C-Diff - Page 4

Nightowlz · ‎03-11-2010

On 9/23/2014 Rottie_mama said:
On 9/23/2014 Nightowlz said:
On 9/23/2014 Rottie_mama said:
Antibiotics kill your normal gut flora. There is a happy truce until you kill off the good bacteria and clostridium difficile is left unchecked, he starts replicating and no one can challenge him. Ask your Doctor or RN to explain, please, this is a medical question.

I don't have C-Diff. I have never heard of it. I just read this thread & was curious about it. If the posters have had this I'm sure they can answer some questions. I only go to the doctor once per year for a blood test to get my thyroid medication refilled. I doubt he would want to discuss it if I don't have C-Diff. I know antibiotics kill normal gut flora. I do take probiotics every day so that should help when I do have to take an antibiotic.

What you do not have is an infection from clostridium difficile. You do have clostridium difficile, however he is kept in check by all the other competing guys in the gut. Anytime this balance is upset, clostridium is no longer kept in check and an infection can occur.

Thank you I'm learning. As I said I have never heard of this before but did know by taking antibiotics that it kills your good flora.

kismet · ‎03-10-2010

Well the doctor called in the prescription for the capsules and my husband just left to pick them up. I called the pharmacy and they said my copay was $5. for a 10 day supply. Just out of curiosity I called the other pharmacy, which my insurance won't pay cause it's out of network, and the price is $200. for the liquid. Hopefully the capsules will work and I won't have to go any further.

I'm not one to take antibiotics unless necessary. I had two knee replacements in a year plus two surgeries on my hand and I'm allergic to penicillin so I had to take an antibiotic that was stronger and known to cause cdiff. I came out of that with 10 days of Flagyl. Clear and no problem.

I wasn't in a hospital, nursing home or anywhere I would think I would pick it up. Had my physical in March and everything was fine. The doctor ran another blood test a few weeks ago and that was fine.

I don't know if anyone knows this or not but I wondered how long does it take to get cdiff after being exposed to it via touching something. How long does the cdiff stay on a surface? I checked online and can't seem to find that information. I didn't know about this either until I got it.

RedTop · ‎09-01-2010

C-diff is not limited to a healthcare environment; it can be acquired pretty much anywhere. You pick up the spores, they live inside your body until something triggers them and they colonize into an active infection. Antibiotics are usually what triggers the spores to activate, because they upset the natural flora of the intestines. Just taking an antibiotic does not automatically give you c-diff. If you have c-diff, wash your hands often with soap and water. Clean your toilet often with chlorine bleach and wipe surfaces in your bathroom and kitchen with bleach wipes. For more factual information on c-diff, go to the cdc.gov website.

sfnative · ‎03-10-2010

I hope you all get over your gut issues, small or large. It's a terrible time we have trying to get diagnosed, let alone finding a physician with enough brains to make this happen for you in a positive and lasting way.

I had 3 ortho surgeries in 1.5 years and was given Ancef followed by Vanco I.V then Vanco by mouth. My gut has not been the same since the Ancef and I'm now housebound except for dr appointments and I'm undernourished due to malabsorption.

My new gastro has ordered a breath test which requries 12 hours of fasting preceding the test. Am having a huge problem fitting this into my current schedule, but need to do it badly.

Think I've been tested for c. diff. 6 times, but fortunately all came back negative. One of the things I did have was an overgroth of candida x4 in my gut, which is now gone thanks to homeopathic treatment from my naturopath.

