C-Diff Remedies

I went through 2 weeks of sheer hell--which included lots of blood and pus in my stool.

I went on a full attack on April 4th--using a standard probiotic (10 Billion cultures) and rapidly increased it to 50 billion and subsequent other products that I learned of from people on this forum (and my dogged research) I am happpy to report that on Saturday, April 20th, the bleeding, loose stools, painful gut and incessant bathroom visits STOPPED.

I feel absolutely great and I want to share some of my protocol so that someone else might not have to suffer months, even years on ened.

I started with Digestive enzymes before every meal and heavy doses of probiotics and then added [probiotics] before breakfast. I also took on e saccromycess bilourdii capsule midday--sometimes on an empty stomach and sometimes with food. I wanted to try different approches in order to monitor my body's reaction.

I think what brought about the quickest relief is that I ingested Oil of Oregano and drank Kefir several times a day. More importantly, I refused to go along with my Doctor's suggestion to start a Rx of Flagl to purge the infection--this makes no sense, and unfortunately Western medicine is pretty much lost inmy opinion. It was completely counter-intuitive to put more antibiotics in my body... They do more harm than good!

I am continuing with taking 4 drops of oil of oregano on an empty stomach--once in the morning and an hour before dinner. I drink 2-3 glasses of Kefir; yogurt (try to avoid the sugary kind); before dinner.

I first had c diff three years ago really bad. It took the drs months to find it, as my first stool test came back negative. After I continued to lose weight that I couldn't even afford to lose, eventually a repeat stool culture came back positive. Flagyl did the trick and I don't remember having any recurrence except maybe a mild one that I took some leftover Flagyl for and recovered.

Fast forward to three weeks ago, I had just tried an ACV and water enema as part of a detox regimen. Within 30 minutes of that I started feeling off and then 30 mins after that, I started having the terrible diarrhea. The next two weeks I saw drs, had several (negative) stool tests, went to the ER a couple of times due to dehydration, and finally was admitted last Friday.

I was then given every test under the sun, including a CT scan and a colonoscopy/endoscopy. None of the results explained my symptoms. Two nights ago the hospital was ready to discharge me with no treatment at all, since I def didn't have c diff because of the negative cultures. I have never been so frightened in my life. I explained to every dr I saw all my symptoms (diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, foul smelling stool, and severe weight loss). And they still wanted to give me nothing.

Just as I was about to leave, my primary dr came in the room. I had low expectations for that conversation, since he really had not much to say a few days earlier when he visited me in the hospital. But he turned out to be an angel sent from heaven. He ordered 10 days of Vancomycin. I felt a tiny bit better yesterday and a tiny bit better today.

My next step is a consult on Mon with a dr who does the fecal transplant. I am long past being grossed out by it. I want my life back and have been ill for far too long. Thank you so much again for your inspiring post! Hope your health is still great!

Take everything today to re establish flora on a mega scale and coconut products heal the intesines ... and I thought constipation was a problem... this is worse. There is a post from this week of using fecal transplant that was successful ... I don't know the proceedure but if you can get rid of c diff today, anything is worth trying.

Try the Kimchi if you are suffering with C-Diff. It is basically fermented Napa Cabbage with garlic, red peppers, chilis and spices.

I think that relapses can be caused by C-Diff spores laying around your house after an illness, so make sure you wash everything you can with bleach. I am lucky that the curtains in my room are white, so I was able to take them down and wash them as well. Wash all surfaces, including walls, and especially things you touch all the time like your phones, TV remotes, etc.

One source I found said that it can also be transferred via nasal route, so be very careful with your nose and mouth.

This thing can be beat, I just don't think that the Western medical community knows how to do it.

BTW- I didn't fill my second prescription for Flagyl, as I knew that it would make me feel worse.

I'm going to keep be really aware of what I put into my body and continue with the Probiotics, Yogurt and Kefir, along with Turmeric and other Middle Eastern spices in my brown rice, but Kimchi really seemed to do the trick. I am so happy and relieved that I feel like a human being today for the first time in over two months!

Kimchi is for me!

I laughed about that, being corrected by a 4 year old. You know all the great ideas and helps on this terrific site are really not ours at all.

