I've heard this term numerous times in my life, but until lately I knew very little about it. Thank God I was able to be oblivious for so long, because C-diff is nasty! I've recently become acquainted with this beastly infection, twice. Ugh.
WHAT IS CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE?
*A gut/stool infection with flu like symptoms
*Imbalance in the gut flora (more bad bacteria than good)
*Attack on the lining of the intestines
*Painful, ongoing diarrhea and stomach cramps
*Deadly if left untreated and infection spreads in the body. It can actually perforate the bowel (make a hole in your intestine).
*Contagious through stool (wash your hands after you poo, people!!!)
*Although the bacterial cells can be killed off internally with antibiotics, the C-diff spores can't. The spores can lay dormant for years until it freaks out again. Not cool!
INFECTED GUT
I must admit its crazy frustrating to end up with another stupid health thing that I can't get rid of!! When I started having symptoms, I thought maybe I was having a flare up of Crohns Disease. So my GI doctor had me give a stool sample to test for C-diff. If you have Colitis or Crohns, giving your poo to the lab becomes a regular occurrence. By the way it never becomes less awkward to carry "the bag of shame" through a health clinic. Ha. I've been tested for C-Diff roughly a million times over the past 8 years. Yet this was the first time that results came back positive for the infection.
ANTIBIOTIC CONSEQUENCES
How did I end up with C-diff? Its a known fact that overuse of antibiotics can cause all the good bacteria in the gut to be wiped out, or at the very least, become outnumbered by bad bacteria. Having nothing but bad bacteria residing in the guts is not a good thing. C-diff can run rampant in these environments. I've been on antibiotics for 2+ years now, taking Flagyl and Cipro to help with chronic pouchitis pain. (Pouchitis is inflammation in the J-pouch). Lately I felt that those medications stopped being effective, thus I stopped taking them. Well C-diff typically likes to strike shortly after stopping antibiotic use...and strike it did - FULL FORCE! I became so dehydrated and my body wasn't getting any benefit from food. On top of that, I had THE most horrible pain in my J-pouch. I laid on my couch for days, afraid to eat and afraid to move.
ANTIBIOTIC CONSEQUENCES
How did I end up with C-diff? Its a known fact that overuse of antibiotics can cause all the good bacteria in the gut to be wiped out, or at the very least, become outnumbered by bad bacteria. Having nothing but bad bacteria residing in the guts is not a good thing. C-diff can run rampant in these environments. I've been on antibiotics for 2+ years now, taking Flagyl and Cipro to help with chronic pouchitis pain. (Pouchitis is inflammation in the J-pouch). Lately I felt that those medications stopped being effective, thus I stopped taking them. Well C-diff typically likes to strike shortly after stopping antibiotic use...and strike it did - FULL FORCE! I became so dehydrated and my body wasn't getting any benefit from food. On top of that, I had THE most horrible pain in my J-pouch. I laid on my couch for days, afraid to eat and afraid to move.
TREATMENT
Another important step to battling C-diff is taking probiotics to help replenish the "good" gut bacteria in the intestinal tract. VSL#3 is a probiotic that is specifically for J-pouches and people with IBD. It can be taken in powder form (mixed with food/drink) or it can be taken in a capsule. I used the powder in the past and experienced some less than favorable side effects (mucho gas), so I take the capsules now and no prob, Bob! VSL#3 is an OTC probiotic which requires refrigeration, so a pharmacy must place a special order for it.
RECURRENCE
After I finished my 2 week course of Vancomycin, I felt okay for a week...Then my symptoms came back...while I was out of state on a vacation. Grr! The second time I knew what was happening though, so I called my doctor and got another set of drugs on the way. Research states that about 20% of people with C-Diff will relapse within 1 month. I am one of those people. I am very nervous about future encounters with C-Diff. I can handle diarrhea, but the pain that C-Diff causes on a J-pouch will about make a person pass out!! Once C-Diff has occurred twice, chances of getting it again increases to roughly 60%. I'm probably even more likely to have recurrence of C-Diff because I take Humira. I take Humira to control Crohns Disease, but it super weakens my immune system, making me more susceptible to infections.
Oh yes, this could become a vicious cycle in my life. Let's pray it does not.
Oh yes, this could become a vicious cycle in my life. Let's pray it does not.