Best of luck to all. - Rebecca

gailcoco · ‎04-19-2012

I read a lot of my sister's medical journals and there is a treatment for C-Dif but it is kinda gross. They use healthy stool (from a volunteer) and put it back into your body via enema. There is one GI that makes pills that a person can swallow. He claims that there is no smell or taste. They swear that it works and clears up the infection completely. I know gross but if it works that's great. Gail

~~66 and owned by cats and dogs.~~

sphynxlvr · ‎03-10-2010

I got c-diff from a hospital stay. I was perfectly fine before the hospital stay (I had a rectal bleed and they tested my stool and all tests were neg). I was in the hospital for 4 days. They released me (no antibiotics were given to me) and the diarrhea started. I had diarrhea for a yr. I had another rectal bleed almost a yr later. They tested my stool again and I tested positive for c-diff. I KNOW I got it the first time I was in the hospital the previous year. I was put on i.v Flagyl and then oral. Flagyl did not clear it up and I was put on Vanco....$3,500 for 4 wks (capsules). I am testing neg now, but I still get diarrhea, although not everyday. I saw a dr about a fecal transplant. The transplant is supposed to be the 'cure' for the c-diff. He will not do it b/c the FDA will NOT sanction it if you do not have 3 positive c-diff cultures. I have 2 positives. I am so disgusted with the FDA. They cannot make $$$ on fecal transplants. There are no big drug companies to fund anything...no kick backs. They have screened donors and a company that preps the donors 'donation'

This procedure is a godsend to many gut issues. Please google 'fecal transplants' and see what you find. Very interesting read! Yes, the premise is gross, but why should this be any different than any other kind of transplant. We are dealing with 'that' part of the human body!

C-diff is scary stuff that needs to be eradicated!

Ibby114 · ‎03-10-2010

My Dad had 2 bouts of c diff this past June. It's standard that Flagyl is tried first, then Vanco if c diff persists. I discovered Florastor after c diff was initially out of his system for a couple days- but then it came back. Vanco was successful, then Florastor was started as soon as Vanco was finished. He hasn't had a reoccurance of c diff since, wish I knew about Florastor sooner!

lavendar · ‎03-10-2010

I HAD C.DIFF AND ONLY TOOK VANCOMYCIN. I cannot tolerate Flagyl. I have Crohn's disease and am at high risk for C.Diff.

I was having watery diarrhea and cultured positive for C.Diff My primary (now my former primary) didn't believe I had C.Diff because I had not been on an antibiotic. She refused to prescribe vancomycin because she said she'd have to prove to insurance company I needed it. I knew she was wrong. I wrote medical copy for the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation and had written an article for them on C.Diff. I had interviewed a doctor at the CDS and it was clear primary knew less than I did.

I cannot take Flagyl. I have permanent nerve damage from it.

I left a message for my gastro to call my primary. 7a.m. next day I got two phone calls. One from gastro and one from primary. The vancomycin was immediately filled.I had excellent insurance and it did not cost me a penny (those were the days!) I read med lit online and felt it had minimal side effects compared to Flagyl. Flagyl is not an easy med.

I had lost eighteen lbs by the time my primary treated me. I'm very fortunate I didn't get seriously ill. This was my second problem with her; my gastro, who never been critical of a doctor, told me to change.

I also take Culturelle, a probiotic, but switched to another one that I read about in a gastro journal and added a second med I was already taking. I consulted my gastro, who wanted the journal article. He had O.K.d every medical article I wrote for ten years. He said it was a good idea.

After the C.Diff was cured I had no appetite for months. It took a long time for the flora and fauna to come back. I went back to the Culturelle.

I avoid antibiotics fervently but not if they are really needed. I always take double up in Culturelle and have been lucky.

C.Diff can kill you. Take the vancomycin if your doctor insists.

lavendar · ‎03-10-2010

One of my doctors is an infectious disease specialist. She says you can get it walking down the street. I don't think anyone knows how quickly it lingers or why one would get it that way.

Kismet, don't be surprised if you don't get your appetite back quickly. And eat carefully.

OkeyDokey · ‎06-04-2010

Please look up the side effects of oral vancomycin. You will find few, if any. ORAL vancomycin is not absorbed in the gut. But it will hang out and kill the heck out of some c. diff. Been there and back with both my kids. AND...if you have a recurrence, prompt treatment is crucial to knock out the bug. Subsequently, you need probiotics every single day.