C Diff Struggle

Intro:

Dean, 22, Ulcerative Colitis since February 2015.

Constantly see to be fighting this and can be so frustrating.

I have had to call in sick to work a lot the past 2 months because of c diff and it’s so annoying. Thankfully I work in a pharmacy and my employer is very understanding:)

Some more about Dean:

I’m from Ireland, just turned 22 today :) have UC since February 2015

Symptoms:

Had serious cramping the last few weeks with trips to hospital.

C Diff Struggle

Hi guys,

Sorry I haven’t been keeping you updated the last while, I’ve had a rough few months.

So I had my 3rd infliximab infusion at the end of May this year. 3 days after the infusion I had finally found remission.

Unfortunately it didn’t last very long :( after about 2 weeks my symptoms had worsened. I was having severe cramps watery diarrhea throughout the day and no energy. I upped the dose on the prednisone for a week and still no difference so had

no other choice to go back to hospital.

When in hospital it turned out I had picked up c diff. I was put on vancomycin for 10 days and after the first 3 days I was symptom free again. And to hear the word remission from my doctor was such a relief! A few weeks back my symptoms started again but I was having good and bad days which was strange, but mostly bad ones. I was running to the bathroom nearly 8 times a day and had severe cramping again. To be honest the bathroom breaks I can deal with but the cramps are just unbearable at times. I had to head back to hospital to find out I had picked up c diff again :( so I said great few days of vancomycin again and I’ll be fine.

But no I was wrong I’m on my third week of vancomycin and only now I’m finding remission again with solid stools 2-3 times a day and pain free. I found c diff really hard to fight this time round considering my immunity is so low from 6-mp and infliximab. I’m very very tired in the mornings and also feel nauseous but I’m finally coming around. Personally I wouldn’t wish for anyone to pick up c diff as it was an awful experience for me. I’m now tappering off the pred so hopefully I can get off them this time round. If anyone would have some tips on how to give my immune system a nice boost id really appreciate it! I have started taking wheatgrass and find that is helping my symptoms already :) thanks again for listening guys it’s nice to share my story with others especially when my family and girlfriend don’t have UC it can be extra hard for them to understand the experience we go through!

Medications / Supplements:

I have started taking wheatgrass powder mixed with water and find it really helps with all round symptoms.

written by Dean Murphy

submitted in the colitis venting area