From the postings on this message board, I am beginning to believe that C.Diff is quite common.
I don't ever remember reading about so many c.diff cases on lymenet in the 2 + years I've been on here.
Please tell me it's more preventable than it appears to be on this message board.
Lymers
Posts: 287 | From Humboldt County, CA | Registered: Jul 2009
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sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
C.Diff is becoming more common even among healthy people that have not been on any antibiotics. It is rampant in hospitals and nursing homes. It is Very very contagious.
Practice good hand washing to help protect yourself. Take your probiotics and florastor. Try to avoid other sick people. If you get symptoms of abd discomfort, cramping or diarrhea see your doctor for testing.
Do the best that you can do to take care of yourself and try not to worry.
Posts: 5237 | From here | Registered: Nov 2007
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WildCondor
Unregistered
posted
It is quite common here with all the antibiotics people are taking. You have to be extremely careful when you are on treatment to keep your gut safe. Make sure you are on Florastor, that is essential. Also, high quality probiotics are essential. Antibiotic breaks are also a good idea to give your gut a break and your flora a chance to recover.
Avoiding high risk offenders like Clindamycin and Amoxicillin is also wise.
The c.diff germ itself can kill you, and you will be shocked at just how bad it is. You will wish you had Lyme all over again instead of c.diff. The germ is more toxic than ever before and is resistant to many treatments. Be very careful.
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Could you please elaborate on "antibiotic breaks". Do you have suggestions as to when and for how long these breaks should be taken? I've not heard of this before. It's nothing my LLMD has mentioned (I've been on antibiotics now for over two years without a break).
Lymers
Posts: 287 | From Humboldt County, CA | Registered: Jul 2009
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randibear
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11290
posted
yeah, take it from me, it's bad.
my poor rear was pure hamburger!!! i was going every 15 minutes alll day long...and the burning fire in my abdomen was like you lit a match to me.
it was extremely painful.
i'm on my second round of flagyl now but believe you me, i'm also taking florastor twice a day and tons of probiotics.
i just wanted to die, it was that painful. at least it was for me.
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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BackinStOlaf
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 23725
posted
WildCondor-
I just started lyme treatment yesterday with Amoxicillin. Should I be scared of this now? Great, one more thing to worry about.
-------------------- First Symptom 9/09 Multiple docs, negative Labcorp test LLMD: 1/10 Positive Igenex/CDC test Treatment 2/10 2/10-8/10 Amox, ceftin, zith, flagyl Currently: Bicillin, Minocycline, still dealing with severe breathing issues
Posts: 1121 | From New York, New York | Registered: Dec 2009
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feelfit
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12770
posted
BackinStOlaf,
Just my two cents. I was on high dose Amoxicillin for a LONG time...never aquired c-diff.
Just pay attention to hadn washing as Sammy has said and be sure to take probiotics and Florastor or a like product.
I use Saccharomyces Boulardii +MOS by Jarrow (vitacost sells this) simple brewers yeast will also work.
Watch for signs.....but don't stress about it.
Good luck, Feelfit
Posts: 3975 | From usa | Registered: Aug 2007
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randibear
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11290
posted
i would say just keep an eye out and take florastor twice a day and those probiotics.
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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I'm really sorry to hear of your suffering with c.diff. Were you taking probiotics and/or Florastor when you aquired this?
Lymers
Posts: 287 | From Humboldt County, CA | Registered: Jul 2009
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randibear
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11290
posted
i was not taking florastor and was taking really only 1 probiotic and that was theralac. it's excellent but apparently 1 per day just was not enough, and nobody said anything about florastor or if they did, i didn't pick up on it.
for some reason, i just didn't take as many as i should have, so it's my fault.
but now i'm taking tons!!!
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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WildCondor
Unregistered
posted
Hi!
Yes the Florastor is best because it is tested for potency (unlike other store brands that have to be refrigerated and expire quickly)
By antibiotic breaks I mean, take breaks from time to time of several weeks off, or use pulse therapy to give your gut flora a chance to recover.
