posted
I thought I had food poisioning, turns out I have this. Dr. is going to call in a script. I'm off all abx and have been for a while.
I've continued taking acidophilus, s boulardi and some key things. My question is, how do restore my gut now that I've been diagnosed with this?
Posts: 911 | Registered: Mar 2005
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posted
C. Dif, oh dear! I had that miserable problem last year. The D.O. I saw in urgent care had a homeopathic bent. I still had to have the antibiotic but she also said the following would help.
For a probiotic she recommended Bio K+ and said to get the gluten and dairy free version. I got it from Whole Foods and used it for 30 days with good success.
Bio K+ is refrigerated with the other probiotics. It was pricey but the cost was well worth the improvement. Google for more information--there are clinical trials regarding C. Dif.
She also recommended I use vinegar/water sitz bath for the raw feeling following all that diarrhea. And use wet toilet paper, not dry.
I hope you are feeling better soon. Grannie
Posts: 67 | From the state of Lyme | Registered: Sep 2008
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Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375
posted
My LLMD has me on flagyl 750mg once a week.
Not as a cyst buster, but to prevent C. Diff.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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heiwalove
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6467
posted
ugh, i'm really sorry. i had this and i wasn't even on abx at the time! guess i'm just lucky.
what finally kicked it (knock on wood) was three short courses of vancomycin (the last one i tapered; in fact i still have two pills left), lots of probiotics (i used VSL#3, p. reuteri, and florastor), and finally, hefty doses of oregano oil and freeze-dried garlic (which i'm still on, and which work against lyme and co as well).
[ 04. October 2008, 06:42 PM: Message edited by: snowboarder ]
Posts: 738 | From Colorado | Registered: Oct 2004
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timaca
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6911
posted
Hopefully, one round of vancomycin or flagyl will kick the C. difficile for you.
I had it for 11 (long) months.
Take the S. boulardii and other probiotics as you are doing, and whatever antibiotics your doctor recommends for the C. diff. Hope for the best.
What eventually kicked it in me was 2 weeks of vanco followed by 2 weeks of rifaximin. This protocol is called the "Rifaximin chaser."
Best wishes, Timaca
Posts: 2872 | From above 7,000 ft in a pine forest | Registered: Feb 2005
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METALLlC BLUE
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6628
posted
The VSL #3 is probably best purchased as a capsule if financial issues are a concern, then you can use just one capsule a day instead of two and a bottle will last about two months. I don't know of anyone that sells it at a discount, and I looked hard for it.
That's still 112 Billion per day, which is far more than the usual brands.
-------------------- I am not a physician, so do your own research to confirm any ideas given and then speak with a health care provider you trust.
posted
I got C-dif years ago from taking Clindomycin (sp?). I was prescribed Flagyl and it worked. Apparently, it is the best antibiotic for C-dif. -Paul
-------------------- Sick since at least age 6, now 67. Decades of misdiagnosis. Numerous arthritic, neuro, psych, vision, cardiac symptoms. Been treating for 7 years, incl 8 mos on IV. Bart was missed so now treating that. Posts: 765 | From nw ct | Registered: Sep 2008
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-------------------- Sick since at least age 6, now 67. Decades of misdiagnosis. Numerous arthritic, neuro, psych, vision, cardiac symptoms. Been treating for 7 years, incl 8 mos on IV. Bart was missed so now treating that. Posts: 765 | From nw ct | Registered: Sep 2008
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. . . a species of bacteria of the genus Clostridium which are Gram-positive, anaerobic, spore-forming rods (bacillus).[1] C. difficile is the most significant cause of pseudomembranous colitis.[2]
Individual drumstick shaped C. diff bacilli seen through electronmicroscopy. It is a severe infection of the colon, often happening after normal gut flora is eradicated by use of antibiotics.
The C. difficile bacteria, which naturally reside in the body, become overgrown. A C. difficile overgrowth is harmful because the bacterium releases toxins that cause:
* Bloating and constipation
* Diarrhea with abdominal pain
* Severe diarrhea with mucus and blood present in faeces and characterized by body aches and severe abdominal pain caused from ulcerated intestines.
The latent symptoms often mimic some flu-like symptoms. Treatment is performed by stopping current treatment and commencing specific anticlostridial antibiotics, e.g. metronidazole or vancomycin.
. . .
Bacteriology
Clostridia are motile bacteria that are ubiquitous in nature and are especially prevalent in soil. Under the microscope after Gram staining, they appear as long drumsticks with a bulge located at their terminal ends.
Clostridium difficile cells are Gram positive and show optimum growth on blood agar at human body temperatures in the absence of oxygen. When stressed, the bacteria produce spores which tolerate extreme conditions that the active bacteria cannot tolerate.
. . .
. . . It can be cultured from almost any surface in the hospital. Once spores are ingested, they pass through the stomach unscathed because of their acid-resistance. They change to their active form in the colon and multiply.
It has been observed that several disinfectants commonly used in hospitals may fail to kill the bacteria, and may actually promote spore formation. However, disinfectants containing bleach are effective in killing the organisms[4].
Pseudomembranous colitis caused by C. difficile is treated with specific antibiotics, for example, vancomycin, metronidazole, bacitracin or fusidic acid.
. . .
Toxins
Pathogenic C. difficile strains produce various toxins. The most well-characterized are enterotoxin (toxin A) and cytotoxin (toxin B).[1]
These two toxins are both responsible for the diarrhea and inflammation seen in infected patients, although their relative contributions have been debated by researchers.
Another toxin, binary toxin, has also been described, but its role in disease is not yet fully understood.[5]
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