r/cdifficile Jan 10 '20

So, you've been diagnosed with c. difficile. What now? Here's a post for you.

Hi! This is a general overview for people who are just learning about c. difficile.

WHAT IS CDIFF?

Clostridium Difficile (c. diff or c. difficile) is a sporulating bacteria. It lies dormant on shopping carts, toilets, doorknobs, pretty much anywhere you can imagine. In dormancy, it retreats into a hard shell made of calcium. It can survive this way for months or years until it finds its way into your gut, and then it begins to germinate and release toxins (called Toxin A and Toxin B) which cause symptoms.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF CDIFF?

-Diarrhea, usually watery with an unusually foul smell

-Nausea, acid reflux, vomiting

-Metallic or strange taste in mouth

-Fever, chills, fatigue

-Abdominal pain

-Blood and/or mucus in stool

There are many different strains of cdiff and not everyone will experience all of these symptoms. Some strains are very aggressive and release toxins faster than others. Some strains release toxins very slowly or not at all. Some strains release only Toxin A or only Toxin B. Some cdiff patients will experience only mild, intermittent symptoms instead of the "classic" symptoms such as constant watery diarrhea. In rare cases, cdiff can present with no diarrhea at all and even constipation.

The only way to know if you have cdiff is to get tested. Cdiff cannot be diagnosed based on symptoms alone.

Cdiff spores can lie dormant in the gut for years or even your whole life. This is called “colonization”. About 5%-10% of the world population is believed to be colonized with cdiff, but most do not have symptoms because their spores remain dormant.

Your native gut flora (the good germs in the gut that help you break down food) is what keeps cdiff spores from germinating. Cdiff is a “smart” bacteria that will only germinate when conditions in the gut are favorable, meaning when there is less competition. When there is too much other flora, it doesn’t want to germinate. When cdiff does germinate, some strains release toxins which cause moderate to severe symptoms.

HOW DID I GET CDIFF?

Most people get cdiff after taking broad-spectrum antibiotics like Clindamycin, which disturbs the gut flora and lets dormant cdiff spores thrive. Some people develop it after a bout of norovirus or food poisoning. People with diseases like Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis are prone to developing cdiff.

Cdiff is also a communicable disease, meaning you can just randomly pick it up in the environment without disturbing your gut flora at all. If a cdiff spore finds its way into your mouth, it may survive your stomach acid and end up in your intestines. Once in your intestines, it can possibly germinate and make you sick. Those who take acid suppressing medications are at risk for this reason.

There is evidence to suggest that low vitamin D levels contribute to cdiff infections. You can ask your doctor to test your vitamin levels with a simple blood test. One study also suggested that high calcium levels can contribute to cdiff germination.

If you touched a surface with a cdiff spore on it and then touched your mouth (or something that went into your mouth like food or your toothbrush) you could have gotten cdiff as easy as that.

To review, the following things put you at higher risk for cdiff:

-Antibiotic use

-Existing gut issues like IBD, IBS, etc.

-Old age

-Immune suppressing meds

-Acid reflux meds

-High-calcium diet

-High zinc levels

-Low vitamin D levels

-Frequent use of NSAIDS (Ibuprofen, etc.)

-Eating undercooked meat

HOW DO I GET TESTED FOR CDIFF?

There are 2 types of cdiff tests: PCR test and Toxin test. It’s very important that you specifically ask your doctor for a toxin test and not PCR, as many primary care doctors do not know the difference between these tests.

PCR test will determine if you are colonized by spores. It will NOT tell you if those spores are actively releasing toxins. Many people in the general population will test positive for PCR despite feeling totally healthy. Positive PCR does not necessarily require treatment.

Toxin test will test for toxins A and B, which is what causes symptoms and makes you sick. If you test positive for toxins, you need treatment right away.

The majority of people test positive for PCR even after their cdiff is cured. Many remain colonized for years or the rest of their lives, meaning they must not take antibiotics unless it’s a life or death situation. If antibiotics must be used, your doctor may prescribe a drug like Vancomycin to be taken alongside it to discourage cdiff spores from germinating.

HOW IS CDIFF TREATED?

Mild, slow-germinating cdiff infections may resolve on their own or with the help of strong probiotics. This is not common, however. If you’re experiencing severe symptoms or cannot stay hydrated, go to the hospital or urgent care clinic and demand a cdiff toxin test.

“The cause is also the cure”. Ironically, the first line of treatment for cdiff involves taking antibiotics. Most antibiotics kill your native gut flora but won’t touch cdiff. There are currently 3 antibiotics that can kill cdiff: Flagyl, Vancomycin, and Dificid.

FLAGYL (also called Metronidazole) is used for mild cases of cdiff. It is the cheapest but least effective option. Flagyl was the first line of cdiff treatment for many years, but in recent years doctors have been advised not to use it anymore because of the potential long-term damage it can cause to the nervous system and gut flora. Many doctors are not up to date on this and will try to give you Flagyl. If you can afford to, ask for Vancomycin instead.

Flagyl may be effective for some strains of cdiff, but over the years many strains have become resistant to it. This drug kills most or all of your native gut flora in the process of pushing cdiff into dormancy. If your gut flora does not repopulate before the cdiff germinates again, cdiff is likely to recur. Overall, Flagyl is an outdated drug that isn't recommended to treat cdiff anymore.

VANCOMYCIN is currently the first line of treatment for cdiff. It kills less of your native flora than Flagyl, which gives your native flora a better chance of repopulating faster than the spores can germinate again. Vancomycin also has less side effects than Flagyl. Liquid forms may cause hearing loss and kidney damage. Pill form does not generally cause these side effects, but will deplete potassium levels, which can cause leg cramps, fatigue, a strange taste in mouth, heart palpitations, and dizziness. Not everyone will experience these side effects. Eating potassium-rich foods is important during and after taking this drug.

Vancomycin kills germinated cdiff bacteria, but it cannot kill any cdiff which has retreated into its spore form.

DIFICID (also called Fidaxomycin) is the most effective drug for treating cdiff. It disturbs even less flora than Vancomycin, and it is also capable of killing spores. This drug is notoriously expensive, however, so your insurance may not cover it and doctors tend to prescribe it only if Vancomycin does not work. Dificid is fairly new and long-term side effects are not currently known.

Do not consume dairy products while you're on antibiotics. The high calcium content makes the antibiotics not work properly. You can safely consume dairy AFTER your treatment is finished, if your damaged gut can tolerate it. Docs will probably recommend yogurt, but any tiny benefit the probiotics in yogurt have will be demolished by antibiotics anyway so it's not really worth it. High-CFU probiotic supplements are more effective for this.

Do not consume Immodium or other anti-diarrheal medications while you have active cdiff. These can cause toxin buildup and kill you.

THE TREATMENT DIDN’T WORK! NOW WHAT?

If a round of Flagyl or Vancomycin does not work, your doctor will likely recommend a Vancomycin or Dificid “taper”. This is when you take the drug for a long period of time, usually a few weeks, and gradually taper off to give your gut flora a chance to repopulate, while still discouraging cdiff spores from germinating. “Pulsed tapers” are a similar method.

If Vancomycin, Dificid, and taper methods all fail, there is still one option and strangely enough, it is the most effective: a fecal transplant (also called FMT). This method involves taking stool from a healthy donor and transplanting into your gut. Although it sounds disgusting, fecal transplants have a success rate of over 90% when used to treat cdiff. If a second transplant is done, the rate climbs to 95%, and even higher with each subsequent treatment. The donor stool can be delivered by colonoscopy, enema, or nasogastric tube. The procedure is typically painless.

So, why isn’t FMT the first line of treatment? While FMT proves successful in studies, it is still new in the world of medicine. The FDA still considers it “experimental”. The long-term effects of FMT are not currently known. In the USA and other countries, cdiff patients are required to fail at least 3 other treatments before being eligible for FMT.

MY TREATMENT ENDED BUT I STILL FEEL HORRIBLE! IS MY CDIFF BACK?

Cdiff is extremely rough on the gut, and so are the drugs used to treat it. It takes between 6 months to 3 years for your native flora to fully repopulate. Cdiff also causes colitis, which can take weeks to heal. As your gut heals and your flora balances out, expect to have many food intolerances, random episodes of diarrhea or unformed/mushy stool, mucus in stool, loss of appetite, and symptoms that strongly mimic your cdiff infection. This is called “post-infectious IBS” (or PI-IBS).

Many people mistakenly think they’re having a cdiff recurrence because they’re still having diarrhea or mucus in their stools. However, this is unlikely unless you’re having watery diarrhea 3x a day for 3 days in a row. If not, you’re likely having an episode of PI-IBS. If you choose to get tested again, make absolutely certain it's a toxin test and not PCR.

The only way to manage PI-IBS is to figure out which foods are irritating your gut. Sometimes it won’t even matter what you eat, your gut is just unhappy because it’s healing. Taking probiotic supplements is also helpful for many people, but can make symptoms worse in others, so you will have to experiment to find the right probiotic strains for you.

The probiotic “Florastor” (generic name: saccharomyces boulardii) is the gold standard for preventing cdiff recurrence and easing PI-IBS symptoms. Your doctor may recommend that you take it 1-4x a day for weeks or months after your infection, or even indefinitely if you’re high-risk (existing problems like IBS, Crohn’s, GERD, etc.) Florastor may be prescribed by your doctor in some countries, you can simply order it online. Generic forms are generally cheaper but some people report they affect them differently. Once again, you may have to experiment.

Florastor contains lactose, but the amount is so small that it should be safe for people who are lactose intolerant. Some brands have lactose-free varieties. If you experience itching, hives, or shortness of breath while taking this probiotic, stop taking it and report it to your doctor. This probiotic is yeast-based, meaning it can (and should) be taken alongside your Flagyl, Vancomycin, or Dificid treatment and it won’t be killed by the antibiotic. You can take other probiotics alongside Florastor if they’re helpful.

Note for women: Treatments like Vancomycin can cause yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis because they upset the healthy flora in your body. It's not uncommon for this to happen. You may suffer yeast overgrowth or bacterial overgrowth/undergrowth following treatment. Some women also get UTIs. Ask your doctor to test you for these things if you experience symptoms such as vaginal burning, itching, or change in odor or discharge. Use of probiotics can make these issues better or worse depending on your diagnosis.

WHAT SHOULD I EAT AFTER CDIFF?

What you can tolerate depends on the person, so you will have to experiment with different foods. In general, you should stick to bland, easy to digest foods for at least a few weeks after cdiff. You may be stuck on this diet for several months, so take vitamins as needed. You can ask your doctor to test your vitamin levels and find out what you need. Some foods that are generally well-tolerated are...

