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Valued Contributor
Posts: 702
Registered: ‎03-11-2010
On 7/4/2014 ennui1 said:
On 7/4/2014 sparklestar said:

??? Do you perhaps mean colon?

Maybe she's got a thing for Colin Farrell?

Not funny -- apparently you are not familiar with C-diff.

Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,051
Registered: ‎03-09-2010
On 7/4/2014 ennui1 said:
On 7/4/2014 sparklestar said:

??? Do you perhaps mean colon?

Maybe she's got a thing for Colin Farrell?

Good Grief. How can one investigate if one does not get the correct spelling. There is plenty of info on the Web. Did no one provide information on this while hospitalized?

Valued Contributor
Posts: 702
Registered: ‎03-11-2010
On 7/4/2014 Deanie said:
On 7/4/2014 ennui1 said:
On 7/4/2014 sparklestar said:

??? {#emotions_dlg.blink} Do you perhaps mean colon?

Maybe she's got a thing for Colin Farrell?

Good Grief. How can one investigate if one does not get the correct spelling. There is plenty of info on the Web. Did no one provide information on this while hospitalized?

From my experience with a relative at the hospital dealing with C-diff, he was NOT provided information. On one occasion, I mentioned it to a RN -- and she asked me what it was. I knew we were in trouble then. The nurses can be carriers, as their scrub pants often drag the floor and the floors of a C-diff patients are not always clean. They also do not wash their hands in between patients. {#emotions_dlg.blush}

Maybe the OP didn't research it, as she didn't know the correct spelling. Pls, let's give her a break....

Esteemed Contributor
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Registered: ‎10-21-2010
On 7/4/2014 jump4joy said:
On 7/4/2014 addiegal said: C-dif is not to be taken lightly...it is very serious and can be stubborn as I understand. Take care and get checked soon.

You are right. A relative of mine was close to having to have his entire colon removed due to C-diff. I don't understand why hospitals and doctors don't tell patients of this risk while taking antibiotics -- and recommend the patient take probiotics which help to maintain the "good" bacteria in the colon. Antibiotics destroy the good bacteria of the gut. C-diff occurs when the 'bad' bacteria completely overtakes the 'good' bacteria. It is also spread in hospitals and nursing homes by workers who are not practicing good hygiene.

To the original poster, pls follow up with your doctor. Some cases are C-diff are even resistant to the drugs prescribed for its treatment. There is a new drug available now and it has a good track record, but is quite expensive. But, either way, it is money that is well spend. Good luck! Also, stay away from sugar in your diet as it also feels the 'bad' bacteria, which you do not want. Stay hydrated!! Also, trying eating more yogurt and kefir as it helps with strengthening the immune system and contains the 'good' bacteria strains that your body need now.

Thanks for the sugar suggestion.I am a diabetic so don't eat a lot of sugar anyway but I will keep this ion mind. I had my mom pick up some antibiotics. Not the real expensive kind but hopefully they will work I do eat yogurt but probably no enough.

Esteemed Contributor
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On 7/4/2014 ccassaday said:
On 7/4/2014 jump4joy said:
On 7/4/2014 addiegal said: C-dif is not to be taken lightly...it is very serious and can be stubborn as I understand. Take care and get checked soon.

You are right. A relative of mine was close to having to have his entire colon removed due to C-diff. I don't understand why hospitals and doctors don't tell patients of this risk while taking antibiotics -- and recommend the patient take probiotics which help to maintain the "good" bacteria in the colon. Antibiotics destroy the good bacteria of the gut. C-diff occurs when the 'bad' bacteria completely overtakes the 'good' bacteria. It is also spread in hospitals and nursing homes by workers who are not practicing good hygiene.

To the original poster, pls follow up with your doctor. Some cases are C-diff are even resistant to the drugs prescribed for its treatment. There is a new drug available now and it has a good track record, but is quite expensive. But, either way, it is money that is well spend. Good luck! Also, stay away from sugar in your diet as it also feels the 'bad' bacteria, which you do not want. Stay hydrated!! Also, trying eating more yogurt and kefir as it helps with strengthening the immune system and contains the 'good' bacteria strains that your body need now.

Thanks for the sugar suggestion.I am a diabetic so don't set a lot of sugar anyway but I will keep this ion mind. I had my mom pick up some prioibotics. Not the real expensive kind but hopefully they will work I do eat yogurt but probably no enough.

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Depends on how resistant it is. Your doctor can give appropriate medications and follow the instructions to a ""T"" and do not deviate one iota. Many of us have had Clostridium difficile of the colon and it is treatable if you are persistent in following instructions and take care to let your doctor know and do exactly what he/she says.

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On 7/4/2014 namealreadytaken said:

Depends on how resistant it is. Your doctor can give appropriate medications and follow the instructions to a ""T"" and do not deviate one iota. Many of us have had Clostridium difficile of the colon and it is treatable if you are persistent in following instructions and take care to let your doctor know and do exactly what he/she says.

I definitely did. If any believe it might be back after being off antibiotics for over a month.

Super Contributor
Posts: 492
Registered: ‎03-31-2011

I got a C.diff. infection from taking dicloxacillin, which is a penicillin derivative. Five doctors couldn't tell me what was wrong with me and, as a result, I wound up in emergency surgery and had about a foot of my colon removed because the bacteria went unchecked and ate away at my gut in the weeks I ran from doctor to doctor.

Ironically, this antibiotic-associated infection is treated with antibiotics. There are only two antibiotics available that I know of that can treat a C.diff. infection. They are metronidazole and vancomycin. I have an allergy to metronidazole, so I was treated with vancomycin (Vancocin). Vancomycin is supposedly the most powerful antibiotic known and is reserved for special cases like mine because 1) it is very expensive, and 2) the medical community does not want to overuse this "last resort" drug so that it becomes ineffective (which can happen with any antibiotic from overuse).

After I finished my course of treatment at home, I had a slight relapse and was given a second course. That resolved the problem completely. Relapses are not uncommon with C.diff. It's very important for the C.diff. patient to start a permanent probiotic regimen to avoid relapse. Eating yogurt or taking a probiotic is helpful during the time anyone has to take an antibiotic, but it doesn't absolutely guarantee that you won't get a C.diff. infection.

I was told that once you get a C.diff. infection, you are more susceptible to getting another C.diff. infection in the future. What this means is that it is important for you to stay away from all antibiotics unless it is a dire situation. Do not take antibiotics for anything that is not confirmed as a bacterial infection, certainly not for a cold. (This should be followed by the general public in any event.) I have not taken an antibiotic in 20 years since this happened.

There is actually a "pecking order" of antibiotics that are more likely to cause a C.diff. infection. Cipro is at the top of the list. To everyone reading this, if you absolutely must take an antibiotic, do not take Cipro if there is any other antibiotic choice.

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Registered: ‎05-10-2010

I'm not familiar with that body part. Colin??? Is it anywhere near the colon?

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On 7/4/2014 ccassaday said:
On 7/4/2014 namealreadytaken said:

Depends on how resistant it is. Your doctor can give appropriate medications and follow the instructions to a "T" and do not deviate one iota. Many of us have had Clostridium difficile of the colon and it is treatable if you are persistent in following instructions and take care to let your doctor know and do exactly what he/she says.

I definitely did. If any believe it might be back after being off antibiotics for over a month.

In my post above, I noted that it can be resistant, which means it may have returned, because it resisted the treatment. Now, let your doctor know and go back to see him/her and follow the next set of instructions.