Black specs and mush post-Dificid

Since c-diff is a disease of the "lower half", so to speak, we find that many of our members cannot refrain from discussing what comes out the bottom end. If you must do it, please do it here.
KFM
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Black specs and mush post-Dificid

Postby KFM » Fri May 10, 2019 10:52 am

Hi all,
I'm just a few days off a 10-day round of Dificid (which followed 5 weeks on Vanco - a 14-day and then a relapse and then another 14-day with taper and another relapse while tapering.) For the last three weeks or so, my stool has had black specs in it that look like seeds. (Dr was not concerned, but I am.) Since going off Dificid, I had very loose stools every morning but not WD. Sometimes they are firm-ish, but seem to fall apart in the water. I can't tell if this is PI-IBS or a recurrence, though there's no WD or mucus (which I had with C diff), and the volume is nothing like when i had active c-diff. My doc has been on vacation for two weeks (!) so Ive been dealing with this mostly on my own. Went to see an ID specialist and she said that she would do FMT if my symptoms return ... I'm just not sure they have returned, and whether or not to schedule with her. She's willing to do it next week.

Questions:
Has anyone else had back specs and shredded poo after finishing Dificid?

Should I just get the FMT since it's available to me even if I'm not certain cdiff is back?

(I do not want to go back on Vanco since I think it destroyed my gut but insurance is giving me a very hard time refilling dficid again, so I'll prob do the FMT if it comes down to that or the Vanco again.)

Any thoughts on any of this would help! Thanks so much!

NanciT
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Re: Black specs and mush post-Dificid

Postby NanciT » Fri May 10, 2019 10:58 pm

I would see your GI again when he returns. If you re dealing with Post IBS there are medications to try. I went on Levsin which helped alot.

As far as the black specs, I have no idea. I can tell you it can take a very long time for the gut to recover and the stool to look "normal". It has been a long recovery for me after a very long Dificid taper. I still have post IBS several years later, did not have before all of this.
For a long time, I would go bland and things improved. I went easy on the diet.

I would not consider an FMT unless I was sure I had CDIFF. It was clear to me each time I relapsed, but I know for others it can be difficult.

The question is, is this a relapse or not. It does not sound like it but you know how you are feeling. I was very sick each relapse and it was generally 2-4 weeks after treatment.
I also want to add I did not feel too well after I completed the long taper of Dificid, I think it's hard on the gut and it has taken time.

Hang in there, maybe give it a bit more time to see where you are. If D starts along with CDIFF symptoms, then consider the FMT

NanciT

beth22
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Re: Black specs and mush post-Dificid

Postby beth22 » Sat May 11, 2019 1:54 am

Would your ID be willing to do the FMT even if you wait a bit? I did have FMT and I think that vanco pretty much destroyed my flora. The FMT helped, but it has its own issues. Some people get D after FMT and have PI-IBS. Donor stool does not always agree with the person from what I have seen and read on this site and in my own experience. I first used my husband as a donor and had lots of symptoms after the procedure. The next time I used my daughter and it went much better.

KFM
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Joined: Sun Apr 28, 2019 12:49 pm

Re: Black specs and mush post-Dificid

Postby KFM » Sun May 12, 2019 1:04 pm

Thank you so much for your responses. I decided not to to FMT yet or go back on antibiotics yet b/c my symptoms seem to change from day to day, and though I'm having some days frequent BMs and some D, it doesn't *feel* c-diffy. (No puss, no "pushing" feeling, no insane volume, etc.) So, that leaves me one week now into possible remission. Yes, the ID doc is happy to wait to see what happens, but I found out she does the FMT nasojejunal (kind of like NG, but tube goes right into small intestine) and I've heard that is less effective than colonoscopy, so I'm not sure if I should look for another doc if FMT becomes needed.

I suppose that's a query for the FMT section, but thanks again for your reminders that my BM is probably going to look unusual for some time. I hope to get past this at some point (I'm now two months in - including 5 weeks on vanco and 10 days on dificid) and be able to offer advice and support to others. Right now, I'm just trying to heal.

Thanks again <3

beth22
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Re: Black specs and mush post-Dificid

Postby beth22 » Mon May 13, 2019 1:40 am

I would not recommend the NG approach. I had it done twice and I have SIBO, possibly from that. The motility specialist told me that the bacteria that is in the colon does not belong in the small intestine and can create different types of IBS. My own experience has been that the colonoscopy method works better. I relapsed after the NG transfers.

KFM
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Re: Black specs and mush post-Dificid

Postby KFM » Mon May 13, 2019 6:20 pm

Thanks so much!

speg
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Re: Black specs and mush post-Dificid

Postby speg » Tue Dec 17, 2019 5:33 pm

At 8 days post Vancomycin treatment I had black specks for approx. 10 days. I honestly didn't think much of the specks figuring it was something I ate not digesting well. At the time I was mostly freaked out about the amount of mucus I started experiencing then too. I have had the mucus/pink tissue off/on for several weeks now and a very loud gut, I could tell it was angry in there. D never returned, weight stabilized and otherwise I seemed ok. Doc insisted no test or treatment if I was in no pain, no fever and no D. She didn't seem to worry too much about photos I showed her/symptoms. Many on this site confirmed that return of D (3x3 rule) would really be an indication of relapse, since many test positive for a long time even after successful treatment retesting so early on may result in overtreatment. The body can and does some times fight off any latent infection or germinating cdif if it can.

I am just about 8 weeks post Vanco treatment and finally this week I had a fairly regular week. Throughout I have also been having intermittent constipation issues that exacerbated what I believe are small external slightly bleeding hemorrhoids (probably brought on by A. having cdiff for over a month before seeking treatment B. Giving birth C. mild constipation post Vanc treatment). Otherwise though specks gone/mucus gone feeling hopeful (I'll hold my breath and cross my fingers).


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