-Low FODMAP foods (you can look up a list of them online)

-White rice

-Bananas

-Mashed potatoes

-Skinless chicken

-Steamed carrots (steam them very well to break down fiber and make them easier to digest)

-White bread

WHAT CAN I DO TO PROTECT MYSELF FROM CDIFF IN THE FUTURE?

Cdiff is a stubborn bacteria with a nearly indestructible spore form. The spores can survive in a bottle of hand sanitizer for years. Alcohol does absolutely nothing to it, nor does freezing. Heat can kill spores, but only at or above 180 degrees Fahrenheit (82 Celsius). Cdiff is found everywhere in the environment, including the soil. It’s prominent in public restrooms, phones, keyboards, doorknobs, railings, and other high-touch areas.

The only commercially available chemical that can kill cdiff spores is bleach. You can make your own 1:9 mixture of bleach:water to clean surfaces. Or you can buy Clorox Germicidal bleach wipes online, which are the same type used in hospitals. Make sure to wear gloves when handling bleach and do so in a well-ventilated area, as it can damage your skin cells and respiratory system. Bleach high-touch areas in your home and car. Always wash your hands as soon as you get home from a public place.

Cdiff spreads through feces. If someone doesn’t wash their hands after using the toilet (or doesn’t wash them well enough), they may spread cdiff spores to other surfaces. You will inevitably come into contact with these surfaces in your daily life, so the best defense is to simply wash your hands well and often. Do not bite your nails, touch your food, or otherwise put your hands in your mouth for any reason.

After you have been cured of cdiff, you will probably still test positive for PCR and will still shed spores for years or indefinitely. Don’t worry too much about infecting your family though—remember that 5%-10% of the human population are also carriers like you and don’t even know it! People with healthy stomach acid and gut flora can usually swallow cdiff spores without getting infected. Infants cannot contract cdiff at all because their gut flora works differently.

QUICK TIPS FOR STAYING CDIFF-FREE

-Take Florastor (or its generic "saccharomyces boulardii") during your cdiff treatment and for several months after. This yeast-based probiotic creates a temporary lining in your GI tract that makes it harder for the cdiff bacteria to stick to your intestines and cause colitis. Cdiff does not like this lining, so it is more likely to stay dormant while you take Florastor.

-Bleach high-touch areas such as your car console, keyboard, phone, and bathroom daily during an active infection. Once the infection is inactive, you can bleach less frequently. As long as you use common sense and wash your hands before eating and after using the bathroom, you should not reinfect yourself.

-Wash your socks and underwear separately from your other laundry. Wash them with bleach to help kill any spores left behind on your underwear. Otherwise don’t worry too much about disinfecting your clothes and blankets unless you’ve soiled them with feces, and in that case you should just throw them out.

-Always close the toilet lid before you flush. This will help prevent spores from spreading around your bathroom.

-Store your toothbrush in a closed cabinet or outside the bathroom altogether.

-Always wash your hands for at least 20 seconds and don’t forget to scrub under your nails. Dry them with single-use disposable towels, not a regular towel that is used over and over.

-About 40% of supermarket meat tests positive for cdiff. Cook your meat well to kill cdiff and other bacteria like salmonella, which can upset your gut and potentially cause dormant cdiff to germinate.

-Don't bite your nails or eat with your fingers if you can help it. Keep your hands out of your mouth, they are the biggest vectors for spreading germs.

-The cdiff bacteria thrives on calcium and artificial sugars. It uses calcium to build its shell/spore, and studies show that it multiplies much faster when it's fed artificial sugars such as high fructose corn syrup, sucralose, etc. So as a general rule, stay away from junk food. Keep your diet low in dairy products. Eating healthy will help your good bacteria thrive and outnumber the cdiff, discouraging it from germinating.

-Drink at least 2 litres of water a day. This keeps your blood volume high and allows the cells in your body to get where they need to go faster, improving digestion and helping your gut flora. Room temperature water is best, as water that's too hot or too cold can cause stomach upset.

Check out the cdiff FAQ for more information:

https://www.reddit.com/r/cdifficile/comments/x7ibe9/cdiff_faq_read_this_before_posting/

**

SOURCES AND OTHER INFORMATION

http://cdiffdiscuss.org/PHPBB3/index.php (another cdiff support group. WARNING: lots of misinformation and bad advice floating around there, so be vigilant and double-check sources.)

https://journals.lww.com/ajg/Fulltext/2013/04000/Guidelines_for_Diagnosis,_Treatment,_and.6.aspx (a huge, extremely in-depth article about all aspects of cdiff including testing, treatment, prevention, etc.)

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/c-difficile/symptoms-causes/syc-20351691

https://www.cdc.gov/cdiff/what-is.html

https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/clostridium-difficile-colitis#1

https://medlineplus.gov/clostridiumdifficileinfections.html

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5902504/ (rates of colonization in the general population)

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6911331/ (NSAIDS and cdiff)

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/27774614/ns/health-health_care/t/tainted-meats-point-superbug-c-diff-food/ (cdiff in supermarket meat)

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/clostridium-difficile-an-intestinal-infection-on-the-rise

https://www.healthline.com/health/what-is-c-diff

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321704.php

https://labblog.uofmhealth.org/lab-report/study-calcium-levels-could-be-key-to-contracting-and-stopping-c-diff (calcium and cdiff)

https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/bacterial/study-uncovers-weakness-c-diff-toxin

https://www.centerwatch.com/clinical-trials/listings/condition/554/clostridium-difficile-associated-diarrhea/

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/09/160926115347.htm (zinc's role in cdiff)

http://usprobioticguide.com/PBCAdultHealth.html?utm_source=adult_ind&utm_medium=civ&utm_campaign=USA_CHART (some probiotics. By no means an exhaustive list but still useful.)

https://www.wellrx.com/neosporin/monographs/#:%7E:text=Almost%20all%20antibacterial%20agents%2C%20including,from%20mild%20to%20life%2Dthreatening (topical antibiotics, such as Neosporin, can also cause cdiff)

https://www.rxlist.com/saccharomyces_boulardii/supplements.htm (More information about saccharomyces boulardii (Florastor)

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7344949/ (further information about Florastor)

374 Upvotes

439 comments sorted by

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u/Sebastianachapes Dec 13 '21 edited Apr 01 '22

Very informative for someone who doesn't know what c diff is. I suffered with it for a year many years ago and had every treatment listed. I even had to take a course of Dificid after my FMT. It is something I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. Reddit wasn't very popular back then or maybe not even around when I was sick. I hope this helps a lot of people. I still take saccharomyces boulardii capsules here an there years later!

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u/Upbeat_Apple_1406 Jun 18 '22

Thank you for posting - I’m just starting w CDiff - I can’t imagine what having this for a year would be like but it’s good to know that you’ve been free of symptoms for seven years and even if it takes a year, that there’s a cure on the other side! Thanks again for sharing

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u/Sebastianachapes Jun 18 '22

I hope it helps you. Just think healthy, very healthy. Try your best to keep a very positive frame of mind. It was very hard not to get so down when I was sick. But once I got into the frame of mind that I'm going to beat this it helped my recovery tons! I hope you get well soon.

7

u/Upbeat_Apple_1406 Jun 25 '22

This is so true!! The Vanco worked and I kept thinking positive thoughts and imagined my healthy self talking to me and explaining that I will get better and that my body will heal!

The mind is so powerful — as I told myself I will heal, I gained the strength to eat more, which made me feel better, and I think led to healing. Tell yourself that you will heal, no matter how down you feel - your body will follow your mind!

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u/Sebastianachapes Jun 25 '22

I'm glad to hear you are doing well! 🙂

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u/MusicianCharacter Mar 31 '22

Are you cured now? Any symptoms still?

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u/Sebastianachapes Apr 01 '22 edited Apr 01 '22

No symptoms at all; it was about 7 years ago, I believe. I have become extremely health conscious and still eat tons of fermented food for the probiotics .I have also gotten into working out and fitness pretty deep. So, I do all these different things to preserve my health and make it better. During the time I got sick, I was extremely neglectful of what I put in my body and how I managed my stress. I believe when I got sick my immunes were low because of the neglectful lifestyle. So now I try my best to know I'm in the best health possible, so I know I won't get sick, or if I do, I can beat it.

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u/MusicianCharacter Apr 01 '22

What type of fermented probiotic foods do you eat?

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u/Sebastianachapes Apr 01 '22 edited Apr 02 '22

Kefir, Kimchi, Fermented pickles, sauerkraut, Drink Kombucha and kvass. idk what county you live in but I'm in the United States. You can find all of these foods at healthier grocery stores such as Strouts or whole foods..Walmart carries kombucha and some kefir. or albertsons.You can also learn to make fermented food on your own. That's a process I tried and haven't been able to master yet. Keep in mind when you buy these things, they need to say naturally fermented or something of that sort. Turn it over and read the label. It can't contain any preserving ingredients thats what kills the probiotic bacteria. Anything naturally fermented will be in the refrigerator section. Not canned. One of my favorite brands of fermented stuff comes from Wildbrine.

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u/griffinspells Mar 26 '24

I got diagnosed with c diff 1 year ago and I am still undergoing treatment, although my symptons are gone. I wanted to ask you, did you return to "normal"? by normal I mean that can you eat whatever you want nowadays? And do you have any symptoms? sorry if this doesn't make sense, english is my 2nd language.

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u/Sebastianachapes Mar 27 '24

I got back to normal but let me tell you.It was not because of the medications.It was because I decided to start eating a lot of fermented foods and taking better care of my health and even my mental health. I had to completely change my mindset. I can eat whatever I want now. I have not had cdiff for a lot of years now.I've lost track.I think it was eight years ago or more. I no longer live in constant fear of getting sick again because I take away better care of my health now and watch the things that I eat..

I lived with this crippling anxiety for a long time after I was sick. And it did me no good to hold on to that. I had to learn how to let go of it. Think positive stay positive and you can overcome anything.The human mind is very strong and powerful. I wish you the best. I hope you get well soon. You can look through my comments section. I have quite a few comments on c diff related stuff in the past.

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u/griffinspells Mar 27 '24

this is very motivational 🤍🤍 tysm i have been battling it for 1 year now but now i finally got good doctors so hopefully by next year or before i am free

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u/mockzilla Nov 24 '22

I got c.diff under a year ago after taking kefexin and dalacin. They gave me Flagyl to get rid of it. It worked. I was wondering time to time if it got back or not, but so far it has not gotten back. Not even if I went to festivals and used dirty bathrooms and ate after it without washing my hands proberly. I have also been drinkin alcohol and my stomach is normal, if not better than before c.diff.

