Clostridium Difficile (C Diff)

[GMFan]

Has anyone had or know anyone who had Clostridium Difficile (commonly referred to as C Diff or C Difficile?) leading to pseudomembranous colitis? This is wrecking havoc on my life and I cannot shake it. I'm quickly learning doctors only know how to use a pen to prescribe more drugs (which don't work for me) and/or rely on biopsies on tests which tell me what I already know. Below is my post where I go more in depth about what's wrong with me. I'm scared I'm not going to be able to work anymore if it gets worse. I believe I contracted it by working in a sewage treatment plant for months around the time I got sick. If anyone has some advice on what to do or what steps to take I'd greatly appreciate it. Antibiotics are not working for me. I'm afraid this will kill me before I get better. I discuss my prior/related issues in my previous post: http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubb...lth#Post3407876 By the way, pottymouth was spot on. I never knew how right he was until my struggles continued. Those closest to me in my life don't seem to care. Imagine those you love laugh or think you're being ridiculous. This is the darkest place on earth to be.

Originally Posted By: pottymouth

I am sorry for your struggle. People mean well, but they will never really understand what you go though. Don't expect them to. They will also grow weary of your struggles after a while and the support will diminish. Even those closest to you will tire of making sacrifices. Some will suspect you of exaggerating or suggest that you are not doing enough to fix the problem. Then there will be those who will give you unsolicited and unwanted advice based upon what happened to their niece's, roommate's, hairdresser's baby cousin who had the same thing as you. Don't take it personally. Most people simply have little endurance for the suffering of others and will either distance themselves from it or try to diminish it's significance in some way. It's their own defense mechanism. What you must learn is to become as self-reliant as possible. Take complete charge of your healthcare. Ask as many questions as you need to. Challenge doctors that you don't agree with. Research all medications and medical procedures to your own satisfaction. I grew up in a culture of "doctor knows best" and have had to completely turn that attitude around. Make sure to care for yourself in every way. Make time to do things you enjoy when you are able. Cultivate new interests. Try to connect with others who suffer with similar health issues if you can find them. They will have useful suggestions for you. I know it's hard, but try to forget about the medical bills. they will be an unavoidable part of your life for the foreseeable future. They will be there whether you worry about them every second or simply do your best to make payments as best you can. Hang in there. A big part of health and recovery is attitude. Keeping positive will help you. Focus on the positives and make the most of them. Good luck to you.

 

[dparm]

Ugh, isn't that one of those ones that's highly-resistant to drugs? I think you need to switch to a hospital + doctors with experience treating it. It's a very serious infection.

 

[spasm3]

c-diff is highly contagious. Alcohol hand cleaners do not kill it. Surfaces need to be cleaned with clorox. What antibiotics have you been on , and how long? Are you seeing a GI specialist?

 

[2004tdigls]

fecal transplant, its gross but it works http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clostridium_difficile#Treatment http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-condi...ic/con-20029664

 

[GMFan]

Yes, so far the strongest of antibiotics are not helping me. Again I believe I picked up a super-bug from working in a sewage plant flooded after a hurricane. I was around raw sewage on an engineering project for months. I was not provided any PPE (personal protective equipment such as masks, gloves or face shield nor trained which according to OSHA safety regulations I should have gotten. I have had $60,000 billed insurance so far. I am on 500mg of Flagyl (Metronidazole) 3x a day and on my third round. So far I have no improvement and my colitis is still active.

 

[dparm]

I'm not a lawyer, but the fact you were working around that stuff with zero training or protective gear just reeks of lawsuit.

 

[2004tdigls]

flagyl is becoming useless, the new strains are resistant to it, this is probably the reason for your treatment failure http://www.cdc.gov/HAI/organisms/cdiff/Cdiff-current-strain.html

 

[spasm3]

You might have a case for a workers comp claim. Sometimes a colectomy is necessary.

 

[Fleetmon]

I had a bout of C-Diff last year after hernia surgery.....I discovered the pain medication allowed me to urinate better and I just sort of ignored the constipation which then developed into diverticulitis which then led to C-Diff according to my surgeon. It laid me up in the hospital for one week with massive doses of antibiotics being administered non-stop. I agree with the advice to find a doctor experienced with treating C-Diff....it is a serious condition. I lost thirty pounds from it. Good luck!

