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c-diff vs. candida?

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Posted 11/24/2008 5:32 AM (GMT -5)
hi all - does anyone know how to tell the difference between these two? i think i might have a little bit of both, but the c-diff scares the living daylights out of me. i was slacking on my probiotics and diflucan b/c it's all so expensive and i thought i had it under control. i just started taking 2 culturelle and 1 florastor 2 times a day with 1 fungal defense each time. i read about the oregano in a recent post here and might try to add that. i've also been taking 100 mg of diflucan a day, but i had to stop my Heparin to do that.

what about c-diff? can that be stopped? that one is the one i'm most afraid of, and i'm afraid I have some of the symptoms.
Posted 11/24/2008 5:39 AM (GMT -5)
They have a test for C-diff.... your LLDr. should be able to give you a lab request and a little plastic cup.... I have 2 of them but haven't had to use them. So, I know they can test for c-diff. I would get tested and then you'll know what you're dealing with. I'm not sure if they have a test for yeast/candida.

Hope this helps.
Posted 11/24/2008 10:48 AM (GMT -5)
C-diff is a serious bacterial infection in the gut. As mentioned you can get a lab test for it. If you have persistent diareha you should tell you dr.

Candida is a systemic fungal overgrowth. It is harder to diagnose. There are not great lab tests available to coventional drs (nor to do they believe in it). It has many symptoms, a lot of which are similar to lyme.

A risk factor for both is a reduction in the healthy bacteria in the gut which abx use (and other things) causes.
Posted 11/24/2008 11:17 AM (GMT -5)
ktbk1,

I called my LD physician this morning because I have become concerned about c-diff. I did find a site that reassured me some that it is treatable for most people. Take the time to read it - it isn't long and has a very clear explanation.

http://www.cdiffsupport.com/aboutcdiff.html

bacaring
Posted 11/24/2008 11:21 AM (GMT -5)
thanks for the info. i'm going to look into it today. i wish i could get tested this week. diflucan and probiotics are barelx putting a dent in it.
Posted 11/25/2008 1:20 PM (GMT -5)
Hi bcaring,

Any word from your doctor? I spoke to mine last night, and he doesn't think I need to be concerned yet but he did tell me to take lots of probiotics and not miss a single dose. It's partly my fault. I couldn't afford to refill all my vitamins/supplements/meds/and probiotics, so I had to take 2 weeks off while I filled the others. Guess I learned my lesson!

I checked out the site you sent and it looks like probiotics like Culturelle and Florastor have been useful in fighting both candida and c-diff, so I upped my doses on both of those.

Thanks all for all the info and tips.

kt
Posted 11/25/2008 9:53 PM (GMT -5)
Hey kt,

I was told to stop one of my antibiotics - clindimycin - which can cause colitis and c-diff in some cases. The doctor prescribed Sporonax which is for yeast and fungus. She felt that it was the most likely culprit due to the amount of antibiotics I have been on. I see her next Tuesday and if things don't improve will be able to talk with her about it. I must say I expected flagyl to be prescribed because I was thinking the worst - c diff. Now that I know what she is thinking I think I agree that it is most likely yeast. Stopped the antibiotic two days ago and I must say that I am having less problems in the GI department. I will let you know what happens next week.
Take care
bcaring
Posted 11/26/2008 8:16 AM (GMT -5)
My wife was just hospitalized for a C-Diff infection. It is very serious and can be life threatening. You NEED to get tested (stool sample) immediately if you have the slightest concern (symptoms). Do not mess with this...it can be a very virulent infection that can lead to severe colitis which could require a colostomy or worse.

1/3 of everyone that ends up with a c-diff infection ends up with a relapse. In some it becomes chronic with many relapses. My wife was hospitalized on the relapse. She originally ended up in the ER on 10/29, tested positive and was given Flagyl and Cipro. She felt great a few days later. We thought it was over.

On Nov. 14th her symptoms returned with a vengeance. She was hospitalized immediately, tested positive again and given IV Flagyl and Vancomycin PO when her fever hit over 103. CT scan revealed colitis. She is now on oral (PO) Vancomycin for 21 days at a cost of $2700. Luckily the insurance covered everything.

Don't mess with this and get tested and rule it out a minimum.
Posted 11/26/2008 10:05 AM (GMT -5)
Whoa, jk, that is really scary. I had c-diff at one point but it really wasn't severe -- and it hasn't come back, thank god. Actually, you know, I'm not entirely sure I had it, because I never got tested for it. I just had consistent diarrhea for several weeks, so my LLMD presumed I might have it and prescribed flagyl. It took a week or two to work, but then I got better.
ktbk1, good luck with your probiotics, and let us know what happens. Oh, a really powerful probiotic for combating the onset of c-diff is saccharomyces boulardii. It is not in most probiotics and it is very expensive. I found it in one brand of probiotics they have at whole foods, and the bottle of pills cost about fifty bucks.
Posted 11/27/2008 12:03 AM (GMT -5)
FYI...you can get jarrow saccharomyces boulardi from vitacost for $12. http://www.vitacost.com/Jarrow-Formulas-Saccharomyces-Boulardii-MOS

It was actually prescribed for my wife during her hospital stay. I bought it when she was released and we both take it everyday now. It is HIGHLY recommended for c-diff.
Posted 11/27/2008 10:24 PM (GMT -5)
Now I am very concerned. The doctor said I have a UTI and prescribed Cirpro500mg bid for a week and Sporonox for a month. No Flagyl. Things have cleared up GI wise but I want to be tested for C-diff. I have an appt. on Tuesday and I will definitely ask for this.

Thank you for your strong words of caution. What I referred to did not give the complete picture - actually made it sound less serious than it obviously is.

Sometimes this disease gets to me. I don't feel very good so I think I am down.

bcaring
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