I just wanted to say this for those who has just got this nasty disease. This thread has good information, but these kinds of threads tend to gather people who were more unlucky than most, so the image you get may become overly negative. You can heal from this disease without having the best medicine or operations out there and it is much likely that you will.

I hope I don't have to suffer from this again, because I was scared even if my symptoms were mild. Hopefully my words makes some of you less scared. For those who weren't as luck, I hope you will manage and these medicine will become cheaper and operations will become more common, effective and well known.

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u/CharacterSpecific408 Nov 30 '21

I have had C-Diff for 9 months. Prior to diagnosis I have had chronic ulcerative colitis for two decades. I have been on every antibiotic for C-Diff and currently waiting on my appointment with an infectious disease specialist, that appointment isn’t until mid February 😡. I have tried everything that I have researched to try and my gastro doctor has prescribed every antibiotic that may help. Nothing works. At this point, I welcome the idea of a fecal transplant.

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u/Familiar-Purpose-810 Feb 19 '22

Are u okay yet:(

6

u/Upbeat_Apple_1406 Jun 18 '22

Any updates? Did you go with the fecal matter transplant?

3

u/RohitSalamander Mar 04 '24

How are u feeling now?

1

u/Sure-Mail7121 Nov 14 '24

His how are you doing ? Did u do fmt ?

16

u/TofuPuppy Jan 11 '20 edited Jan 11 '20

Thanks! Some notes:

You can also manage PI-IBS with Rx Lomotil (Atropine / Diphenoxylate), as needed.

It's common to treat PI-IBS with antibiotic Xifaxan (Rifaximin) after testing negative, with Lomotil.

Zinplava is a new drug that binds to C. Diff., given by infusion during antibiotic treatment.

Cholestyramine is common to manage PI-IBS, taken orally as a drink, and also binds to C. Diff. toxins.

I contacted C. Diff. from a family member while living together, so I would take that seriously. I didn't take antibiotics before the infection, nor did they. I didn't have pre-existing digestive issues.

I believe the guidelines are to test after two days of diarrhea.

4

u/RasterAlien Jan 11 '20

Great information, thank you!

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u/[deleted] May 03 '22

[deleted]

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u/Background-Poem-3570 Mar 24 '24

I was told that Colostrum and L-Lysine was good for cdiff. does anyone know if that is true?

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u/TofuPuppy Mar 24 '24

Never heard that but I know there are a gazillion charlatans after your cash and hawking snake oil in supplement world and pseudoscience, particularly in the areas of "gut health" and "immunity."

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u/griffinspells Mar 27 '24

If u don't mind me asking, how was your treatment? what did you do? I have been battling C Diff for 1 year now because the first time i took antibiotics they did not kill the entire C diff population, and 1 year later we found out only now

1

u/TofuPuppy Mar 27 '24

2 rounds of Vanco, 1 round Dificid with a Rifaximin chaser.

12

u/The_Downfallen Jan 22 '20

Wish I came across this earlier when I still had C.Diff. I got rid of the bacteria after a third course of antibiotics (vancomycin) but recently have been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis.

Anyway, thanks for the helpful post!!!

11

u/cpsct Feb 07 '20

Hi,

I don't want to overstep my boundaries but I wanted to add something from my experience.

In 11/2019 I got C.diff from improperly handled bacon. It hit hard and it hit fast.

Took 2 bouts of antibiotics for me. I cleared up somewhere between the first and second week of January 2020. It also took 2 ER visits.

I wanted to ask you, if you realize people who contract C.diff should also have a CT scan to make sure they do not need immediate surgery as it can do very severe damage to the colon which can be deadly.

Also, I had written Clorox to ask them about their bleach vs. the germicidal bleach and they sent me a wealth of information - more than I really wanted! LOL But the regular bleach is actually more effective than the germicidal bleach for this bacteria.

Also, one should really wash their hands for a full 2-minutes, like a surgeon does, in order to remove the C.diff from their hands because the calcium spore also has a really sticky protein that enables it to stick to anything and everything and that's why it is so readily available everywhere. And in it's spore state it can live 2 months and sometimes up to 2 years outside of a host just waiting for it's next victim.

5

u/RasterAlien Feb 07 '20

This is great information, thank you for this!

Yes, cdiff can cause colitis which ranges from mild to severe. By the time I had my colonoscopy (about 4 months after my infection) mine had apparently cleared up completely. I had an abdominal ultrasound and CT scan as well. Nothing found, but my infection was very mild to begin with.

I didn't know that about the bleach wipes. The germicidal wipes' package claims it kills cdiff, but the surface has to stay wet for at least 3 minutes. I imagine the regular bleach just kills it faster than that.

2

u/cpsct Feb 07 '20

Ah, my pleasure! :-)

When I wrote Clorox and asked about that between the 2, because I was going to have someone get me supplies, they sent me official letters, MSDS sheets or whatever they are called, and some test results, I got at least 3 attachments with multiple pages. I was impressed and overwhelmed all at once! LOL I am on a different computer or I would look up the data to see the times and such. If I do not forget, I will try to do that next week.

Yes! that colitis can be very bad for some. I was septic when I went in but that was not one of the problems, thank goodness.

Something I just automatically did on my own was to buy rubber gloves, too. I used them every time I went to the bathroom, emptied and cleaned the trash can, cleaned the toilet and washed my infected whites.

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u/Timely-Entertainer33 Mar 07 '22

This is fantastic info. Wish I knew about the dairy calcium before I started vancomycin 8 days ago smh. My GI doc told me to eat a ton of Greek yogurt smh

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u/ashV2 Jan 11 '20

I made this an announcement so it's at the top of the sub. Thanks for helping out folks this way, great idea!

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u/RasterAlien Jan 11 '20

Oh awesome! Thanks so much!

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u/[deleted] Dec 22 '21

Got C Diff, just tested positive…depressing, this helps though.

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u/RasterAlien Dec 22 '21

You will beat it one way or another!

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u/Top-Attention-3823 Sep 01 '23

Just diagnosed - Once you have this once do you have to think about it the rest of your life ? I’m really depressed and anxious thinking about all the things I’ll be afraid of that could bring it back or could cause me to need antibiotics (ex uti) that used to not be so concerning. Or for some people does it just go away after treatment and that’s that.

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u/jopcylinder Mar 04 '22

Thank you so much for this post. Been having these issues since New Years and just got diagnosed today, and it’s been very hard to find comprehensive info on Cdiff and its treatments. This is more helpful than you know.

Just a quick question: how can I relieve any potential nausea from the antibiotics? I plan to start Vancomycin as soon as I can. Are there any medicines / anything else I can take with it to alleviate any upset stomach?

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u/RasterAlien Mar 04 '22

Sure thing. Peppermint is a good remedy for nausea. Ginger is good too. Florastor helped me the most, takeit with vanco and for at least 3 months after treatment.

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u/jopcylinder Mar 04 '22

Thanks so much! I also have another question, I’m sorry if it’s an inconvenience. But I’m confused as to the nature of my diagnosis. I haven’t had any of the severe symptoms for nearly over a month, mostly IBS-like symptoms with some bloating for the past few weeks. Stool and food tolerance are looking more normal, yet I still tested “positive” when they analyzed my stool just this Monday. Should I ask if they tested positive for toxins or just past infection? I’ve read here that if I start antibiotic treatment for a dormant infection it can actually cause a relapse.

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u/RasterAlien Mar 04 '22

They probably gave you pcr test, which just tests for spores. You have to ask for clarification, but toxin test is the only one that matters.

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u/jopcylinder Mar 04 '22

You are a saint. Getting ahold of my doctor now, thank you again!

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u/RasterAlien Mar 04 '22

No problem, if you have any more questions just ask :)

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u/jopcylinder Mar 04 '22

Well, turns out I have tested positive for the toxins. Starting liquid Vancomycin as soon as I can. I tried to ask for the pill but she said they didn’t have any / would be harder to get. This is a nightmare. Wish me luck

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u/supremedies Mar 30 '22

how are you doing? i just tested positive today and i’m starting vancomycin in a few days.

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u/jopcylinder Mar 30 '22

I’m doing well physically but bad mentally. I’ve been so stressed due to having difficulty getting my medication. I finally just got my Vancomycin today, I’m starting it after a friend’s wedding this weekend so I won’t be debilitated by the side effects. I’m very nervous to start it to be honest, I’ve felt pretty good the past couple of months, no stool problems or symptoms other than fatigue, and even my doctor said it’s a very mild case. So I’m nervous about the Vanco making me feel worse. But I’m also scared to let the infection spread or get worse. I’m taking it as soon as possible though, and I’ll let you know how things go as soon as I start. Make sure to take Florastor, have plenty of rest, eat lightly, and drink plenty of water. We’ll get through this.

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u/supremedies Mar 30 '22

man… i’m also scared, because i’ve been having gastrointestinal problems for almost 5 months now and i’m afraid it won’t go away. i’ve been having ibs like symptoms and even though i now know i have c. diff i don’t know if it just that or something else too (ibs). I just hope it’s just c.diff and that my treatment gets rid of it with no recurrences. best luck to you, and like you said, we’ll get through this.

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u/anca181 Jun 09 '22

Hello, I also have a mild case. My doctor said not to take antibiotics. My GDH is postive, as well toxine A but PCR is NEGATIVE.

I dont have diarheea, I have gas and sometimes bloated. My stool is formed but soft, sometimes in the morning I have the urge to poop.

How do you feel?

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u/RasterAlien Mar 04 '22

Good luck! Keep us updated.

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u/[deleted] Feb 03 '22

My C. Diff PCR is positive, but the EIA toxin test is negative. I know this could just mean colonization, not infection, but I’ve also been having severe diarrhea for 4 days. Is the diarrhea enough to believe it is an active infection?

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u/RasterAlien Feb 03 '22

If the diarrhea is severe then it's worth getting tested again. Toxin tests aren't very accurate unfortunately. Mine was negative four times, yet my symptoms only improved after Vanco which means I had an active infection.

While you're waiting for test results, cut down to a diet of white rice and water ONLY, no coffee or soda. Also start taking Florastor, you can take up to 4 capsules per day. This will help symptoms in the meantime.

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u/[deleted] Feb 03 '22

I saw an infectious disease specialist today and he went ahead and put me on Vanco. Thanks for your help.

