Bacterial/Viral/Parasitic ???

HockeyMom · Post by **HockeyMom** » Tue May 30, 2017 6:22 am

Has anyone on this board had c diff?? I've read so much about it and have dealt with it very frequently in the hospital. I just know that if I have it, I am wondering if this becomes a workmans comp claim?? My workplace is really like the only place I could have picked it up. I don't routinely see c diff pt's as I deal them to other therapists once I figure out they have it. The thing is, most of these folks are in the hospital for a day or two before they are actually tested and put on contact precautions.

I just sent an email to the nurse practitioner at my PCP's office telling her that things aren't any better than when I saw her last Thursday. And asking her to call me once the results from the stool samples get to her.

Otherwise I continue to just have the rumblies going on. Oh, and diarrhea!!!

Eggs tested out at 6 on Enterolab testing when I did the initial testing in 2011. Never thought they were a problem in the interim since. Nothing seems to be making a difference at this time....

What are the safe antibiotics for c diff?? Flagyl?? That was what I had the periodontist give me after my extensive gum graft work in July of 2014, came to the board for that recommendation.

Laine

HockeyMom · Post by **HockeyMom** » Tue May 30, 2017 8:38 am

Just got results and an email response from PCP's office. C diff was negative, still awaiting the other results.

Well, that makes me feel some better...but I really need some answers here. I emailed them back and asked about Entocort/Uceris if this all comes back negative.

Laine

Post by **tex** » Tue May 30, 2017 8:40 am

A few members have had it, but I don't believe any of them have posted recently. I doubt that it's worthy of a workman's comp claim. It's not a big deal, unless your initial treatment fails. That said, the recurrence rate is fairly high. I think metronadazole is usually prescribed (it's relatively cheap), but sometimes it doesn't work. Vancomycin is used when metronadazole doesn't work, because it controls more strains. But of course it can't handle antibiotic-resistant strains, and it's more expensive. The newest option is a drug called fidaxomicin (Dificid). It may be more effective on more strains than vancomycin but naturally it's much more expensive.

Eggs might be safe for you, this is not chiseled in stone, but often chicken eggs are a problem when chicken tests positive. With a test result of 6, they stand a reasonable chance of being OK.

Tex

Post by **tex** » Tue May 30, 2017 8:42 am

Remember, C. diff often tests negative once or twice before you get a positive culture test result.

Tex

HockeyMom · Post by **HockeyMom** » Tue May 30, 2017 9:31 am

Now all my coworkers are texting me as they are worried...starting week #2 of not coming into work. And they are all wondering if I got something from them as lots of them or their kids have had gut stuff recently.

I was asking about the c diff workers comp thing Tex as when I was tested at the hospital for it last July, the employee health RN (who is totally cool and couldn't believe I hadn't been tested for it before) basically needed to know which patients I had seen lately who had been c diff+, because if it was from them, then it was a different ball game all together. Guess they can track it with it's DNA. I had to go back to my patient charge sheets to identify the 2 pt's for him. Tested negative for it at that time anyway.

You have basically made me even more anxious about this thing by telling me that sometimes c diff isn't tested positive the first few times. Really?? One of my coworkers just texted me that she went down in flames with the gut thing last week and still isn't completely over it. Then she mentions that years ago one of her teenage sons had giardia, ended up in the ED twice and tested out negative for it a few times before it came back as positive. So, wow, if this stuff all comes back negative....can I demand a second round of stool testing or what??

My concern is weight loss really. I'm keeping myself hydrated but I really can't lose more weight. And because I tested out as reacting to so much last July, I don't have the luxury of eating pounds of rice daily to keep my calories up. Basically its the meat and veggies and sunflower butter. I ate a banana yesterday that was so green it was pretty gross. I truly look like I'm 90 and am only 53...I know that I have lost weight in the past 2 weeks!!!

Sorry, am rambling now. Just wondering about repeat testing if needed and how I would demand this...