 

[Noey]

oh, dear.. My dad had C-Diff a while back. He went into the hospital for what we all thought was a fairly routine procedure and got it and it almost killed him. It was simply awful for all of us, my thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family. You need an infectious disease specialist. I see you live in the Catskills, I'd high tail it down to one of the NYC hospitals and find the best guy there and get on a solid treatment regimen...unfortunately, treating C-Diff becomes the focus of your life for a while, dont spare any time or expense here. Dad required a bunch of uber powerful antibiotics simultaneously, and only a pro who treats this regularly can know which ones, this isn't something to trust to the local MD on your health plan.

 

[toneydoc]

On a positive note, that is a fairly routine finding in a nursing home or assisted living home setting. And not everybody dies from it. Many people go on to recover and do fine with life after that infection. The key is finding a good doctor who knows how to treat it. You may need to look for a doc who treats older people who are prone to this. Keep searching until you find the right doctor for you. You will find that person Keep up a good attitude and don't get down. Believe you will recover. Good luck

 

[chemman]

GMFan, About 12 years ago I was treated with IV and oral antibiotics for an almost 4 year period for a nasty bone infection, so I can sympathize with you. While I did not get a C diff infection, it was always a concern of both mine and my Infectious Disease specialist. The only explanation we have that makes any sense is that in between oral antibiotic dosages, I would take a probiotic blend oral supplement to try and keep my gut's friendly bacteria alive and well. I found that by taking 3 - 5 capsules of the probiotic blend by the name of PB-8 at least 2 hours after and 2 hours before an oral antibiotic, I was able to avoid all kinds of GI problems including C diff. I know that the Vitamin Shoppe carries PB-8 and it is also available online. While I have no direct evidence, I have heard that some people have successfully treated their diagnosed C diff infections using probiotics taken 3 - 4 times a day until the C diff got overwhelmed by the probiotics and were flushed out of the body. NOTE: I am not a physician and I am in no way offering you or anyone else medical advice. I am only passing along my story. Good Luck!!

 

[Sayjac]

Was thinking about you today GMFan wondering how you were doing. My hope is you'll be able to find a good doctor to get whatever you have under control. Hang in there, continue to search for a doctor that can help you.

 

[The_Eric]

Originally Posted By: 2004tdigls

fecal transplant, its gross but it works http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clostridium_difficile#Treatment http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-condi...ic/con-20029664

I hate to say it, but I agree. When I first started reading this thread, I struggled to remember exactly what c-diff was- that is until I read your post. Then it all came back to me. Some months ago I actually read about this in a bi-monthly magazine put out by a local hospital. Yes, it sounds gross, but is legitimate. The patients they referred to made a very rapid recovery after the "transplant". A link to the article.

 

[Cardiobuck]

Originally Posted By: GMFan

I am on 500mg of Flagyl (Metronidazole) 3x a day and on my third round. So far I have no improvement and my colitis is still active.

Ask your doctor about trying oral Vancomycin--tell him/her some idiot online said it might help. As others have said, look into probiotics and start ingesting them ASAP. This is different than other infections: you are not trying to kill off everything, re-population is the key.

 

[Mr Nice]

Any other employees get sick due to not using PPE and working around raw sewage ?

 

[GMFan]

Originally Posted By: chemman

GMFan, About 12 years ago I was treated with IV and oral antibiotics for an almost 4 year period for a nasty bone infection, so I can sympathize with you. While I did not get a C diff infection, it was always a concern of both mine and my Infectious Disease specialist. The only explanation we have that makes any sense is that in between oral antibiotic dosages, I would take a probiotic blend oral supplement to try and keep my gut's friendly bacteria alive and well. I found that by taking 3 - 5 capsules of the probiotic blend by the name of PB-8 at least 2 hours after and 2 hours before an oral antibiotic, I was able to avoid all kinds of GI problems including C diff. I know that the Vitamin Shoppe carries PB-8 and it is also available online. While I have no direct evidence, I have heard that some people have successfully treated their diagnosed C diff infections using probiotics taken 3 - 4 times a day until the C diff got overwhelmed by the probiotics and were flushed out of the body. NOTE: I am not a physician and I am in no way offering you or anyone else medical advice. I am only passing along my story. Good Luck!!

