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Hi, I Am A Healthy 51 Year D Woman And
Question: Hi,
I am a healthy 51 year d woman and recently was diagnosed with C. Diff via a draw of blood for analysis (1/16 but I do t understand the numbers). My symptoms ranged past three weeks from bloating, cramping, urgency/diahrrea 3 x/day, then skip a day or two and back again. Like IBS. I am now taking Vancomycin. I haven’t taken an antibiotic for years, and haven’t been hospitalized. I don’t know how I got it, and am concerned about it being in my system for the rest of my life. Is there a good cure?
I am a healthy 51 year d woman and recently was diagnosed with C. Diff via a draw of blood for analysis (1/16 but I do t understand the numbers). My symptoms ranged past three weeks from bloating, cramping, urgency/diahrrea 3 x/day, then skip a day or two and back again. Like IBS. I am now taking Vancomycin. I haven’t taken an antibiotic for years, and haven’t been hospitalized. I don’t know how I got it, and am concerned about it being in my system for the rest of my life. Is there a good cure?
Brief Answer:
Vancomycin is a good cure.
Detailed Answer:
Hello, Thank you for using Ask a Doctor service to post your health concern.
I read your query carefully.
Vancomycin is the recommended treatment for c.difficile. Yes it is a good treatment.
Symptoms generally improve within 48 to 72 hours after initiation of antibiotic therapy, but diarrhea may not fully resolve for four to five days. Follow-up stool studies are not recommend.
Avoid other antibiotics for some time as it can return as infection. It is not that stays in your system but more can return with symptoms if you take antibiotics.
I hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Kind regards,
Dr. Papaqako, General and family physician.
Vancomycin is a good cure.
Detailed Answer:
Hello, Thank you for using Ask a Doctor service to post your health concern.
I read your query carefully.
Vancomycin is the recommended treatment for c.difficile. Yes it is a good treatment.
Symptoms generally improve within 48 to 72 hours after initiation of antibiotic therapy, but diarrhea may not fully resolve for four to five days. Follow-up stool studies are not recommend.
Avoid other antibiotics for some time as it can return as infection. It is not that stays in your system but more can return with symptoms if you take antibiotics.
I hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Kind regards,
Dr. Papaqako, General and family physician.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Thank you & can you tell me what the numbers 1 - 16 mean from my blood lab for c diff? Also, if I didn’t take antibiotics for years how this can happen? Is it possible to acquire c diff some other way? Should I take a probiotic after I complete the antibiotic?
Brief Answer:
Need to see the test report. Not all probiotics help.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for the follow-up question.
C.Difficile can be acquired in people who have been recovered in hospital, but also in the daily life through people who have it and have not washed their hands after going to toilet. The point is that a healthy person develops symptoms only after the normal bacteria of the bowel has been altered in one way or another. The antibiotics are the most common cause of altering the bowel normal bacteria, but in few cases can be other reasons- low immunity, specific foods that should not be eaten in excess, ect. Think yourself of what can have changed the balance of your bowel, accodring to your lifestyle.
I cannot tell what those numbers mean. Please upload a photo of the report of the lab test. Normally C. diff is diagnosed by a stool test, or by the level of the toxin in the blood. Need to see that report to be able to tell which test they have done, and what does this result mean for that specific test.
Not all probiotics help. Consider starting a daily probiotic capsule containing Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus paracasei, Bifidobacterium lactis BI-07, and B. lactis Bl-04 because these ones have been proven to reduce duration of diarrhea and total days with diarrhea in adults with mild-to-moderate C. difficile infection. So I would say start taking one of these while you are taking the antibiotic and also 5-7 days after antibiotic therapy is completed.
I look forward to see that test report. And also feel free to ask other questions or concerns if any.
Kind regards,
Dr. Papaqako
Need to see the test report. Not all probiotics help.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for the follow-up question.
C.Difficile can be acquired in people who have been recovered in hospital, but also in the daily life through people who have it and have not washed their hands after going to toilet. The point is that a healthy person develops symptoms only after the normal bacteria of the bowel has been altered in one way or another. The antibiotics are the most common cause of altering the bowel normal bacteria, but in few cases can be other reasons- low immunity, specific foods that should not be eaten in excess, ect. Think yourself of what can have changed the balance of your bowel, accodring to your lifestyle.
I cannot tell what those numbers mean. Please upload a photo of the report of the lab test. Normally C. diff is diagnosed by a stool test, or by the level of the toxin in the blood. Need to see that report to be able to tell which test they have done, and what does this result mean for that specific test.
Not all probiotics help. Consider starting a daily probiotic capsule containing Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus paracasei, Bifidobacterium lactis BI-07, and B. lactis Bl-04 because these ones have been proven to reduce duration of diarrhea and total days with diarrhea in adults with mild-to-moderate C. difficile infection. So I would say start taking one of these while you are taking the antibiotic and also 5-7 days after antibiotic therapy is completed.
I look forward to see that test report. And also feel free to ask other questions or concerns if any.
Kind regards,
Dr. Papaqako
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
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