I was prescribed Augmentin for an earache and sinus infection on May 4, 2024. I became sick a few days later, but I just tried to deal with it, figuring it would go away once I finished the course of antibiotics. I completed them on May 17, and on May 18 I agreed to go to a concert about an hour away with my boyfriend. I didn’t feel great, but I thought eating might help.

By the time we arrived at the venue, I couldn’t even walk upstairs to watch. I thought we could make it home, but I was vomiting violently on the side of the highway after a few miles. We rented a hotel room, where I had the most severe episodes of vomiting and diarrhea all night. By morning I knew I would not make it to the car, so I was taken by ambulance to a local hospital which provided horrible care, told me I probably ate “bad food,” and discharged me after 2 nights.

When I woke up the next morning in excruciating pain, I was too weak to walk on my own. My boyfriend carried me to the car and took me to another hospital, where I was admitted for 8 more days and, finally, diagnosed with c diff. I was having up to 20 trips to the bathroom a day, many filled with blood while I was hospitalized.

Since being discharged I’ve had 3 subsequent ER visits, which varied in their levels of awfulness. One ER doctor told me, “You JUST have diarrhea. Take some Immodium” when I was passing bloody water up to 20 times a day. Another hospital lost my stool samples. I’ve lost most hope in the medical community.

I did find a wonderful infectious disease doctor (2 1/2 hours away), and I do trust his opinion. Right now, I’m testing negative for C. diff. Unfortunately I still have symptoms, so we’re awaiting more testing to find out exactly why.

I understand if you feel like you’ve lost everything and everyone because of this disease. I can’t really work and I’m about to declare bankruptcy. People don’t really get it because they don’t understand how disabling this can be.