C-diff ..WONDERFUL!

[JacksonsGirl]

Hi all. My husband is C6/7 ..47 days post , still in Rehab facility. He has just been diagnosed with C-diff. Sure some of you have been down this road. I have become pretty educated on it in the past few days. Since he is still in the facility, I can't give him whatever supplements that i think he needs- only yogurt . They have him on Flagil. I just wonder if anyone has any extra advice or words of wisdom here aside from the basics. We do NOT want to be going through this for the next 6 months. My only plan is a yogurt or two a day. Is there anything I need to be watching out for such as low blood pressure (he already has low BP- how much of a risk is there of developing this problem?) or signs of a more serious infection? His white cell count was normal, mild fever, and about 14 bm's the first day- 3 the second- 6 the third. How do I tell how serious the infection is?

[gjnl]

C. diff is serious. It can remain active on environmental surfaces for six months, and because of its spore structure, many cleansers are powerless against it. It is important to be clean, clean, clean...something that hospitals are not good at.

In addition to yogurt, he should be on a good probiotic supplement.

If I were you, I would demand the services of an infectious disease specialist to manage your husband's treatment for C.diff.

All the best,
GJ

[Sue Pendleton]

Yogurt will not help full on c. diff. You take that before or when you start antibiotics. There is a resistant type of c. diff out there now so I guess ask if your husband has been cultured and is his being properly treated for the exact version he has. As long as his fever stays fairly low and they watch his electrolytes carefully it should resolve itself with Flagyl. Do insist on them monitoring his electrolytes in case he needs replacement drinks/meds and skin can become an issue so ask daily about skin and turning schedules. I left rehab after 3 months because in women especially it becomes a cycle of uti, c. diff, uti, c. diff... So maybe try and squeeze in extra quick but full showers when they change beddings and insist everyone wash hands coming in and leaving. Especially YOU.

[thehipcrip]

Screw the rules and get him started on a probiotic now. As long as he takes it at least six hours before and two hours after his Flagyl (I believe Flagyl is given BID - every 12 hours), it will do its stuff without interference by/with the antibiotic. Example: if the med is taken at 6am/pm, he'd need to take the probiotic between 8am/pm and 12am/pm.

Times 2 on what Sue said about extra skin checks and ensuring that his mega-pressure sore remains untouched by any fecal matter. He's already got an uphill battle getting that healed and remaining free from osteomyelitis. If you see any fecal matter compromising his sore, get to the risk management office asap.

Ditto Sue's advice about electrolyte monitoring. Until you're certain they are (check his chart or have him confirm with person who does blood draws) and are doing something if he's low, I'd make sure he drinks a sports drink every day.

I know I may sound like a skipping record with my advice about the risk management office, but they are the ones whose job it is to prevent problems like hospital acquired infections like c. diff., pressure sores, etc. They can accomplish what doctors and nurses can't or won't do in very little time at all.

Tell your spouse we're pulling for him.

[triumph]

Three years ago I was hospitalized for 5 months and it wasn't long before I got C-Diff. Many weeks of it went by before they about doubled my dose of Vancomycin (don't know if spelling is correct). After they doubled it, I began to feel better in about a week. I was finally discharged on a low dose that was then tapered off. Since then, I keep it in my refrigerator just in case!

Be sure to use lots of liquids.

While dealing with C-Diff I was so weak I could only participate in bed exercises (formerly a race chair enthusiast). I had NO appetite. Finally someone must have come up with the idea of doubling my Vanco, as they called it. To this day I take a probiotic daily and yogurt about 4 x a week. By the way my nurse said one only needs about a tablespoon of yogurt per day to get the benefits. Have not checked that out, but that's all I use each time.
Best of luck!

[willingtocope]

Curious. Isn't the accepted drug for c dif metronidazole? Is c dif resistant?

[thehipcrip]

@willingtocope, metronizadole (aka Flagyl) is often prescribed as the frontline of treatment with oral vancomycin (aka Vancocin),taking its shot on the most severe cases.

@JacksonsGirl - should he have a resistant strain of c. diff., don't give up hope. There is an unconventional treatment that has been proven very effective.

[smokey]

I had C. diff. in the hospital and it ran through me like a freight train. Be careful not to get too dehydrated. Don't let your electrolytes get too low. V-8 Juice is good to replenish sodium and potassium levels. Get on a probiotic.

[JacksonsGirl]

[QUOTE=thehipcrip;1569009]Screw the rules and get him started on a probiotic now.

I appreciate that. You're right. This morning I grabbed some Florastor on my way to the hospital , and told them that I wanted him on probiotics. They ended up prescribing some instead, so I get to keep mine ..my belly hurts too
I read about the "unconventional treatment". I told him about it today just to let him know that if all else fails, there is a way. I read about this guy who didn't qualify for the treatment who ended up doing it himself in his own bathroom. Thats plan B

[JacksonsGirl]

My quote thing didn't work. How do you quote someone in your message. I clicked on quote and then erased everything i didn't want in the quote, and wrote my own message. wtf