C. Difficile - Editor's Choice

Over the years, Earth Clinic readers have sent us many reports about their treatments for C. Difficile. The editors at Earth Clinic consider the below posts to be some of the most helpful and informative and have named them 'Editor's Choice'. We hope that you will find this useful.

Probiotics

Posted by Ruth (Alaska) on 04/03/2019
★★★★★

I am 30 year old female, healthy, active, always have been conscious of what I eat and my health in general. I came down with a sudden fever, and after 4 days of fevers, chills, malaise, nausea, vomiting, some diarrhea, went to the hospital, which is very rare for me. I had a 104 fever, severely dehydrated and was given 2 liters of fluids. Nothing was found in my urine, blood, or throat swab, although the Dr. hoped it was the flu. I went home that night with hopes that I would get better. 2 more days, and the fevers, nausea, chills did not stop. I went back in and got an x-ray: nothing. CT scan revealed what looked like a kidney infection, although my urine was clean, and with that I started a 10 day course of sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (Bactrim). I began taking one Asprega Probiotic pill per day 3 days into the Bactrim course.

After 6 days, I still had fevers, no appetite, some nausea, and extreme tiredness. I went back to in and saw the on-call doctor, she ordered urine and blood cultures, and gave me a shot of ceftriaxone, and changed the antibiotic to 5 days of ciprofloxacin. The cultures came back clean. I requested they continue to grow out the cultures to see if it was a fungal infection, since they hadn't found any bacteria yet. But that message must have not gone through, because they disposed of my samples. 5 days after finishing the Ciprofloxacin, I went back in for having diarrhea and generally not feeling like I was "better". The on-call doctor (doctor #3) ordered another urinalysis and a stool sample. The next day, the clinic notified me that I had C. diff and that they had called in a prescription for 10 days of oral vancomycin. I thought about it and decided I would get the script as a backup and go all out on trying to heal myself. I have insurance so the script was only $15.

I bought kefir, barley (for barley water), kombucha, sauerkraut, 3 types of chewable probiotics, another big bottle of Asprega probiotics, garlic pills, oil of oregano, beet juice, carrot juice, and organic Miso. The previous day I had also ordered probiotics online, nascent iodine, magnesium chloride cream, iron, calcium, vitamin C and D, and a book by John Brisson titled "Fix Your Gut", which I highly recommend. What a wealth of information. The last day I saw the doctor, let's call it

Day 1, I had 12 bowel movements.

The next day I started my treatment,

Day 2: 8 bowel movements,

Day 3: 7,

Day 4: 4,

Day 5: 3.

Day 6 is today and I'm on 0 at 8am, have been up since 5:30. I have no more cramping unless I eat something I shouldn't. I have now figured out, I take 1 bite and wait. I will get cramps within 15 minutes. I have only tried this on a couple foods, but it works. Eat slow. The first day I drank barley water (quite soothing and not bad at all although it sounds gross), I ate the barley with flavored kefir on it for breakfast and miso for lunch. Lots of water. I continued this diet and am still on it while introducing new foods and liquids like kombucha, carrot juice, beet juice. I am also consuming all of the things I mentioned earlier. I am overdosing on probiotics.

Every 3 hours I take double a full day's dose of each kind that I have. Every morning on an empty stomach, a shot of water with 2 drops of oregano and iodine in it. Plenty of rest and naps. I still have the antibiotics just in case. But I now realize that they should be a backup plan and not the first line of defense. Our medical system is ridiculous. Why was I not warned of this when I started 3 different types of antibiotics in a week? Why was I not given advice from my doctor on dietary changes that could have helped prevent this from happening? It really is a shame. Why was I not warned that this could come back even after taking dangerous antibiotics? Everything I have found out about C diff, I researched and found out myself.

You will beat this! You are your best advocate. You don't have to do everything a doctor tells you. Listen to your body. Take it slow. Do what is making you feel better. Try the barley water. You have to take care of this all day and be on top of it, but you will win.


Pickles

Posted by Marcus (Houston, Texas) on 02/23/2017
★★★★★

I got C.diff after having a heart attack and needing surgery on my back. I had also gotten strep throat multiple times. As you can tell, I was overloaded with antibiotics. Being a diabetic did not help as my physicians were worried about infections. I was home and recovering and had gotten bowel pain it had become worse and worse, At one point I could not stand up straight when I got out of the car. Doubled over the hood the heat relaxed the cramps, they returned daily / hourly. My son brought me some food which included deli pickles in juice. My mother suggested that I drink pickle juice, I did and it was like a miracle. Within minutes the pain was gone and I could stand with no problems. I thought I was cured, fast forward. I had quad bypass and the slew of antibiotics began and this time the C.Diff returned 10 times worse with hourly bouts of bathroom visits three four days. Again with pickle juice and this time pickles and no white breads, cut back on starches, after two more bouts each getting worse my Doctors at the VA AND A colonoscopy later, a GI specialist was seen and a culture was ordered. Finally an answer!

I was warned about future antibiotics use and such, they ordered Metronidazole along with the warning of it might not cure the C. Diff. I am slowly going backwards experiencing pain, cramps, diarrhea so I have returned to using deli style pickle juice and eating a slice of pickle twice a day. I know the vinegar is acidic and boy does it work.


Dandelion Root

Posted by Joly (Arkansas) on 12/06/2016
★★★★★

For C Diff, probiotics which were helping for a couple weeks, the real cure happened overnight, I had read all about dandelion root, how it can cure cancer and help with multi problems from skin to high blood pressure, so I went to the health food store and bought dandelion tea, and solitary dandelion capsules, one tea bag steeped in 8 oz. Hot water, and two capsules, cured c diff overnight, now I continue this everyday and feel wonderful.


Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Lydia (Las Vegas, Nv) on 06/18/2013
★★★★★

C. Difficile-Associated Diarrhea Cured With Apple Cider Vinegar.

OK, I was a skeptic... A desperate skeptic but a skeptic just the same. When I came to earth clinic looking for a cure, I probably would have tried anything I read at that point as I have been battling C Diff for over 6 weeks, lost almost 25lbs, lost all my strength and was very close to losing my sanity. I had literally tried every drug cure they. Prescribe, every over the counter and was still racked by round the clock diarhhea along with pain, spasms, dehydration and weakness. I AM NOT EXAGERATING... I took 2 tbs of Apple Cider Vinegar in 6oz of water & in 20 minutes felt relief.

When you have chronic diarhea, there is always a "tense" or "sick" feeling in the pit of your stomach; like you are just waiting to get sick again. ACV took that away on my first dose. By my second dose I was able to go 2 hours without visiting the bathroom- it was a real miracle. I actually slept for the first time in weeks by my 3rd dose (2 Tbs, every 2 hours- organic, with the mother- in 6-8oz of electrolyte water. )

ACV is a miracle! I would have never believed it, but I am a believer now. I will never be without a bottle. I know this sounds dramatic but I honestly believe ACV might have saved me a major health battle. I was going downhill fast. My Dr. had given up and I was supposed to check in the hospital the day I tried ACV. I never had to go to the hospital, I am still in shock that such a simple cure worked but I am a true believer now!



Advertisement