C. diff affects us all.

Jessica L. C. diff Story My C. diff story began at the end of my pregnancy with my second child, my son, who was born in October 2015. I was put on Clindamycin after the Metronidazole I was prescribed six or seven times for bacterial vaginosis that caused me to go into preterm labor failed to resolve the infection. I had finished the antibiotic when I ended up in the hospital for delivery, 3 weeks early. Also, at that time my boyfriend was on…

As a Doctor of Pharmacy (pharmacist) that worked in a hospital setting for more than twenty years, I was knowledgeable about Clostridium difficile in terms of the disease itself— knew the highest risk groups (e.g., patients > 65 years old, in hospital or long-term care facilities, on long-term or multiple antibiotics, with co-morbidities). Additionally, I knew the standard precautions necessary to protect patients, staff and the general…

At the age of 49, my father, Donald, had three consecutive strokes. The ER doctor told us that they have never seen scans like his before. The bleed was massive and the swelling was rapidly increasing. 18 hours into the hospital stay, my father was in the OR having his brain flap removed. The severe swelling caused pressure on the brain stem causing major deficits. Over the next three and a half years, bed side procedures, extensive…

Ignorance was bliss; this was how my C. diff journey began. In 2009 I was a healthy 26-year-old woman, I had just found out in the fall that I was expecting my first child. As a first-time pregnant mother, I was overjoyed with the adventures that would come with my pregnancy. Little did I know what that really meant. Due to some health and pregnancy complications I had two surgeries, two rounds of antibiotics and two extended hospital stays…

Samantha P. I am a 29-year-old woman from Washington. I am a wife to an amazing husband. I also used to be a student pursuing a graduate degree, and a fine art photographer, but illness and PTSD have stolen these things from me for the time being. My C. diff ordeal began at the end of April 2018 when I contracted Shiga-toxin producing E. coli 026 after eating at a local restaurant. I was sick for weeks with many doctors, both in clinics…

I contracted strep throat from my child. Because I am allergic to penicillin and amoxicillin, the doctor prescribed clindamycin. Within 2 days of taking the antibiotic, I started to feel off. I felt really tired, weak and just all around not well. I stopped taking the antibiotic around day 6 of the 10-day course. I started to notice that my stools were abnormal and much more frequent. There were symptoms I had, and I thought to myself–maybe I am…

It amazes me how so few—not even medical professionals—have heard of C. diff. I am a Stand-Up Comedian, based in the Chicago area. I am also a dental assistant. I cringe every time I am asked to print out a prescription for Clindamycin. I am all too familiar with C. diff, as my mom was diagnosed with it in 2008, and eventually lost her colon. She had an Ileostomy done in March 2009. It saved her life, but she was never the same mentally or…

My father had Parkinson’s Disease. He and his wife (who was fighting a losing battle against cancer) were having a difficult time managing my dad’s medications. He was very unstable and at times experienced auditory and visual hallucinations due to dementia. My father had recently fallen and developed a cellulitis infection in his knee. He took a couple of rounds of antibiotics to clear it up. About a month later, Dad was at home with my…

Three and a half years ago my appendix ruptured, requiring emergency surgery. The day after hospital discharge the diarrhea began. I was diagnosed with an antibiotic resistant C. diff infection. I suffered through seven months of raging illness while I underwent standard protocol. I was able to get to the Mayo Clinic and had a fecal microbiota transplant which thankfully (I thought) brought the CDI to negative status. I now have secondary and…