I acquired C. diff in September of 2023 but I thought the diarrhea was because of vitamins or weight loss drugs. I started to have an upset stomach and diarrhea but no fever. I did have fatigue. It went on for 3 weeks. I used every medication to stop it during that time. After 2 weeks, I called my doctor but thought it was an allergy or food poisoning. Finally, I went to urgent care because I was in the bathroom about 16 times a day and falling asleep at my computer. Urgent care tested me for C. diff which they said would be a rare diagnosis for a healthy 52 year old. But it was positive. They sent me a vancomycin prescription which I took. But the C. diff came back and I got Dificid. Felt better and I thought “the $5,000 medication works.” But then it didn’t.

I went to regular doctor, an infectious disease doctor, and then a gastroenterologist. They finally said to do the fecal transplant in April of 2024. I also got an ulcer during this time. They found it during my 2nd colonoscopy and I did an endoscopy as well. The meds are rough on you. I have not had a recurrence since the fecal transplant, thank god, and my ulcer is gone. We still haven’t pinpointed exactly where I got it. If it ever came back, I would go straight to the FMT. I let the illness go too long before getting help in which the C. diff colonized. The trauma of going to the bathroom every day is awful.  One small change and I’m a nervous wreck. It is much more common now in younger people. I had no idea. It is scary but at least the FMT is highly successful at about 95 percent. I hope and pray everyday that it will never come back. I pray that everyone can access the transplant right away because it works, even though kind of weird.