Introduction.

This forum is for discussions related to C. diff. including symptoms, doctors, medical advances, medications, If you are a new poster (joined within the last month), you can post more often for two months from your date of joining. After that time, one post per day only about "you." You can post more often to support others. Post other topics in Free Form Discussion and Chat Forum.
D1dad
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Joined: Tue Mar 12, 2019 8:34 pm

Introduction.

Postby D1dad » Thu Mar 14, 2019 4:28 pm

Good day.
My name is Gary and I was diagnosed Monday. I hope I’m doing this in the right forum and if not I apologize. I’m sure my story isn’t a whole lot different than anyone else’s, but for someone who’d never even heard of it before it I’m still in shock. I’ve been lurking this board for a few days and can’t believe how many folks acquired this after a sinus infection. I’m 45, fit, workout, like my beer and have 3 great kids and wife who I’d give my life for in a second. I have a great job that causes me to travel quite a bit and often involves me working in a long term care setting for weeks at a time. February, after being on the road for 2 weeks, working in a nursing home I developed a cold which in turn developed into nasal discharge and terrible pressure and pain, this is not new for me as I live in the Midwest and sinus infections have sent many a physicians kids through fine colleges.
The last day of my augmentin, I woke at 2 in the morning drenched in sweat with a growling stomach and low grade fever...this was on a Sunday. That day, although feeling like hell, I sat in a stuffy gym all day watching my 12 yr old wrestle...appetite was good, no D. By that night I had violent D to the tune of 20-30 times a day through Tuesday morning when it suddenly let up. I honestly didn’t chalk this up to anything more than a stomach bug going around my small town. The D came back Thursday and stopped Friday and then with a vengeance on Sunday. Early Monday morning I had what felt like an internal hemeroid burst and lots of blood. Enough was enough. I drove myself to the hospital while my wife and kids slept and was diagnosed by days end. Surprisingly my WBC was normal and I wasn’t dehydrated but I was also drinking gallons of Powerade and water. I’m on Flagyl..500 mg 3 times a day. I was confused by being prescribed norco for pain (which I was in a ton of) and a prescription to help with the diarrhea. It’s been a full 72 hours on Flagyl and I feel so much better. I had a light workout today and honestly haven’t missed a beat from what I can eat now that it isn’t passing straight through me. I am however concerned about not really having gone to the restroom since Tuesday, I did take 2 norco the first Norco the first night, one the second and a total of 3 prescription anti diahrealls. Anyhow I’ve learned a lot about this disease this week and tons from you fine folks.

roy
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Joined: Sat Aug 02, 2014 1:05 am

Re: Introduction.

Postby roy » Thu Mar 14, 2019 5:52 pm

Welcome.
First and foremost you should not be taking any anti diahrealls!
If your body is expelling toxins by producing D it's doing exactly what nature intended.
anti diahrealls hold that toxin inside you and can increase the damage.
I dont think norco is a good idea either as that results in slowing down motility.
Flagyl usually resolves the symptoms but is no longer recomended, it has a higher relapse rate than Vanco or Dificid.
With average luck flagyl will do the job but watch out for returning symptoms for a few weeks (hefty symptoms not just inconvenient ones).
If you do need additional treatment dont accept flagyl a second time.
And remember, almost all sinus infections are viral and dont respond to antibiotics.

D1dad
Regular Contributor
Posts: 319
Joined: Tue Mar 12, 2019 8:34 pm

Re: Introduction.

Postby D1dad » Thu Mar 14, 2019 7:11 pm

Thanks Roy.
The Doc did warn not to take many of either and after I researched the pills I stopped immediately. Maybe because I was passing so much blood and in so much pain he prescribed them? Either way I only took them the first 12 hrs and they helped tremendously. My biggest question is, will my bowels ever be regular again? I was an everyday around 6am guy and now I’m 2 days removed from one. After 9 days of hell I could use the break but going the other way is worrisome as well. I know it’s only 80 hrs on Flagyl but I’ll do whatever it takes to put this nightmare behind me.

