Jessica's Case

[Guest]

This past summer I developed a Thyroid infection and was prescribed a Cephalosporin for 2 wks. I left for a trip to Las Vegas 2 days before finishing the antibiotics. The day after I finished the antibiotics, I woke up with a fever, severe diarrhea, nausea, stomach bloating, and weakness. Because I was on vacation far from home, I just took a lot of aspirin and Pepto for the remaining days. When I got home, I saw my GP. She was not concerned, said it was stress (IBS). I've had IBS issues before, and I argued that this was very different. <BR> <BR>Fast forward about 3 weeks. I'd been calling my dr regularly and she was still saying to take Immodium and eat very bland. I called one morning from work. I begged them to test me for something, and they finally did. Surprise! It's C-Diff. They prescribed a 2 wk course of Flagyl. <BR> <BR>It worked great, until I stopped taking it. Then within a week they symptoms were coming back. They retested me and it was negative. Once again, the dr said it was stress. She told me to take supplements (Acidophilus), which did help. But every few days I'd have a rough day. She said she didn't need to see me unless I got really sick. <BR> <BR>During that month and a half, I wasn't too bad. A little feverish, diarrhea every few days. My husband and I are doing infertility treatments, and at the end of October I had an In-Vitro egg retrieval and embryo transfer. The day of the transfer I had a fever, but they had me take Tylenol to keep the fever under 101 (for the embryos' safety). That was on a Saturday. <BR> <BR>By Monday I was miserable. I went to see my IVF nurse, and she found that I had Ovarian Hyperstimulation and C-Diff--resulting in severe dehydration (they could barely get a needle in my vein). I was in the hospital 2 very traumatic weeks. I was prescribed Flagyl and Vancomycin. I was given a central line for IV's because the dehydration had led to some major damage to my veins by the nurses and lab techs. <BR> <BR>I really gave my family and drs a scare. For over a week they couldn't get my temperature or blood pressure under control. I'd spike 103+ temps, and my blood pressure would drop to 80/50. My stomach was incredibly swoolen, especially just under the ribs. I nearly had surgery for bowel obstruction. The drs said that I was this sick because I'd "let it go" for so long--thereby blaming me for my other dr refusing to believe me for a second time. <BR> <BR>Enteral nutrition for several days, followed by a bland diet, plus the antibiotics, morphine and potassium finally did the trick. However, about 2 wks after finishing the last of the antibiotics, I started having symptoms again. <BR> <BR>My NEW GP tested me and it was negative. I will be tested again tomorrow--actually 5 different tests. They are concerned it's not C-Diff anymore, but something else. I believe it's still C-Diff. After 4 months of continuous infection, I think I know my body enough to know it's the same infection.

[Guest]

Update: <BR>I was treated for C-Diff again several times, at one point I was on liquid vanco, at another point it was cholestyramine (which only made me worse). I was finally referre to an Infectious Disease Specialist, who put me on a tapered regimen of Vanco. It seemed to work. For over 2 months I had negative tests and felt fine. <BR> <BR>Then, in early June, I suddenly had some mild symptoms. I was tested again, and it was positive. I am on a tapered Vanco regimen again, and I am still taking Acidophillus (I have been for 6 months). We are moving cross-country in about a month, to California. I am very nervous about the move, and finding a new physician.