Will it ever be safe to take antibiotics again?!
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Will it ever be safe to take antibiotics again?!
Hello, I'm a newbie F, 37 years old. Contracted C Diff in August 2018 after a prescription of Cefixime (Suprax). Luckily two weeks of Fladyl worked for me. Four months later I got strep throat and was given Amoxicillin. Needless to say I was very paranoid about taking more antibiotics but the Dr assured me that it was a different antibiotic and I should be fine. I stopped taking amoxicillin after 7 days as my stomach was starting to feel funny and my anxiety was through the roof. Fast forward to today, C Diff has returned (lab to confirm) but I know 100% that it is. My question is will it ever be safe to take an antibiotic again? I have taken probiotics since Aug but they haven't helped keep the c diff at bay. Any advice appreciated.
Elen
Elen
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Re: Will it ever be safe to take antibiotics again?!
I too have been dealing with a similar situation but I’m almost two and a half year Cdiff free and now I’m back on an antibiotic for the first time and worried sick... Im taking a lot of probiotics and just upped my sacc boulardi from two 10 billions a day to 3, I’m on day 5/6 and today my stomach has been extremely gassy but luckily no D.. fingers crossed!!
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Re: Will it ever be safe to take antibiotics again?!
Hi Soimez
This time around has felt a little different for me, definitely more gassy and abdominal pain. Fingers crossed for you! It's so disappointing that it's come back I thought I'd gotten away with it.
This time around has felt a little different for me, definitely more gassy and abdominal pain. Fingers crossed for you! It's so disappointing that it's come back I thought I'd gotten away with it.
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Re: Will it ever be safe to take antibiotics again?!
For me, my first reoccurrence happened two months after taking an antibiotic for my wisdom teeth removal.. about a year after my initial c diff infection. My second reoccurrence just happened six years later and also showed up two months after having antibiotics for a c section. I’m not sure it ever goes away or is safe to take antibiotics at this point. I’m seeing a specialist in January and plan to ask!
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Re: Will it ever be safe to take antibiotics again?!
Hi Megan
It's sad to think that taking antibiotics from now on can cause so much anxiety. My Dr says if my test comes back for c diff again he'll send me to a specialist as well so I will see what they say.
It's sad to think that taking antibiotics from now on can cause so much anxiety. My Dr says if my test comes back for c diff again he'll send me to a specialist as well so I will see what they say.
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Re: Will it ever be safe to take antibiotics again?!
Hang in there! I got c diff at 21 years old and never thought of continuing the probiotics once I was feeling back to normal. It took a really long time for me to get rid of c diff the first time around. Then, six years later I have my first baby and two months after the panic, anxiety, and D started. I wish I would’ve thought about c diff coming back before my c section but I didn’t. One day at a time. We will get through it!
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Re: Will it ever be safe to take antibiotics again?!
Ebettie
Any antibiotic can cause CDIFF to return, there are some that cause more risk than other's. Until there is a cure or something to prevent it, those of us who have had CDIFF are at risk of getting it again if we take antiboitcs. That does NOT always occur but we all need to proceed with caution and notify physicians of our CDIFF history. I make every effort to avoid them, I had CDIFF for over a year with 5 relapses....I am very careful.
If you need an antibiotic, just make sure to review with your physician. We have a list under CDI that list the biggest offenders
Hope all goes well for you
NanciT
Any antibiotic can cause CDIFF to return, there are some that cause more risk than other's. Until there is a cure or something to prevent it, those of us who have had CDIFF are at risk of getting it again if we take antiboitcs. That does NOT always occur but we all need to proceed with caution and notify physicians of our CDIFF history. I make every effort to avoid them, I had CDIFF for over a year with 5 relapses....I am very careful.
If you need an antibiotic, just make sure to review with your physician. We have a list under CDI that list the biggest offenders
Hope all goes well for you
NanciT
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Re: Will it ever be safe to take antibiotics again?!
NanciT
Unfortunately the Dr I saw for strep throat wasn't my usual physician and although I did tell him about my previous C Diff he didn't seem too concerned. Now that I have relapsed I will be much more wary of antibiotic prescriptions in the future, even avoiding them where possible.
Unfortunately the Dr I saw for strep throat wasn't my usual physician and although I did tell him about my previous C Diff he didn't seem too concerned. Now that I have relapsed I will be much more wary of antibiotic prescriptions in the future, even avoiding them where possible.
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Re: Will it ever be safe to take antibiotics again?!