I have been taking CS for months now and have not been sick with a cold or flu. I recommended it to a friend who had been to many doctors because of the pain in her teeth and jaw. No doctors could help her. After the first day of taking CS her pain was diminished. Now it has gone away. She asked one of her doctor's if he knew about CS and he said yes. She asked him why he didn't tell her about it. He didn't have and answer. I also spray it in my dog's eye which was seeping. No more seepage. Also, a friend had pink eye, we sprayed it in and on his eye, next day it was gone. Amazing stuff. That is why I want to get a generator. Just haven't been able to decide which to get. Lloyd, if you could email me, that would be appreciated. Landrov101 (at) aol dot com

Many, many thanks to Ted and everyone on EC who are helping each other to continue with good health.

I'd sure like to hear from people who try colloidal silver for its effectiveness on C Diff. The trick is: for a system wide infection it has to be used daily for weeks if not months. You know if its working if the patient gets a new burst of energy after a week or two. The "energy" is the immune system being relieved in its stressed condition by the fighting power of the silver. It's like the reinforcements arriving.

I've just been diagnosed with c diff, which came on big time after a course of amoxicillin. Ironically, I was glad for the diagnosis as I've been having bouts of symptoms for 2.5 years, starting immediately after an outpatient surgery. Even though a test from a local lab came back negative for c diff, no doc ever thought to have me retested. With my crash course reading, I now know there are many grades of tests plus false negatives.

On my third day of Flagyl, hoping it works. Have ordered Florastor and L-Glutamine. I've been making/drinking my own kefir for about 1.5 years, which may have helped me not get so horribly sick as you were, who knows.

Anyhow, thanks again for sharing your story. Your encouragement to advocate for ourselves and stand up to the "experts" or leave if we don't trust them is urgently important. Docs don't know everything. Often they don't know squat. Let's not be intimidated by white coats! In allowing us to hear voices like yours, this forum supports our taking the lead in our own healthcare. So big thanks to EarthClinic, too. Best wishes to us all for a vibrantly healthy 2013!

As I had no idea what was happening I put up with the diarrhea and cramps, weakness for weeks before I finally could not get out of bed and ended up in the emergency room. The first round of antibiotics helped, but I still felt lousy. Lost 20 pounds that month. Not a diet I recommend. Three days after the antibiotics ran out, it came back WHAM. Called doctor, on a friday of course, suffered all weekend, got another scrip for antibiotic. Felt better right away, although far from great. 2 weeks later, 3 days after the antibiotic ran out WHAM it's back. I wish the doctors would take this more seriously.

When the doctor prescribed the same Flagyl treatment for the THIRD time I thought this is ridiculous. So I searched for advice elsewhere.

Here is what worked for me:

Get the Flagyl. Then get the probiotics with Lactobicilli and friends, and Sacromyces boulardii. Get good quality oil of oregano.

First week, take the Flagyl as directed(2 times daily). Take the probiotics three times a day. Take the oil of oregano twice a day, before you eat. I used two drops on Kimchi, as it helps it go down. This stuff is STRONG

Second week take the Flagyl once a day, all else the same. Third week, flagyl every other day, all else same.

by the Fourth week, 3 times a week Flagyl, keep up the rest.

Fifth week one Flagyl per week. Here I had a couple of flareups, took one extra Flagyl. Keep taking that oil of oregano, it is key!

By the sixth week I stopped flagyl totally. keep up probiotics 3x day for this week, oregano still twice.

Seventh week probiotics twice a day, oregano in evening. ( my flareups occured at night for some reason, this helped).

By the eighth week I stopped the oregano, but will continue to take the probiotics twice a day forever I think. It has now been 2 and a half months episode free, and I am feeling great. Please anyone suffering from this and not getting a good answer from your doctor, do this!!!

You are right about needing to be proactive in our health by empowering ourselves and our families. As a former C-diff sufferer (1995 when I was given Biaxin and Cipro for walking pneumonia), one thing I strongly recommend for getting and staying healthy is taking a very high-quality probiotic daily - eating fermented food helps too.

