Where I'm at in this battle

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kelseym
Regular User
Posts: 35
Joined: Wed Oct 29, 2014 6:33 pm

Where I'm at in this battle

Postby kelseym » Fri Feb 26, 2016 4:31 pm

I joined this site in October of 2014 when I was first diagnosed with cdiff. I was 33, otherwise pretty healthy. I was on amoxicillan for a UTI, after 5 days it wasn't working so I was switched to Cipro. I had a tubal ligation performed in which they gave me a bag of IV antibiotics and Diflucan for a yeast infection. I finished my cipro after the procedure. (Perfect storm or what?) I started to get looser stools, mucus, urgency etc - it was about 15 days before I went to the PCP and they ran O&P, and all that plus the c diff (ELISA I believe) It came back positive, Flagyl for 14 days 3 x's a day. I took florastor and a multitude of other probiotics as well for 3 weeks after. I was cured, but dealt with IBS and constant fear of relapse, I ended up with a great GI - tested negative on PCR for toxin B gene 3 or 4 times.

Then in Sept of 2015 I was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer. (No fam history of any cancer really, pretty young for that, I honeslty think it was c diff and my immune system knocked down) I am not a candidate for radiation due to a heart condition. I had a dbl mastectomy with a 2 stage reconstruction, (IV antibiotics and 7 days of Keflex 4 times a day) and what do you know... I was prepared this time though. I went to my PCP right away and they went ahead and started me on Flagyl 3 x's a day for 14 days again while waiting for my stool studies. Lab quest ran the wrong test - they didn't do the c diff test but something else so I'm not entirely sure I had it back (the orange color, urgency etc, I'm pretty sure). 3 days off Flagyl I started to feel really tired, cold all the time, hips aching like nothing I've ever felt (not how I felt the first cpl of times with C diff) and the the green mucous D started (again not had that before), tested pos with the GI - PCR toxin b gene test. They put me on a vanco taper + pulse, 14 days of 4 x's a day 125mg, 7 days 2 x's a day, 7 days 1 a day, 14 days every other day an 15 days of every 3 days. I took 2 250 mg florastor 2 times a day (1000mg), 1 culterelle, one other walgreens brand probitioc, I packet of VSL #3DS (900 billion), 80 billion ultimtate flora critical colon care, and a vitamin shoppe brand probitioc daily. I added in 1 packet of Entereagm around the every other day drop down. I kept up the probiotics and slowly was stair stepping them down to not insane levels.

Every time I dropped down on the vanco taper, I would start to feel ill and achy - get some yellow looser stool etc, but it always got better.

I have been off ABX for almost 4 weeks. This last week has been rough - the color is more yellowy - the TERRIBLE intestinal sounds, a little M and D but not much. I just tested neg 2 days ago again by PCR. I bumped up the probiotics again but am nervous. I have gotten 3 colds i nthe last 5 weeks and they all take FOREVER to go away.

I have a second stage reconstruction set for March 22nd (IV ABX again) and even if I'm clear now I'm scared I wont be after that. I'm scared that bc I have been on ABX basically since October that I will get cancer again since my immune system is down.

I have 2 dificid scrips filled since I had used up all my ded last year and got it so cheap, the dr just wrote it for me to have. I have had a consult with Dr. Orenstein at Mayo Clinic Phoenix for FMT should I relapse again after my surgery as that is the route I would take.

Just sharing my story here, this site has been a blessing over the last year and a half for me as I read through posts about the same questions I have. Thank you all and everything you've been through.

Kelsey

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