I need some advice please. I have had gastro symptoms for about 8-9 days now. Some days have been worse than others. Today I am a bit better. I am getting tested for C. Difficile, and will know in 2 days if I have that. I am wondering what my treatment options are.

Due to my operation and all the meds I had to take I think my immune system was run down bad making me more suseptable. I am slowly recovering.

MY GP says if it doesn't get better I will need to take Flagyl. I am wondering if this is a good idea or should I let my body try to heal itself? If I have this bacteria can the body fight it off or is antibiotics a must? I am taking Inner Health & probiotics.

Thank you

Flagyl and Cipro are known PN causers.

Ask for Vancomycin if they will allow it....for C. difficile.

You may not have that however, and just a Candida overgrowth.

Did you take antibiotics with this surgery?

There is another drug, but I don't know if you have it there:
rifaximin (Xifaxan)
This is being used here for IBS and bacterial diarrheas. Don't know if it will work for C. difficile tho.

I took antibiotics intravenus when I had surgery. They were not even telling me what they were shooting me up with. They were just doing it. When I got out about 3 1/2 weeks post surgery I did something very stupid. I thought I had another UTI and I took 4 leftover cephalosporin antibiotcs from my last UTI. That is when my problem started. I got diarrhea & cramping straight away. That was over 8-9 days ago. All my symptoms are gastro. I don't have diarrhea but I go to the bathroom 3 times a day and I have a very soar belly now.

I see C-diff in hospital patients all the time. It's usually caused by antibiotic therapy wiping out the good bacteria in one's intestine. It's nothing to mess around with because people can die from it. Treatment is oral vancomycin and lactobacillus (the cultures that are in yogurt). Do not use any antidiarrheal medication. By the way, it is very contagious. Use good hand washing. Patient's with c-diff are in isolation when they are patients in the hospital setting.

I sure hope you get to feeling better soon!!


Rhonda

A simple way to self test for Candida is to not eat any SUGAR or white flour products, or alcohol for a week, and see if things improve. This will starve the Candida.

Another thing you can try is Metamucil (psyllium seed) twice a day. This will absorb toxins from "bad" bacteria. It will not cure C. difficile tho. I had a bout of something many years ago and went to a gastroenterologist. He suggested the Metamucil and it worked. I was having terrible diarrhea, more than 10 times a day.

3 movements a day is not that bad really.

Continue with the yogurt and/or probiotics too.

I am actually down to 2 movements as of yesterday and feeling much less sick to the stomach. Still waiting on results but as I said the surgery and everything took alot out of me physically and my body feels weakened. I will see how I go over today, but I am trying to stay off narcotic painkillers and antibiotics until my system recovers. I woke up this morning with a massive migraine (hormonal) and on my way to work I ran over a huge curb that shook me inside my car. My whole spine is now hurting. Definately not what I needed at this point. CR#P just keeps on rolling downhill. I'd like to tell the universe that I have had enough for 2011!!!

Thank you as always Mrs. D.
Aussie

Thank you for your well wishes. I am taking the lactobacillus and it has definately helped. My case is not a severe case, no fever,chills, no watery stool. But compounded with my recent injuries and my body trying to recover it has affected me. I am trying to stay off antibiotics so I will just see over the next day how I go. I already do feel better, thank you.
Aussie

This is what they found in my stool sample which tested positive for antibodies. I feel much better do I have to get treatment for this? How bad is this?

Yes, there are treatments for this. You should have it done.