What Works (Main Page)
Feb 21st, 2009 by admin
I had symptoms all week following an appendectomy. And for two years, I had multiple relapses back into the terrible diarrhea, fevers, and cramps.
My goal is to quickly show others what DID work, because it took so long to get answers that worked for me.
Please seek a qualified physician for all of your medical needs and questions. I’m not a physician, I’m just a biochemistry dude sharing my story of having C Diff.
First, get yourself better.*
In a nutshell, here is what worked for me and many others:
- Metronidazole (Flagyl) – Best antiobiotic to fight C Diff
- Vancomycin – Best antibiotic if Metronidazole doesn’t work
- Saccharomyces Boulardii (Florastor) – Yeast probiotic used with and after Metronidazole or Vancomycin.
- Lactobacillus GG (Culturelle) – Bacteria probiotic used with and after Metronidazole or Vancomycin.
- DanActive (Dannon) – Yogurt drink that has a study suggesting it prevented C Diff.
There are certainly other treatments available from as extreme as a fecal transplant to other less effective ways to deal with symptoms. You’ll want to learn as much as you can about treatments and risks. To start learning, see C Diff or My Case History. Remember, no one cares about your health as much as you do.
Second, join us on the crusade to prevent C Diff.
Most of the spread is in healthcare settings. C Diff is spread via the fecal-oral route mostly. C Diff spores last a long time if not killed with bleach or dry heat. Why is it that the very place we go to get well, we end up getting infected with one of the worst bacterias?
I am scared to death that I would ever have to be admitted to a hospital again! How can we start cleaning our healthcare institutions of C Diff and other superbugs? Comments please!
* Please do not use this site to diagnose and/or treat any disease or suspected disease. Please seek a qualified physician for all of your medical needs and questions. I’m not a physician, I’m just sharing my story regarding C Diff.Not what you were hoping to find here?
Please comment below what you’d like to see more …please?
I’d love to help C Diff sufferers and family. (it can be anonymous and 1-button click to submit)
This page has the following sub pages.
http://www.cdiff-support.co.uk/
http://www.cdiffsupport.com/
Have you visited these sites?
I am putting a link to your article on them
Roy
Wow, sorry to hear how long you struggled with this. My mother has had 3 bouts of C Diff so far… the first 2 of which she nearly did not survive. We spent a lot of time in ICU hoping she would live thru it.
One other thing to remember is that the spores are much like an egg or seed, with a hard outer shell. They’ll continue to “hide” in the appendix and colon. The Flagyl and Vancomycin don’t kill the spores, only the living bacteria… so even if you handwash faithfully with hot water and soap, and bleach everything in site, you can still re-infect. One of the most frustrating things for my mom is that she felt she was strictly following docs orders and doing what she was supposed to do exactly as told… and yet, she still got sick again. It wasn’t until we had a better understanding how the spores work that this started to make more sense and she realized she wasn’t making herself sick.
Mom JUST came home 2 days ago and is still on small doses of vancomycin. She is taking Florastor and eating 2 Activia a day as well.
One big concern for us is the damage C Diff can cause to major organs as well. So if you experience symptoms, go get help asap! Don’t walk, run, to the doc…
I am currently going thru my third bout of this. I am a otherwise healthy 42 year old female. I had a sinus infection a few months ago for which my Dr. prescribed Amoxicillian. That is when the fun started… I didn’t know what I had for over a week and then when I did finally go to the Dr. he didn’t believe that a healthy person could have this. I started taking Metronidazole (Flagyl) for 10 days and was fine for about 4 days… then it returned with an attitude. I was then put on the Vancomycin and flagyl, (Culturelle), Florastor at the same time with hopes this would work shortly after I was put in the hospital for three days for dehydration. I am and was drinking 120oz of water a day and am still dehydrated. I have just called the Dr. and left a message that guess what it is back again right at a week being off the antibiotics. I have a refil of the Vancomycin and will start that as soon as I get home. What the heck will happen if this never clears up???
I have been clear for almost 7 months after 3 months of treatment. Things are about back to normal, except I am so tired all the time. My labs don’t show anemia anymore, but I am so lethargic. Is anyone else experiencing this?
I am also very lethargic & feel dehydrated after a 4 week battle with C-Diff. When will I feel normal. I’m eating most foods but always stay near a little girl’s room because it only stays with me 1 1/2hrs. Is that normal also?
Hey guys. I hope everyone is feeling better or your affected family members are doing well. I just got diagnosed with wonderful c- diff a few days ago. I started flagyl and I’m going to buy florastor today and get some acidopholis going as well. I got this because I was on antibiotics because of a uti! I was very angry because I feel alone, its a crappy thing to have (no pun intended! Haha) if anyone has any other ideas that are helpful let me know, or any helpful stories would be appriciated! Good luck to everyone!
My mom has c. diff and was prescribed flagyl which made her really sick and didn’t work anyway. She then took vancomycin for 14 days along with florastor and a good belly drink daily. It is now day 4 after finishing the antibiotics and she was again nauseous today. She never really had too much diarrhea from it just nausea. Is there a timing when she should be taking the probiotics? I want my mom to the way she was and my children miss playing with their grandma. Please help.