Take care, Bess

I live in PA the rest of my family in NY and the FEBRUARY 14, 2010 wedding of our nephew was a blessing to whole our family as my brother was dancing and smiling (we have lots of pictures) through his pain as he could not eat and had lost over 40pounds in the year. He was released from the hospital Jan 11, 2010 on antibiotics again only to return as we rushed him there Feb 17 where he died. This C-diff is a killer still. The doctor in the hospital said we have 5 cases and Bob's is the worst, besides doing emergency illiectomy surgery, as he was Sepsis and in shock when we brought him there. His ambulance friends went to a sister hospital in New york City to get an experimential medicine, it was given who knew if it would have work it was just to late. Why was he sent home in Jan. with a port of antibiotics, nursing care that didn't really know about how dangerous C-diff was, as we didn't either and given a letter that he could return to work just 10days before he died, yet the discharge doctors didn't even have the blood tests back yet. We have all the hospital records but according to New York State Law they, the doctors and the hospital were in their Jurisdiction of care and laws of care as three experts told our lawyer.... So to all..... OUR heallth care system is crumbling and we need to be proactive for ourselves, our children, grandchildren and loved ones that need a voice, be viligant.

I have friends and family in the medical field who are so fustrated by the politics and profits of "People Care" consumers not patients to some any more with human life on the line.. Doctors Nurses, Caretakers you went into this field because you care for others.. Please speak up. Knowledge is Power and the public needs to know what can we do to help ourselves against these killers.... Start a group...... Life is precious. Sepsis, C-diff and MRSAs- all of them killers and on my dad's Death certificate 1/09/2009 and my brothers 2/20/2010 as cause of death. In our hearts forever..... Thank you for listening and the good info. on what to do if someone else in our family gets C-diff.... I pray not.

This is my personal story, account and opinion on my experience with Clostridium Difficile (C Diff)... My hope is for my story to help bring awareness to others about the realities of C Diff, the dangers, and ways to help prevent others from contracting it. And for those who have it, to help you know you are not alone in your search for understanding, knowledge, and help in getting rid of this horrible disease.

I was hospitalized in Sept of 2011 while and after undergoing surgery to have a trans metatarsal amputation and ankle fusion surgery. As with most surgeries I was placed on IV antibiotics to prevent infection of the surgical site. Prior to going to the hospital for surgery, our home was thoroughly cleaned and bleached to make sure I would return to a sterile environment. My husband, having suffered from a nasty staph infection in the past, was very concerned of the risks of such a thing happening to me, following my surgery. Staph, being something I understood and was cautious of while hospitalized as well. I have always prided myself on being someone of good hygiene and rarely ever get sick.

On my third evening of being in the Hospital I became violently sick with diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. I spent the evening and well into the next day in the bathroom of my hospital room. Sitting on the toilet, while my head was in the trashcan, feeling sicker then ever I had in my entire life. I have had food poisoning before, and it was like that times at least ten... The nurse on duty that night kept returning to the room and checking with my husband, and coming into the bathroom to check on me. He told my husband, he had never seen someone so sick before. He was very concerned and was afraid to have me left alone in anyway. When my Surgeon came to see me the following day, my husband explained how sick I had been all night. I was now in addition to my pain medication, taking meds to help with the diarrhea and vomiting. The Doctor advised that I was fine, and just severely medicated the night before, and having a reaction to that. He then advised I could go home that day.