Don't be scared of amoxicillin...just make sure you are on FLorastor and a good quality probiotic like VSL #3 to go along with it. Theralac does not seem to be strong enough on its own. The problem with Amoxicillin is that you have to take so much of it to achieve adequate doses, which is why most people use Bicillin injections.
All antibiotics carry a risk for you developing c.diff. Once you get it, you can usually not use antibiotics again which can really mess up your Lyme treatment so be extra careful. You don't want to be in the position of never being able to take antibiotics again so please take this seriously.
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Thank you for this information. I have recently started my son on Florastor. I will look into the other 2 probiotics you've mentioned. I currently have him taking Pure Encapsulations brand. Maybe this one isn't as good.
Does occassional soft stool indicate c.diff? My son gets this sometimes, but since I addedd Florastor, it seems to have gone away. Can you get soft stool (but not watery diarrhea) while on antibiotics and it not be C.Diff?
Also, you mention that once you get c.diff you often cannot take antibiotics again. You had c.diff, were you able to take antibiotics for lyme after that? Are you on antibiotics currently?
Thanks for your input,
Lymers
Posts: 287 | From Humboldt County, CA | Registered: Jul 2009
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posted
Hi all, This scares me too. Where do you buy florastor? My llmd never mentioned it.
Posts: 182 | From hills and valleys | Registered: Jan 2009
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WildCondor
Unregistered
posted
Hi..wow..all LLMD's should be putting their patients on this for prevention of c.diff who are on antibiotics. You buy it at any pharmacy just ask them to order it for you. Google Florastor, there's links on the main site.
Store brands are not tested for potency or used in studies and clinical trials like FLorastor is by the GI doctor community who studies this germ.
C. diff is extremely common in nursing homes and hospitals so FLorastor ws studied and is now on the hospital formulary for patients who have it. Once you get it, you are contagious, and need to be isolated and taken off all other antibiotics besides Flagyl and Vancomycin. Even FLagyl can cause it though in cases.
You can have diarrhea without it being c.diff but diarrhea is never a good sign when you are on antibiotics. Usually you have to back off the meds until things settle down. Once you get c.diff you can usually never take any antibiotics for Lyme again. Yes, I had Lyme and then c.diff and could not use antibiotics again. Luckily I was at a point in my treatment where I was at the end and was using pulse therapy only and did not need additional time on antibiotics (6 years was enough! )
Just be careful, take proper preventative measures and you will be fine.
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WildCondor
Unregistered
posted
One more thing I forgot to add....do not take anti-fungal drugs like Nystatin or Diflucan if you are on FLorastor it will just kill it off and you will be wasting your $$.
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posted
Also, I don't understand the symptom of a "bad smell" to the stool. Feces doesn't smell good...so is it a different kind of "bad smell" with c. diff?
Sorry, I know that's gross.
Lymers
Posts: 287 | From Humboldt County, CA | Registered: Jul 2009
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WildCondor
Unregistered
posted
I learned about it after the fact...!
I would say that after a bout of c.diff if you get symptoms again to get checked but usually if it only lasts 3 days or longer..with fever, etc. Occasional diarrhea I wouldn't worry too much about...it is a cluster of symptoms. Not everyone has the bad smell either.
If it goes away on its own, you are/have been very lucky!!
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posted
Thanks so much for the help, Wildcondor. I'm glad my son is on Florastor now. I will be ordering some for myself as well.
Who knows, your advice and help might save someone their life. Believe me, I'm taking this VERY seriously!
Lymers
Posts: 287 | From Humboldt County, CA | Registered: Jul 2009
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RZR
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 20953
posted
I was taking Florastor for a few months but had to stop due to yeast.
If I need to treat for yeast and prevention, what is allowed with Florastor? Can I take oil of oregano, olive leaf extract, coconut oil?
-------------------- Tick bite May 2009 Diagnosed June 2009 Posts: 2329 | From SouthEast | Registered: Jun 2009
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WildCondor
Unregistered
posted
Jennie..I am not sure about those...all i know is the antifungal drugs will kill off the Florastor..I doubt coconut oil would do any harm to it...not sure though.
For yeast prevention, make sure you are on the anti-yeast diet..no sugar...low carbs, etc.
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