heiwalove
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6467
posted
(forgive the sensitive topic; i need some insight)
i know there's another recent post on this, but i thought i'd start a new one with my specific concerns/questions.
i think i may have c diff, judging by my symptoms, but i have yet to get a stool culture -- will do that asap, thanks to wildcondor's advice.
for those who've had to deal with this (and i think i have a rather mild case - loose stools eight or less times/day, nausea (though the nausea is pretty bad), lack of appetite, mild cramping, stomach gurgling, but no explosive diarrhea or fever or vomiting), how did you treat it? for how long? did you have to stop lyme tx while treating c diff? were you eventually able to resume lyme tx after the c diff had calmed down, or not?
thanks so much for any help.
~heather.
ps. i haven't taken abx in a long, long time (i'm treating naturally), so it's strange to me that i have these symptoms.. but they came on suddenly after a bout with the stomach flu a couple months ago and have been getting worse since then, which makes me think perhaps the gastroenteritis wiped out my gut flora and allowed the bad bacteria to flourish and take hold.
diarrhea/stomach ickiness are some of my lyme/tbd symptoms anyway, but they were so much better, almost in remission until the stomach flu hit. and now they're different, more acute, which makes me think there's something else going on.
posted
My treatment for c. diff was Metronidizole. Good old cyst busting antibiotic. I didn't have to stop lyme treatment, (that was doxy at the time.)
Important to be taking a good probiotic, and keeping yeast in check. (being female helps a little because yeast in one other area helps me know how my intestional yeast level may be.
That is the hardest part I think, That is figuring out which intestional problem it is bothering THIS time.
My C. diff came on fast once it got going. White blood cell count helps know what is going on too. Had one this week?
Good luck! Von
Posts: 258 | From Washington State | Registered: Nov 2005
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heiwalove
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6467
posted
really? do you always have to have a high wbc with c diff? haven't had it checked in awhile; i'll ask the doc today.
i just wanted to second ur request for info from those who have had C Diff. I think im in a similar boat to you as my symptoms are going 7-8 times a day at worst and then every 2nd day or so i get very severe pain and nausea/vomiting but in comparison to those who are going 30 times a day and have to go to the ER it doesnt sound so dramatic. im wondering also if there are people out there who had a milder version and were able to treat it relatively easily? (she says hopefully;)) ive read such scary things about it that i am pretty freaked out. my doc is prescribing Flagyl tho so will be able to start that soon, they also want to do a stool test but im thinking that being on Flagyl already could cause a false negative? am also thinking maybe my situation is not as severe because ive been taking so many probiotics and they are helping a bit? or maybe with you Heather yours is not as severe because you were not on Antibiotics? i am hoping to start Buhners protocol soon as my herbs arrive, what natural protocol are you doing? thanks for bringing this topic up again it is really on my mind at the moment too!!
Posts: 11 | From Doylestown, PA | Registered: Nov 2006
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heiwalove
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6467
heiwalove
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6467
posted
GiGi - thanks so much for your response in the other thread.
wow. dr. k sounds amazing. i mean, i knew that already, but to know your husband had c diff from watching him walk a few steps? incredible.
did your husband also have intestinal symptoms at the time? and it's good to hear the flagyl cleared it up and he was (i'm assuming) able to resume TBD/metal/etc treatment. there are lots of c diff horror stories out there and i'm trying not to let myself get too freaked out.
it was raining and cold all day today on this coast, but i actually don't mind the rain. love the sound of it against my windowpane.
lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
i hope you guys know it can be fatal. it needs to be checked out...tested and treated.
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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timaca
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6911
posted
never had a WBC for C. diff....just stool culture.
I had c. diff for 11 months...no fun.
What finally kicked it in me was 2 weeks of oral vanco, followed by 2 weeks of rifaximin (at least I think it was rifaximin )
I was on IM bicillin during my time of c. diff.
Best, Timaca
Posts: 2872 | From above 7,000 ft in a pine forest | Registered: Feb 2005
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heiwalove
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6467
posted
the tests for c diff can come back false negative, right? i wonder how many GI docs are willing to prescribe trial vanco or flagyl despite negative tests.
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