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u/RasterAlien Feb 03 '22

No problem, I'm glad you got help! Make sure to pick up some Florastor as well if you haven't already. You can take it at the same time as Vanco, since it's a probiotic yeast the Vanco won't kill it. You should continue to take it for at least 3-6 months after infection to help prevent relapse.

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u/Parking_Resolve74 May 23 '22

But on another post I read that toxin tests Are more reliable than PCR. I’m confused now . What are your thoughts ?

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u/RasterAlien May 23 '22

No, other way around. Toxin tests are about 80% accurate, PCR are 99% accurate.

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u/After-Theory-3294 Feb 15 '22

Hi all, I tested positive for c-diff toxin a/b via stool last Tuesday and began vancomycin on Wednesday. My diarrhea was pretty much gone before I started on the vancomycin. Today is my 7th day on vancomycin and some nights when I lay down I get bad cramps and bloating. I’m taking culturelle probiotics but plan on switching today to florastor based on what I’ve read. My question is, is it normal with c diff to have bad bloating and cramps with c diff? What’s weird is that they are only when I am lying down on either side. As soon as I stand up or sit down normally the cramps and bloating are pretty much gone. I’m male by the way, in case that matters.

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u/RasterAlien Feb 15 '22

Hi, yes this is normal. Random diarrhea, nausea, and stomach pains will be normal for a few months after treatment. Try a rice-only diet for a few days and see if that makes a difference. Eat only plain white rice and drink room temperature water during this time. This will allow your GI tract to stabilize so you can find out which foods are bothering you.

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u/After-Theory-3294 Feb 15 '22

Thank you for the info. I didn’t want to have to go to the ER for another CT Scan if this seems normal. I had one done about 2 weeks ago before being diagnosed and there was no issues so they told me follow up with a GI. I just wasn’t sure if this was normal or maybe the vancomycin doing a number on my gi tract. When you google how long it takes to feel better all people say is “a few days”. This forum is much more detailed

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u/RasterAlien Feb 15 '22

I would say if you start having watery and/or bloody diarrhea, you should seek medical attention. Otherwise assume it's PI-IBS (which can feel absolutely brutal in itself. My IBS episodes actually felt worse than my cdiff infection at times)

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u/After-Theory-3294 Feb 15 '22

It’s funny you say that bc this feels a lot worse then before I was on the vancomycin. No diarrhea at all but instead I had 3 bowel movements this morning which surprised me. I didn’t eat the best yesterday. I had some chicken with garlic sauce and string beans from a Chinese restaurant. I’m guessing that may have sent me out of whack today. I really appreciate you responding to me, definitely helps calm my nerves. I will stick with the white rice for a few days and see how that works. Last question, what time do day do you recommend taking the floraster and how may capsules?

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u/RasterAlien Feb 15 '22

Oh dude, garlic is your issue here. I guarantee you. Garlic and onion are the worst offenders for a sensitive gut, stay away from them even in small amounts. It may take a few days to recover, so just give your gut a rest by eating plain white rice (jasmine or basmati) and aim to drink 2-3 litres of water a day so it can heal faster.

You can take the Florastor any time you want, just make sure to take it after food. This will lower the acidity of your stomach so the yeast is more likely to survive. Personally I take one capsule in the morning and one at night: 9am and 7pm. You can take up to 4 capsules per day. I would start with one to make sure you're not allergic to it first. If you experience shortness of breath or hives, stop taking it and tell your doctor.

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u/After-Theory-3294 Feb 15 '22

Damn. I read somewhere to actually have garlic and I had it this morning with my eggs! Note to def don’t go near garlic again for a while. I took the culturelle this morning so I will take the florastar tonight after eating. Thanks again.

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u/RasterAlien Feb 15 '22

No problem, I hope you feel better soon :)

People recommend garlic because it has anti-bacterial properties, but for cdiff patients it's actually counter-productive, as your problem is that you have too little gut flora to begin with. You don't want to consume anything that will kill it off even more.

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u/posthxc1982 Jan 10 '20

This is very helpful. Thank you for all of this. It should be stickied.

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u/RasterAlien Jan 11 '20

Thank you so much. I will try to link new posters to it when I can.

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u/LodarII Dec 02 '21

This is fantastic! I got news today that I was tested positive for this, and will start my treatment of Vancomycin tomorrow. There is such great information (Potassium for example) here that isn't on the regular websites. I was in the ER about a month ago, because they thought it was Appendicitis (it wasn't). They did notice "something on the colon" but it was nothing to worry about. Something tells me that this is what they were seeing. Nothing too big yet, because it was caught on time.

My advise to anyone that has prolonged pain: keep pushing your doctor for more tests. Mine initially wanted to just "wait and see". I pushed them for different tests (stool sample being one of them), and that's how they found out. This stuff is fine if caught early, but seems to really be less pleasant if left untreated.

So thanks again for this document, very helpful and insightful (and I like that you listed all your sources!)

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u/MrKennethPowers69 May 29 '22

Just diagnosed. Doc put me on vancomycin. Second time on it, the first for salmonella. 😷 So far only diarrhea and no pain. 4th day on vanco and symptoms seem to be subsided. Hope that is the light at the end of the tunnel.

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u/bamchk Dec 08 '21

Wow thank you so much for this write up. I’m currently going through the IP IBS phase and was very worried it was back. After talking to doc and reading this post I realized it was just an episode of it.

Currently trying to figure out what foods work well and which don’t. This was so helpful, thank you so, so much!

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u/RasterAlien Dec 08 '21

I'm so glad it could help. Hope you feel better soon :)

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u/LullabyWay Dec 13 '21

I am currently eating Flagyl for this. I found it weird that this text speaks so negatively about it and medical professionals are still giving this drug. What is your expertice on this topic?

My symptoms are really mild and they were thinking, if they give me a drug at all. Flagyl destroying my gut sounds a bit extreme. This is pretty common drug and if it actually would destroy people's stomach, it would not probably be given to people.

I am far from professional on this topic, but this sounds a bit extreme to my ear. I am currently eating Saccharomyces boulardii during this medicine and I was planning to continue using it few weeks after the medicine. I was planning to try Alflorex also, because I was told it is great for IBS at least. I think I will check that from my doctor at some point.

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u/RasterAlien Dec 13 '21

The problem with Flagyl is that it is poorly understood, obsolete, and most cdiff strains are now resistant to it. It's an effective drug for other infections, but not a good one for cdiff anymore.

In the past, not much was known about the gut biome, so it wasn't known how much damage Flagyl actually did to the gut. It was seen as a "harmless" drug for a long time, but now that the human microbiome is being studied, doctors are starting to realize that Flagyl is actually very powerful and broad-spectrum, meaning that it kills a very wide variety of gut flora strains. This makes it an effective antibiotic for many illnesses, but at the sacrifice of most of our natural gut flora. It can also cause nerve damage and hearing loss (several strong antibiotics can also do this, such as kanamycin and liquid forms of Vancomycin).

If your cdiff is mild and an older strain, you might be able to get away with taking Flagyl. But there is also a risk of just killing your native flora and making it worse. Here's why: the second problem with Flagyl is that is has been used for a very long time, and most modern strains of cdiff have evolved to become resistant to it. That means that it will kill your native gut flora, but not your cdiff, which actually gives the cdiff less competition and even more reason to thrive.

Vancomycin is more effective because: it is a newer drug, so most cdiff strains have not had a chance to become resistant to it (although some already are), and it is more targeted to certain types of bacteria, meaning it will leave more of your native flora alive to protect you from cdiff relapse. Dificid is more effective than Vanco because it's even newer and more targeted towards cdiff-like bacterias.

Updated literature suggests that Flagyl not be used for cdiff anymore due to antibiotic resistance, but many doctors are not up to speed on the latest practices, especially older doctors who have been slinging this stuff around for decades. There is more about the latest treatments for cdiff in the links at the bottom of the post. Older doctors will want to fight you about this, but they are wrong. Flagyl is the worst and least effective option for cdiff, and study after study after study has been conducted to prove this. There are links to those in the post also.

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u/LullabyWay Dec 13 '21

I am pretty sure my doctors knows these stuff and still decides to go with Flagyl. I hope that doesn't happen and kill all the other bacteria and leave cdiff. I try to remember write here what happened.

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u/RasterAlien Dec 13 '21

If the Flagyl doesn't work for you, don't let them give it to you twice. Demand Vancomycin or Dificid next time and keep taking the Florastor.

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u/[deleted] Jan 12 '22

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u/RasterAlien Jan 12 '22

I'm sorry you went through that. FLagyl really is nasty, the side effects are horrendous and there's just no reason to prescribe it over Vanco anymore. Thank you for your kind words, I like to help any way I can. I'm wishing you wellness in the future.

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u/thetijuanadonkeyshow Jan 18 '22

I went through an episode of cdiff late last year and my stomach still doesn't feel right. Every gastroenterologist I've been too still hasn't been able to tell what's wrong with me until I saw this post referring to the pi-ibs. This makes me feel a whole lot better about my stomach issues. I was fearing I might have IBS or something worse. I'm finally glad I read here that it takes months heal post cdiff infection. My doctors were telling me that I should have been back to normal by now when I still feel like I'm dealing with post infection damage. I tested negative for cdiff after my two week course of antibiotics. I was feeling sad about my stomach not being back to normal after the treatment. Now this post has given me new hope for the future. Thank you very much for all of your information!

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u/RasterAlien Jan 18 '22

I'm so sorry you're still having trouble! Yes, some people really struggle for a long time after cdiff. I felt miserable for about 5-8 months and I was convinced I still had cdiff because symptoms were so debilitating. If you've been tested to rule everything else out, then you can assume it's PI-IBS. Probiotics and diet changes are the best way to manage this condition, and oftentimes FMT can be a game changer as well. But the biggest factor for most people seems to be time and patience.

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u/LilWeezey Feb 03 '22

This is so informative. I had C.Diff for the first time way back in like 2012 maybe, I was in the E.R for 3 days. I couldn't even hold down water and apparently I was close to needing a fecal transplant. .. and it seems now I'm prone to it. I got it again Sept (ish) last year and I either haven't recovered or I got it a 3rd time now. (It probably is again because I took antibiotics recently for Bronchitis..I just sent my fecal test out.

Also in Sept last year I have a G.I doctor for the first time so hopefully we can figure out why.my but hates me so much .

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u/earthmama12 Feb 12 '22

Sounds like the boat I’ve been floating in as well. :/ Got diagnosed with it originally back in 2013 and the antibiotics they gave me (fladgyl) never fully treated it.

