C. diff affects us all.

Although my current battle with C. diff is relatively short (compared to other survivor’s stories I read) it was scary. In June 2026 I was infected with cyclosporiasis from a contaminated food outbreak in Michigan, which we deduced was the ultimate cause of my C. diff infection. My test results showed I was not only positive for cyclosporiasis, but I also was positive for two types of E.coli, sapovirus, and of course, C. diff toxins. Since…

I was prescribed antibiotics for an ear infection and later another course of antibiotics for what my doctor suspected was SIBO. Six months later, while on a trip to Paris, I remember feeling like something was wrong with my gut. These weren’t the typical ulcerative colitis symptoms I was used to experiencing. On another trip, I developed loose, watery diarrhea that wouldn’t stop. When I got home, I had severe stomach pain. I suspected I had…

In June 2018, I had a tonsillectomy as an adult and was prescribed antibiotics. 6 months later, I came down with a terrible diahrrea and cramping. I tested positive for c diff toxins, took vancomycin for 14 days, and was fine. In November 2023, I was prescribed antibiotics for a sinus infection. On December 6, I was at our vet’s office unexpectedly having my adored dog put down, and I felt very sick. I assumed it was emotions…wrong. The next…

When I was 19, I suddenly lost my appetite, and my body began to betray me. My stools were watery, I was dizzy and disoriented and I collapsed in my kitchen. I spent hours in the ER, only to be sent home with vague advice. And a referral to G.I..no one suspected what was lurking. Months later, I was told I had IBS and that I was too young to be worrying myself sick. In that moment started researching and C. diff kept popping up. This new…

What I believed would be the greatest day of my life welcoming my child into the world, took a devastating turn. Birthing complications led to a 9-unit blood transfusion, an emergency C-section, surgery for a hemorrhaging uterine fibroid, and a week of intubation in the ICU at Northwestern Hospital. During that week, I was on a heavy regimen of antibiotics to manage pain and prevent infection. When I was finally extubated, reunited with my baby…

In July 2016, I went to the ER and found out I had appendicitis. I was rushed into emergency surgery and in recovery I was given I.V antibiotics and was there for 4 days NPO. Once I went to the bathroom for the first time, I couldn’t pass gas easily and when I wiped there was pink staining when I wiped. I felt like something was wrong because there should not be any bleeding at all. I mentioned it to a nurse, but it wasn’t a lot so I think there…

Dec 6, 2023, I was prescribed amoxicillin/clav for a regular cold by an mdlive doctor. I remember feeling great after 1 week taking the antibiotic but something changed one night where I started feeling really sick and I remember telling my spouse it was the chicken. I thought it was raw but no one else at home got sick. So I ended up going to the doctor and remember him telling me I don’t think is C. diff, I think you are just having an episode…

I was hospitalized for a planned surgical procedure and was given IV antibiotics at the hospital I developed some rectal bleeding, loose stools, loss of appetite and became lightheaded. Went to ER and was diagnosed with C-diff; I was placed by my surgeon on a 14 day course of Vancomycin, which I am still taking. Although I have been an RN for 46 years, I had not encountered a patient with C. diff in 20 years. I received no education…

Shared by her son Robert March of 2025 was supposed to be an exciting time for me. I was looking forward to receiving the Irvine Valley College Classified Staff Award of Excellence, for fighting hunger on campus, and after 30 years of working there I was getting ready to retire but these five words changed my world forever, “You know mom is sick.” These words shattered me and tore at my heart and spirit. It was antibiotics that triggered…

In February 2025, I saw my dentist about a toothache. Upon examination she saw an infection at the root of the tooth on which a root canal had been performed in February 2023. She referred me to the same endodontist who performed the root canal and he determined I would need apico surgery however he was booked out several months. He prescribed clindamycin but warned me to only take it if the pain in the tooth became unbearable. It did and so I…

My experience with C. diff started after what I thought would be a routine recovery from breast implant replacement surgery. I was prescribed antibiotics after the procedure, and about 10 days later, I began experiencing intense chills and persistent diarrhea. I went to the hospital and was diagnosed with C. diff. But that was only the beginning. After two weeks of treatment, I woke up one morning and could barely walk. The pain and…

At the time of writing this personal account of my C. diff journey I am a 36 year old male that has had Crohn’s disease for 26 years. My C. diff journey starts in March 2022. Towards the end of the month I started noticing an increase in bowel movement frequency and a trend towards nothing but diarrhea. Diarrhea had never been a part of my Crohn’s symptom profile and I suspected something was wrong. My doctors just assumed that this new…