Last week I had surgery on my mouth - fell out of the shower and landed on my head - broke teeth - even cracked my jaw - had to have extractions, crowns, etc.... and had to be done in hospital as I'm allergic to novacaine and lidocaine lasts about 10 minutes for me....

Anyway, I had to have IV anti-b's 'cause of cardio-myopathy we hope is from autonomic PN (the docs keep bringing up amyloid and I will be having definitive heart test for it in near future) - and it appears I may have C-Difficile toxin... I had this when I first got PN from 3 days of Cipro - and was sick for 6 months treated with flagyl and vancomycin - (only drugs the docs said would work) - during that time my sensory nerves went from mild damage to complete nerve death and havent been able to eat any solid food since either - the autonomic symtoms got dramatically worse.... will be tested probably tomorrow and have results the next - and I will not take flaygl (after the last time I found out it was neuro-toxin and probably really helped finish off the nerves) - oral vancomycin is the other drug of choice.. (I took both together last time)....

Has anyone ever had this? And if so, know of any alternative treatment options? I know from experience how sick this can make someone - and it has to be treated - ideas????? Help??????????

Appreciate any feeback!!!!!!! Will be talking to doc tomorrow.....

Thanks.....

treatment for C.difficile.

Another drug sometimes used is Rifampin. But recent studies showed a more negative response for this drug. (I have seen it used successfully however, in the past).

I am sorry you have to go thru this... it sounds totally frightful!

Honestly, after reading your post I immediately told myelf "stop complaining for every stupid little thing you wake up with".

I am praying for you that you find relief from your pain.

Sincerely,
melody

Can you do ANYTHING for the pain? It sounds like a no, but just thought I'd ask.

To think I USED to call CIPRO the 'wonder drug'...Guess not.

Perspective, well, it IS eye-opening!

Pain free moments to all? - j

You gotta keep your sense of humor!!!!

Pain = Grumpy!

I tend to BITE, Have you chewed thru any walls yet? Oops, no teeth, OK gummed?

Can I take MY foot out of my mouth now? - j

Please?

Ok - keep it up!!!! I'll track you down and FALL on you!!!!!!!!

But I'm betting it doesn't appeal to patients or docs in large numbers:

1: Scand J Infect Dis. 1984;16(2):211-5. Links

Relapsing Clostridium difficile enterocolitis cured by rectal infusion of normal faeces.Schwan A, Sjolin S, Trottestam U, Aronsson B.


Repeated recurrence of Clostridium difficile-associated enterocolitis is uncommon but troublesome for the afflicted patient. The patient described here received vancomycin treatment several times but always had a relapse of C. difficile enterocolitis 2-3 weeks after discontinuation of treatment. She did not form serum antibodies to C. difficile cytotoxin (toxin B). Rectal infusion of enemas prepared from fresh faeces resulted in final cure.

PMID: 6740251 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


But, on the other hand, here's a search on probiotics in the treatment of c diff. They seem to clearly help prevent it, but the jury's out on treatment, is my quick take. But I've not gone through the pieces thoroughly.

http://www.google.com/search?sourcei...of+c+difficile

I've actually heard of this as a treatment- makes me shudder!!!!! STILLL waiting for results and just trying to stay hydrated - although definatey getting worse - have to rule out C-Diff before looking for anything else.... But you what - vanco and flagyl make one feel so awful - maybe alternative treatments may be worth looking into... (but again - makes the hair on my head stand straight up at the thought!!!!!!)

I did some searching tonight and found this;
http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/CID...268/36268.html

The "fungemia" mentioned in the article is defined here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fungemia

But some of the probiotics mentioned might be of use to you, kmeb.

Take a look.