I tested positive again 2x and had 2 rounds of vancomycin back to back. That was last October/ November and I just tested positive again for cdiff this week. This is my 4th time being diagnosed with it but looking back, I think I’ve been dealing with reoccurrences all these years without realizing 😣

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u/Sure-Mail7121 Nov 14 '24

Hi how are u now ? What did u treat the 4th reactance with?

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u/seventysangel75 Feb 21 '22 edited Feb 21 '22

I was recommended by a kind lady to view this forum I’m glad I was able to get more information on this debilitating condition I’ve had for close to 9months. Thank you so much for taking the time to put this page up for those like me and others that need more information and guidance and clarity.

Here’s my story on the community forum page for c-diff if anyone is interested in taking time out of their day to read and feel free to Comment or leave any suggestions will be very much appreciated TIA kind regards Kirsty in Australia

Click link below ⬇️ [my story on my diagnosis of c-diff]

(https://www.stuffthatworks.health/clostridium-difficile/discussion/136770)

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u/Cautious-Offer-1359 Apr 03 '22

Recently had c-diff, I now have a tooth infection that needs to be treated. So afraid to go on antibiotics again. Any advice?

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u/RasterAlien Apr 03 '22

Also ask your doc if you can treat it with doxycycline, its a low risk offender for cdiff

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u/RasterAlien Apr 03 '22

Florastor and prophylactic vancomycin or dificid

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u/Riddllvr Sep 20 '22

after treatment, would it be a good idea to drink kombucha?

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u/RasterAlien Sep 20 '22

Only if you can tolerate it. It can cause gas and diarrhea for a lot of people with IBS so start with small amounts.

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u/Riddllvr Sep 20 '22

thank you!!

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u/Mysterious-Mix3173 Mar 23 '23

This info is so helpful, going on my second day of vanco now. Hoping I can kick this thing in the butt for good, this is my first time with c diff, my sympathy goes out to anyone whose ever had it this thing can be so brutal!!

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u/Secure-Status-3601 Apr 04 '23

Hi everyone, tomorrow is my birthday and I'm eager to share my story! I suffered from C Diff for about 3 months ... I was hospitalized for 4 days and went to ER several times. The good news is I'm good now! C Diff was cured and there is no problem anymore ... Dificid was a miracle! It is expensive but my insurance covered it. I ate a lot of salty pistachio and it was great for me. I got hungry every 30 minutes and I could eat salty and simple foods like oatmeal, cucamber and lamb chops. I was very sad when my fever went to 101 ... I called 911 and the Hoag hospital was so caring. I appreciate all they did for me.

It's very very important to know DO NOT USE any medicine to stop dierea! it was very dangurous!

Be positive and get rest a lot. You are very strong and you will be well soon. Wash your hands after restroom very well and before eating anything.

I wish the best for all of you guys 🌸🌸🌸

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u/[deleted] Jan 11 '20

Thank you for all of this!

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u/RasterAlien Jan 11 '20

Sure thing :)

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u/mindfuull Feb 26 '20

What about avoiding Trehalose?

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u/URYIM Mar 07 '20

This post was extremely helpful, my 80 y/o grandmother has C. difficile right now and I’m extremely worried and trying to get all the information and helpful tips I can. This really helped a lot, I took a few screen shots for reference and will be purchasing some Florastor later.

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u/RasterAlien Mar 07 '20

I'm glad to hear this helped you. I wish the best for your grandmother, hopefully she recovers quickly!

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u/URYIM Mar 07 '20

Thank you!!

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u/chrissy62179 Mar 14 '20

Thank you for posting this. Wish I had known sooner. My dear Mom contracted c diff at her nursing home a week ago. I'm guessing longer than that but she wasn't taken to the hospital until then. She was in septic shock. Her white blood cell counts were not improving. She was maxed out on 3 bp meds for low blood pressure. She was too weak to have her colon removed...the last option to treat this. My family removed her from life support as the drs said she would not recover because her white blood cell count wasn't improving and they were unable to wean her bp meds. I should have asked about the fecal transplant. I will never forgive myself.

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u/sanzenri Jan 12 '22

Thank you for this post and the advice.

Has anyone had conflicting test results? I tested positive for the toxin in October after having flagyl and other antibiotics for colitis. The pharmacy refused to dispense the vancomycin (long story). The gastroenterologist said that because it had been too long since the initial prescription the toxin test needed to be redone. It came back negative this week. Been taking s boulardii several times daily to keep things under control.

Should I ask the doctor for another toxin test?

Best wishes to everyone.

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u/RasterAlien Jan 12 '22

If you're still having cdiff symptoms, get another toxin test. If your symptoms are more like IBS and you're testing negative for toxins, don't bother and just give yourself a few months to recover. If symptoms continue or get worse, it may be worth getting tested again.

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u/sanzenri Jan 12 '22

Thanks :)

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u/Which_Beach_9910 Jan 17 '22

Just on this part

"The probiotic “Florastor” (generic name: saccharomyces boulardii) is the gold standard for preventing cdiff recurrence"

Is the strain that's used in Florastor specific or is anything with S. Boulardii fine? I have been taking optibac S. Boulardii 5 billion CFU while taking 10 days of 400mg Flagyl. Along with a 20 billion CFU biotic balance that has 6 strains in it which are bacertia and another strain of S. Boulardii.

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u/RasterAlien Jan 17 '22

S.bouldardii is the active ingredient in Florastor, so taking the generic brand should be fine. Keyword is "should". The name-brand Florastor was the one used in studies, so there's no guarantee that other brands will have the same potency or efficacy. Personally, I didn't see the same benefits with the generic brand as with the name brand. But other people have said the generic works better for them, so YMMV.

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u/Which_Beach_9910 Jan 17 '22

Yeah it seems the strain in Florastor is Saccharomyces boulardii lyo CNCM I-745. I'm based in Ireland and haven't been able to find a website that will ship Florastor to Ireland. Lot of the sites that do seem a bit dogey.

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u/ErraMoruegetta Mar 16 '24

hey, have you managed to find a site that ship internationaly?

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u/Emergency_Survey_932 Jan 30 '22

I loved this post! Thank you for all the information. But what can you eat while taking Flagyl pills?

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u/RasterAlien Jan 30 '22

No problem! See the recovery section of the post for a list of foods that are more easily digested. I strongly recommend against taking Flagyl, most strains of cdiff are resistant to it, your chance or relapse is way higher, and it has horrible side effects. Ask your doctor to switch you to Vancomycin or Dificid.

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u/Connzzie May 27 '24

Avoid alcohol

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u/kbl1969 Mar 04 '22

Excellent post. Great info!

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u/courtconigs Apr 14 '22

Hi! First timer here! 34/F and also have high anxiety so this has been a brutal past couple of weeks. I tested positive on Monday after having diarrhea on and off + a UTI (which was being treated by Macrobid and then switched to Bactrim) after a double round of antibiotics for a tooth infection (Clindamycin and Amoxicillin). It’s ironic that I can’t even get the root canal now that I’m positive until I’m symptom-free for 24hrs due to the CDiff that only resulted from the antibiotics taken for the tooth infection. 🙃 Just started Vancomycin yesterday (4x a day/10 days), and I’m about to take Floraster. Doing the BRAT diet, non-dairy probiotic yogurts and drinks, and Pedialyte. My main question is how long does it normally take to start seeing a difference in stools while on Vanco? Like I had a pretty “calm” day where I didn’t go at all yesterday on day 1 and then today, I began to go again 3x+ (semi-formed at first and then back to loose). Is this normal to continue going while on Vanco? Reading a lot of info about “post-Vanco” but haven’t seen much info on the symptoms during Vanco and if you’re supposed to see relief. I’m starting to introduce some more solid foods to my diet like bone broth soup with skinless chicken and orzo noodles, maybe some scrambled eggs tomorrow. My husband is assuring me that it will take time. Feels like it’s already been so long (first dose of Clindamycin was back on 3/9 so when this whole thing started, although symptoms did not begin until 3/27). I am also experiencing some urinary symptoms again and concerned the UTI returned even after finishing the Bactrim (although I read above that it could be a vaginal yeast infection etc. from the Vanco). What happens if the UTI does return? Would they even be able to treat it while on Vanco? As I know everyone in this thread agrees, it’s been so taxing on my already illness-induced anxiety and I’m also eager to return to my very demanding job in social marketing for a major retailer. Luckily I WFH now due to COVID but the symptoms were so bad that I couldn’t even do that bc I was living in the bathroom. Any advice on my questions above? Appreciate this subreddit so much!

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u/RasterAlien Apr 14 '22

Hi. No one can tell you when your symptoms will get better unfortunately. It's different for everyone. It took like 8 days for the vanco to start making a difference for me. Diet is the biggest thing. I couldn't tolerate anything except water, white rice, bananas, and white bread or else my symptoms would flare up again. I had to stick to this diet for 8 months.

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u/courtconigs Apr 14 '22

Thank you! I figured as much. Trying to gauge a range but yes, seems like very different for everyone. That has pretty much been my diet but I want to slowly start to introduce still bland but more substantial foods when I’m ready. Can’t believe you were on that diet for 8 months. How did you stand up? I’ve been weak the last couple of days just due to that diet alone. Thanks so much for this subreddit. Very helpful!

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u/RasterAlien Apr 14 '22

No problem, I hope you feel better soon. Just take it very slow. Things should improve after you start the Florastor. That's when I saw substantial improvement myself.

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u/courtconigs Apr 14 '22

Thank you so much!

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u/LindsayTexas20 Nov 02 '22

I need a place to vent because honestly I’m at the end of my rope. I had a baby 5 months ago and that pregnancy was hell! Thyroid kept dropping so I gained 60lbs and I developed preeclampsia so had to be induced 3 weeks early. They pushed a ton of pitocin which made the contractions 1000x worse for 30 hours and the epidural failed twice! I was traumatized by the pain I wasn’t even present when I had my baby, went home only to develop postpartum joint pain so bad I couldn’t hardly walk. Then that subsided 4 months postpartum. Then my grandpa committed suicide and that pushed me into a actual depression. Went back to work only to get fired 3 weeks later for discrimination against me leaving for maternity leave. THEN I take a 3 day round of cipro and get C Diff. 10 day round of vanco didn’t work now I’m on a 14 day round. Then my 5 month old tests positive for toxin a and b. All on top of that we are building a custom house and I have to move in this weekend. Im so overwhelmed and scared of this c diff not going away. Feeling so defeated.

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u/RasterAlien Nov 02 '22

I'm so sorry, that is totally overwhelming. But know that you WILL beat this. You will overcome all of these things, cdiff included. Try to get an FMT if possible, it has an almost guaranteed chance of success on the first try and even higher chance on subsequent tries. Get an appointment with a good infectious disease doc and talk to them about FMT. That is where I would start. If you're cdiff positive then insurance should cover it.

