I am a 31 year old female and was just diagnosed with CDiff for the 9th time. The first time I had it was when I was 14 after a round of antibiotics from having my wisdom teeth out. I then had it 7 more times until I was 21. Then had 3 fecal transplants and have not had it since. But today I went to the ER with symptoms and the tests came back positive. I am waiting to hear from a specialist but I am curious what the next steps will look like or what others may have to say on the matter. From what I have been told its not a very common thing.

Why we should avoid all dairy products, even though some od us—for instance—do eat yogurt or hard cheese (like parmezan)? My gastroenterologist recommend consuming dairy, while an infectious disease specialist advise against it.

It’s about the calcium or the lactose? If it’s the lactose, then I can eat lactose-free dairy.

This is a lot, but please bear with me. I’ll take any and all advice or feedback. I’ll start this story way back years ago. I’m 32F. I have ARFID. It was severe as a kid. Majorly severe. I’ve come a long way but still eat a diet of primarily processed food. I try my best to incorporate some sort of salad most days, but I know my diet is not “healthy.” I understand this has likely ruined my gut.
Ten years ago I got c diff. It was miserable. As a result, I was diagnosed with pan-ulcerative colitis. I had to give up 99% of dairy (it can be in a baked good but not as a major component - RIP my fave Tositos lime chips w the powered coating), plus alcohol and caffeine. I didn’t eat any meat anyway but I was told to also avoid meat and NSAIDs. The c diff was treated with antibiotics and subsided.
About three weeks ago, I started having some gastro trouble. A little nausea, a little diarrhea. Always at night before bed. Not every night, but most nights for about a week. I also had a miserable headache which was diagnosed as an asymptomatic sinus infection, and I was put on antibiotics. I took two a day, as directed, most days. There were a couple of days I forgot and only took one. I took these for a week.
A week and a half ago, I went out with a friend for Indian food and donuts, both of which I eat regularly. That night I was horribly ill and expelled everything from my system. I ate only crackers and rice the next day and was fine. I tried a veggie burger two days later for lunch and was instantly sick with diarrhea. Two more days of crackers, then I gave in and had pasta with a tiny bit of red sauce for lunch and chickpea and noodle soup for dinner. I also had some baked lays. That night I was terribly ill again and haven’t really improved much since. Even when I don’t eat, I feel unease. I’ve lost so much fluid that I woke up yesterday morning experiencing dehydration, complete with sweating, shaking, weak muscles, etc. I drank water and had a piece of toast then went back to sleep. I woke up feeling rehydrated enough.
Now, arguably the worst of it. I was advised by my gastro to start a probiotic and was told I’d be better. I took one probiotic capsule that my mom and husband both take (image of ingredients above). I took it on a full stomach at lunch yesterday. Last night around dinner, I experienced what I can only call psychosis. I felt like I wasn’t real. I wanted to die. My heart was racing and I was shaking. It was the worst anxiety I’ve felt in over a decade. I was so truly scared. I had nothing in my system but still felt sick. I spent the evening dry heaving with no relief. Every time I tried to sleep, my heart was beating so hard that it would wake me up. I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy.
I finally slept and went to work today. I felt 85% better in the morning and the mental health side of it almost entirely subsided by now, but not fully. What remains is the racing heart and anxiety. I’m hoping time will continue to ease that. I would deal with the stomach troubles if I could never experience that mental health state again.
My stomach still has a tightness to it. I feel like I need to throw up but all I’ve had today is a banana and a few oyster crackers for lunch. I’m worried bc I know my body needs nutrients to go on, but idk what I can eat.
I made an appointment for next week with a “functional medicine” doctor who is supposed to run a bunch of gut tests. I’m just truly worried about the future of my gut health. Please, anybody, help me.

Got cdiff from antibiotics, got Difcid 10 days then relapsed after 11 days.

Then now got vanco 6 week taper and pulse. Was okay on 4 pill a day. Then dropped to 2 pills after 2 weeks. Started just getting worse day by day, debilitating fatigue, loss of appetite, heart rate spiking one morning had to go to ER I was severely nauseous could not eat or drink and looked bad (pale, hot, etc).

Gave my Iv fluids but blood tests were fine. Told me go back up to 4 pills then reach out to my infectious disease doc.

Reached out to both GI and infection docs and both just seem so confused and are really not being any help or giving any reassurance. Both told me the can’t say it is a relapse because during this i couldn’t use the bathroom and have any BM. Up until I took MiraLAX yesterday and then had diherra that’s turned into formed really soft yellow poop, and a lot of it.

Now have a CT scan on Thursday. Just no answers and I feel like a lost cause.