Hello
I have an update and a few questions! My stool sample came back as negative for c diff. I am shocked to say the least. I had all of the same symptoms as the last time I had c diff, mucus and blood, diarrhea, cramps and nausea. I started Flagyl again right away a few weeks ago when I saw my Dr, with new Year's and closures etc I didn't get a sample to the lab until 5 days later. Could 5 days on Flagyl kill the C Diff? If not, was the first C Diff not C Diff at all?? Can anyone think of any other conditions or circumstances that antibiotics would cause similar reactions? Any insight appreciated.
Elen
I have an update and a few questions! My stool sample came back as negative for c diff. I am shocked to say the least. I had all of the same symptoms as the last time I had c diff, mucus and blood, diarrhea, cramps and nausea. I started Flagyl again right away a few weeks ago when I saw my Dr, with new Year's and closures etc I didn't get a sample to the lab until 5 days later. Could 5 days on Flagyl kill the C Diff? If not, was the first C Diff not C Diff at all?? Can anyone think of any other conditions or circumstances that antibiotics would cause similar reactions? Any insight appreciated.
Elen
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Re: Will it ever be safe to take antibiotics again?!
I don't have answers to your questions about whether or not you did or didn't have C. diff. That said, if you were to be treated for it at some future point in time: Flagyl is no longer recommended as treatment. The better choice would be vancomycin or Dificid.
If your illness was preceded by use of a medication, e.g., an antibiotic, please fill out an FDA Adverse Event Report at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/default.htm
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Re: Will it ever be safe to take antibiotics again?!
Yes I will never take Flagyl again if I can help it, the side effects are brutal!
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Re: Will it ever be safe to take antibiotics again?!
5 days of any meds could be enough to kill c.diff and for toxins to be eliminated.
If symptoms return be sure to submit a stool sample before starting any meds, especially if its several weeks/months after being on a previous round of meds.
It never has been "safe" to take antibiotics, they are serious meds for serious diseases, not to be misused by patients who demand a quick fix and overprescribed by Drs.
ALL meds can cause harm, use them wisely.
If symptoms return be sure to submit a stool sample before starting any meds, especially if its several weeks/months after being on a previous round of meds.
It never has been "safe" to take antibiotics, they are serious meds for serious diseases, not to be misused by patients who demand a quick fix and overprescribed by Drs.
ALL meds can cause harm, use them wisely.
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Re: Will it ever be safe to take antibiotics again?!
Hi Roy,
I can't say that I took the meds as a quick fix per say. I was terrified when the C Diff appeared to be back and I felt that the Dr was treating my symptoms not a test, based on my previous history. The test took three days to come back, coupled with the closure of the lab over New Year's I wasn't sure what state I would be in not taking something. I am still battling strep throat but not taking more antibiotics at the moment. Thanks for your input.
I can't say that I took the meds as a quick fix per say. I was terrified when the C Diff appeared to be back and I felt that the Dr was treating my symptoms not a test, based on my previous history. The test took three days to come back, coupled with the closure of the lab over New Year's I wasn't sure what state I would be in not taking something. I am still battling strep throat but not taking more antibiotics at the moment. Thanks for your input.
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Re: Will it ever be safe to take antibiotics again?!
Hello
Just an update from me- after testing negative for c diff Jan 5th, I have just tested positive again yesterday. I have had the diarrhea and pain for 4 days and knew something wasn't right. My GP thought it was IBS but I guess we know our bodies! The pain was different this time, more of a constant lower abdominal burning. I've been referred to a GI Dr and have to go pick up my Vanco prescription. Disappointed but determined to beat this a second time.
Elen
Just an update from me- after testing negative for c diff Jan 5th, I have just tested positive again yesterday. I have had the diarrhea and pain for 4 days and knew something wasn't right. My GP thought it was IBS but I guess we know our bodies! The pain was different this time, more of a constant lower abdominal burning. I've been referred to a GI Dr and have to go pick up my Vanco prescription. Disappointed but determined to beat this a second time.
Elen
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Re: Will it ever be safe to take antibiotics again?!
Sorry to hear that you had a recurrence and I hope you’re doing better now! I also had a recurrance because I took antibiotics for strep throat. Similar situation in that I saw someone at an urgent care instead of my PCP. I told the doctor there that I had a history of C diff and was hesitant to take an antibiotic, and she told me to take a probiotic with it and that I’d be fine. I was prescribed penicillin and within 6 days was having D, and tested positive a few days later. When I later talked to my PCP, he told me to come to him next time instead of a prompt care because he can give a penicillin injection directly into the tonsils, so only a negiblible amount of the antibiotic will get to the gut. I guess the lesson learned is that it’s important to stick with a doctor that truly understands the danger of C Diff.
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