Laine
(oh, and I'm so sorry to just keep posting things...but since I'm basically homebound right now, I have lots of time to be on the computer

)

Post by **tex** » Tue May 30, 2017 10:55 am

Laine,

I'm not sure if it would do any good to demand anything from a hospital, but you can certainly request a retest and expect that request to be granted. They certainly should be aware that there is a relatively high risk of false negative results on culture tests.

Whether it's C. diff or something else, I suspect that something of a parasitic or infectious nature has taken up residence in your guts — surely the hospital can figure out how to track it down and identify it.

Most people assume that you have to have been on a camping trip in a remote area and exposed to infected water to pick up giardia. But in parts of the SW, I think it's possible (though rare) for giardia to show up in city water systems because of beavers living upstream of lakes used for city water supplies and imperfect filtering systems.

Hey, posting is not a problem — that's what discussion forums are for.

Tex

WhirledPeas · Post by **WhirledPeas** » Tue May 30, 2017 12:13 pm

Every body is different as far as tolerating certain things. For me, the last thing I would eat would be a green banana. That would give me terrible stomach pains and burping. When I eat them, they are yellow with no black spots. I would try a half because a whole banana all at once might be too much. For me right now trying to recover from my first severe debilitating flare I am doing fairly "well" on turkey breasts cooked in a crockpot with turkey or chicken broth that is bland w/ sea salt. Along with some extra-virgin olive oil but I didn't start eating this until my diarrhea stopped from doing a liquid diet and then rice applesauce and bone broth. I'm not recommending this by just saying what I did. During my diarrhea flare, a soft boiled egg did not do well by me despite tolerating them in the past when I was well. If you do the turkey breast in a crockpot or putting them in the oven make sure there is enough broth covering them so they don't get dried out. I keep three breasts in the broth in the fridge and then put the other three in the freezer in saran wrap and freezer bags that way every three days I have fresh turkey and then I make another batch. Coconut water really helped me hydrate but everyone has to figure out what they tolerate.

Take care and make sure to go to the ER if things get worse. Having an IV to hydrate you would be essential if you are not peeing a lot since I imagine you are drinking a lot right now.

HockeyMom · Post by **HockeyMom** » Tue May 30, 2017 12:41 pm

Thanks....rice is a huge no no for me I guess (the only 3+ thing on the Enterolab test last year...with my overall number at 41, EVERYTHING else was a 2+). I have been eating very basically for 5 months now....

Have lamb bone broth frozen that I use. I have decided that my new pressure cooker is the bomb and makes cooking my turkey breasts quick and easy....and very moist. Didn't do applesauce yesterday...

I bought a couple cans of what the label says is "Pure coconut water"...the only ingredient is 100% coconut water....Drank some of it a couple days ago . Fairly nasty and very sweet tasting. Label says for 8 ounce serving there is 12 gr of sugar!!! I haven't had anymore of it thinking it's probably too much sugar, despite having good stuff in it...

Laine

WhirledPeas · Post by **WhirledPeas** » Tue May 30, 2017 1:25 pm

Laine,

Before the severe flare I hated coconut water. But it seems when you need it it tastes OK. There are some nasty brands out there and the only one I like is the brand vita Coco pure coconut water. And 11.1 ounce container is 60 cal with 15 g sugar, 620 g of potassium, 35 g sodium and hundred percent RDA of Vit C. The ingredients are coconut water, less than 1% natural fruit sugar, vitamin C. I have been drinking it for four weeks now. Helps me.