Ril
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Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2012 2:45 pm

Re: Introduction.

Postby Ril » Thu Mar 14, 2019 7:17 pm

Just let me add I suggest you make an appointment with a GI for follow up in case it is needed or you have any further questions or issues for a dr. Apparently whoever did the original prescribing missed the mark on a few things.
Please read the first thread on rules for posting. And the CDI section has a lot of information on loads of subjects related to C. difficile. Of course we are here to answer questions and old posts are full of information as well. We are a great support site.
Best of luck,
Rita

NanciT
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Joined: Thu Sep 18, 2014 12:01 pm

Re: Introduction.

Postby NanciT » Thu Mar 14, 2019 10:35 pm

Recovery can take some time. As far as getting back to "normal" the gut takes time to heal, go easy on the diet. I agree with Roy and Rita, I would follow up with a GI. It sounds like the Flagyl is working, although not prescribed or recommended any longer. If it worked, that is wonderful. Pain medication is not something usually taken, it sounds like you did that briefly. Yes, it can be very painful but unfortunately those medications slow everything down.
I lived with a heating pad, wore sea bands for nausea and went very slow with a bland diet. Read through the site, recovery is a process.

Feel better soon

NanciT

D1dad
Regular Contributor
Posts: 319
Joined: Tue Mar 12, 2019 8:34 pm

Re: Introduction.

Postby D1dad » Fri Mar 15, 2019 7:19 am

I appreciate everything said by all and I will head all advice. I do feel much better but still experienced quite a bit of bleeding even this morning. Not sure what to make of that? I know my inside went through the ringer. The D is gone and BM are formed but after a few seconds I’m experiencing blood with a few clots.

roy
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Re: Introduction.

Postby roy » Fri Mar 15, 2019 9:14 am

Likely to be hems but definatly get your Dr to check.

D1dad
Regular Contributor
Posts: 319
Joined: Tue Mar 12, 2019 8:34 pm

Re: Introduction.

Postby D1dad » Fri Mar 15, 2019 11:09 am

roy wrote:
> Likely to be hems but definatly get your Dr to check.
I believe your right. When I was going through all of this I had an urgent need to go and nothing was coming out....almost like dry heaving but from the other end. Then the morning I went to the hospital I had a lot of blood but felt a huge release of pressure and pain which the doc contributed to a pile rupturing. Either way I’ve called my doc who is also the physician for a local long term care facility so I’m waiting for a call back.

D1dad
Regular Contributor
Posts: 319
Joined: Tue Mar 12, 2019 8:34 pm

Re: Introduction.

