I first became ill at 2am with diarrhea.  It recurred approximately every 15 to 30 minutes all night long.  I then began throwing up.  I lay there trying to think of what I ate that would cause what was happening.  Finally we called a nurse hot line and were advised to go to the ER.  I told my husband that I couldn’t walk out to the car without completely ruining the carpeting.  We called paramedics who were so kind and understanding.  Waiting in the ER I had major accidents.  The nurses later told me they knew it was C. diff because of the odor.  I was put under the care of a wonderful infectious disease doctor who treated me with vancomycin and, of course, fluids.

It took 5 days in the hospital to bring my body back into balance when I could leave and not infect others.  My dear sweet husband had a terrible ordeal because he had to decontaminate the whole house in my absence. (I had it easy, I only had to wait to get better). In my follow-up visit to my doctor, he told me that I couldn’t take any antibiotics for at least 6 months.  It was determined that my C. diff was caused by an imbalance of bacteria due to antibiotics.  I have had chronic UTIs and interstitial cystitis for many years.  My urologist had put me on a prophylactic low dose of antibiotics to be taken every day.  I had been taking these for about 2 years.  This eventually caused the C. diff.  I have been doing well except for one scary half day of diarrhea which, thankfully, stopped on its own.  We are subsequently much more aware of hygiene and cleanliness, as well as food balance and intake.  And I now make sure to take plenty of probiotics.