Zico brand is disgusting! Also I don't know what I would've done without the brand kitchen basics chicken bone broth that comes in 8 ounce servings with 10 g of protein. I got it from Amazon.com in a 12 pack box. I recommend only drinking it hot and not using it as a broth with other things. For some reason it taste better on its own. Despite the ingredients it's very bland but salty enough to be tasty when you're not feeling well. It's gluten-free and MSG free. You can go to their website kitchenbasics.net

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Tue May 30, 2017 3:40 pm

Laine
for now dont focus on how you look or the weight... those issues will fade away once there is some healing

ask if you can do repeat testing for the Cdiff.
I have posted some links to articles that will support your request
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/819614
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-cond ... c-20202420

stick with your safe eating plan meat and veges will provide what you need.
stick with the safe supplement plan to help the body cope with current inflammation
and calm your mind in the meantime. overthinking/anxiety is not your friend right now.

and definitely avoid the high sugar items you can stay hydrated via the meat and safe veges eating plan and sticking to plain drinks like water, small amounts of black tea or black coffee if they are ok with you

WhirledPeas · Post by **WhirledPeas** » Tue May 30, 2017 4:25 pm

I would recommend decaffeinated black tea. I normally drink green tea but since this flare have switched to constant comment decaf black tea which is flavored with orange rind so it gives it some flavor. Coffee is too acidic for me. My 2 cents.

I sure hope you get some relief soon and find out what's going on. I feel for you!

HockeyMom · Post by **HockeyMom** » Tue May 30, 2017 4:29 pm

Hey Gabes-
I've cut back to just the Vit D and the topical mag right now (oh, and Pepto

).

I am a tea drinker, straight up black loose leaf stuff. I am sort of chuckling at the "if they are ok with you"!!!! Well, usually it is ok with me, but right now NOTHING is ok with me!!! I made the hydration drink recipe from an old Polly post today and didn't put any sugar in it, but did put some of that coconut water in it instead. I'm sure I should just stop putting the coconut water in that too huh? Thought that the potassium and such in it would be beneficial.

I am actually very calm most of the time!!! Again, I think this reflects the fact that I am ok with my mag supplementation. Unfortunately just got the off work/short term disability packet in the mail so I am now filling out all the forms for that...did this last year and it is a huge pain in the rear. Fortunately I have my brother to run the forms to the Dr's office and fax for me...Will spend the rest of the evening filling that stuff out and getting it ready for him.

I'm not dead set that it's c diff, just think it's got to be something as this is different than a usual flare....sad to be back to square one with the diet thing though...

And I love the way you say "HockeyMum"....that is so adorable and I'm sure it would sound even better coming out of your mouth!!! I'm from the Western United States, so we really have no accent here (no like the south, northeast or upper midwest). I went to college in Louisiana for a couple years and was always asked about my "Northern accent"...really people??

Laine

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Tue May 30, 2017 5:26 pm

Wen
I would think about stopping the orange rind in the tea, citric acid is a big issue for MC'ers when inflammed and during healing process
also double check the ingredients of the tea, processed teas can have gluten, soy and other less than ideal ingredients.

Brewing tea from loose leaf is a safer option.

Laine
I have been receiving payments from my Income Insurance for the past 3.5 years. Every month I have to submit report from doctor and complete 8 page form to receive the payment that month. so I empathise with the situation of doing this type of task.
for now I would skip the coconut water - banana's not too ripe, not too under ripe are a better source of potassium.
if you are really concerned about potassium levels there are drops you can get from iHerb and add it to your water
https://au.iherb.com/pr/eidon-mineral-s ... 0-ml/26012

WhirledPeas · Post by **WhirledPeas** » Tue May 30, 2017 9:28 pm

Gabes, The ingredients are decaffeinated black tea, rind of oranges, sweet spice, natural flavor. I normally drink jasmine green tea that is low in caffeine but I stop that when my flare started. I only drink one cup a day. I've been a tea drinker for a long time and it's very difficult to find decaffeinated loose tea that is not herbal. I can't do caffeine unless it's a green tea that is low in caffeine. Some brands have more caffeine than others. I have a box of Bigelow decaffeinated earl grey.

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Tue May 30, 2017 10:35 pm

oranges have citric acid - and ingredients like the sweet spice and natural flavour are high risk during MC Flares
with only one cup per day it is low risk per say.

for me caffine has never been an issue to MC / gut symptoms
everyone is different.

with your ongoing symptoms that you are trying to resolve, when you mentioned the tea I thought I would share the possible issues with the ingredients