~Jennifer~ New Case

[jennifer0906]

Intro: My name is Jennifer, 32y, female.

Back in February(11th)2011, I took Clindamycin for a dental infection. I took it for about 14 days. All went well with that dental infection which ended up being a retreat for a root canal. I read my Rx inserts and research anything I take so i happened to be aware that diarrhea can develop weeks-months after Clindamycin.

Fast forward to Mid March 2011: I started to have strange bowel movements which were frequent but for the most part fully formed. What bothered me most was this inability to sit for long periods of time on my bottom. I felt like I had to BM constantly and for the most part I didnt produce much. Every few days the symptoms would subside and give me 24 hrs of peace. This would trick me into thinking everything was ok and back to normal but then it would just start up again. I started to not eat until I got home in the evenings or at least had acccess to my own bathroom in order to control it during the day when I had no choice but to function through daily activities. ususally by late day i was better anyway. I kept thinking it would go away however by a full 2 weeks in, the soft bm turned to mostly "gel" and alarmingly, this gel was accompanied by bright red blood. Since I had previously been seen by a GI doctor I called him immediately and made an appointment for just a few days later.


My dr and I discussed everything and came to the conclusion that it would be best to start flagyl while we waited for a stool test. Thank goodness for that because it took another week to get the positive c diff results. 10 days after 250mg,3x/day of metronidazole i was doing well and was quite happy to get back to normal life. Of course within a week my symptoms started up again. I already was schedule to see my gi for a follow up so 2-3 days after symptoms restarted I was back on metronidazole, 500mg,3x/day for 3 weeks.

I wish that was the end of it, but it wasnt. that did get me through the end of my spring semester though. I took my last horrrible tasting 500mg of metronidazole on about the 5th of may. The day i took my last final (May 11 2011), I lost my appetite and by the end of the day I was back in the ladies room. the next day was the worst day. I had a horrible body ache, fever, stomach pain, bm's way more than 10x a day. My dr had previously scheduled a follow up for a week after I would have finished the meds so I already had an appointment set for the same Friday. My dr seemed surprised and disappointed that this wasnt going away. we discussed perhaps a colonoscopy (not scheduled for one yet), since its been going on for so long and seems to be coming back stronger each time. (fyi, i had a colonoscopy 2 years ago for unrelated issues so dr didnt feel another was warranted so soon). He prescribed 500mg vancomycin, 4x/day for 3 weeks, gave me a rx for a stool sample and we decided I'd wait for the stool results to come back and I'd fill the rx. That night I woke up to go to the bathroom every 1-2 hours. I had picked up the stool kit that same day so I could drop it off the next morning. The next morning I had the samples ready to go and barely made it to the driveway when I had to run back in to go to the bathroom!!!! I was going every 20 min to an hour. RIDICULOUS! So I started my manhunt for the vancomycin that day and since no had it or didnt have enough to get me through the weekend I waited to start vancomycin until monday. I just couldnt wait for the results which came 10 days later...positive again for c diff.

Once my dr called me with the results he altered my dose to a tapered dosage, stepping down a dose every week until I'm done. Yesterday I dropped to 500mg,2x/day. I am ok so far but honeslty I am scared to death to stop this med. By the end of this week I am to call him (he said call when I get sown to once daily). I think we might be trying cholestyramine but I'm not sure.

I am taking probiotics(philips colon health 1x\day, align 1x\day, and florastor 2x\day) and eating soy yogurt with lots of the same cultures in my probiotic pills) When I consult with my dr I have questions for him including more info on colonoscopy. I will update accordingly. I truly hope this is it and my next post will be super positive and describing how good it feels to be c diff free! :)

[jennifer0906]

I called my dr today to verify the tapering schedule as I planned and yes he's sticking to a 500mg dosage. Next monday I will start once daily. Then he says he'll start the cholestyramine the day after my last dose of vancomycin. he admits that the use of the cholestyramine is "controversial" or at least opinions vary by dr. I'm near the end of the treatment so I will just continue as directed. If this course doesnt work I will probably look for someone a bit more versed in c diff infection. for the most part my dr has followed the known protocol although many different dr's treament vary in one way or another. Once I am done with the meds I will discuss with him a colonoscopy too. I just want this to be it so I can enjoy my summer and be ready for the fall.

