The day is here.

[D1dad]

I figured I’d only pop in to offer words of encouragement but knew I wouldn’t be so lucky. The whole family came down with some nasty upper respiratory infection the week of thanksgiving. Sneezing, fever and ungodly congestion that just wouldn’t budge. I threw the kitchen sink at this bug, neti pot, pseudoephedrine, Flonase you name it. I drug myself in Monday with a 101 degree fever after 2 weeks figuring I had at the very least a sinus infection given the neon green and yellow pudding I was blowing out, to the tune of 4 boxes of Kleenex. My doc is awesome and doesn’t prescribe antibiotics for anything unless it’s absolutely necessary, which this was. He’s the attending physician to the local very wealthy retirement home and is well versed in cdiff infections. I’m on 7 days of doxycycline but he said if I was better after 5 then to stop as studies show that 5 is sufficient if the infection responds well. He was very thorough, scoped my nose and said the mucosa was extremely infected so I trust the diagnosis. 3 years later and I’m back on the oh chit train. Of course I’ve straightened up the diet and am taking the new florastor boost pills. At least they’re new to me. I’m 3 full days in and so far so good, wish me luck. A little stomach gurgling but that’s probably from the yogurt and oatmeal I’ve added to my diet 2 hours after the AB is taken. I’ll be smarter this time than last. The first sign of cdiff and I’m pulling myself off the Ab. Last time I had never heard of cdiff and powered through an awful course of augmentin 875 which led to my unfortunate but grateful relationship with all of you.

[Lissaucd]

Oh no! I’m sorry you are sick. There have been many on here that don’t have a problem at all after taking antibiotics. Think positive, you got this. Also, thanks for all of funny posts. I read them when I’m having a hard time- hilarious! I took your advice and backed off the probiotics hopefully it helps me out!

[NanciT]

Try not to worry.....I know easy for me to say. But I actually had to take Keflex a few times post CDIFF in 2014/2015 and had NO issues. The Doxy you are on is a very low offender and many on the site have taken it with no issues.

It is TOUGH, this is something we all live with and it's not easy. We are all left with this worry and today as I was getting a UA done thinking I had a UTI the worry all came back. Thankfully it was negative. But it is something I have learned to live with and try hard not to have it take over.

There are times we must take them, hang in there

Feel better soon

NanciT

[beth22]

I took doxy after c diff and did not relapse and my mother was on it for a month a few years after her bouts with c diff and did not relapse either. It is definitely a low offender and you are doing what you should with the probiotics. Stay on them for a while after you finish the meds. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[D1dad]

Appreciate the kind words and I’m glad I can brighten someone’s day during a dark time. So far so good. I had covid back in September after a business trip to Miami (vaccinated) and that was a walk in the park compared to the way I felt Monday so I didn’t fight the doxy prescription at all. These infections sneak up on you and you don’t realize how sick you were until you aren’t anymore. It’s amazing how fast doxy starts working. The only side effects thus far is awful headaches when I wake up but it seems doxy can cause headaches. Im 4 days into it and will probably do 1 more day and call it good. I’m the opposite of D right now from all the good stuff my bodies not used to ingesting, but I’ll take constipation compared to the other.

[D1dad]

And yes lissa the probiotics thing can mess with some people. I was the poster boy for “more is less”. Even this time I stood in front of the health aisle loading up a hand cart full before common since kicked in and said I probably didn’t need any of them. My GI doc from 3 years ago who’s from the university of Michigan and was one of the first to prescribe the poop pills told me I was taking way to many. But of course I figured he didn’t know anything because why would he. I’ve always taken Phillips colon health because it caused no side effects and it had the word “colon” in it lol. I haven’t had a doc yet say that florastor is a bad thing so I’m taking 1 twice a day. Any more than that I figure is burning money and most likely useless.

[D1dad]

Thanks Nancy and Beth . I hadn’t given an antibiotic a second thought in a long while. I figured the next antibiotic I would take was when a family member was signing for it and I wouldn’t have a choice cause it would be on my death bed. My doc has specific instructions in my chart basically saying to call him for anything more than azithomyocin. He said doxy can have some nasty side effects for some but has seen very few times that it’s caused cdiff in his 30 yrs. In fact he said he often prescribes it for his high risk patients in addition to ab’s that are considered high risk. I guess there’s proof that doxy can reduce cdiff by 30% (or there abouts) when taken in addition to the devil drugs that are high risk offenders.

