Mark back in hospital

MarksKerry
MarksKerry Member Posts: 34
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Well, Mark has landed himself back in the hospital. The c. diff has created so much diarrhea for so long that the dehydration was starting to up his heart rate and BP. So, we're back. I suppose the 'good news' is that we are way past his deductible for the year, so it's 'free', he has an enormous room with a view of 10 mountains here in Bend (2 huge banks of windows) and the food is good here, and if his appetite ever perks up, he can have free rein! Other than that -- my question to all is whether anyone else has gotten c. diff while on Folfox? They are trying to blame it on antibiotics he took in August, but we are wondering if the chemo is exacerbating it -- and if so, will he get past it, or will every round of chemo bring it on. I know that's convoluted, but hoping someone will understand what I mean, and might have an answer!
Many thanks -- and blessings to all!
Kerry

Comments

  • NWmom
    NWmom Member Posts: 80
    #2
    Hi Kerry,
    I'm not sure about the c. diff as it relates to chemo. I do know about c diff. because my daughter has had it twice. (Pretty severely the first time). It is generally due to antibiotics, though I do know of another case where someone got it and was not on antibiotics. I just wanted to make sure they told you that you can get past it with the right meds, BUT he will forever be susceptible to it. He will always have to be careful while on antibiotics. We have to give my daughter megadoses of probiotics whenever she is on antibiotics.
    Hope the weather in Bend has been nice. It was pretty windy here in the Portland area last week...
    Heather
  • MarksKerry
    MarksKerry Member Posts: 34
    #3
    NWmom said:

    Hi Kerry,
    I'm not sure about the c. diff as it relates to chemo. I do know about c diff. because my daughter has had it twice. (Pretty severely the first time). It is generally due to antibiotics, though I do know of another case where someone got it and was not on antibiotics. I just wanted to make sure they told you that you can get past it with the right meds, BUT he will forever be susceptible to it. He will always have to be careful while on antibiotics. We have to give my daughter megadoses of probiotics whenever she is on antibiotics.
    Hope the weather in Bend has been nice. It was pretty windy here in the Portland area last week...
    Heather

    Heather - thanks for the input! He's been on probiotics, but I guess not enough, or whatever. I was afraid this might be an ongoing issue; we'll keep this in our hat for future reference. He's been a pretty sick puppy. We had lots of wind here as well, but nothing like the coast! Now it's just cold - but really clear and lovely.
    Thanks again
    Kerry
  • musiclover
    musiclover Member Posts: 242
    #4
    MarksKerry said:

    Heather - thanks for the input! He's been on probiotics, but I guess not enough, or whatever. I was afraid this might be an ongoing issue; we'll keep this in our hat for future reference. He's been a pretty sick puppy. We had lots of wind here as well, but nothing like the coast! Now it's just cold - but really clear and lovely.
    Thanks again
    Kerry

    Kerry, sorry to hear Mark is in the hospital. My friend Mark spend last Christmas in the hospital so I know how that is. What is c. diff? Hope he has a speedy recovery and is home soon for the holidays.
    Kathryn
  • suezav
    suezav Member Posts: 42
    #5
    NWmom said:

    Hi Kerry,
    I'm not sure about the c. diff as it relates to chemo. I do know about c diff. because my daughter has had it twice. (Pretty severely the first time). It is generally due to antibiotics, though I do know of another case where someone got it and was not on antibiotics. I just wanted to make sure they told you that you can get past it with the right meds, BUT he will forever be susceptible to it. He will always have to be careful while on antibiotics. We have to give my daughter megadoses of probiotics whenever she is on antibiotics.
    Hope the weather in Bend has been nice. It was pretty windy here in the Portland area last week...
    Heather

    hi kerry. my daughter had c diff while on chemo, also. she was dx in april 05 and was on VERY heavy duty antibiotics shortly after that while spending 10 days in the hospital with a terrible infection. she got c diff that august and spent a week in the hospital. she was also on folfox at the time. we were told that the antibiotics changed the bacteria in her digestive track and the chemo suppressed her immune system so she was more suseptible. she was given flagyl and then vancomycin and recovered very well. she was only 22 yrs old at the time and actually enjoyed being 10 lbs thinner after her ordeal. (guess that was her silver lining) much good luck to your husband and you on your journey. there is light at the end of the tunnel. susan
  • MarksKerry
    MarksKerry Member Posts: 34
    #6
    suezav said:

    hi kerry. my daughter had c diff while on chemo, also. she was dx in april 05 and was on VERY heavy duty antibiotics shortly after that while spending 10 days in the hospital with a terrible infection. she got c diff that august and spent a week in the hospital. she was also on folfox at the time. we were told that the antibiotics changed the bacteria in her digestive track and the chemo suppressed her immune system so she was more suseptible. she was given flagyl and then vancomycin and recovered very well. she was only 22 yrs old at the time and actually enjoyed being 10 lbs thinner after her ordeal. (guess that was her silver lining) much good luck to your husband and you on your journey. there is light at the end of the tunnel. susan

    for Kathryn - c. diff is one of the bacteria we all have in our colon, but if the 'good' ones get reduced for any reason, the c. diff goes wild and creates profuse diarrhea.
    Susan -- how far into treatment was your daughter when she had this problem? Was she able to continue her chemo treatmens once the c.diff got under control? Mark has had 4 chemo treatments and never had any diarrhea at all! We are, of course, trying to figure out the 'future' from here! One day at a time....
    Thanks
    Kerry
  • ron50
    ron50 Member Posts: 1,723 Member
    #7
    MarksKerry said:

    for Kathryn - c. diff is one of the bacteria we all have in our colon, but if the 'good' ones get reduced for any reason, the c. diff goes wild and creates profuse diarrhea.
    Susan -- how far into treatment was your daughter when she had this problem? Was she able to continue her chemo treatmens once the c.diff got under control? Mark has had 4 chemo treatments and never had any diarrhea at all! We are, of course, trying to figure out the 'future' from here! One day at a time....
    Thanks
    Kerry

    Hi Kerry,
    I had major problems when I started chem,5fu and leucovorin. I was visiting the loo up to 20 times a day. My onc described it as bowel ossmosis and told me I was heading for renal failure . At that stage he switched me to a year of weakly infusions of 5fu backed up every second week withlevamisole. My gp suggested I take buscopan tablets and between the two I managed to get thru chemo. (ps That was 9 yrs ago) Ron.
  • suezav
    suezav Member Posts: 42
    #8
    MarksKerry said:

    for Kathryn - c. diff is one of the bacteria we all have in our colon, but if the 'good' ones get reduced for any reason, the c. diff goes wild and creates profuse diarrhea.
    Susan -- how far into treatment was your daughter when she had this problem? Was she able to continue her chemo treatmens once the c.diff got under control? Mark has had 4 chemo treatments and never had any diarrhea at all! We are, of course, trying to figure out the 'future' from here! One day at a time....
    Thanks
    Kerry

    kerry, my daughter was able to continue treatment once the c diff subsided. i think she had completed 5 treatments before c diff and 1 afterwards (hard to remember, it's all a blur). her doctors had her wait for 8 weeks after the end of chemo before she had her surgery. (stage 3c rectal) 4 weeks after surgery she started radiation. she had 6 weeks of that with 5fu. 4 weeks after that she began chemo again which lasted for 8 more treatments. she's definitely our hero! you will get though all of this and one day it will all be a blur to you too. susan

Discussion Boards