timaca
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6911
posted
Hi all~
I talked with my PCP today over the phone and had a fragmented conversation (meaning, I'm not sure I've got all the facts straight.)
But, here they are:
I DID have C. diff in late December, into early January, with it resolving January 15th (the medication ran out on the 19th--it was 125 mg oral vancomycin tid.)
I started having GI issues again on the 26th. More stool cultures were run. On the 27th, (a Saturday) when I called the lab they said "positive for C. diff." So, I started on 125 mg oral vanco tid again.
Note: Our town was having GI issues running through it at the time.
Today, when I spoke with my PCP, she said that toxin A for C. diff was positive, but the stool culture WAS NOT!! (And I don't know about toxin B).
She said that toxins can be present for a long time after the infection is over.
She did prescribe more vanco, because my LLMD suggested doubling the dosage. And I leave for NY Saturday. My LLMD only knows that the C. diff test was "positive" but he doesn't know which one...for I didn't know which one when I wrote him!
BUT....do I have C. diff or not with a negative culture and a positive toxin test? (I have NOT seen the lab test results with my own eyes yet).
I sure as heck do not want to take any more vanco than necessary, for I'd like my GI flora to get back to normal before it gets hit with more antibiotics.
AND I sure don't want to bother my LLMD with this question.
AND my PCP is out of the office until Friday.
So...what to do? Buy more vanco? Keep taking it? Finish off what I have of the liquid form and hold off from starting the pills until I talk to my PCP?
Any input would be helpful!
Thanks, everyone! It's great to me a member of the exclusive C. diff Club!
Timaca
Posts: 2872 | From above 7,000 ft in a pine forest | Registered: Feb 2005
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posted
Although the culture was negative, and indeed the toxins can hang out a while, you were symptomatic and in that sense, although you can't rule out a benign GI bug, I would re-treat.
How much liquid do you have left and can you refill THAT? Pills are killer expensive.
Poo-resident & CEO votes VANCO.
What does your gut (no pun intended) say?
Posts: 689 | From western MA (we say buttER and pizzA) | Registered: Nov 2004
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trails
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1620
posted
The tests was still + and the toxins are there. I would stay on the vanco and then really gradually taper off it. The tests dont always catch it either, esp. with new strains that are emerging. I would also post on the c.diff forum, lost of experienced folks on there http://cdiffsupport.com/phpBB/viewforum.php?f=7
Can you take the vanco 250 mg 3x a day or 125 mg 4x/day? In either case, i would stay on it for a good 6 weeks and then do a gradual taper. There is much to learn about the tapering doses. Questran is good to bind to the toxins AFTER you are finished with the vanco.
Gosh this bug is evil, i just tapered my dose of Flagyl, right now I am thanking the only drug that ever helped with the pain, xanax!
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timaca
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6911
posted
duramater~ (aka poo-resident of the C. diff club) Thanks for your input. I think the pills are a better choice for further medication because I leave Saturday for NY (seeing my LLMD on Monday), and traveling with a liquid that is supposed to be refrigerated would be a pain in the heiny. And I've had enough of those kinds of pains lately!
My "gut" has mostly settled down, no cramping, and no "D"....but also not exactly, totally normal yet either.
trails~ Thanks for the support. It is appreciated.
Wildcondor~ Thanks for your input too. I think my PCP ordered 250 mg pills (she called them something different than that though...) So, I find out when I go to the pharmacy today.
Seems like the concensus is to continue to keep taking the medication...so I'll do that.
Thanks for your quick response. You all ROCK! I just would like my world to NOT rock anymore, if you get my drift!
Timaca
Posts: 2872 | From above 7,000 ft in a pine forest | Registered: Feb 2005
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