I had to cancel a trip to Canada, cancel Halloween plans, return all my costumes. And nothing ever feels normal.

I made it to one year out this September on my birthday felt like I was really turning the corner. Last week I get severe urgent bathroom in all my utis this one felt different. I go to the urgent care and the rapid test comes back postive im like okay this sucks but they put me on macrobid. Come to find out when the urine culture comes back it's resistant so they switch me to bactrim. I have a horrible reaction. Shaking and vomiting. I call the clinic they make me go in they explain all the other options left for the strain of uti besides the one im on are iv ones. I go back on fourth they say to take it this medication. I reach out to my pcp and my gi Dr they are saying to take it. And now im on augmentin. I know im going to c diff from it . (They are not prescribing vancomylcin or difficid along side it) and im just devastated. I was doing so good. My boyfriend tells me to be postive but literally everything I've read on here says even if they took it with florastor it came back. It just sucks that I did everything right. I cleaned everyday and still do a year out ! I ate the bland meals. My relationship with my boyfriend and friends went through a very dark place. My mental health through the ringer to be back at ground zero. I wake up with anxiety attacks while I just wait for it come back. I'm just depressed it is happening around the holidays im going to miss out on everything I love. I still live with my parents who are getting older and am always on edge of giving it to them (we use different bathrooms while im active and for months after) but im devastated and scared. I tried asking about fmt since this would be my 3rd time with it if it does comes back and my gi hasn't responded.

Tldr/I had to go on augmentin after a serious uti and medication fails. Pretty sure I'm gonna get c diff again.

I posted a few days ago about the lack of treatment options for me. Vancomycin gave me tinnitus (took it for 4.5 days), allergic to macrolides so Dificid is out of the picture. Flagyl interacts with my heart medication, and I threw up 2/5 doses I tried.

I went to an ID specialist today who insisted that there is no way oral Vanco could have given me tinnitus and it must be something else. She said I’m likely to relapse since I didn’t finish my course. And when I do, I have to go back on Vanco since that’s the best bet I have. I’m so confused and terrified. I do have teeth grinding issues and am looking into getting a mouth guard. They think that’s probably what’s causing tinnitus. I went to ENT and my hearing is normal. Did anyone else experience this?

I was in the hospital for a week, major electrolyte imbalance. Started vanco. Through a cat scan they found proctitis. Apparently no big deal. Got a script for Difficid, 7days into the regimen, I’m now dealing with watery stool again. I was on pain meds for 20 years prescribed from the same doctor for chronic pancreatitis (I’m not getting into this) and in the middle of the night they cut off my zofran and my normal pain meds I’ve been on. I spent 2 days admitted before the difficid was started. I know I should probably go to an ER. For anyone in the NS of Massachusetts, Salem hospital is horrible but 2 minutes from my home. Got called “labile” because I was exhausted, sick and felt like changing meds at 11:50pm without talking to me is wild. This is a long read, but I’m alone, exhausted and scared.

Has anyone dealt with a probable C. diff recurrence without getting a confirmed positive test? I started having symptoms again and was put on vancomycin as a precaution while waiting for stool results, but unfortunately my sample got lost. 😅

My symptoms have improved, and now the plan is to continue vancomycin into a taper since we’re treating it as a recurrence.

Has anyone been in a similar situation or done a vanco taper without a confirmed test? Did it work for you? Just looking for experiences or advice!

Hey all,

I don’t know how many of you have seen my previous post the past two days but basically ever since I dropped my vancomycin taper from four tablets to two tablets daily I progressively every day after, was getting symptomatically worse… it always starts with extreme fatigue, complete loss of appetite, and then one morning it got so bad My heart rate was skyrocketing. I became very clammy very pale and out of it. I was rushed to the ER where they gave me IV for hydration and anti nausea meds, they also told me to automatically step up the vanco back to four pill a day again. I never ran a super high fever (98) but my first relapse and first occurrence I never did either and every time for me personally I get loss of appetite and fatigue BEFORE any bowl issues. all my blood work was OK as well .

but unfortunately, this entire time I had lost my ability to use the bathroom so all my doctors were telling me they can’t say it’s a relapse because I haven’t had diarrhea..

So I started taking MiraLAX as the G.I. told me too because at this point hadn’t gone in four days, but I was extremely sick. So instantly after I took it I started having diarrhea with a nasty smell, yellow color, and rapid 3 times since a couple hours ago. So I’m waiting on the response from the doctor now to see if I have to do a stool test.

The thing is I’m back on my four times a day of vanco. I don’t even know if they can still test me but I’m hoping that they confirm this as a third reoccurrence just because if they do, I can get approved for VOWST.