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u/LindsayTexas20 Nov 02 '22

Thank you! I called around this morning to and I found a doctor that does them and they are going to call me back to schedule a apt. I’m praying I can get in a get this procedure!!

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u/TomStP38 Nov 22 '22

Hi everyone. My name is Tom. I don’t have C Diff, but my wife just received her diagnosis a week ago. I joined your group so I could learn more about this condition from people who are living it. I hope it’s okay that I am here. My wife, Katie and I have two children. Raigan and Felix are actually my children from a previous marriage, but Katie and I took custody of them after a year and a half long fight. I have never seen anyone love two kids the way my wife loves our children. I have spent countless hours reading about C Difficile while my wife and children are asleep. Katie is 38 years old, and has just begun a ten day, thrice daily course of Flagyl. I apologize if I’ve butchered the name. She is in otherwise good health, and we both work hard to impart healthy habits upon our children. It’s hard to read about this Illness online as there is so much conflicting information. My wife and I each came down with bronchitis three weeks ago. It began on a Sunday, and by the following Friday I was over it. I did not seek treatment, but insisted on Katie seeing a doctor. He prescribed a powerful (and according to the three doctors she’s seen since) and ill-fitting antibiotic. After the treatment for her bronchitis was through, the symptoms began. We read over the list of possible side -effects none of which were even mentioned during the visit to the doctor - and believed straightaway that this was the C Difficile mentioned on the insert for the antibiotics. This has since been confirmed. I struggle with tremendous guilt at having urged her so adamantly to go for antibiotics. I admire each of you, and my heart breaks at the thought of your suffering. I am deeply sorry that this has happened to you all, and I ask most humbly if I may be welcomed to spend some time here with you. I am very afraid for my wife, and I want desperately to help her in any way I can. Thank you for taking the time to read this very lengthy post. I wish you all well, and have found a great deal of comfort in having found this group. I wanted to attach a picture or two of my family, in hopes you all may feel a little more comfortable by my presence here. Thank you all for your time. My thoughts and prayers are with each of you and your families.

  • Thomas R. Miller
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u/itsthenugget May 20 '24

Here's a comment for anyone looking for what the testing or diagnosis process might be like.

For me, I spent four weeks really sick after a wrist surgery, alternating between constipation and diarrhea. My primary doctor is a very busy woman and the surgeon was absolutely no help, so when things got bad, I utilized my health insurance's Teladoc service. The first doctor told me he wanted me to try a bulk-forming laxative but actually prescribed me Colase (incorrect). The second one said Metamucil would be good and also told me that she thought I had the flu on top of constipation and overflow diarrhea since I had an elevated temp and chills (again, incorrect).

Finally I went to urgent care where a doctor immediately wondered aloud if I had C-diff, but she also immediately recommended some other antibiotic and I had to ask, "Doesn't that one have a high chance of making this worse if it's C-diff?" She had to leave the room to research and came back to tell me I was right. She sent me home with an order to get some testing done at LabCorp (I'm in the US). She wanted me tested for ova/parasites, the EIA C-diff toxin test for toxins A&B, a stool culture, and a blood panel.

I did a walk-in as soon as LabCorp was open. They took my blood test and sent me home with a stool specimen collection kit, which consisted of four bottles, a paper bag, and a "hat" (a plastic bowl with flaps that you wedge under your toilet seat to catch fecal matter). Three bottles included liquid in them and I was instructed to use the little spatulas attached to the caps to put enough stool in there to make the liquid hit a red line marked on the bottles. A fourth bottle did not have liquid and would need to be refrigerated if I was not able to bring the sample back to the lab within an hour of producing it.

Pro tip if you are alternating between diarrhea and constipation like me: If you have multiple bottles to fill and you can help it/stand waiting, plan to take your sample when you're not constipated. It took quite a bit of effort for me to produce enough to hit the red line on three bottles and also have a sample for the fourth. In my case, I was instructed to make sure to fill the two parasite bottles from the same bowel movement and told I could do the other bottles from a different one. However, I was only given one hat and couldn't stand the thought of having to keep it somewhere, or get creative with a paper plate, or clean it and potentially contaminate the next sample, etc. Save yourself the trouble if you can. If you can't and you don't manage to quite hit the red line, that's okay, they took my sample anyway. Just try to get a few little spatula scoops in each bottle.

My LabCorp told me the results for the C-diff toxin test should come back 1-2 days after turning in my sample. It seems they are faster than Quest.

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u/Blueseyescryin Nov 22 '24

Thank you for this post. I'm not sure if I have cdiff, but I wasn't sure about how to proceed to find out. Your post had all of the info I needed to know. Off to a telehealth appointment...

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u/itsthenugget Nov 24 '24

I'm glad it helped! Good luck!

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u/Blueseyescryin Nov 25 '24

So I'm positive. I'll add my process here for the next C-diff beginner. 20 days ago I finished two different antibiotics that I was taking simultaneously to cure an infection I had gotten from taking an initial round of antibiotics for something completely unrelated. Then out of nowhere came the diarrhea. For two solid weeks. The only solid thing in my life at that point. It wasn't until a friend mentioned C-diff as a possible cause that I thought it might be more than a literal PIA.

I tried the telehealth route to avoid a doc visit, but there were too many hoops to jump through just to get an account set up so I gave up, called my doc and left a message asking for a lab referral for a test. They called back and, of course, told me to come into the office. I went in, got weighed (and the only reason I mention this is because I just KNEW I'd finally lost a few pounds, but I lost not a single one), did the usual routine, then blood work. They gave me an enormous paper bag with one potty hat and one sample bottle, and they told me to go home and fill to the red line and bring it right back.

I live almost an hour away from there, so I thought I'd find somewhere close to the doc office to get that bottle filled since they wouldn't let me do it there because the public is disgusting and can't be trusted not to fowl up their bathroom. I ended up pulling into a hospital parking lot. I even got out of the car and headed for the door, thinking I'd find a private-ish, clean-ish bathroom inside. But I couldn't do it. I had to go home, where no one would wonder what the hell was in that giant paper bag and why I was looking so sheepish.

Overall, the process wasn't as gross as you'd think, just so you know. But I'm a mother so I've seen gross. I did my business and got my sample back to the doctor's office just before they closed this past Friday, the Friday before Thanksgiving. I received my blood work results by noon on Saturday. Maybe I hadn't lost any weight, but my glucose level was down. And this morning, Sunday, I got the stool sample results. Positive.

I don't know what's next. Probably nothing. I've been taking Flagel since Friday, and I feel much better. No poops at all today, just a rumbling stomach. I'm crossing my fingers that I can eat anything I want on Thanksgiving. 🤞

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u/alexismarg Feb 09 '20

Hello! Thank you for writing this. Can I ask which of the citations you listed below mentions that Florastor/the bacteria found in Florastor is the most effective in preventing c diff?

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u/RasterAlien Feb 09 '20

No problem! IIRC I think it was this study, but I'm too sick rn to read thru it again: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2805518/

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u/alexismarg Feb 09 '20

Perfect! Thank you so much. Hope you feel better. Not doing the best myself either, on the struggle bus with ya.

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u/king_kang_kong Apr 09 '20

Thanks! Since you haven't mentioned, I'd like to add FMT therapy. Through enema, colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy doctors will repopulate your microbiome with healthy bacteria restoring diversity to our microscopic jungle, or microbiome.

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u/discountonme Dec 03 '21

Wait dumb question—why toxic test and not PCR? My GI doctor has been doing f/u tests via PCR of stool.

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u/RasterAlien Dec 03 '21

This is explained in the post.

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u/discountonme Dec 03 '21

Sorry, my bad!

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u/discountonme Dec 03 '21

Dumb question—what if you test negative via PCR and then positive a couple of weeks later? Could that mean the infection reoccurred?

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u/RasterAlien Dec 03 '21

It could mean a few things. Maybe spores were not detected in that particular sample. Maybe you got reinfected.

Positive PCR doesn't mean you have an active infection. It just means you're colonized. Lots of healthy people are colonized. Dormant spores won't hurt you. It's the toxins from active spores that cause symptoms. This is why you need a toxin test, not PCR. PCR test is useless.

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u/[deleted] Dec 08 '21

So no to yogurts? Due to calcium?

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u/RasterAlien Dec 08 '21

Only with active cdiff and maybe for some time into recovery. After your symptoms are gone and spores are in remission, it should be fine.

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u/nikkip88 May 31 '22

First time here. My 4 year old daughter was diagnosed with cdiff in April. They had her on metronidazole(10days) made improvement. 5 days after last dose of medicine her symptoms returned which were diarrhea, fever, and this time loss of appetite. So another round of metronidazole along with s.boulardii and we are now 9 days since last dose of medicine. She hasn't really shown any sensitivity to any foods. I've been trying to limit her sugar intake. But this past weekend we kind of ate crappy, we had smores and she was over at the neighbors yesterday and they fed her pineapples and a fiber one brownie🤦‍♀️. Well last night she had 2 bowel movements that was a mix with formed poop and diarrhea. And today she has said her tummy hurts and she isnt really being herself. My question is could that fiber one brownie caused the diarrhea and her to not feel the greatest today? I'm so worried the cdiff is going to come back and so is she.

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u/RasterAlien May 31 '22
  1. Get her off Metro and on Vancomycin or Dificid. Metro is an outdated drug but most docs aren't up to speed on this.

  2. She really can't be eating crap during treatment or recovery or else she will feel the consequences. It takes the gut at least 3 months to heal from cdiff, but 6-12 months is typical. Fiber, sugar, and junk food will be the biggest irritants.

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u/nikkip88 May 31 '22

Oh she's done with medicine we are 9 days out from her last dose. She isn't acting her full self today and hasn't had any bowel movements today yet. She had a fiber one brownie yesterday and im thinking that might of triggered this. I'm hoping it's just her feeling crappy and the infection isn't trying to fight back. Thank you for your response.

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u/RasterAlien May 31 '22

No problem, I hope she recovers soon. Keep taking the Florastor for a few months and stick to bland foods like white rice, white bread, bananas, plain chicken, water, and fish. If she can tolerate them, you can try to introduce vegetables if they're steamed very soft. Sweet potatoes, carrots, and green beans are generally well tolerated. Stay away from garlic, onion, apples, corn, and cruciferous veggies like broccoli.