Upon returning home I no longer had bouts of diarrhea, but still had a lot of nausea and vomiting. I was given medication, which I had taken in the past anytime I had previous surgeries to help with the nausea and vomiting that can sometimes accompany pain medications and/or surgery. The medication was not helping this time, and was changed a couple times, with little relief. Now instead of having diarrhea I was extremely constipated. A very normal side effect of pain meds. My pain medications were also changed a few times due to the nausea and vomiting as well as not relieving much pain. After several weeks I was sick of the med game, and sick of the constipation. I stopped all use of pain medication. The following morning I awoke before the sun had risen with uncontrollable diarrhea and nausea. Having had a lot of surgeries, I had been through getting off pain meds before and figured I would ride this out for a few days and be fine. A week past, and then, to add to the 30 times a day diarrhea episodes which began at/around 5 am daily, I now was also dry heaving and vomiting like crazy. I was unable to keep anything down or in. I contacted my Primary Care Doctor and advised him of my current status. He said there was nothing to be concerned about, and that I was merely experiencing common symptoms of opiate withdrawal. To add to my symptoms I now also had severe pain in the right lower quadrant, just below where my appendix used to be and pain in my mid to lower back, as well as severe pain under my right breast. I also had pain after urination, urgency, and increased frequency. I felt like I was burning up all the time. My eyes would get hot throughout the day, and often my vision would blur. And I kept experiencing a high pitch screeching in my ears. And my head felt like someone was putting it in a vice grip. This continued on... After another week, and more weight loss and unable to tolerate even liquids, I again let my Doctor know. He now said he felt I was just suffering from IBS. I disagreed feeling at 40 yrs old and never suffering from IBS before, that it wasn't something that normally came on at such an age, without previously having symptoms of such earlier in life.

And so the weeks continued, as did communicating with my Doctor to all that was occurring. Throughout this time frame he prescribed a medication that was for acid reflux... something I never picked up from the pharmacy as I researched the medication and found several thousand posts from people who were prescribed it and suffered horrific side effects. Major depression and suicide topped the list. And as my husband asked, ummm it's for acid reflux and you have vomiting and diarrhea, wtf? My primary Doctor also advised me to take Imodium to slow up the Diarrhea. Weeks later when seeing my OB to make sure nothing female was happening with the urination pain, she also suggested I take a prescription strength diarrhea medication. Again something I choose not to do. My reason always the same-my body felt extremely toxic. Things were coming out my nose, my mouth and my #ss, and that means something wanted out. Bottling it up didn't sound like a good idea.

We sought out help of naturopaths, acupuncturists, Chinese herbal medicine people and such. All of which said much of the same thing. That I was suffering from a kidney deficiency, liver deficiency, spleen deficiency, and stomach deficiency. Everyone had herbs that would clear things right up, stop the diarrhea, stop the vomiting. None of which helped, and most of which had the opposite effect. And all were looking at the symptoms, as western medicine does, and not the source of the problem. This was something I found no one could address. I also saw my Chiropractor on a regular basis, who regularly commented something was causing extreme inflammation in my digestive track. He recommended I request lab work to make sure there was no underlying infection.

After almost 2 months of constant diarrhea, nausea and bouts off and on and off of vomiting, and over 20lbs of weight loss (20% of my body weight), my Doctor said this was physiological effects of opiate withdrawal but we could run a few tests, as I'd requested, to make sure there was no infection or parasites etc occurring. Nothing was found in the urine, blood or stool tests. My Doctor then advised me to give it another 2-4 weeks and see how I was feeling, and if I wasn't better, he would put in a referral for me to see a Gastro-Interologist. A couple weeks later I had a scheduled appointment off island on Oahu to see the Surgeon who had performed my amputation/fusion surgery. He recognized how ill I looked and commented about the weight loss. My husband and myself explained all that had been going on for so many weeks now. He immediately put in a referral to GI and to Urology. Upon returning to Maui, the GI dept called me to schedule an appt and advised me the Doctor was out of town till the following Wed. After the nurse asked me several questions and went over all I was experiencing, she said the Doctor could see me the same day he was back, and that this was urgent. She was concerned and advised me if I had any signs of dehydration to please come in and get an IV or go to the hospital if it was after hours. I let her know as bad as I felt and as much as was coming out of me, I was drinking water constantly to avoid dehydration and the need to go to a hospital, which I feared would only serve to medicate me and risk further illness.

