Beth W.
My story began in 2018 when I went to see a colorectal surgeon for the incision of a thrombosed hemorrhoid. In order to ‘prevent’ an infection, the surgeon prescribed me both Amoxicillin 800mg 2x daily and Vancomycin 500mg 3x daily. Upon completion of this 7-day course, I started to get chills, uncontrollable diarrhea, and lost a significant amount of weight. I went to the ER twice where I was told it was food poisoning and both times prescribed Flagyl for 10 days each time. While taking the antibiotics, I felt better. However, within 3 days after finishing both courses of medications, the pain and diarrhea along with fever and chills came roaring back.
I went to 3 different gastroenterologists who stated I had either Crohn’s disease, IBS, or it was ‘in my head’ (anxiety induced). I finally went to UT Health Science Center where they asked if I had been tested for C. diff. It was the first time I had ever heard of it. Needless to say, after almost 9 months, I was successfully diagnosed. However, the doctor who figured out the root cause put me on a series of Flagyl, Dificid and vancomycin. While on the medications, I had relief. However, each time I finished a course of antibiotics the C. diff came back with a vengeance. I started to do more research on my own and found out about FMT. I then had to call around to find a doctor who was even willing to perform the FMT via colonoscopy.
During all this time, I continued to decline. I’m a lawyer and it was difficult to work, eat, or maintain weight because I was having bowel movements 20-30 times daily. I truly thought I was going to die. After receiving the FMT, I had relief within 2 days. However, because of the length of time it took to diagnose me, I suffered from fissures and long-term gastrointestinal problems.
Since then, I’ve had 2 re-occurrences due to needing to take antibiotics – once for H. pylori and once for strep throat. Both times, I had to go through FMT both via colonoscopy and orally, and each time I contracted it there were more FMTs involved. During COVID it was almost impossible to procure FMT pills and hospitals were not allowing FMTs via colonoscopy. I had to order them from Spain! Now, I worry each time I contract it, it may be my last time as I am scared eventually FMTs will no longer be effective. I feel that I have been given a ‘death sentence’ knowing how susceptible I am to C. diff each time I have to take an antibiotic. I wanted to share my story with other survivors.
Other Stories
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Mira
In December of 2019, my husband got sick with C. diff. It was after he was prescribed antibiotics for what they thought was a case of diverticulitis. In hindsight, it’s clear he may have simply had C. diff all along. He was treated with vancomycin… -
Beth W.
My story began in 2018 when I went to see a colorectal surgeon for the incision of a thrombosed hemorrhoid. In order to ‘prevent’ an infection, the surgeon prescribed me both Amoxicillin 800mg 2x daily and Vancomycin 500mg 3x daily. Upon completio… -
Mollie Lauck
My Husband and I were expecting our first child. We were so very excited. My Pregnancy was complicated to begin with- I was considered “Advanced Maternal Age” and had Hypertension and Gestational Diabetes. Though it was a labor of love, Pregnancy … -
Ken Fredrickson
I’m 62 and generally healthy, I’ve never had an intestinal issue. I went to the ER on Jan 2, 2023 and a CT scan revealed Diverticulitis. They sent me home with a 2 week course of antibiotics. Four days after completing the antibiotics, I developed… -
Jan
I am a healthy active older woman. On March 1, 2019 I had an explosive episode of diarrhea, out of the blue, no idea what caused it. The smell was indescribable, like nothing I had ever experienced in my long life. That was the beginning of a long… -
Dr. Melissa Geraghty, Psy.D.
At the start of 2018 I was diagnosed with C. diff. I never really heard much about C. diff outside of people acquiring it in a hospital setting or people of advanced age contracting it. Oh, was I wrong. After being sick for about 8 weeks with w… -
Cassie Padilla
As a nurse for 35 years I thought I knew a lot about C. diff but as a patient I’ve discovered I knew NOTHING about C. diff. I have had 2 episodes of C. diff in my life. The first was in 2017 following (prophylactic) antibiotics after surgery. That… -
Julia
I’ve been suffering from this infection for the past few years. When I was first diagnosed, I was shocked and thought this was something that only the elderly suffered from. It’s been 3 years since my first infection, and I still suffer daily. I’v… -
Sue
I had emergency surgery for a ruptured appendix and was given SO MANY antibiotics in the hospital. I was also given Protonix for the acid reflux that resulted from all the antibiotics. Looking at the list of risk factors for C. diff, I fit every o… -
Howard
While many of us who battle C diff have quick success with the usual antibiotics, the purpose of my entry here is to emphasize the high rate of success of the Fecal Microbiota Transplant. My C diff experience was such that A) a lengthy course of V…