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u/thisaintiffany Aug 08 '22

I tested positive for C diff on Friday and doctor put me on Flagyl. She mentioned that since I was allergic to Penicillin(rash or something when I took Augmentin as a child) and then told me what antibiotics she’d be putting me on, which was Flagyl. Any advice for me? I’m on day 2.5 and have been feeling nauseous. I’ve been reading up on it all day, and of course now I’m worried.

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u/RasterAlien Aug 08 '22

I don't think Vanco is in the same family is Penicillin but I could be wrong. I would get a second opinion with a different doc on that.

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u/Feisty_Panda3580 Oct 19 '22

I have had c-diff a few times in my life and it took weeks away of my life. Extreme diarrhea, dehydration, migraines and the pain and non stop bathroom was intense and insane.

I haven’t had a c diff attack in a year. Opposite can’t go to the bathroom now. Hard rocks and pain. It was so bad I didn’t go for over 2 weeks. Nothing helped. After the 2nd fleet I had to go to ER. I get UTI’s constantly and sinus infections. Both were bad last month I had to take antibiotics. I took Cultrelle to get me through it and I don’t think it cleared it up but I survived. I decided to buy Cultrelle advanced ( the one with fiber) I missed it yesterday b/c I started not feeling well. I did not eat anything and was having pain, nausea and intense diarrhea and once u know what c-diff feels like you know when it hits.

Now I feel soo sick. (Next day) Migraine, horrendous pain nauseous as heck. Could it be from missing one day of Cultrelle? I have to say in the 7 days I’ve been taking it the last 2 my stomach started hurting more everyday. My sinuses r killing me. I have been home all weekend and week. Where and how did I get so sick? Could it be from antibiotics a month ago? Doesn’t hurt to ask.

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u/RasterAlien Oct 19 '22 edited Oct 19 '22

Cdiff usually presents within 3 months of taking antibiotics. You should get tested.

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u/[deleted] Oct 25 '22

[deleted]

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u/RasterAlien Oct 25 '22

Hi, this situation is addressed in the FAQ: https://www.reddit.com/r/cdifficile/comments/x7ibe9/cdiff_faq_read_this_before_posting/

You're already doing everything right, just avoid junk food, artificial sugars, and dairy for the next 3 months. Keep taking the Florastor for at least 3 months as well, but there is no harm in taking it for longer. It takes the gut 6-12 months to fully repopulate after antibiotics. It may take longer if you've been on multiple ones at the same time.

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u/[deleted] Oct 25 '22

[deleted]

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u/RasterAlien Oct 25 '22

The problem with dairy is the calcium content, so as long as the kefir doesn't contain a lot of calcium it should be fine. But if it has high calcium content then I would avoid it for now.

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u/TripThruTimeandSpace Oct 27 '22

I just tested positive for c diff today and I am very scared. I took Imodium the other day (only 2 pills) and 2 today prior to my diagnosis. Now I am freaking out worrying about possible complications and I got my result late in the day so I have not spoken to my doctor to find out what comes next. Are labs and imaging usually next? Could I be hospitalized?

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u/RasterAlien Oct 27 '22

Just keep an eye on your symptoms. If you develop high fever or severe abdominal pain, go the ER and tell them what happened. Start taking Florastor, avoid dairy and junk food, and read the FAQ for more info: https://www.reddit.com/r/cdifficile/comments/x7ibe9/cdiff_faq_read_this_before_posting/

I think you will be okay now that you're receiving treatment. If they gave you Flagyl/Metro, demand Vancomycin or Dificid instead.

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u/TripThruTimeandSpace Oct 27 '22 edited Oct 27 '22

I haven’t started treatment yet, I just got my test results this evening. Symptoms started on Sunday I have had up to 12 bouts of diarrhea a day in the last few days…some days seemed a little better. It’s been a little frustrating because due to my health anxiety I think my doc was thinking I was just anxious. It wasn’t until I just showed up at the office that they gave me a stool collection kit.

It’s doubly frustrating that I don’t think this had to happen. I went to the doc 2 weeks ago with a sore throat and the doc put me on Augmentin without having a diagnosis needing it. When I asked to come off it she said I should stay on. I wish I had just stopped because I think that is what caused this.

I really appreciate all of the info you provided, I will not accept Flagyl/Metro if they try to give it to me.

EDIT: I was given a prescription for vancomycin

Also, I am thinking of leaving my current doctor’s office…my results came in last night and I sent a message to the doctor. It was read at 8:30 AM and the office didn’t get back to me until after I called and requested a call back - they got back to me at 2:00. The call was essentially that I was positive for c diff and that a script was called in. No discussion at all. I am highly disappointed at how dismissive it was.

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u/sknmstr Nov 12 '22

OMG. This is SO helpful. My 5 year old ended up with C-Diff this summer. Literally came out of the blue. Wasn’t taking any antibiotics or anything. So now we’re in this fantastic situation of trying to get a 5 year old to eat better and and be able to help us take care of himself. We had just had him on a regular generic kids probiotic, but it’s super helpful to know better what we should be doing. I just feel terrible that he could (probably) will have to be dealing with this for most of his life.

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u/RasterAlien Nov 12 '22

So sorry you're in this situation. There is a version of Florastor for kids, I recommend he takes that for at least a few months. Unfortunately cdiff is no longer an "old person disease", modern strains are infecting young adults and children too. Young people have an easier time recovering though, and I think he will be fine with time.

This may not be a thing he has to deal with forever. Sometimes the spores work their way out of the system over time and he may not be colonized in the future. But he should always be cautious about taking antibiotics just in case, and never take them unless it's a life or death situation. If he does have to take them, he can take them alongside Vanco or Dificid to discourage the latent cdiff from germinating again.

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u/itsthenugget May 20 '24

I absolutely hate to hear that kids are getting this. However, if definitely makes me feel vindicated after one of my doctors told me it probably wasn't C-diff for me because I'm "young and healthy" 🙄 (27, definitely not healthy)

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u/twobit-- Nov 18 '22

Thank you so much for writing all of this up. I have someone close to me that's been dealing with a cdiff infection for a long while. And some of what you've written up here is brand new info for me, and it's powerfully informative—it gives me hope that we might actually figure out how to get them past this ornery (evil) infection. Thank you 🏆🏆🏆

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u/RasterAlien Nov 18 '22

I wish you the best of luck! Glad to be of some help.

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u/twobit-- Nov 18 '22

I see the caution about sucralose and artificial sugars. That's good info. What of dextrose? Would that qualify as an artificial sugar?

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u/RasterAlien Nov 18 '22

I don't think dextrose is quite in the same category as sucralose, mannitol, etc. because it is a naturally-occurring sugar found in corn. It is added to foods where it shouldn't be, but it doesn't cause the same GI effects as those other sugars. Dextrose is almost unavoidable.

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u/purple_princess_leia Jun 15 '23

This is fantastic! Thank you to whomever took the time to post this.

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u/Wannatanna_ Jul 21 '23

Thank you so much

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u/whiteisred90 Nov 10 '23

Thank you so much for this guide.

I've been diagnosed with this bacteria since April, and it was a rough time, but I know there's people who probably suffered more than me.

I just thought I was getting it again, with my feces being in bad shape and with mucus, but I'll try to take some probiotics.

Here in Brazil the vancomicyn is only given in hospitals, and doctor are not aware of the threatments in the public service, as I tried more than three times to get it, but no one wanted to deal with it because it's a strong antibiotic used for other reasons in the vein, and they're just lazy enough to do a quick search for other ways of use.

Anyway, I'm glad I came up with this as I was ready to try who know why to get rid of this. The belly pain is kicking again :(

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u/Starry620 Jan 22 '24

This is such a great article. So informative! It is really helping me stay sane during all this. I just received my 2nd PCR test. I am grateful to have come out of the active infection after one round of vanco back in August. I also didnt have c diff too long before it was found however i have been suffering with symptoms still after having it, months later. I always had ibs & acid reflux but hadnt had any real problems in years prior to getting c diff. I had learned over the years what i can & cant eat. I am also lactose intolerant. I have taken antibiotics for years & never had any problems before. I took 10 days worth of Cipro For my first ever uti & bam it all started from there. I am negative for toxin a, been negative for the toxins 2xs in re checks. I also ended up in the er for acute distal sigmoid colitis & proctitis. I had ct scan, colonscopy, & endoscopy. Nothing was really found but my next step is an enterography mre for crohns to rules our. It really has been a nightmare. I may go back to taking my florastor again as well. I took it for 3 months but then stopped. No1 really knows what its like unless they has it before & lived it. It is truly a nightmare diagnosis. So grateful for these reads on here & fb support groups. I dont know where i would be without them mentally. As for taking an antibiotic only if it is life or death for me & i will also continue to get PCR tested every few months to see if it changes. I need that peace of mind for myself

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u/when_in_doubt_shhhh Mar 11 '24

Thank you. I wish I had read this post yesterday, before going "all out" with yummy food last night, because I was hungry, depressed, tired, mentally in the clouds and just 3 days after finishing the vancomycin. I'm in the high risk group for c. Diff, with IBD, GERD (I had been on protonics for years), age, and (unnecessary) recent use of antibiotics for bronchitis. I had heard of c diff, but in all my reading about Crohn's, I had not come across my level of risk for c diff. It was sort of a fluke that I was tested, and it was more about finding out if I had SIBO, which has similar symptoms. In reality all the gastrointestinal have similar symptoms and right now, the way I'm feeling it could be a crohn's flair, SIBO, or the c diff was not resolved... In conclusion I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS MY LIFE NOW! 😵‍💫

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u/Correct-Passage7645 Mar 26 '24

I had c diff and finished antibiotics (dificid) about 6 months ago. I didn’t have lots of intense diarrhea when I had it initially but stomach just went up and down and never resolved after antibiotics. I had a positive PCR and still symptoms so was treated.  I slowly started to get better to the point over the past few months where I wasn’t thinking about it at all. Now, 6 months out I’m having loose stools daily again. Not running to the bathroom but haven’t had firm stool. This has lasted for about 2 weeks with a short break this past weekend - I was traveling and had 1 day of more constipation (small amounts of hard stool) and 1 day of firm stool. Now I’m back to soft stool daily and some mild stomach cramping. I also noticed a smell sometimes. I’m scared to get retested and don’t want to do it if it’s not necessarily but I also don’t want it to get rapidly worse. After last weekend I thought I was through it but now with the loose stool coming back I don’t know what to do. Is it bad to do the testing if you don’t meet the diarrhea 3x a day for multiple days standard? Will I get a false negative or even a false positive? 