One of the first things the GI Doctor brought up during my appt, was the fact that I was hospitalized and on antibiotics at the time of my surgery in Sept. He mentioned something called C Diff and the widespread issue it had become in recent years, and that people contract it generally while in a hospital and on antibiotics. He explained how the diarrhea generally begins 8-10 weeks after initial exposure. And some people often get ill or have an episode when initially exposed. He also went over the possibilities of things like Ulcerative Colitis, Crohns Disease, Celiac Disease and Colon Cancer. Within less than 48hrs of my GI appt I was prepped and having an Endoscopy and Colonoscopy. 3 Days later my GI Doc called and advised me I had C Diff. He said I had a very severe case and was going to prescribe the strongest antibiotic to fight this, so that more time would not be wasted in taking a lighter med that I might not respond too. He said it was a very good thing I had not taken the Imodium or the Lomotil that was prescribed to me, as this would have bottled things up, as I thought, and in 50% of cases, people suffering from C Diff experience toxic megacolon. Your colon explodes. How awesome is that? He also told me when we spoke at my original appt that he saw my primary Doctor had prescribed another medication to me. I cannot write the name here, as I would not want any drug companies trying to sue me for saying negative things. Just know the GI Doc asked if I was taken it. I said I never picked it up. He said that too was something he was grateful I did not take. He told me it was one of the worst drugs on the market... Comforting again... At this time my GI Doc prescribed 14 days of Vancomycin, and advised me I'd feel better within 2 days, but to make sure I completed the full course of antibiotics. Unfortunately I did not feel better in 2 days. I did not feel better in 2 weeks. My GI Doc was no longer working there, and the new one I spoke with then quadrupled my dosage of antibiotics and advised me to take them for another 14 days. Again I did not get better. The diarrhea was more than ever, my hair was falling out in droves, my body aches and joint pain were unbearable... Headaches every day. Nausea every day. Pain after urination and increased frequency. Low grade fever each day. Ears ringing like crazy. Eyes a hot blurry mess. The list goes on. So many things no one tells you that comes with the effects of C Diff. The toxins wreaked havoc on my nervous system and immune system is so many ways. This by no means is something that only affects your digestive system.

After much research I found my way to a Doctor in Oakland, CA. Dr. Neil Stollman. And incredible GI who thought outside the box. Long story a little less long, after several conversations, we were booking a flight from HI to Oakland and scheduled to have a procedure called Fecal Microbiota Transplantation or as often referred too a fecal transplant. I had first heard about this procedure from one of my best friends. Her sister is a nurse, who happens to work in a Hospital. One of very few in the US that does the FMTs. She wasn't sure what exactly they were doing it to treat, she just knew it was for diarrhea related problems. Their conversation had come about in discussing how long I'd been sick, and how often I'd been having the "D"... This was almost 2 months before we knew I had C Diff. So our journey would find us going to Oakland, CA for the FMT Surgery through Colonoscopy. I won't go into all the details on the procedure. This is something you can easily google and find out so much more about. Or you can email me and I'll do my best to share any info I have or answer any questions. What is most important in all this is one simple thing... There are other ways to rid yourself of this horrific disease. Not everyone responds to antibiotics. I am living proof of that. The studies show approx. 20% of people infected with C Diff are unresponsive to antibiotics. There are also a great percentage of people who do respond to the meds and have a complete recovery, just as there are a great deal who do great while on the antibiotics, but within 2-10 days the c diff returns. When people don't get better from the meds, most Doctors advise there is nothing else that can be done. Some stay on the meds for years, as it's their only relief while on it. The minute they stop C Diff comes back with a vengeance. Mind you the cost of these medications are extremely high. Without insurance coverage, a 14 day course is almost $1800. So when they quadroupled the meds, in my case, that was almost $7500. Can you imagine the people taking it for months on end?

While getting my second 14 day course of medication I asked the nurses in the GI Dept if they had ever heard of Fecal Transplants. They told me that it was something that was discussed about introducing to help in C Diff cases, but that everyone was in agreement that the "ick factor" was just to much. I then asked if you had what I have, and before I could complete the sentence, they all commented at the same time, they would go anywhere in the world they had to, to do the FMT and get the C Diff gone. Interesting they'd all use it for treatment, but would have no interest in treating others... Mind you that those who don't respond to meds, do not magically kick this on their own. C Diff causes kidney failure, liver failure; immune systems shut down...People get sepsis. People die...Not a few people, not a hundred people, not a thousand people. Do the research and you will be amazed and just how many each year... And for those taking antibiotics that manage to help sustain life, think of all that they are then susceptible too, being on antibiotics and having their immune system wide open for anything else to jump aboard.

