I have been with C/Diff and also MRSA for almost 4 yrs. Also nagged constantly with UTI. So once the C/Diff was gone the first time and the UTI kept coming back , I knew I was in trouble again. This time also gastro paresis. Many more trips to Mayo , more procedures, more meds. until enough of the infection is gone for possibly another transplant. I am so emotional over this whole thing.. Another weekend until test results are back. This is no way to live , so I will wait , then go and get more treatment until it is gone. Hopefully for good. ENOUGH

I have been battling an infection for at least five months now. I think people need to be aware of the HUGE antibiotic problem that can result in “superbugs,” and worse, antibiotic resistant infections. Truthfully, I never believed this until it happened to me.

Sophomore year of high school, I shattered my nose while playing basketball. A week later, my nose was reconstructed so that I could breath properly. It was so damaged, they could only fix so much. I still have a deviated septum that has created sinus problems. I usually have a sinus infection once every three months. These sinus infections are debilitating and often do not clear up with one round of antibiotics.

Early December 2015, I had a sinus infection and was prescribed CEFDINIR. I had never been on this antibiotic before, it worked well for the sinus infection, but created an even worse problem! I began having severe side effects to the medicine and stopped taking it. Four days later the side effects were worse.

I called my doctor and they wanted to see me immediately and suspected I had C. Diff., which I did, and it is HELL! C.Diff is a bacteria that we all have in our bodies. There is th active bacteria and spores which can live anywhere for years. This bacteria is ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANT. When I took the antibiotic for the sinus infection, it killed all the good bacteria and allowed this one to flourish!

After one, intense round of treatment, I still had C.Diff and it was back with a horrible vengeance. I had NO appetite, I didn’t/couldn’t eat much, I was losing nutrients and weight constantly, I had NO energy, and I was still in a lot of pain.

Round 2. I ended up in the E.R. where I was given fluids and my course of treatment was changed. I was put on an antibiotic that treats the infection, but might not treat the spore C.Diff creates. I couldn’t see an end to this and traditional doctors weren’t helping the problem. Yes, I was frustrated and very angry, but I tried to work through it day by day.

Round three. I was tapering off of the first treatment while introducing a new treatment. The reason doctors did not want to prescribe this drug first off was because it can cost an upwards of $2000. I didn’t care, I was going to try anything at this point. Luckily my insurance is great and the medicine only cost $10. Not very many people have this luxury.

I was referred to a gastroentonologist. He planned a careful plan of attack and tapering off of my treatment. We got nowhere, I called him one day concerned because the symptoms had returned after three days off the treatment. He told me to go to the hospital.

At this time, I was at my whits end. I didn’t understand. I felt like no one could help me. The ER Doctor had given me a name of an infectious disease Doctor. Crazy, 26 and very ill, after a doctor treated a common sinus infection. Reluctantly, I went to this doctor. I was squeezed in at the end of their work day because they understood the severity of my situation and wanted to help me rather than send me to the hospital.

The doctor was so honest with me and explained that after three relapses, traditional treatment just wouldn’t work. Finally, someone who wants to treat my infection, not just cover it up. He and his nurse explained the FMT treatment that I had previously researched. This procedure is usually reserved for those close to a colonectomy or someone like me who has had multiple relapses with this infection. Basically, they reset your good bacteria in your body and give you a fighting chance against the active infection and spores.

Three treatments, five doctors, two hospital visits, four bags of IV fluids, months of living miserably, and one procedure later, I have found a viable solution for my illness. Keep searching, keep suggesting, and don’t give up! One doctor listened to me and was ready to tell me the truth. This procedure was not approved by the FDA and was just what I needed. This far into my illness I had researched this procedure and was ready to take my chances!

It has been a week since my procedure and my symptoms are nearly GONE! I had no idea just how sick I was until now, I feel great again. Not only was I sick, but my anxiety was through the roof as I am a middle school teacher (first year) who was constantly worried about when I would have to emergently leave the room!

I am sharing all of this with you so that YOU are aware of the effects BROAD SPECTRUM ANTIBIOTICS can have on a normally healthy individual. This is not to scare you, but rather, inform you. You should be aware of your antibiotic use and make sure you are on the RIGHT antibiotic that specifically targets and treats your infection. Treat the CAUSE, don’t cover it up.

Please, please, please, research before following your doctor blindly and whatever the cost, DO NOT USE CEFDINIR or cephalosporins! There are too many negative reports on this drug. If you have to go on a course of antibiotics, take TWO probiotics a day. I was doing what I thought was the best for my sinus infections and so were the traditional doctors. Doctors will throw all kinds of medicine at you, I believed it was for my well being and so did they. I have learned to try and allow my body to take care of itself and I will be scheduling to take care of my sinuses!

I contracted c-diff 12 days after returning from Cleveland Clinic for mytral valve repair. I called my surgeons nurse who immediately diagnosed the symptoms as c-diff and advised I visit my local GP here in Aspen. My GP confirmed c-diff was present and started me on one round of antibiotics with no improvement. I was switched to a second, $2000/ten day course of a new antibiotic to no avail. By this time I was in the care of the regions best GI doc who put me on a 6 week protocol of vancomycin. It worked and for the first time I tested negative for c-diff. Unfortunately, I continued to have chills, aches, low energy, headaches and at times a tingling in my legs and feet. This has continued for almost two years now. One to two days in bed and I bounce back for a few days, only to return to bed a week later. The good news is the healthy periods are extending for longer sessions of up to a few weeks at a time, onky to have the “crud” return for 2-3 days. Energy goes and I head to bed. These recurring symptoms sometimes mimic the original c-diff symptoms so much I have had stool samples tested to confirm the c-diff has not returned. Luckily, c-diff has never returned, but these recurring symptoms are almost as debilitating and i am struggling to find a solution. I am open to any input.