Months of C Diff with Crohn's

[Melior]

So, had Crohn's for 7-8 years and tested positive for C Diff about 6 months ago.
Since then I have never really gotten rid of the symptoms and every test for the C Diff has come back positive. And each time the GI has put me on a full dose of Flagyl, despite the side effects (he had me take the S. Boulardii once).

A colonoscopy shows no sign of major C Diff over growth after about a week on the Flagyl. My question is this, does anyone have experience with low grade C Diff (enough to show a positive on the test) covering up a Crohn's flare up?

It seems as soon as my GI gets the positive result, he slaps the Flagyl prescription on it and hopes this time it will work.

 

[KayleighK]

This may or may not be helpful but when I was suffering from c-diff after a months course of antibiotics I had to return to work at a school so was worried that if it hadn't gone away I would be taking it into work with me. I phoned the doc and asked if he would test me again just to ease my mind as my stomach was still unsettled. He told me there was no point in testing as it would definitely come back positive. This was a while ago so can't remember the exact reason he gave as to why it would come back positive I'm sure it was something along the line of the bacteria in c-diff leaves behind toxins in your gut for some time even after the bacteria is killed...Hope you get sorted soon as C-diff is horrible!!

 

[Melior]

Thank you. The closest I could find to that idea was a statement that the test should not be used to determine the progress of the medication/disease.

 

[robbo87]

what i thought is pretty much the same as what kayleigh says. A lot of people carry the c-diff bug but it isnt necessarily active. But being on a long course of anti biotics is something that is likely kick the bug into life so to speak.

 

[Melior]

Update: Based on the colonoscopy and a clear x-ray of the small bowels, the doc concluded that the first incidence of C diff and possibly the second were actually cases of C diff over growth. The rest was the Crohn's acting up and complications from the medication. Apparently the stool test that is specific enough to catch both main types of C diff may also pick up a simple colony that is under control.

So things learned:
Learn everything you can about something you are diagnosed with. Without meaning any ill will, your doctor will likely leave a lot of things unmentioned until you bring them up.

Talk to the doc about ways to be sure you have been properly diagnosed. A lot of tests used these days aren't as definite as you might think.