C-Diff

CypressCynthia said:

Kari, I hate, hate that you
Kari, I hate, hate that you are going through this and I'm sending positive healing energy and hugs your way!

Clostridium difficile is a bacteria that may or may not reside in a healthy colon. The problem comes when the c diff takes over the good bacteria in your intestine. This usually occurs after a course of antibiotics. Why? Antibiotics "sterilize" your colon. They wipe out good and bad bacteria in your colon and can cause a super growth of bad bacteria.

Once you have the c diff, you must, must follow medical advice carefully as it is a potentially very dangerous diarrhea. This usually means taking flagyl plus another antibiotic such as vancomycin. Follow carefully any other medical advice. Make sure you wash, wash, wash your hands after every bm as you can reinfect yourself.

The flagyl may make your feel pretty cruddy as, as my gi doc said, "flagyl is not a walk in the park." Eat what you can tolerate: clear liquids until the diarrhea subsides, then soups, potatoes, ginger ale, boiled eggs--whatever you can tolerate. Concentrate on replacing fluids and electrolytes more than solid food until you are better.

Just as important...when you are at the end of treatment and able to tolerate it, you need to reestablish the good bacteria in your gut. Really begin to eat yogurt with active cultures then. Also, your pharmacist can direct you to probiotic capsules to take with meals.

Hope this helps! I just did a great deal of reading on c diff, because I just got over a nasty bacterial gut infection. My c diff screen was negative and my physician thinks I may have had salmonella as we have had a community outbreak.

A heads up to all of you out there. We are immunocompromised--a fact that I personally like to deny ;-) Be careful with what you eat: wash your produce and avoid raw sprouts. Always wash your hands after going to the bathroom and keep hand sanitizer with you. Use it often. If you take antibiotics, ask about a probiotic and notify your health care provider immediately if you are having diarrhea.

Now enough with my lecturing. I just can't help myself. With a neurology professor father and being an NNP, I just grew up this way ;-)

Please get better soon Kari. I so sympathize with you right now. And pm me if I can help in any way.

See: http://www.cdc.gov/HAI/organisms/cdiff/Cdiff_infect.html

CypressCynthia said:

Yay! I am sooo relieved. I
Yay! I am sooo relieved. I have been praying for you. Big (((hugs))) and take it easy. And don't forget your probiotics!

Bella Luna said:

Hugs
Miles of Love back at you sweet Kari. I am sorry to hear about the infection. So glad they diagnosed what the problem is and are quick about correcting it. Hang in there, keep going! Don't be a stranger. Drop a line and let us know how you are doing from time to time.

Hugs.

jnl said:

Kari, how are you doing now?
Kari, how are you doing now?

Hugs, Leeza

mom62 said:

Not a Problem
I don't think anything can gross me out anymore. After seeing my doctor open my incision in front of me and I didn't faint I figure I can handle it all. I also have three kids. Glad your feeling better. That is a horrible thing to have to deal with. Thinking of you.

Terry

CypressCynthia said:

Kari, How are you? I have
Kari, How are you? I have been thinking about you and praying that you are on the mend. (((Hugs)))

Noel said:

Thanks New Flower for the
Thanks New Flower for the update on Kari. Please let her know that we are still praying for her.


Hugs, Noel

LoveBabyJesus said:

Hi Kari!!! I posted asking about you, and then came across this post. So sorry you had such a bad experience!!!! Glad you're feeling better though. Prayers are always with you.

moths said:

C diff
Hi,
I had C diff last year after lots of antibiotics. Luckily, the Flagil got rid of it pretty quickly.