can this still be cdiff?

[seamus178]

hi

i was on clyndamycin for 10 days and stopped on the 3rd of july because of diarrhea. my stool sample was negetive for cdiff, yesterday i started having diarrhea that is more frequent and runnier  than before. one movement was just mucus and streaked with blood. i still dont have fever and my last 2 bm's have been blood free. is it still possible that i have cdiff ?

thanks

[girlvet]

Hi Seamus (and thank you CalGal), I just replied via message - but forgot to mention that your best bet to get an accurate lab test is to wait 10-14 days after your last pill (this may be why you got a "false negative" the first time, also common with this beast).  Also, the toxins start breaking down at room temp - keep it cold.  And CalGal is right about triple tests - three days in a row, morning sample is best.  Best of luck to you.

[seamus178]

Calgirl Thank you I didnt handle the flagyl well, pins and needles and stuff which is why my regular doc put me on vanco. i see a gi guy today I won't have time to see an infectious disease guy until next week so i will just have to stay on the vanco until then and hope the gi guy knows what he is doing.

[CalGal]

Seamus, I hope you're working with an infectious disease specialist because most 'typical' GI docs don't know a lot about how to handle C. diff. And when I hear someone say they're going to be on Vanco - which is the drug of 'last resort' - it worries me because there isn't typically a fixed time limit without the mention of a taper pattern. Please, please, please make sure that you get the best possible advice. I hope one of the other people who has dealt with this sees your post and chimes in. Maybe GirlVet - you could get some really good advice from her. In fact, you might want to check her previous posts, or mail to her to ask questions.

Another place to check is cdiffsupport.org...........lots of good people dealing with the problem and a lot of good advice.

[seamus178]

thank you very much for your help, I appreciate it.unfortunately it turned out to be cdiff so I am on vanco for 2 weeks which will hopefully work.

[CalGal]

At the current time and with the strains of C. diff that are present, it's not thought that anyone can 'clear' C. diff on their own. It's important that antibiotics be used and for you to make sure that C. diff is gone. The toxins that are put out by this bacterium can really do a 'number' on your colon.

[seamus178]

thank you, i am having another test done now, does cdiff always need to be treated by antiobiotics or can the body sometimes take care of it or is that too risky?

[CalGal]

The stool samples need to be run in triplicate to check for C. diff. If that hasn't been done, make sure it is.

C. diff can return.