’ve never had a fever at any point during my battle with c diff and have always considered it more on the mild/slight moderate side which is half the reason why I waited three weeks the first time I started having symptoms. At this point I’m feeling totally hopeless. I just feel like I’m doomed and that I’m going to die of this thing and that it’s just going to keep getting worse. How is it at 27 that I can’t kick this thing? I feel devastated. I’m sorry to put this all out here, I’ve been trying to have hope but at this point I’m feeling like nothing is going to cure this. Thank you for giving me the space to write this all out. I haven’t cried yet through this whole journey and today I just completely broke down.

Here are my questions: 1. are yellow BMs a clear sign of relapse? 2. Could this possibly be PI-IBS or most likely reoccurrence? 3. Should I wait to finish the last week of my taper or call doctor ASAP?

Also note: I take florastor, once in morning and once at night

[NanciT]

Hello armak

I am sorry you are going through this. If you continue to have D several times a day call your GI. Especially if you have continued on Vanco. Please don't despair, there is always hope. I recall feeling the same way in 2014/15 after a year of relapses. Thankfully, Dificid worked for me. If symptoms continue, ask for Dificid.
There are many on the site who have done well on it. I would try and stick with a bland diet as you taper the Vanco but when on these Meds if D continues the GI or ID should be called.

Hang in there, it is very difficult especially coming off another illness. Make sure to increase your fluids not to get dehydrated. I used "smart water" during this time.
Take Care and feel better soon

NanciT

[Bobbie]

Armak,
Hi from another c differ with a long struggle with c diff. I was 52 when I developed diff after treatment with Vantin for a sinus infection. . Although I got treatment from a specialist right away, the bout last 4 years.I had c diff two more times (following an antibiotic ) and am now c diff free and 80 years old.

Sounds as tho you are doing everything right. Hang in there. Prayers and best wishes,

[jmf2141]

Hi, I'm not sure I'm a success story yet, but I had cdiff back in March (when I was 26 weeks pregnant!), then relapsed two weeks later, was put on vancomycin taper for 8 weeks. I met with a naturopathic doctor to help me heal. She started me on a very strict diet, of no sugar, no gluten, no dairy. For meals she recommended half plate veggies at each meal (10 servings of veggies per day), 1/4 protein, 1/4 grain for meal. So...1/4 protein, 1/4 grain, 1/2 plate veggie. She also started me on a high strain probiotic HMF. I drank 1-2 cups of sugar free Kefir daily, also took 4 Florastors per day (2 morning, 2 evening). Basically the goal was to rebuild a healthy gut biome, which had been destroyed by cdiff and antibiotics. We retested my stool with a high sensitivity stool test that cost $400, and there was no cdiff detectable, and my gut bacteria was actually fairly good shape. I'm now on a whole plan of supplements to rebuild and balance out my gut for the next year. Obviously you can't take medical advice from here, but I'm just letting you know what worked for me so far. I'd recommend meeting with an actual doctor who practices nautropathic medicine.