how long am i contagious

[geonan5565]

I have had c-diff 4 times in 5 months...have been on flagyl and then vanco...have had my potassium level go down to 2.4 and have had to have a total of 11 bags of potassium during three stays in the hospital....my last bout with c-diff was a mild case as i felt ok except for the one day of diarrhea.....i had my potassium level checked and it was ok.  i am on acidolophis 3 billion cell pills....the cdiff support.com site said that 10 billion cells should be taken 6-8 times a day..i have been increasing my intake and am taking a total of 36 billion cells a day.  my energy level still isn't up to what it was before i first contracted cdiff (due to 3 very strong antibiotics within 19 days)..

MY question is HOW long am i contagious??? I clean the toilet seat with anti-bacterial wipes after ever trip to the bathroom and i wash my hands a zillion times a day.     Is it safe for intimate relations? and what precautions should I take? and for how long?????

FYI...the cdiffsupport.com site is no longer available.


This discussion is related to finally tested negative for c. diff but still feeling symptoms.

[Sarafly74]

C diff lives in surfaces up to 90 days ..all surfaces must be bleached

[Lighthouseluvr]

Sounds like most of the same supplements I was recommended. I also take grape root, and tumeric

[odanni53]

You are incorrect about the C- Diff not being contagious, as I have an elderly mom that has had C- Diff for over 6 months and there are " SPORES" that are airborn from feces !!! I brought her here where I live from Tennessee where she was being given the antibiotic " Vancomyacin" which as I researched and read blogs more & more I found MANY homeopathic remedies, and then was equipped with HIGHLY valuable info to get her well! After over two months at home here with me ( In N.C.) and having her on a very strict bland diet and got the doc to give her ( FINALLY the antibiotic Flagyl) and I went to e health food store and got here barley ( hulled is best if you can find it) to make barley water, and the highest strain of live probiotics ( that MUST stay refrigerated as they die with heat exposure!!!) Charcoall gel caps, Oil of Oregano dropped on a piece or two of Kimchee 3 times a day, (4 drops to begin with for 6 weeks, and I'll warn U it tastes AWEFUL) , Sacromyacees Boullardi 3 times a day, Acifdopihilus 3 X daily, Bentonite clay briskly mixed in Barley water, a cocktail of Apple cider vinegar ( with the Mother in it) with about 50 drops of peppermint oil and lemon and honey 3 X daily, and she stayed on this regimen now for 9 weeks!!! Her stools have now been solid for about two weeks now! This is the key, and the Kimchee with oil of oregano is suggested to be continued for two months AFTER the first solid stools show up, and Probiotics are something she'll take for the rest of her life, and actually every human being should take PROBIOTICS every day of their lives!!! As our food sources ( loaded with junk we can't even pronounce, even lunch meat from the deli)! If you can't pronounce it ( ingredients in food) you shouldn't be eating it !!! Fresh veggies and organic meats and wild caught fish, and organic poultry ( I KNOW that's expensive) are all we should ear and stay away from non GMO filled food if possible, it means your life if you have C- Diff! I hope this helps all you who are weary from this epidemic considered to be more feared and passed from an infected person, ESPECIALLY in an E.R. Setting!!! Bless all of you who read this and begin your curing process!

[lawyerann]

Actually c diff CAN be contagious.  You can kill the bacteria with flagyl and vancomycin but it still releases spores and spores are very difficult to kill.  Most products on the market will NOT kill them, then when you touch something you can re-infect yourself. I have a friend who contracted it from work (we are all nurses) and it seems to be usually spread from fecal to mouth.  ItI is actually found in the air and in soil, naturally.  There are PDI wipes that can be bought online and I think, they kill the spore, but gloves must be worn when doing so.  I have had many patients with c diff, it's tough to get rid of.  Good luck to you.

[Lighthouseluvr]

Agreed

[dufur]

Ditto what boron said, everything I read say it's not contagious unless this will sound gross you eat the fecal material.  Which is why washing hands is so important. from everything I read (I am not expert) you are doing the right things.

I have cdiff and got it after taking antiobitocs.  Im on my 3rd round of flagy, doc says im not sick enough to try vacno yet

Hang in there, it's tough im really struggling myself.

[Lighthouseluvr]

I was put in quarantine at the hospital with C-diff. All of the staff wore gowns, masks and gloves. I got it possibly from long term low dose antibiotics. I was then in home quarantine 2 months. I couldn't prep food or handle clean dishes without gloves and the bathroom toilet, counters, sink handles and soap dispenser were sterilized after each use. My colonoscopy showed no long term damage but the prep set me back with IBS symptoms. I am taking really high probiotic and other supplements for gut health.

[Kels723]

I was told by my disease specialist that flagy doesn’t even treat c diff. Question your doctors ! I’m on my third round of venco, it’s been about 4 months i have been dealing with this all due to an over looked appendicitis, then getting c diff fro, being on antibiotics for too long for no reason. Yea c diff plus surgery healing right over your intestine omg it was a nightmare. Such a nightmare that could so easily been prevented. Doctors need to chill with the antibiotics prescribing and actually don’t o their job on instead of guessing. I feel you’re pain hang in there’s im 24 years old, this was not what I imagined my life would be like at such a young age.

[boron]

Hm, C-diff is not really - contagious, since it is a normal bacteria in the colon. It only causes problems, when it overgrowths. Overgrowth of C-diff does not occur with infection, but because of derranged colonic flora, usualy after taking antibiotics.

Well, infection could occur in immunodeficient person. So, theoretically C-diff is contagious, but regarding your symptoms tend to improve (so less C-diff), you may re-consider your "surgery level" of disinfection...:)