Sylvia's Case History

[Guest]

My case history is as follows: <BR>In July 2003 I was prescribed 10 days of Suprax for an ear infection by a Dr (not my usual Dr) at a drop- in clinic. This Dr actually said to me ‘since you have extended health I will give you the expensive medicine’ of course I thought this meant the best one but obviously this was not the case. Just a few days after my last pill I became violently ill. I thought I had food poisoning from a BBQ that my sister had. I had no idea what was going on, the cramps, and mucous and the frequent bowel movements. I finally went to my real Dr and she tested me for C Diff right away. I was prescribed 10 days of Flagyl…symptoms came back and I tested positive….then 14 more days of Flagyl….symptoms came back again and I tested a false negative. I was happy that I tested negative but I still felt really sick so I went back and got tested again and I tested positive. Understandably, I was getting frustrated and was losing weight (not much only 10 lbs) so I asked my Dr to refer me to a specialist who knew more about treating C Diff. When I went to see the Gastroenloist he prescribed 14 days of Vanco ($500!! cdn)…yet again symptoms back stronger and more severe than usual. I tested positive but my Gastroenlogist wanted me to come back to his office to get another prescription but his next available appointment was not for 2 weeks!!! There was no way I could wait that long so I made him call my pharmacy directly, which he did thankfully. I am currently doing the tapering method. 4 pills (125mg each Vanco)/day for 2 weeks, 3 pills/day for 2 weeks , 2 pills/day for 2 weeks and then 1 pill a day for 2 weeks. Also, I am taking Rifampicin once daily. The first 2 weeks with 4 Vanco pills I was doing very well. I have started my 3rd week with the 3 pills and I can feel the symptoms coming back again, cramping etc. I have another appt with my Gastroenlogist which is this Friday, Nov 7th. I want to ask him if I can try the Pulsing method that I have read so much about on this site. I am lucky to have extended health, there is no way I would have been able to afford months and months of Vanco. <BR> <BR>In addition to the antibiotics I have taken (and spent hundreds of dollars on): Sachhromyces Boulardii, Acidophilus (many types), FOS, VSL#3, Bee Pollen, Garlic pills, Oil of Oregeno. I have ordered Culturelle (as recommended on this site) from the US and I will pick it up tomorrow. I am hopeful this will restore the good bacteria. I was frustrated to read that Vanco kills good and bad bacteria as I had no idea whatsoever. I feel like I have wasted the pills taking them together. I have done soooo much research on C Diff and I almost feel like I know more than the Dr sometimes. It’s been months and I am getting tired but I am not losing hope. This site keeps me hopeful that I will one day beat this bug and become normal again.

[Guest]

I saw my DR on Friday he agreed to try pulsing since the tapering was making me feel symptoms again. I started a few days ago and I already feel better with a higher dose of vanco. It looks as though I will be on them until Feb or March. The bacteria doesn't stand a chance (Gotta keep positive). On the plus side (if that's possible) I am eating healthier. I'm eating less fats, sugars, carbs, no pop, caffiene. I am eating more veggies, lentils and protiens. In the beginning when I was first diagnosed with c diff I was afraid to eat anything because I didn't know what would make me feel sick. I went from 118lbs to 108lbs in a few weeks. I have only lost about 2 more pounds since then but I feel ok. I know my body is getting enough nutrients and I hope it's enough to build up my immune system again.

[Guest]

Well it's already Feb 12 and I am glad to say 9 days off Vanco. I have relapsed many times before so I can't say that I am out of woods yet but it looks good so far. Usually my relapses happened just a few days after or even during my antibiotics. I hope to be one of those people who will fully recover and never half to deal with this ever again. Just to be sure I will continue taking probiotics for the rest of my life. <BR> <BR>It's been a long, frustrating, painful road to get to this point. I have been fortunate enough to have a great supportive family. They have been so wonderful...from offering me money for medicine to the countless prayers. I know it was hard for them to see me so sick and lose so much weight so quickly. Oddly enough through this most difficult time in my life I started a relationship with a great guy who has been just as supportive and understanding. We are going away to a resort spa next week for a few days. We had planned this getaway a little while ago and I was and still am scared that I will relapse on my trip. I can't think about that..I just have to take it day by day and deal with it when/if it happens and not before. I wonder if there will be a day that goes by that I don't think about c diff???? It's consumed most of my thoughts these last 6 months. Since the end of July 2003 I've tried countless probiotics and spent thousands of dollars on special foods and supplements, bee pollen, oil of oregano, green tea...you name it, I've tried it. My medicine cabinet is a graveyard of half empty containers of numerous 'cures' I've tried. Maybe I should throw them out now as none of them worked (except primal and reuteri) and they just remind me of all the time I wasted on them and money I spent. But I realize that I had to go through them all to find out what would work for me. I don't know exactly what worked for me this time. I did pulse vanco over many months and during this time I took primal defence and reuteri along with yogurt (which I can't seem to tolerate anymore) I also took other strains of good bacteria given to me by the natural pharmacy and my naturopath. I started seeing a naturopath in December when I realized that my DR had no idea what was going on. She had told me that I had tested positive for C Diff but that might have been an error. How could that happen???!!?...I had all the symptoms and a positive test result yet she still had doubt that I had it! Maybe IBS...maybe stress..she said. It was very frustrating. She even told me I could eat whatever I wanted and that I would be fine. I knew that wasn't the case at all and from that point I knew I had to take my health into my own hands. The info on this website has been a Godsend. I would never have known to try half the stuff I did (ie primal, BioK). Many things did not work for me but some stuff did and that's a chance you have to take. You just have to see what works for you. It's scary to think where I would be if this website was not here. I would just like to say thank you to everyone for their thoughts and advice. I can't even begin to explain how important this has been for me. Even if I do relapse I know that I am not alone.

[Guest]

just an update----almost 7 weeks of no symptoms. i feel great and i am doing extremely well. i just wanted to let everyone know that recovery is possible. <BR> <BR>good luck to everyone!