[jennifer0906]

thanks for the input. i do appreciate it :)

tomorrow i drop to one dose per day :O (yikes!)

the cholestyramine will not be taken at the same time as the vanco. I was instructed to start it the day after my last vanco dose. wonder if thats an effective method??? if I can get my hands on more probiotics, this week I want to up my dosage a lot. theres not much to update on. just needed to kind of release a little thats on my mind. i dont talk to anyone about my issue. just my husband and i think he needs a break from the details. i don texpect to have much to say for a few weeks. my last vanco will be in 10 days and the 10 days of the cholestyramine.

[jennifer0906]

day one Vanco FREE! the last dose was an emotional dose. I really am paranoid about this coming back. I'll hope for the best :)

started cholestyramine today. I will take this for about 10 days.

I have an appointment with my GI this friday.

other than dreading a return show from the c diff, I feel pretty damn good. I really want to continue feeling this good. I love it! I am going to the park regularly to walk/jog with my family. I have camping planned for mid July~went last year and had FUN! I'm looking forward to a fun summer full of good health :)

[jennifer0906]

today i saw my dr. i really didnt need to since I'm good but we did discuss things so it was worth the visit. we are not going to schedule a colonoscopy or any other visual examination of my colon. my dr is hoping this is the end of it but if it isnt he plans to send me to an infectious disease specialist. I am guessing this is the dr he might be consulting with about my case all along. this is my 4th day of no vanco and so far everything is pretty good. I think within the next 10 days I should know whether I'm out of the woods or not.

[jennifer0906]

i've now passed the 2 week mark of being off vanco. still feeling pretty good! i did the best i could with the cholestyramine. i missed a dose a few times but i did abotu 9 or 10 days. I am so glad to be off any meds at all.

I ordered kefir grains (google for more info on this probiotic option) and I am trying to include this daily instrad of activia cause honestly I hate store bought yogurt, too sweet and burns my throat and so many have artificial sweetener which i avoid. i plan to continue florastor and other probiotic supplements, perhaps forever.

I will try to update but as long as I am well I dont want to bog down the case history threads.

:)

[jennifer0906]

i decided to post here today just to keep time/date record of the way i felt today....

i feel good still but i had several soft bm's today. also some m. hadnt seen that in a while. feeling a bit tender. HOWEVER, it is also that time of the month for me and this can be normal for me to experience this type of bm at this time. PLEASE LET IT BE THAT! it could also be some serious paranoia. c diff can get you like that ;) if it were to be a recurrence of c diff it shouldnt be long before it becomes devastatingly obvious.

i have also not taken my florastor as i ran out just before going camping sunday and just havent gotten my butt in the pharmacy to buy it yet. will do that tomorrow for certain. in fact that camping trip gave me 3 days without taking any probiotic at all~yikes!

well, i will continue to update as time passes.

[jennifer0906]

ooops! i never intended to get responses but i appreciated all the input anyway!

well, it seems it was a false alarm. i feel good and i'm still quite regular. it had to be just normal 'monthly' stuff. youngmom28, for me my last vanco dose was difficult. i became pretty dependant, i mean mentally of course. i could have continued to take it forever. i am not 100% confident about it being gone but i am very hopeful. good luck to you and i'll keep an eye out for updates.

[jennifer0906]

whoa! I went on vacation without my florastor and kefir. on the way home (by car 10 days later) my "system" was a mess going soft--D 3 times probably in a hour or so and feeling that weirdness in my belly. very grumbly slightly naseous and it freaked me out. next day I was still a bit weird i think i had soft-- D again at least 2-3 times but I immediatley got back on my kefir and florastor. now i think i am ok. i plan to discuss this with my dr soon since i have a previously scheduled 2 month check up. Boy did that get scary but i answered my own question about whether i should stay on my probiotics long term.