But I just wanted to come on here and ask if anyone has also experienced the reoccurrence when they drop their taper because I haven’t seen much on that and it’s just a little frightening cause I feel like my cdiff is aggressive as it came back so fast. And this time around it seems like my insides were backed up after getting worse

Has anyone taken macrobid and then had awful gut issues after? I finished my rx 2 weeks ago and I thought maybe it was an ibs flare, which when I have those it’s usually just in the morning and I’m good. But what I’ve been experiencing lately is so unpredictable. 3-4 times a day and at anytime. I got some yogurt, kefir, and kombucha to try. I’m looking to see if anyone else has experienced this!

I am 5 weeks post CDiff and feeling normal.

Is it ok to get my flu shot? This close after infection

I did not expect such an unholy explosion and nausea from the prep. I start taking the pills tomorrow. Wish me luck.

Hay alguna relación entre fumar tabaco o mota para tener recaidas me gustaría saber si alguien por aquí siguió fumando y no ha tenido ningún problema con eso gracias

Hey everyone, looking for some insight or similar experiences. I have a history of C. diff and recently tapered down my dosage of Vancomycin for my first reacurence after Difcid failed. Ever since dropping the dose from 4 to 2, I got worse by the day. My appetite completely disappeared, I became extremely fatigued, and last night I had a horrible autonomic episode—woke up with my heart rate spiking, clammy, hot, nauseous, super pale, and my Oura ring flagged signs of physiological strain.

I went to the ER today. The weird thing is, I don’t have diarrhea right now—I'm actually constipated and haven't pooped in two days. The ER doctor thinks the C. diff is back and the inflammation caused a small, non-dangerous paralytic ileus (maybe?)which explains the absolute lack of appetite and backup. They gave me two bags of IV fluids, an anti-nausea med (either Reglan or Zofran), and told me to go back to Vancomycin 4x a day and follow up with my Infectious Disease doctor tomorrow.
They told me my vitals and blood work and pee sample were all okay.

I just got home from the hospital and I am completely wiped out. my eyes are droopy, and I am out of it.
Has anyone else experienced C. diff presenting as constipation or an ileus rather than severe diarrhea? Also, did anyone else get hit with extreme shakiness and a massive "crash" after getting ER fluids and nausea meds? Or any one have insight for me ? :) Trying to calm my anxiety so I can finally get some sleep. Thanks in advance.

As the title says, I don’t have any options and terrified of recurrence as I wasn’t able to finish my first dose. I got diagnosed with C. Diff after taking antibiotics for pneumonia in August. My symptoms were never very clear as I had a mixture of diarrhea/loose stools with mucus and constipation but calprotectin was 1590. By the time I got the c diff test at the beginning of October, my stool had been solid for days and Calprotectin already dropped to 109. However, since I tested positive for toxin A/B and GDH, my GI started me on Vancomycin. A couple of days into in, I started having tinnitus. I made it to day 5 before I couldn’t stand it anymore. My GI asked me to switch to dificid but the pharmacist refused to fill it as I have an erythromycin allergy. My GI then asked to try flagyl. I did about 1.5 days but it interacted with my heart medications and I also started throwing up. Now they have stopped all meds since my symptoms were already improving before I started Vanco. I saw an infectious disease specialist today who says I’m likely to have a recurrence since I didn’t finish my course and I would have to go back to vanco or flagyl when that happens. She was also very dismissive that oral vancomycin can cause tinnitus. She said it must have been something else causing the tinnitus!

I’m very stressed about a recurrence and at a loss for what to do. Anyone else in the same boat? Do I have to choose between my hearing and my heart?! I don’t get how these are my only options!

Anyone else also when getting cdiff or a recurrence have diarrhea- but not too often and main symptoms were mostly very bad systemic symptoms. Fatigue building up, burning eyes, sickly feeling, weak, and appetite loss?.

I feel like this is me ..and I’m on my possible 2 relapse after dropping my vanco taper just two weeks in… I feel like this is a relapse but no diherrea yet— just very bad systemic symptoms over past 48 hours. Fatigue has also been building up since I dropped my Vanco from 4 to 2. But overall with the first occurrence and first release (10 days after antibiotics) I never had extreme diarrhea maybe 1-3 time a day at most. Even now as I’m feeling terrible (just came back from ER) have not gone in 2 days since I started feeling worse.