I am taking 100 billion CTU probiotics I purchased. I have taken them for about 30 days now. I wake up at 2am to take them so it is in between my 10pm and 6am Flagyl dosage to try and help colonization.

Originally Posted By: sayjac

Was thinking about you today GMFan wondering how you were doing. My hope is you'll be able to find a good doctor to get whatever you have under control. Hang in there, continue to search for a doctor that can help you.

Thanks sayjac..today was a very good day. The odd thing about this is that some days are good and some are bad and some are very bad. The good days are what get me through the bad days.

Originally Posted By: Cardiobuck

Originally Posted By: GMFan

I am on 500mg of Flagyl (Metronidazole) 3x a day and on my third round. So far I have no improvement and my colitis is still active.

Ask your doctor about trying oral Vancomycin--tell him/her some idiot online said it might help. As others have said, look into probiotics and start ingesting them ASAP. This is different than other infections: you are not trying to kill off everything, re-population is the key.

My doctor is considering a pill camera to diagnose if I have underlying Crohn's disease as my surgeries were to correct common complications of Crohn's disease. My GI is still very suspicious of Crohn's. All I do know at this point is my colonoscopy showed colitis and the labs came back with C Difficile and toxins. I have had no positive biopsy results for Crohns at this point. I am seeing the doctor again this Friday and will discuss Vancomycin.

Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette

Any other employees get sick due to not using PPE and working around raw sewage ?

I am unsure but then again I have suffered with this disease behind closed (bathroom and hospital) doors. I suspect even if others have this they keep it personal and suffer like I did for so long. Some people suffer and eventually get better as there bodies produce anti-bodies. Some never produce anti-bodies. Some peoples immune response makes them very unlikely to get C Diff disease. I have absolutely no way of proving if I got C Diff from working in the sewage plant, from a nursing home (visiting a failing family friend) or from going to the hospital every week for ~2 months for other surgical/care procedures. I bought a book on a C Diff and am educating myself best I can. The most fascinating thing I've read so far is that C Diff bacteria is essentially weak but has an ability to shut down and turn into a spore where it hardens itself and becomes dormant. The spores are very often able to be ingested and survive your stomach acid in the spore state. Once in your gut they live as spores until your gut flora is wiped by antibiotics which is when they come out of there spore state and colonize your colon. They also turn to spores when attacked by antibiotics. They are weak when alive but very resilient when in the spore state. Household cleaners will destroy C Diff bacteria easily but spores must be killed by bleach (however not even bleach is a guarantee). The bacteria living will live only 6 hours but spores can last for 5 months waiting to be ingested. Most workers at the sewage plant are most likely already C Diff carriers...the C Diff won't give any symptoms unless antibiotics significant wipe out competing bacteria. Only then will C Diff spores "hatch" and wreck havoc. 5-30% of the population has C Diff in there GI tracts supposedly. Funny thing is, my car was randomly dented in a parking lot today and I got a $3,908.68 medical bill (however I have finally hit my insurance deductible! ) from one of my hospitalizations but I am in a good mood today because I feel good. Tomorrow is another unknown.

 

[Mr Nice]

What does your wife say about your situation ? I hope you get better ASAP.

 

[SwedishRider]

GMFan, I have close family relatives that have battled this. Definitely check out Vancomycin as the the drug of choice. My wife needed a round of Vancomycin, a round of Flagyl, and then another round of Vancomycin (in addition to other treatments for other things at that moment). She said it took her GI tract about 6 months to return to "sorta normal". It was very scary to say the least. I wish you the best and will pray for you. Get help from GI specialists who know this problem well, and look also at FMTs (Fecal Matter Transplants). Another family relative kicked this with that route. Good luck and God Bless!