Replied by Deeree (Southeast Massachusetts) on 10/12/2009
To Keith from CT: I am 52, and had relapsing C-Diff last year from Thanksgiving til April 2009. It started with a respiratory infection, followed by antibiotics, and a trip to the emergency room, where I picked up the nasty bug. I was in the hospital three times for relapses. The final time, I was put on a pulse dose of Vancomycin for 6 weeks. But I also took matters into my own hands. I purchased Probiotics on-line. I read as much as I could about how it travels and incubates, and I started disinfecting my home. The only thing that kills this bacteria is BLEACH!! The dilution rate used is 10 parts water to 1 part bleach. I wiped down every surface in my house, especially door handles, knobs, toilet and toilet handles, phones, computer and mouse, and more. I read the spores can live up to 6 months to 2 years. Don't know which is true, but even the lower 6 months is long time. I also carried a small spray bottle of the diluted bleach solution when I had to go back to the hospital. If I could pick it up in the ER, I wasn't taking any chances. If you do purchase probiotics, make sure they are stable. I paid $40.00 a bottle, but the good ones all run that much. Some, like LGG can run up to 200.00 for a month supply. But they DO WORK. I try to take 1 a day now. Good Luck, I hope you get better.Replied by Denver, Co (Denver, Colorado, United States) on 11/15/2011
Similar to many of you I was prescribed an antibiotic for an unrelated infection in August, 2011 and by mid-September, 2011 I had to go to the emergency room because of the c. Diff symptoms. They diagnosed me with C. Diff and gave me a 10 day prescription of Metronidazol (Flagyl) and told me I should be okay after that. At the hospital they didn't treat it as a serious condition and just told me to take the meds for the time period suggested and stay away from spicy and acidic foods. I followed the instructions as given to me by the hospital but little did I know that after the 10 days on the medication the c. Diff came back and I had three reoccurrences from the end of September to the end of October 2011.
During the last reoccurrence I came accross this website and I believe the remedies provided here were more advantageous than the medicine I was taking. What I did was take the 10 day Flagyl (500 mg) three times a day and also purchased probiotics at a local store-the ones I bought are Culturelle-with Lactobacillus GG and I started taking three of these a day as well. I started pulsing down the amount I was taking, until on the last couple days I just took one flagyl and two probiotics. I also stayed away from any sugar, dairy, wheat, and acidic products during those last 10 days and drank only water (and lots of it). I have been 2 weeks clear of the c. Diff and feel great. I am now eating as I was before and hope this time it doesn't come back (in the past after 1-2 days of being off of the flagyl I would feel the symptoms again... So this is a great sign! ). I continue to take a probiotic a day and probably will continues to do so for a few more weeks.