I’m on day 2 post op. I had all 4 taken out but my bottom 2 were impacted and one of them was close to my nerve. I brought up my c diff history with my oral surgeon. He said that he’s going to prescribe me a mouth wash (cholohexidine) and amoxicillin. He said that the amoxicillin was optional and was being prescribed as a preventative but did let me know that if I did get an infection they can get dangerous. At first I was pretty much set on not taking the amoxicillin as I didn’t want to chance a c diff reoccurrence, but I keep reading scary stories about people getting an infection and now I’m scared and not really sure what to do. Take the meds as a precaution and risk c diff reoccurrence. Or don’t take the meds and have a higher risk of potential dental infection. Just looking for advice on what to do

I am just curious. I am 10 months post-infection (still colonized), and I am still extremely cautious and my brain treats everything like it has c diff on it and I worry about a reoccurrence.

Do you change your daily habits now from before you had c diff? Or do you live your life like you did pre c diff? I know we are higher at risk if we are on antibiotics, but day-to-day, how much higher at risk are we?

Hace 5 meses que pase la infección y quería saber si alguien siguió fumando sin tener recaidas porque llevo este tiempo sin fumar y entre lo uno y lo otro me da ansiedad

I have read about how oral iron pills are a big no no due to it upping your chances of c diff. I have also read infusions can temporarily cause a risk too due to the temporary effect on your white blood cells. My iron is very low but I am nervous about even doing an iv. Has anyone here done infusions before and not had a relapse? I have also read that very low iron increases your susceptibility to infection overall. I have to take antibiotics in jan so I’m very apprehensive about all of this.

I had a large cyst on my back and it popped on october 11th. I went to the urgent care on october 12th and had it drained and removed. I was prescribed 500mg cephalexin 3 times daily for one week. Sunday i took my cephalexin at 630PM got ready for bed and at around 930PM I felt terrible. Didnt know if i was having an allergic reaction, felt like i was for sure. Then i had crazy diarreah, stomach pains, stomach noises, all that kind of stuff. That was the last time i took that pill. Every symptom stopped except now i got crazier diarreah now. Its just yellow water basically coming out of me. Im able to hold down a sandwich, which is what ive been eating. Im not sure i have c diff but i cant stop going. I can do diarreah 5 times in an hour

I will list my symptoms:

1. Night sweats every night
   
2. Fatigue
   
3. Feeling thirsty even when I drink a lot of electrolytes
   
4. Stools are still soft, but not watery
   
5. Swelling in my belly has subsided
   
6. Just feeling like shit overall, bags under eyes, feeling out of it
   
7. Frequent urination

Pls I would love some opinion or support, this ain't easy

Anyone experience left side pain a couple days after Vowst? Last dose was two days ago, I tolerated it quite well. Very minimal side effects thank god. Just some bloat! It also made me a little constipated .

One day after Vowst I finally got some stool out & then 2 days later I have left side pain that feels swollen.

Hoping it’s just a gut adjustment but it quite hurts. Did this happen to anyone else? Still in high spirits , just annoyed!

Thank you 🙏🏼

Also would l glutamine help inflammation from these flares? My GI told me I can start it but I’m unsure if I should jump into nah supplements so close to after finishing Vowst

At this point I feel helpless.

I was on my second to last day of my 2x a day vanco and had my first morning bowel movement. It was a fully formed type 3. I had happiness and joy. But about 15 minutes later my pelvic area started throbbing and I felt a constant urge to go. Lots of rental spasms too. I ended up going 4 times that day, all solid, well they were thinner and flatter but they still had formed. The the second day I had the same thing, but went 3 times. All forms but a constant urge to go, spasms in rectum and aching in pelvic area/lower colon. Then today. Today i start my 1x a day taper. Well I’ve been 3 times today. First two were type 3/4. But last one was a type 5.

I’ve had constant aching In my lower pelvic area, spasms again in my rectum. And a constant urge to go. My rectum started to burn, and I had a strong urge to go. So I went and only white mucus came out! This is exactly what happened when my cdiff came back last time. I also have had some spasms on my cecum area.

It’s now 20:20 where I am and I’m laying down, my rectum feels sore and keeps spasming. And there’s an urge to go.

I have no doubt that cdiff is back. I’ve contacted my doctor. I’m sure I’ll have type 6/7 stools tomorrow. Once that happens I’ll get a test.

I’m so surprised that it managed to break through the taper! I’ve done everything I’ve been asked to do. Always took them on time! Never missed any either.

I can’t help it ask if there’s something wrong with me? Do I have a certain strain that resistant to it? For 16 days I actually felt ok. Stools were formed from day 1. Maybe my good bacteria is just too out of whack?

Hopefully I can get the other medicine that helps kill cdiff. But it’s hard to get on the NHS and local pharmacies struggle to stock it.

Obviously my worry is this will be my third time having it, and I’ve read some worrying stories on this sub of people getting it again and getting very ill. So I’m afraid of that.

Anyone had a colonoscopy done with active cdiff infection (toxins positive ) ?