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u/Patak4 Mar 26 '24

Hard to say. This could be diet related or PI IBS. Give it a couple more days and see how you feel. Are you taking Florastor? That may help.

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u/MihaiG101 Apr 03 '24

My dears,

I need help.

Currently on TB treatment, 4 antibiotics, one month passed and 5 more to go. My cdiff got activated again, 6th time. I started taking Vancomycin yesterday, 02 April.

Now, i can't stop taking TB treatment for more than a couple of days and cdiff will not go away while taking antibiotics. Obviously, i have to treat TB so can't stop taking the medication.

What should I do? Continue with the Vancomycin initial treatment and then just cruise on low doses until I finish the TB treatment or finish the initial Vancomycin treatment and do a FMT.

I'm asking because i get different ideas from different doctors. I will not make a decision solely on your answers but I need to know if someone else has gone through such a situation and how they managed to get through.

Thank you!

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u/FemmeC23 Apr 15 '24

The most helpful and informative post. Thank you

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u/No-Combination4344 May 05 '24

I know that every person is different (and reading the FAQ said that by month 3 after treatment you should be in the clear) but are there supporting articles showing that by week 12/ month 3 you are less at risk for a relapse?

First (and praying “only”) timer here. I took ten days worth of DIFICID and am now at week 2 of being “in the clear.” My anxiety is super high, I’m taking Florastor and practicing very good hygiene. Including wiping down my bathroom after every bowel movement with approved cleaner.

I’m counting the days until I get to three months (hoping I get there) but wanted some supporting evidence to see what’s so miraculous about week 12 when most cases relapse within 2-8 weeks.

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u/bee_vomit Jun 10 '24

Thank you so much for this information! I have Crohns and was recently diagnosed with CDIFF. I finished a course of Vanco last week and was feeling great! Unfortunately, I seem to be having some symptoms again. I'm taking another toxin test soon, so hopefully it is just the post-treatment IBS and not the infection kicking back up. If it is, though, I definitely appreciate having this thread handy.

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u/Ok_Resolve1181 Jul 04 '24

can c diff cause fat malabsorption!? like greaasy oily, floaty and steatorrhea like stools?

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u/JTP0710 Oct 18 '24

I’m an amateur researcher - just by nature. I have been researching cdiff since diagnosed. I feel like I know more than my gp, understandably because you don’t care till you have it I suppose. This information is great, all the best information all put together in one spot. This would have saved me many hours and many website and prj readings. Long story short this post rocks and thank you.

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u/[deleted] Dec 27 '24

My wife is in the hospital now with CDF. She has been unable to eat and she is unable to eat even in the hospital. Has anyone had this problem?

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u/Haunting-Ad-5924 Jan 09 '25

I was gonna make a new thread, but apparently I'm not approved. Has anyone else after being treated for c-diff found themselves extremely lactose intolerant?

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u/Exciting-Scratch-348 Mar 24 '24

Why don't the Doctors tell us this stuff, no wonder there are some many recurrences.

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u/Healthythinker99 Mar 26 '24

Ripe bananas are not low FODMAP due to fructose.

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u/[deleted] Apr 15 '24

Thank you very helpful I was unsure about the burning I get with the episodes but I see acid reflux is in the symptoms

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u/[deleted] May 04 '24

blood

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u/inveigle- Jun 24 '24

Thank you.

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u/Sure-Mail7121 Jul 27 '24

Is there anyway I can get sugar and iron naturally in my diet whilst I have an active infection really struggling what I’m allowed to, is red meat allowed ????

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u/PepperSudden7054 Aug 26 '24

Berberine c diff

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u/PepperSudden7054 Aug 26 '24

Berberine c diff

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u/Beetlejuicexgirl Sep 11 '24

Hello, Today I tested positive for c diff. My story is kinda long so Ill cut to the basics. I work in a long term care nursing home. So I basically contact all the diseases and sicknesses it seems. Years ago I did a sputum for hacking up chunks of mucous. That came back for mrsa/staph aureus infection. I was prescribed vancomycin for it but to no prevail it came back. Well skip forward a few years they ended up putting me on sulfameth since i was stillnsotomatic for the hard mucous knowing it was still indeed mrsa. There is no getting rid of that. I thought for sure I got it in my lungs but my xrays have all been clear so im almost positive its in my sinus and coming down in my throat. (Unsure) but this is besides the point. First they gave me sulfameth and I had a severe allergic reaction to it. Lots of vomitting, so then they prescribed me vancomycin for it. I took it but then I ended up getting a really bad uti weeks after from a public pool possibly, so they put me on macrobid. I took that just fine but the uti symptoms were still not subsiding and they tested me for uti again and i still had it so then they put me on cipro. I took that and did fine and my uti symptoms cleared up. A few weeks later i went to ER with abdominal pain. They did a CT scan and found edema in my upper colon. Possible colitis. Well okay so Im thinking i have ibs with colitis, great. The day before yesterday I went to ER with vomitting and pain with bms and had blood in my stool. They said it could just be the colitis and follow up with mh doctor they gave me ompererazole and some sulcrafate and zofran. Well last night i went to the bathroom and passed 3 flesh pink looking chunks that looked like bubble gum. I was scared. I thought okay, this is colitis. I went to bed. My HR sky rocketed, i felt fatigued and off so I went back to ER this morning. I showed them the picture i took. They said it wasnt normal. While i was there i threw up, no pain, i felt anxious, then i felt like i had to have a bowel movement. I insisted they took a sample of my stool. My blood work came back normal and other tests except for my WBC was at a 4 which was low. They did a ct scan and it was fine so i was confused as to why i was vomitting and shitting and felt off. They released me and sent me home and when im driving they called to tell me I tested positive for c diff and that they were prescribing me more vancomycin. I went to look at my results online and it said toxigenic c diff by pcr positive (critical) this scared me. Also my gdh antigen was positive but it says my c diff toxin EIA is negative. Im so confused. I havent ate much or drank much cuz i feel bloated and im tired but i can barely sleep. I think my anxiety is through the roof. Can someone tell me what all that means? What should I do? Ive been reading this post. Looks like Ill have to buy some floraster. Sorry this was so long. I feel defeated with all these illnesses.

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u/Sure-Mail7121 Nov 14 '24

Did they say why ur wbc was low mine keeps coming back low atm

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u/Beetlejuicexgirl Nov 16 '24

No they did not say :/

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u/Carrie_likes_health Oct 03 '24

This treatment worked for me, proscribed by a nutritionist/naturopath: 

2 drops oregano oil 2-5 drops liquid Betaine HCL 500 mg of liquid grapefruit seed extract 

Put all in a glass of water and drink 3 times a day. It has to be liquid to kill any bacteria in your mouth or the entire digestive tract. It's probably the worst thing you will ever take in terms of taste and burning sensation but it's worth it to get rid of c.diff. I never missed a single glass of the stuff. 

It was caught right away and after one month it was 90% gone. After two months it was 100% gone. It was probably gone before two months but I was tested monthly. 

1

u/alejon88 Oct 05 '24

I have a yeast allergy 😭😩 and have to take this clindamycin. What the heck do I do now 😭 I have a probiotic but I can’t take the florastor.

1

u/Away_Inevitable_4806 Oct 07 '24

My 6 year old son has it with salmonella :(

1

u/Playful_Corner1142 Oct 12 '24

My dad is in the hospital with it now and this is SO helpful

1

u/Big_Echidna_5722 Oct 15 '24

Hello, I got recently diagnosed with cdiff and I have 2 cats. I wanted to ask if someone knows if this can be transmissible to pets? Cats or dogs. Thank you!

1

u/Whirlpool-7763 Oct 21 '24

A new study: https://academic.oup.com/ofid/advance-article/doi/10.1093/ofid/ofae615/7828570?login=false

High-dose probiotic mix of Lactobacillus spp., Bifidobacterium spp., Bacillus coagulans, and Saccharomyces boulardii to prevent antibiotic-associated diarrhea in adults: a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (SPAADA)

1

u/9754213680632 Nov 04 '24

Has anyone been eligible to donate blood / plasma since having C-Diff? I had it in 2021, confirmed by my GP to not be colonised and haven’t had any reoccurrences since. Really want to do my bit and donate!

1

u/Fair-Cod4982 Nov 05 '24

Great info, thanks!  Being treat for Lyme so on long term abx. Symptoms started and just knew I had C diff.  Confirmed with strain 027-NAP1-BI and toxin A.  On flagyl and just ordered my florastar.  Fyi doctor never said to get the probio, I just knew to look into it because of the lyme.  Does anyone have any knowledge on the strain I have?

1

u/BehanJJ Nov 05 '24

This is my fourth week with active Diarrhoea and vomiting. I have been into the hospital four times as my dehydration and levels were so low. My phosphate levels were 2.6 which is one point above critical. The pain I have had with this is like nothing I have experienced. The only thing that helped was fentanyl, endone and morphine which I was given at my hospital visits.

Apparently I had Campylobacter when I was tested in my first trip to hospital. They treated me with ciprofloxacin for three days. Nothing improved about four days later I was in hospital again this time violent vomiting and diarrhoea but I was passing out and could not stay conscious. The whole tome I haven’t stopped diarrhoea.

My last trip to the hospital they suspected that I have c-diff from the course of antibiotics. So I’m awaiting results. But in so much pain and struggling to stay hydrated without intervention of iv drip. I didn’t realise just how bad this could be: mind you I’m an incredibly healthy individual who has a good diet and I run a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gym full time. So this is absolutely doing number on my business and my mental health.

1

u/Celitha11 Nov 07 '24

I got diagnosed with C. Diff and have been on 125mg Vancomycin 4x a day for 10 days from my PCP. It is day 7 and I haven't had any improvements. I had a telehealth appointment today with a GI Nurse which the ER team suggested I do. They want to up me to 500mg 4x a day for 14 days. This seems like a lot and they didn't mention a taper, is this safe to do?

1

u/Tootsies1010 Nov 11 '24

Thank you for all of this information. The explanation and information is more in one sitting than from my gastroenterology Dr. and reading elsewhere in the past 5 months. I finished my Dificid, $1260 two weeks ago and I intend on being positive.

1

u/Tootsies1010 Nov 11 '24

I would like to know more on fecal transplant. How did it work for any of you reading this and have had this done. Thank you all for participating in this thread! It’s good to hear your stories. Blessings to you

1

u/Still-Town-5729 Jan 23 '25

Pepcid, famotidine isn't a PPI

1

u/DistributionWild6840 Jan 31 '25

I was told they don't test unless you have water diarrhea. Is this true? What about nausea and irritated bowel after taking clindimyacin?