Wellness

[NativeJax]

My granny had this, it will be chronic at his age. It's difficult to get a hold of it especially at his age. You should speak with a GI doctor, there is a not so pleasant procedure that worked for my granny which invoked taking bacteria from bowel movement from a family member. The name of the procedure escapes me but it did finally work. I know it sounds gross but it worked....they said it was due to her chrohns disease, constant antibiotics, cellulitis and age.

[RedTop]

@Mesmerized169,

Yes, having had an active C-diff infection puts you at risk for a recurrence.   You never cure, or completely get rid of all C-diff spores in the intestines; strong antibiotic treatment kills enough of the colonized infection to put C-diff into an inactive state.   The spores can lay dormant for a very long time, until there is a trigger that upsets the intestinal balance, activates their growth, resulting in a colonized infection that will be detectable in a stool culture.  

C-diff is easy to pick up anywhere in the environment; most of us are carrying spores in our intestines, but not everyone will develop a colonized infection.      

[Anita Hug]

Unfortunately, this is more common than many realize. Mine was also the result of being on antibiotics several times in a short period of time. Clindamycin was the final straw, and a long battle ensued after that.  Antibiotics serve their purpose when used properly, but they do have the huge downside of wiping out our bodies own defense system in the gut. I credit the Florastor for finally helping my insides begin to heal.

The symptoms ... lets just say that, if this happens to you, you may want to put a long novel in the bathroom because you will be in there a lot. It is much worse than the typical bout with diarrhea (can I say that here?)  

One other thing - make sure he's getting enough fluids. Dehydration can be a problem, especially if he's not feeling like eating or drinking. Make sure he does anyway.

My dad is 97, so I understand a lot of what you are going through. His repeated infections are usually urinary related since he has an indewelling catheter. It's a non-stop battle. I hope everything turns out for the best with your dad - and everyone who is helping with his care.

[Toppers3]

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@jubilant wrote:

@Toppers3    We are thinking we caught Dad's early, too. So thankful yours was caught early.  I am praying the tooth extraction won't slow the process of healing down....he has been through so much already.  Your post is encouraging. Thank you so much!  I will definitely ask the doctor about Florastor.

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You're welcome, @jubilant.

I wish you all of the best.

It's true that once you have it, you are at higher risk for getting it again if you need to take antibiotics again.

The risk is greater though if you need to take antibiotics longer term again, not necessarily if you just need to take a regular course of antibiotics.

I've had to take regular courses of antibiotics again without any problems, but the healthcare providers are careful about prescribing them for me. 

Edited to add: Like they'll consider if an infection can be treated with a topical antibiotic instead, rather than an oral antibiotic, for example.

[Toppers3]

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@Mesmerized169 wrote:

Interesting reading here.  

I was hospitalized 5+ yrs ago for a cyst on my lower belly that got infected and blew up, resulting in necrotizing cellulitis and I needed an emergency surgery to cut me open and clean out the infection.  A swab of the infection was taken before surgery.  I was later diagnosed with staph, strep, and c-diff all at the same time.  I was not taking any antibiotics prior to this, or maybe I was but only for a day or two at the most.  I also had bronchitis on top of all that too and needed a nebulizer. That was 6 days of hell in the hospital to make a long story short.  Once they figured out what infections I had, they prescribed me a Levaquin IV drip, then eventually sent me home with an Rx for Levaquin pills.  I was only in my early 40s back then.  

So are you telling me, if I had C-diff before, that it's laying dormat now and can come back again?  Exactly what symptoms would I experience?  I cannot compare it to the storm I went thru 5+ yrs ago because everything was wrong back then.  

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Hi @Mesmerized169,

Your symptoms can depend on the severity of your infection.

The best thing to do would be to contact your doctor/health provider's office if you think that anything is wrong, at the time.

One of the symptoms would be any type of unusual/abnormal symptoms of diarrhea that is either frequent, watery, bloody or severe, in nature. 

They test your stool sample and if it comes back positive, that's how they know if you have it. 

[jubilant]

Thanks again to all who posted. Dad is having his abcessed tooth pulled as I speak.  A couple of weeks ago he was in the hospital and they found a large blood clot in his leg and an aneuryism is his chest (which they will do nothing about). He is not a candidate for surgery.  His heart surgeon conferred with another heart doctor whether or not to put him on a blood thinner because he is a high risk for a stroke.  They went ahead and did that. It's all in God's hands and Dad has told us many times that, if it does....."he has his bags packed and he's ready to go".  It's amazing though.....everytime he has come close to death and we think...."this is it"....he comes back.  He has had 10 major surgeries in the last 15 or so years. Always before he wanted to be resuscitated.. recently,he told them if his heart stops....just let him go.  Whatever is best for Dad is what I want. I believe there is a reason he is still here and when he goes it will be what is best for him. I am holding back tears now. I think I just need to go have a good cry. Thanks again....these posts have really helped me understand so much more and I don't feel so lost and "up in the air" about it now.

[Jacie]

Holding you in my thoughts @jubilant! Hang in there!

[Teddie]

@jubilant, how are things going? I went through some things with my dad and we lost him, which was one of the hardest things I've ever gone through. I felt your pain and tears as I read your words. Thinking of you with much concern.

[jubilant]

Thank you for your concern, Teddie.  I am sorry for your loss. It is hard to watch a parent suffer.  I know how fortunate I am to still have  both of mine.  Most people my age don't.  

Dad is doing better this week. The doctor at the hospital feels we caught the c diff early.  He has had to take so many antibiotics this past few months and it has just totally depleted his good bacteria.  It's been one infection after another.

Last week I took in a CD to play for him to help him sleep and it wouldn't work so I sang him some of his favorite songs and he went to sleep.  First time I ever sang my Dad to sleep!  It was a precious moment.

I pray this holiday season you will find comfort in your memories of your father, Teddie.  

[Vivian]

All I can tell you is that I picked up a C-diff infection at the hospital where I had thyroid cancer surgery. I can't believe how long it took my idiot local doctors to figure it out. I suffered for three months before I was finally tested and treated. Once I was diagnosed, the right meds cleared everything up within two weeks. I do know, however, that elderly patients often suffer and cannot be cured.