C. Difficile Infection

timp
timp Member Posts: 14
edited March 2014 in Esophageal Cancer #1
Dianna is in her third week of chemo/radiation treatment prior to surgery. She had been having a terrible time with her nutritional formula. Could not take the recommended amounts, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea about one hour after beginning tube feeding. Thursday AM she got much worse and began to run a fever. We headed for the ER. By the time we arrived and checked in, her fever was 102, rapid heart beat, very low blood pressure and chills and shakes. They admitted her and ran cultures of everything. She has C. Difficile and she is one really sick puppy. No wonder her nutrition had not been going well.

The proposed treatment course is Flagyl antibiotic thru the Porta-cath, Vancomycin thru the feeding port. She will be put on TPN (intravenous nutrition) to give the intestine a chance to rest and recover, then we will try to gradually go back on tube feeding. Chemo and radiation must be postponed indefinitely until this can be cleared up and she can regain some strength.

Have others on the list had any experience with this infection? What courses of treatment were recommended? How effective do you think they were? How long might it take for recovery? The Dr. just says several days in the hospital will be required. I am quite concerned.

Tim

Comments

  • oriontj
    oriontj Member Posts: 375
    #2
    My cousin had c. diff and it
    My cousin had c. diff and it was difficult to get rid of...also her son in law, same hospital. She was really sick with it but eventually recovered. Hopefully the anti biotics and flagyl will kick in really soon.

    orion
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #3
    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • timp
    timp Member Posts: 14
    #4
    oriontj said:

    My cousin had c. diff and it
    My cousin had c. diff and it was difficult to get rid of...also her son in law, same hospital. She was really sick with it but eventually recovered. Hopefully the anti biotics and flagyl will kick in really soon.

    orion

    Bill and Loretta,
    Thanks for
    Bill and Loretta,

    Thanks for your extensive research on C.Difficile. I had done just enough to make me a bit crazy because it is so nasty. Looks like Dianna is getting what is generally recommended for treatment, but the effects from the infection are so much more severe because of her compromised immune system. Her fever has held steady at 99.6 for the last couple of days, but the diarrhea is still massive. I can't believe the amount of stuff being put through her Porta-cath port. She is getting her nutrition, plus several drugs plus bag after bag of saline to try keep up with the fluids loss.

    The Dr. is encouraged, but says we have to take it a day at a time. One thing I have learned from reading posts on this site is that caregivers must spend a lot of time waiting and hoping.

    Tim
  • Tina Blondek
    Tina Blondek Member Posts: 1,500 Member
    #5
    timp said:

    Bill and Loretta,
    Thanks for
    Bill and Loretta,

    Thanks for your extensive research on C.Difficile. I had done just enough to make me a bit crazy because it is so nasty. Looks like Dianna is getting what is generally recommended for treatment, but the effects from the infection are so much more severe because of her compromised immune system. Her fever has held steady at 99.6 for the last couple of days, but the diarrhea is still massive. I can't believe the amount of stuff being put through her Porta-cath port. She is getting her nutrition, plus several drugs plus bag after bag of saline to try keep up with the fluids loss.

    The Dr. is encouraged, but says we have to take it a day at a time. One thing I have learned from reading posts on this site is that caregivers must spend a lot of time waiting and hoping.

    Tim

    Many Prayers for Dianna's Recovery
    Hi Tim and Dianna,
    So sorry to hear of your recent set back. Ugh! Sounds like a real nasty sickness to have to deal with. I am happy to hear that she is under drs care and in the hospital. Is she at UVA?
    First things first, get rid of this infection, recover, and then move on to beating this cancer. Yes Tim, as a caregiver, you do go through lots of waiting! Well, as the saying goes...good things do come to those of us who wait! Best of luck to you both. Keep in touch.
    We will be praying for you. Peace.
    Tina
  • Potllih
    Potllih Member Posts: 1
    #6
    C Diff
    My father has just left the hospital almost 3 weeks after being admitted with similar symptoms. He picked up this C Diff infection during a week long hospital stay in April, and had the symptoms for a couple of weeks before becoming very ill one night and had to be rushed to the ER. Sadly his cancer, though treatable, was advanced, and the infection weakened him so much through dehydration, lack of nutrition, etc that chemo and radiation are no longer options. We've been advised to plan for the inevitable. I expect that Dianna is in better physical condition, and will fight this off quicker. I hope she gets out of the hospital as soon as possible, it's no place for a sick person.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #7
    Potllih said:

    C Diff
    My father has just left the hospital almost 3 weeks after being admitted with similar symptoms. He picked up this C Diff infection during a week long hospital stay in April, and had the symptoms for a couple of weeks before becoming very ill one night and had to be rushed to the ER. Sadly his cancer, though treatable, was advanced, and the infection weakened him so much through dehydration, lack of nutrition, etc that chemo and radiation are no longer options. We've been advised to plan for the inevitable. I expect that Dianna is in better physical condition, and will fight this off quicker. I hope she gets out of the hospital as soon as possible, it's no place for a sick person.

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • Hope_Faith
    Hope_Faith Member Posts: 150
    #8
    Hubby had/has C-diff
    Hi there.
    Sorry to hear about the C-diff. My hubby (age 40) contracted it in the hospital when he had his esophagectomy last Dec.'09. He had a really hard time with it because it wasn't diagnosed right away. He was given Flagyl and that did help, but it caused him to be very nauseated and couldn't hold any food down. He pretty much stopped eating and refused the formula until the diarrhea went away. Needless to say, he lost 110 lbs. since last Dec. He looks great now! :)
    However, he did end up with an infection at the feeding tube site and had to go on antibiotics for that. Well, the C-diff rared its ugly head again - and they put him back on the Flagyl. He was going downhill because he couldn't eat - even the thought or sight of food made him very nauseated. When we told his Dr. this, he finally gave my hubby Vancomycin and we're hoping that's going to work. He's been on it a day and a half and so far, no nausea! :)
    I hope your wife is feeling better and that the med's are working for her so that she can resume her treatments. I'll be praying for you guys.
    ~Shelly

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