I've been battling this stomach situation since Sunday. I've been on antibiotics for a bit over a week before any stomach symptoms started and two coworkers had a stomach flu.
I'm about to overshare so please don't be offended.
Since Sunday I have been basically liquid pooping, Sunday Monday Tuesday all day with stomach cramps, yesterday and today a few times a day but same thing., it has become slightly more solid but still there at bouts of pure liquid. It's pretty normal in color. I stopped taking abx as of Monday and have just been taking probiotics and diflucan.
It has been five days though and I'm starting to worry can anyone offer me their opinion or experiences on how I can tell what I'm dealing with? Thanks all
-------------------- When the going gets tough. . . I'll keep fighting! Ms. Geet3721
New LLMD, New abx, New life coming right up!!!! Posts: 714 | From La La Lyme Land | Registered: Jun 2008
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If it is C Diff, you'll notice a very distinct odor. From what I've heard, C Diff testing isn't always accurate.
It's possible you have a virus.
I did abx for a long time and it basically ruined my gut.
Posts: 911 | Registered: Mar 2005
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BackinStOlaf
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 23725
posted
Are you taking Florastor??
-------------------- 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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posted
What kind of odor ? Albeit it doesn't smell pleasant I haven't noticed any crazy smells
I am not taking florastor I took it once and got really sick from it and I haven't taken it since.
I'm taking culturally and diflucan right now ! Thanks for the replies
My doc is saying that by tomorrow if I don't feel better he was going to start me on abx for c diff is there anything you guys know about those meds and Lyme I should be worried about ?
Has anyone had a virus for 5 plus days recently ?
-------------------- When the going gets tough. . . I'll keep fighting! Ms. Geet3721
New LLMD, New abx, New life coming right up!!!! Posts: 714 | From La La Lyme Land | Registered: Jun 2008
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TX Lyme Mom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3162
posted
C. diff can quickly become life-threatening, but there is usually a lot of intolerable pain with it.
If you suspect C. diff or if you become too dehydrated, then you'll need to go to the ER for a saline drip.
Sometimes, Gatorade -- or even better Pedialyte, sold OTC in supermarkets and drug stores, pricey but very effective -- will help to rehydrate you though so that you can avoid an expensive ER visit.
Next, a good probiotic is very important. Our favorite against C. diff is Culturelle which is sold everywhere nowadays, including Sam's and WallMart and CVS, etc.
The medical literature rates Culturelle as being very highly effective in preventing C. diff., but I don't think that it will stop C. diff if you already have developed it. For that, antibiotics are necessary -- usually in a hospital setting, after lab tests indicate that it really is C. diff of course.
Culturelle is high potency, so you usually don't need more than one capsule a day, but you can double up on it for the next few weeks until you get things back under good control again. Then, the preventive maintenance dosage of Culturelle is just one capsule daily.
Posts: 4563 | From TX | Registered: Sep 2002
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posted
Testing for C Diff is only about 70% accurate, at best. That's why doctors will treat patients empirically when they present with c. diff symptoms, like watery diarrhea, etc.
It is very possible to have C. Diff and NOT have foul odorous stools. People that do experience the odor with their infection report it as being like a horrible rotting, barnyard smell or a fishy, rotting smell. Sorry if this is too much information!
Doctors often will prescribe Flagyl for C. Diff. There is a rather large subgroup of patients that do not respond to Flagyl -- in fact for that group it can make the c. diff worse.
Vancomycin is what is used for people who don't respond to Flagyl. Oral vancomycin.
Another really good probiotic that is good is VSL #3. It's the strongest probiotic on the market right now. It's designed for people with serious GI issues, like C. Diff, IBS, Ulcerative Colitis, etc.
Sometimes Lyme patients have to stop their Lyme treatment (i.e., antibiotics) in order to treat the C. Difficile. Once the infection is treated successfully, Lyme treatment can resume with a careful eye out for a recurrence of C. Diff.
There have been alot of helpful posts here about C. Difficile with some good information. If you do a search in this section, you might find some helpful info.
There is a good support forum for C. Difficile that's got helpful info and articles.
I've had to juggle C. Diff infections during Lyme treatment and it can be challenging. I've had seemingly mild c. diff and I've also had a life-threatening episode.
It's something to take very seriously.
Posts: 503 | From Maryland | Registered: Oct 2007
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posted
Thanks for all the information, does anyone think it's bad to not test before getting treatment
Fuzzy- I feel like I am taking it seriously maybe almost too seriously I'm very nervous about c diff but if I don't have it and it's a bug I don't know if I should be taking the flagyl
My pcp is the one I'm taking to about everything my llmd said get rid of diarrhea hen go back on abx slowly but nothing else
My stomach still aches a bit and I have some diarrhea but I have definitely gotten way better then I was is that normal with c diff ? Sorry I feel so confused.
Thank for Lyme mom for your post 2
-------------------- When the going gets tough. . . I'll keep fighting! Ms. Geet3721
New LLMD, New abx, New life coming right up!!!! Posts: 714 | From La La Lyme Land | Registered: Jun 2008
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TX Lyme Mom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3162
posted
Flagyl is good against the cyst for of Lyme also, so you could be killing two birds (or bugs) with one stone. Go for it and don't try to second guess your doctor. If you doctor doesn't want to test you for C. diff, then trust him. It's not that big of a deal if it's not C. diff, but it is a big deal if C. diff is left untreated.
Posts: 4563 | From TX | Registered: Sep 2002
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One last question, has anyone had c diff get better without abx? like you are having solid poop again and feeling better?
Thanks.
-------------------- When the going gets tough. . . I'll keep fighting! Ms. Geet3721
New LLMD, New abx, New life coming right up!!!! Posts: 714 | From La La Lyme Land | Registered: Jun 2008
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mojo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9309
posted
If you have c.diff it's important to address it. Have you tried other forms of S. Boulardi? Jarrow makes a good one. but Florastor is the best.
A better choice of electrolytes would be Alacer Electro Mix or Trace Minerals Electrolyte Stamina Power Pack (both available online at vitacost or about twice the price at Whole Foods)
Once you get C. Diff it's very east to get it again. My SIL doen't have Lyme but got C.Diff after a colonoscopy and then a short stint with ABX. It took forever for her to get rid of it and her Dr. (mainstream Dr) has her on Florastor everyday for life.
Whatever this is I hope you can get rid of it! Not fun and I know it probably makes you feel even worse than you normally feel.
Posts: 1761 | From USA | Registered: May 2006
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Update is it must have been a stomach bug because my stomach is better!!!! YAY!!!! Thank you all for your advice and help I was a bit freaked out there! Be careful of this bug I here it is going around!
-------------------- When the going gets tough. . . I'll keep fighting! Ms. Geet3721
New LLMD, New abx, New life coming right up!!!! Posts: 714 | From La La Lyme Land | Registered: Jun 2008
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randibear
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11290
posted
hmm, i only did biaxin for two days and then stopped. but i have developed excruciating abdominal pain below the navel.
no diahhrea, just one explosive episode.
i'm on tons of probiotics.
could this be c. diff?
(oh great, hubs is getting ready to leave again!!)
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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