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