Where I've been versus where I am
Two places the same, history repeats itself again
One step forward, two steps back
Am I gaining ground or slowly losing track?
I strive towards the goal ahead,
The past fresh in my mind
Hope remains in what's unseen
Trying not to lose this grasp of mine
The ground is slowly caving in,
Crashing underneath my feet
The mountains crumble and collapse,
They fall and try to bury me
Oh my God, I'm holding onto You,
but this pain is holding onto me
I await the day You call me home
When forever I'll be set free
I myself am going through Cdiff as well. I am a Kidney Transplant patient undergoing immune suppressants.. So like you, I also have a compromised immune system! Are'nt we the lucky ones! I have taken the Flagyl and been eating so much yogurt its just about unbelievable! also taking probiotic pills and a 5 day max cleanse by "Garden or Eaten'" (http://www.amazon.com/Garden-Life-Probiotics-5-Day-Care/dp/B00AR0FREW) seems to be ok. I dont have any of that kinda pain that everyone else seems to have. Just The D and it is also yellow in color? I am new to this gig, but from that which I have been reading. It seems that the "go-to" for everyone that is dealing with this is eventually getting a FMT (fecal microbiota transplant). What are your thoughts on that?
ReplyDeleteThoughts about FMT - AMAZING! Here's my blog about my Fecal Transplant: http://gut-less.blogspot.com/2015/04/poop-pills.html
DeleteMy other suggestion would be start taking VSL#3. Here's my blog about that: http://gut-less.blogspot.com/2015/03/vsl3.html The other big thing I've learned is to avoid sugar. My body just can't handle it! I figured out that for me its basically like dumping a load of BAD bacteria into my guts when I eat cake, etc. I still eat fruits, but try to stay away from sweets as best I can. I really hope you feel better soon!
Could you please contact me at hubbasgirl@aol.com? I would love to ask some questions about c diff and life after FMT...i have had 2. Thank you and I hope to hear from you! :)
ReplyDeleteJust got diagnosed with cdiff. I have a j pouch too...colitis stinks! Dr put Me on metronidazole... I'm so bloated from it... god this better be worth it. Im So at the point of not being able to handle one more thing... sick of being sick.
ReplyDeleteJust got diagnosed with cdiff. I have a j pouch too...colitis stinks! Dr put Me on metronidazole... I'm so bloated from it... god this better be worth it. Im So at the point of not being able to handle one more thing... sick of being sick.
ReplyDeleteThis post is interesting. I am 38 and had a j pouch formed 12 years ago. For the past year I have had c diff. I've tried everything, multiple rounds of flagyl and vancomyacin tapered and pulsed for as many as 6 weeks as well as dificid and hospital fecal transplants (lower route) as well as 7 fecal enemas at home under my Dr's guidance. The c diff symptoms get better while on Vanco or Dificid and at times I test negative for up to 2 weeks after a treatment but it always returns. I also take probiotics including florastor and culturelle and eliminated food allergies as well as follow a very strict diet (gluten free, alcohol free, no red meat etc.). I am disciplined and have even went to the Mayo Clinic. My infectious disease specialist is suggesting fecal transplant via the upper route but my confidence is low due to the failed lower attempts from multiple healthy donors. I'm trying to stay positive but it's impacted my ability to do anything including working. Please help give me guidance if anyone at all has any similar experience or medical input. Right now I'm also taking garlic and turmeric just for the hell of it since I heard they can only help.
ReplyDeleteI have a BCIR pouch since 1995. First few years quite a lot of pouchitis usually managed with flagyl, normally smallish dose like 200x3.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea if the pouchitis was c diff related but now I think c diff is always around but in smaller numbers.
10 days I ate something or caught something and had more output as well as feeling ill. Also had some dental work with amoxycillin and clindamyacin but not much.
This is not like pouchitis that I remember. No fever not so much pain but lots of gas and slight nausea.
Took flagyl for a day but not much effect. Might be C diff.
I'm away from my primary home. Even there Seattle area almost NO doctors even know what a pouch is. In Dallas area now. Looking for a doctor a real crap shoot.
So back on 400x3 flagyl today.
For C Diff you need to be on 500 mg 3 times a day. Not 400 mg. it will not clear up unless you take 500 mg 3 X daily.
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