Postby D1dad » Wed Apr 03, 2019 9:14 am

I’ve posted in a few other threads but wanted to give an update. It makes me feel better to do so if nothing else. The Flagyl failed to work and in less than 72 hrs I was back at urgent care because I wasnt able to see a specialist for a few days later. The dr at urgent care represcibed Flagyl for another 7, even though I was dead set against it. She almost acted like I was asking for opioids and was a downright B about it. I then got into to see an infectious disease doc who first had me meet with the GI doc in the same office (can’t wait to get that bill). The specialist at the very least were somewhat pissed about the additional Flagyl prescription, but I was 5 days into 7 and said “let’s finish”and see what happens. They did admit that they’ve seen Flagyl being very successful for a reoccurrence when it was prescribed the first time, but it’s not a med they prescribe even for first time sufferers. Unfortunately so many cases like myself don’t have access to a specialist when they’re suffering, simply because your seeing an ER doc or going to urgent care. I think my initial infection was pretty severe even though I didn’t have markers of severe symptoms and I believe I screwed myself during the 14 days I took the initial med. I always eat healthy, low carb no sugars. I lost 10lbs before I was diagnosed and freaked out, I ate candy bars, pizza, all the crap I hadn’t eaten in years trying to gain weight, which I think further messed up my gut and fed the disease. I took Florastor first from Walmart and then amazon because it was cheaper. I can’t say for sure, but I think the amazon stuff may have been...not legit but I can’t say for sure, the pills were different and I felt no effects what so ever.
What I’ve done since. I feel better and am a few days removed from the last dose. I’m eating oatmeal and lots of it, turkey sandwiches on oatmeal bread as well as getting back to low carb, lean meats and low carb veggies. I had a pounding heart yesterday with a pulse of 101. Even though I’ve been drinking about a gallon and a half of water everyday I was electrolyte low. 2 bottles of Gatorade zero and my pulse dropped back in the 60’s..... So keep up on the electrolytes. I know some on here are on the fence about probiotics as to whether they work or not and so am I, but at this point I’d lick door knobs at grand central station if I thought would help. My GI recommended a couple of products that can be purchased online that she said has really helped people. Nexabiotic saccrcybolous bassardi if that’s how it’s spelled, and pro 50 probiotics. The probiotic is very strong so I took one a day to see how I’d tolerate it before adding the second and I’m happy to say they are much easier to take than culturrell and Florastor. I also started taking a calcium supplement that contains vitamin D, as the calcium firms things up in the gi tract. Today I had as close to a norm BM as I’ve had in a month so I’m pretty happy about that. I’ve also noticed in the last 24 hours since finishing the Flagyl and taking the second dose of pro 50 that the cramping has settled down and so has the bubble guts. I need to fly out Sunday for 2 weeks for work to population 1500 in Iowa and am pretty freaked out about doing so but my doc will call in a prescription wherever needed. The down side is in such a small town there’s no choices for pharmacies so I need to figure this one out, although I hope it’s not needed. I hope I don’t jinx myself, but after the first 10 days of Flagyl I didn’t feel well but didn’t realize it. The D stopped but that was it, my mind was cloudy and body was weak. After the second round I feel much much better but it’s to early to say but I’m praying on it daily. Thanks for all who have made suggestions and took time to do so.

beth22
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Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2009 2:23 pm

Re: Introduction.

Postby beth22 » Thu Apr 04, 2019 1:20 am

Good luck on the trip. If your doctor is willing to call in a prescription for you, that should put your mind at ease. In the early days, I traveled with vanco in my suitcase whether I needed it or not. Luckily, I never had to use it on a trip. I would just be careful of what you eat. Try to eat bland foods and stick to things that you know you can tolerate. When you get home, you can always add to your diet.

D1dad
Regular Contributor
Posts: 319
Joined: Tue Mar 12, 2019 8:34 pm

Re: Introduction.

Postby D1dad » Thu Apr 04, 2019 7:51 am

Unfortunately eating on the road for work is easier said than done. I have a couple client dinners, they like to booze and I’ve partaken in the past so I’m sure that will be expected. I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it. It looks like a lot of McDonald’s grilled chicken and holiday inn yogurt and oatmeal. I’m not gonna fill the script unless I have to because, well, my insurance sucks Azz and Vanco I crazy expensive. I just fear setting in a meeting crapping my pants lol. This is super awesome.

roy
Administrator
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Joined: Sat Aug 02, 2014 1:05 am

Re: Introduction.

Postby roy » Thu Apr 04, 2019 11:33 am

Check that holiday inn yogurt, if its low fat and has artificial sweeteners give it a miss.
Its normaly ok and wont cause a relapse but if your guts fragile the sweeteners laxative action is multiplied many fold!

D1dad
Regular Contributor
Posts: 319
Joined: Tue Mar 12, 2019 8:34 pm

Re: Introduction.

Postby D1dad » Thu Apr 04, 2019 1:12 pm

I’ll grab some oikos triple zero. The stuff has been an absoloute godsend. No sugar or really much of anything, it does have the LCA stamp on it but it doesn’t say what cultures it has.


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