Thanks so much ebjb. I didnt get it in a hospital, which is why Im having such a hard time getting rid of this beast. Docs (mine anyway) dont know much about recurring C Diff for folks like me (Im younger and was in perfect health, didnt go near a hospital!). I was prescribed "offending" antibiotics for a toothache, then later a sinus infection, so they just totally wiped out my gut flora. Even when I was hospitalized for suspicion of C Diff and was having an extreme episode, they got a false negative on my lab test (very common with C Diff), and sent me home with ANOTHER offending antibiotic..ughh. No real experts in my area either, so Ive had to learn to be VERY proactive in my own treatment. Alot of docs wont even look you in the eye because they simply dont know either. During one ER visit, I was actually in full blown relapse, and no one seemed concerned about the possibility of infecting other people sharing a bathroom with me either, its extremely frustrating. I put the word out to anyone that will listen though, and have found a great support forum online, it keeps me sane and armed with information. My heart goes out to those with other conditions, or who are otherwise unable to read up and help their docs with their own treatment...gets very depressing at times. Check out those probiiotcs though, they cant hurt, and just might keep you armed and ready to fight off this bug if in fact it dares to come your way. All my best....
Thank you girlvet for your information - I shall look for the acidiphollus and s. boullardi when next in town. How did you manage to aquire C Difficile? - hospital aquired? That's something I worry about going into hospital. I am not staying if I don't get a toilet to myself when going in for colonoscopy - most of the wards in my local hospital have 6 beds and only one shared toilet - can you imagine having taken Picolax prior to colonoscopy and having to share a toilet? Oh maybe you shouldn't imagine!- what a mental image that would bring up!!!!!!
Hope you feel better soon.
Hi ebjb, Im currently recovering from recurring C Difficile, and have been on antibiotics for over 5 months. Not sure about a colonoscopy situation, but most Doctors, and all pharmacists Ive seen have strongly recommended active cultures during any sort of "gut offending" situation. I cant comment on yogurt because I truly havent tried that, but from what I have read about these live cultures, yogurts couldnt hurt if you can tolerate it, but the cultures really dont stand much chance of making thru the stomach acids to the intestines, Im assuming you'd have to eat a lot of it. Probiotics are really being discussed, and studies Ive read highly recommend those, as they contain,literally, billions more live cultures, and stand a better chance of living thru the journey. I take acidiphollus (generic CVS brand), and s. boullardi (brand name Florastor). Chain drugstores usually carry generic versions of different probiotics, and they are very inexpensive, and in pill form. Just my two cents worth, but it would be worth asking your doc about. Best of luck to you.