Results positive for C-Diff. What do I do??

[rose*flo]

So my results came back positive for C-diff I am scared. The dr (colorectal) that ordered the test wanted to put me on 4 weeks of flagyl!! Flagyl is the medication that pretty much gave me this! And I get sooo sick the entire time on flagyl even with zofran.. Supposedly She doesn't prescribe anything other than that to her c-diff patients?? So now I have to wait to see GI and get different antibiotic..even though I don't tolerate antibiotics well at all.

I feel like my entire house is contaminated. I live with my large family. My 13 year old son was sharing a bathroom with me up until yesterday when I started getting D. I'm worried he was exposed to it. I have also been in the kitchen, and the living room, etc!

have some questions hopefully you guys can help me out with....

-I had D many times yesterday, upped my probiotic and started citracel. Today I am feeling much better and I only went 2x.

~Can c-diff go away without antibiotics?

~any other meds treat this besides flagyl and vanco?

~if I start the antibiotic, how long until I'm not contagious?

~are there different levels of severity of c-diff?

I ordered bleach wipes (couldn't find them in the store) but they won't be here for a few days

~how do I wash my sheets? Everyday? Clothes? Bleach everything? What about pillows without cases? Will putting them in the dryer kill the spores? I feel like if I sit on the toilet and my clothes touch the toilet or spores spray up, then my clothes are contaminated.

-what about cleaning shampoo bottles, hairbrush handle, etc.. I have touched so many things. I wash my hands frequently but I am still scared the spores are all over the place!

Sorry if I sound freaked out. I actually had c-diff about 10 years ago, but I was about 24 and I think the older I get, the more I worry. And I feel so guilty for putting everyone at my house at risk even though I know it's not my fault I have this.

I really appreciate this group and any suggestions you have. Thanks so much!

 

[wild_one353]

be careful with the fiber, it may help but it could make things worse some bad bacteria can eat it.

you may be able to improve the symptoms with SCD diet which is useful for gi disorders, avoid simple sugars(lactose and sucrose) and some starches like corn rice and potatoes.

By law your doctor can guide you through fecal transplants if antibiotics do not help, all you have to do is find a donor. here is some more info http://thepowerofpoop.com/epatients/where-to-get-fecal-transplant/

 

[rose*flo]

My dr recommended the fiber the other day, but that was before I got the cdiff results. I will definitely ask her about it tomorrow. I certainly don't want to make anything worse!

I will look into the SCD. I have heard good things.
The FMT looks so promising. My dr has not mentioned it. I am seeing another dr in a few days and will ask him. Do you mean they can guide you on how to perform it yourself? I don't know if I'd be qualified/brave enough it do it myself !

 

[lisadc1]

I was hospitalized both times when I got C-Diff last fall. I was on flagyl and vanco, but the second time they also added Difficid. I santitized everything, washed my laundry as usual...I wash my clothes alone anyway, so I wasn't worried about transferring it that way. No one else in my family got C-Diff. I also teach and did not give it to any of my students. Good ole' soap and hot water seems to be the best bet.

 

[SJ!]

My husband has IBD, but I picked up the C-diff from him as he was really sick, but it was so mild. If I didn't know he was sick I probably wouldn't have realised that I too had the bug. Many people get it but it is usually only an issue for people who are elderly, the very young or people with IBD type illnesses.

I did ask my kids to be sure to wash their hands more regularly, a bit of good hygiene can't go astray I say!

 

[jamilea]

OK. I have experience with patients in isolation with C diff. I can tell you how to keep from contaminating. Go through your house and wipe all surfaces down with PDI sani cloth bleach germicidal disposable wipes. It's in a white tub with an orange top. Isopropyl alcohol wipes do not kill the spores. Neither does Clorox bleach wipes. It has to be EPA approved bleach wipes which the PDI wipes are. We use them in the hospital.

Purchase a box of disposable latex/whatever gloves. When you go to the bathroom, wear them while you wipe and remove them and throwing them in the trash after you are done. You remove them without touching the outsides of them by turning them inside out. It's quite a maneuver but is easy once you learn. Get a second garbage can for your bathrooms for you to dispose of your gloves and whatever else so that everyone knows not to touch that can. Go in and change the trash once a day.

After you go in the bathroom, find some type of a germicidal bleach toilet bowl cleaner to clean the bowl.

The only way you can spread c diff is by touching your stools, not washing your hands and then touching a surface. The spores live on the surfaces for weeks or even months. Someone else touches the surface and then touches their mouth. Healthy people are not as much at risk for contracting it. Make sure there is soap at every sink in your house and make everyone wash their hands A LOT.

No matter what, try and get proper nutrition and fluids no matter how much you don't want to. This will be paramount in your healing process. Read this for a step by step: http://cdifffoundation.org/category/home-care/

I'm really sorry your results were positive. I hope you feel better very soon. Hugs.

 

[rose*flo]

Jamelia, Thank you SO much for the reply! I will definitely do all these tips. After I found out, I bleached down my bathroom and I will be the only one using it. I ordered Clorox health bleach germacidal wipes and the picture of the container says kills c diff spores so hopefully they are the right kind! I will check out the link. I appreciate the support!

 

[jamilea]

ooops, guess I missed this bit of news: http://investors.thecloroxcompany.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=587764

lol