[Steffi]

Dear all,
My gastroenterologist who is a professor in Gastroenterology told me: "After time you will forget that you have had cdiff". If we respond well to antibiotics after cdiff, then why we should worry, I imagine that with time, if we see that we respond well to antibiotics, it will mean that we do not have any of the so famous spores so we could continue to live as normal people, isn't it?

[D1dad]

Sheffi,
I’m not so sure about that. I’m assuming your GI, like many, never had cdiff? In April I can say it’s been 3 years assuming nothing goes off the rails by then. For the last couple of years I have forgotten I had cdiff from a “daily living” point of view. I don’t look at the nursing home side of the menu when I eat out and was shotgunning beers at the Ohio state Michigan game 3 weeks ago like I was still in college. But when I went to the doc this week knowing what was gonna be prescribed the whole nightmare was fresh in my mind. Many don’t understand how a pill that’s supposed to make us better can rock you to the core. Hell I didn’t understand it. I was lucky on my recovery given how bad my infection was but will spend the rest of my life worrying about weeks like this. I’m only 48 and worry about what happens as I age and what the future holds there. I won’t let it control me or change living life to the fullest. But I’ll never forget the pure hell I went through having never heard of cdiff, the problems it caused in my marriage or the 6 months of my life I’ll never get back because I demanded an antibiotic every time I got a Midwestern cold. Lesson learned and power in I guess.

[NanciT]

Steffi

I have found most GI's and ID's have various opinions once someone has had CDIFF. From my experience, it is individual. I did fine on Keflex twice which is a big offender, but a trip to the ER ( five years later) this time I took the Keflex and did get CDIFF.

I got through it, months later ended up in the ER during Covid and was given IV antibiotics really without my knowledge ( the nurse told me after) and once again I got CDIFF. But...I got through it.

Not sure why the first times I did fine. I did everything the same, maybe my immunity was lower.

I have found different opinions. I believe the type of infection and antibiotic given does matter. It is clearly noted in my chart to contact my ID...but they never did.

It's important to know you did get through it and if by chance you get it again, you do know what worked for you. Each of my above infections were in 2020 months apart. My ID knew what I needed ( a Dificid taper) and it worked.

I think the more time that passes, the gut recovers and chances may be lower....but that is just my thought.



NanciT

[Steffi]

Thank you so much for your replies, they are helping me a lot!
Yes, the doctor said that the gut builds immunity with time. Who knows ... :)
I am just trying to keep myself updated regarding every new research in this area and will post here every useful information that I find.

[Lissaucd]

I’m 37 F-I think about when I get older too. Especially bc i’ve been helping my grandmother get into a long-term care facility. They put her on many antibiotics for chronic UTIs and the idea of antibiotics just freaks me out. I’m even scared to go visit her. 1dad- you go to nursing homes a lot?

Yes, I think I may have been doing self inflicted pain through probiotics! I think they may have been good for a little bit and then my body just wasn’t tolerating them anymore. I have seen many GI docs- frustrating part- one wants to treat with a round of vanco, one thinks it might be SIBO, another wants to test….. the freaking list of inconsistency goes on. Mind you I only have mushy stool no WATERY D consistently. Finally, I’m going to see a specialist in California, who really knows his stuff. One of the first to do still transplants in California and for free for people who just needed help! He told me, no treatment, no probiotics, no testing unless SEVERE diarrhea until I have my video appointment in feb with him. He told me get off all probiotics and let my body be. Fingers crossed. Now I’m just on a mission to gain weight. I’m only 88 pounds from 120. I have to admit trying nee foods freak me out. My stomach is still gurgly, gassy when I eat and gets upset super easy.

Fingers crossed for a vaccine right?!?

Constipation?!?? I would take a hard turd any day!!!! Sounds like you are doing great 1dad. Also, keep the funny posts coming please!!!!

[NanciT]

Lissaucd

Good to hear you are able to get in with the GI in CA. It may be the same one I saw right at the end of my treatment in 2014/15 when I had been very ill for a year. We have some excellent experienced GI's out here just tough to get in with. Now that video appts are done it may have become easier.

Wishing you the best with your appt!

nanciT

[Lissaucd]

Hi Nancy! Thank you so much! I’m very happy with the plan that we have given before seeing him! He’s in Oakland California!

[NanciT]

I sent you a PM!