3 times on vanco failed, should I try dificid or fecal transplant?

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Loretto
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3 times on vanco failed, should I try dificid or fecal transplant?

Postby Loretto » Tue Mar 21, 2017 7:12 am

I contracted c diff last April while in the hospital for a serious strain of the flu. They put me on Vancomycin and they didn't test me because they said I didn't have it! I still had diarrhea and some cramping. After a few months they finally tested me and it was positive for c diff, so they gave me a 2nd round of Vancomycin for 1 month! I went to a specialist (GI) Dr. and she tested me and said it was negative. She said my bouts of diarrhea was "post infectious c dif." Then last December I had frequent bouts of D and abdominal cramps, I had no energy and I was bound to my bed and bathroom! By the end of February I couldn't take it anymore and was tested again, and it was positive (foul smell). 3rd course of Vancomycin! Just finished it and I feel worse than ever - same symptoms but worse! I wanted to ask you people if I should go on Dificid or have a fecal transplant? Sick as a dog!!! Help!

roy
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Re: 3 times on vanco failed, should I try dificid or fecal transplant?

Postby roy » Tue Mar 21, 2017 9:21 am

I would be saying to my Dr
"Ok you found c.diff but its not getting better with the treatment. Thats not normal so can we look to see if anything else is causing this please"
Still treat c.diff if the test and symptoms indicate it's needed but find out if there's anything else going on.

Loretto
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Re: 3 times on vanco failed, should I try dificid or fecal transplant?

Postby Loretto » Tue Mar 21, 2017 9:50 am

Thank you Roy! I have an appointment with the GI specialist tomorrow so I will ask her if she can see what else is going on?
Roy, what else could be going on other than c diff?

Musings
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Re: 3 times on vanco failed, should I try dificid or fecal transplant?

Postby Musings » Tue Mar 21, 2017 11:10 am

For clarification, did you feel better on vanco and then symptoms returned once off the medication or did you never improve on the vanco? If they never improved, it is possible that something else is going on so could be a parasite, a different infection, or possibly IBD (Crohn's, Ulcerative Colitis) but if the vanco helps but you relapse afterwards then you may benefit from Dificid and/or a FMT. Hope you get some answers from your GI appointment.

~Lauren

roy
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Re: 3 times on vanco failed, should I try dificid or fecal transplant?

Postby roy » Tue Mar 21, 2017 12:30 pm

Laurens explained it well.
Theres also celiac, lactose intolerance, gall bladder problems, the list goes on!
C.diff is a relapsing disease.
The meds make you well and then it comes back.
If the meds have no effect the Dr must consider other causes.

georgina
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Re: 3 times on vanco failed, should I try dificid or fecal transplant?

Postby georgina » Wed Mar 22, 2017 1:24 am

Agree , get tested for everything under the sun , including SIBO , calprotectin test for IBD , other pathogens , parasites , food allergies etc. If your symptoms are not controlled with Cdiff treatment then you have to consider that something else may make you sick. Lots of people can test positive for Cdiff!

Loretto
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Re: 3 times on vanco failed, should I try dificid or fecal transplant?

Postby Loretto » Sat Mar 25, 2017 7:33 pm

Thank you for your replies! I had diarrhea throughout my tx on vanco and I am still having it! I saw the GI Dr. and she said i tested positive on the pcr but I tested negative on the "toxin" part of the test which she says means I don't have the infection! She told me to continue the colestipol which isn't helping the diarrhea! She said she would see me in 2 weeks if I'm still having the D and schedule a colonoscopy and go up my colon to see what else might be going on! I brought another stool sample and she said it was negative and my blood work was normal! I AM SO DEPRESSED and sick I can't even eat. On top of all of this I have been having pressure on top and in the back of my head along with a cold sensation! I had to go to urgent care last night but they didn't find anything wrong with me. But I have to follow up with my PCP about this thing going on with my head. When it rains, it pours! Sadly Loretto

beth22
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Re: 3 times on vanco failed, should I try dificid or fecal transplant?

Postby beth22 » Sat Mar 25, 2017 9:49 pm

When you go to the GI ask about having some kind of scan that will show your gall bladder and pancreas. You might also have your pancreatic enzymes - lipase and amylase checked in your blood. I have had chronic pancreatitis since c difficile and although it is not common, it can happen.


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