Round One: My First Battle with C-diff!--2007-2009

As originally stated, my problem started with a sinus infection, rounds of antibiotics, and then the diagnosis of c-diff.  I was extremely nauseous and had bloody diarrhea with severe stomach cramping. At first I was given a prescription for metronidazole also referred to as  flagyl which is an antibiotic (go figure)   and very quickly began to feel better.  Home free, I thought! But all too soon the symptoms returned, and I was running a fairly high temperature.  So I was given another round of flagyl; however, this time it didn't seem to help me at all. The next drug I was prescribed, and the only other one available at the time  for fighting c-diff, was Vancomycin. This antibiotic was very expensive which prohibited many patients with c-diff from getting it. At first it seemed to tame the disease but it was the lull before the storm. By now, after doing research, I had determined that I was in the 20 to 30 percent range that didn't get well after taking these drugs--at least not right away. The "not right away" turned into months and then years.

How do I begin to describe the nightmare? Just thinking about it causes my heart to race and the panic to resurface. My faith in Jesus Christ and my wonderful husband Jack (John) kept me going when at times I wanted to give up.  Whether I was being rushed to the hospital for dehydration or bedfast and burning up with fever and pain that tormented my body, Jack was by my side, encouraging me with his words, prayers, and actions. There were times he was afraid that he had lost me as I was unresponsive and barely breathing. In or out of the hospital, he would stay up all night bathing me with cool cloths, trying to bring down the fever. All the time, he would pray.


When the worst of the worst became better, thanks to the continued and increased dosage of Vancomycin, a different medicine that finally relieved some of the nausea, another that helped the diarrhea, and yet another that helped to control the pain, I spent part of the time on the couch in the living room. This was a big step and Jack and I were both encouraged. I weighed around 100 pounds and had no appetite, so if I could force down a few bites that was progress.  I was taking probiotics as suggested by my doctor. I spent a little time on the computer so I could participate in a c-diff support group and this was both helpful and frustrating. People that I thought of as online friends were experiencing their own horror stories and some of them ultimately died. When this would be reported, all of us would grieve but would continue on offering help to each other about what probiotics, other natural supplements  or meds were providing relief. Some members finally beat the disease which we called "the beast."

Would I ever get over the disease myself? I didn't know. As a person of faith, I knew that I would live either on earth or in Heaven. I had a taste of the afterlife as a pre-teen which had impacted my life in a many ways. To read click on http://c-diffhelp.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html .

As the days passed--some good and some bad--I would be blessed when Pastor Bert from our church would visit me, sharing communion with my husband and me. Just his presence cheered me up as we discussed faith, healing, and happenings at the church.  Because my husband and I couldn't attend, he would always say that we were missed but that with my weight loss there was a lot less of me to miss. He has since retired but I will never forget his faithfulness.  Not only could we not go to church because of my condition but my husband had to stop teaching a Bible Study for a men's group that was part of a larger organization. He so loved everyone in the group and enjoyed teaching as he didn't use store-purchased lessons but prepared his own material after much research.  I was so frustrated that I  was stopping him from going but I was not safe to be alone.  I was terribly weak and could have easily fallen if I had to get off the couch or out of bed for any reason. Though I saw my primary care doctor and specialists, the c-diff lingered, doing damage to my body that would haunt me for years. When I could not pray because of being too sick, I would recite my two favorite Bible verses over and over in my mind and draw strength from the words:  Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 

It was only natural for me to be protective of my family, determined that they would not get c-diff by getting spores on their hands and touching their mouths. My dedicated husband and caretaker was the most at risk since he spent so much time with me. I would not allow anyone else to use my bathroom, and even though I was already infected, as my health permitted, I would wash everything in my bathroom with Clorox. This is the only disinfectant available to the average person that will kill the spores. I also used Clorox on door handles, the telephone, computer keys, and anything that I touched. This was being overly cautious as I washed my hands several times a day, ending with a Clorox rinse. When company visited, I kept my distance, concerned for their health.

I wanted to be rid of c-diff; it was stealing my life from me.  I had seen many experts, but no one could offer any additional help other than to continue prescribing the Vancomycin--Vanco for short.  In desperation I picked up the phone book and checked out the listing for gastroenterologists. Why not try yet another one, I thought. Yes, it would wear me out to get there as it did every time I had to see a doctor,  but I was desperate. This was a woman doctor that I knew nothing about, but I called and got an appointment as early as possible.  Dr. Beth was pleasant and very young. When I asked her if she had ever treated c-diff patients, she said that she hadn't. Off to a good start, huh? But she did know something about the disease and, after taking my history, wanted to try something else using the Vanco.  She wanted me to take the medicine, then stop for a couple of days, and then start again. She said that the medicine would wipe out some of the c-diff bacteria at first but  the bugs would run and hide--even in the appendix.  By waiting and attacking again, we would kill more of them.  We would repeat this process over and over until the c-diff was slowly eliminated.  We would also decrease the dosage after a while. 

It worked!  I started feeling better and could eat and keep more food down.  Eventually, I tested negative for c-diff, and our household celebrated and thanked God. I was far from well, but felt I had a fighting chance to get that way.