The research I found on fecal transplants was based on people with reoccurring C Diff. None of the procedures Dr. Stollman had done were on people who were unresponsive to the meds. I am beyond thankful he still chose to do this procedure on me, even though I didn't fit the norm on those he had previously done. Once again being a Doctor who thought outside the box, and merely had a willingness to help and heal. No promises, no guarantees, and clear on the risks and the unknowns. What I did know, was that this is what I needed to do, and where I needed to go to do it. Can't explain how I knew, but I did. My family was in agreement and support 100%.

My results were almost immediate. I had no bowel movements until 4o hours after the procedure was performed. And within 4 days I had no Diarrhea. After months of having it, every single day... Being awoken between 4-5am with the crazy urgency, and spending the first few hours of each day in the bathroom, let me tell you, this was an incredible morning... I wish I could say everything went back to 100% normal immediately after the procedure, but sadly the C Diff does such a number on your body, that for many, it takes time to recover, heal and have the colon and digestive system find it's balance again. I can say that within 2 weeks of having the FMT done, I have gained back 10 of the 30lbs that I lost. Mind you I was down to 90lbs. My hair is no longer falling out. My face is slowly beginning to clear up, as is my back and shoulders. Acne being something I never had an issue with in my 40 yrs of life. I no longer have daily Diarrhea. And never a day had passed that I didn't since my C Diff nightmare.. Foods can be a trigger. But for the most part I eat a very clean, all organic diet, and stay away from foods that can cause or aggravate inflammation. I still battle with gas, bloating and mild abdominal pain, along with the pain after urination. Dr. Stollman feels in his opinion, as do other Doctors that this is because the Colon still being inflamed and needing it's healing time. And when the colon is inflamed, it very easily irritates the bladder (in women)... I no longer wake up at 4 or 5 in the morning to have my stomach explode. I no longer feel like a volcano is erupting inside me. Not talking about Diarrhea at all, speaking in regards to this insane degree of heat I woke up feeling all throughout my body each morning. I no longer have the severe pain where my liver is, my kidneys, and in the lower right quadrant just below my appendix. Again I could go on for days about the symptoms.

I explained so many times to my Primary Care Doctor, as well as my OB, and my Surgeon, how toxic I felt. You would think I'd been out partying all night long and putting in things of a toxic nature. Yet I was drinking nothing but water, and eating all organic, healthy foods. No toxins were going in, they were inside me. All I would be told by my primary Doctor was again, it's just IBS...It's just effects of stopping pain meds... Nothing to be concerned about. Guess what??? C Diff is very much something I should have been concerned about. It's something everyone should be concerned and knowledgeable about. According to the CDC; C Diff is the worst "SUPERBUG" out there. Please do the research. Learn about C diff. Learn about how it's contracted. Know your risks when you are hospitalized. Know your risks when visiting people in a hospital and in nursing homes. Know the risks of being on antibiotics and the things it makes you susceptible too. Even if you don't, just reading this, right now, will allow you to know and be aware of what C Diff is... And that is more than I knew before being diagnosed with it.

I am not 100% as of yet. C Diff has wreaked havoc on my body. But I know, and I have complete faith that with time, my body will heal and I will return to 100%. I don't want C Diff to simply be some crazy negative experience I went through in my life. One that all my loved ones went through with me. One that caused so much pain, so much worry, and so much fear in so many... This negative is something that needs to become a positive, and I believe simply in writing this, in getting the word out there, that it does exactly that. If my experience can help even just one person, than some how in some way, it makes a difference. I make a difference; in a way I never could have not experiencing it myself.

I am a firm believer that we truly are never given more than we can handle. That all things in life happen for a reason. My friends and family all know me as someone who they often describe as strong, positive and inspiring. Well let me tell you, C Diff took me somewhere I'd never been. I've been through some crazy things in my life, some very difficult things, but never felt like I would not survive it. Not find a way to thrive after it. C Diff made me feel like someone handed my ass to me. That's the simplest way I can put it. I never felt like I was dying, even when I was told many years ago that I had cancer. I never felt fear even when I was told I'd never walk again, years ago after a major car accident. My husband said it best when he said that in all the things he's been through in his life, nothing ever scared him to the core, like this did. He said watching me die every day was a fear unlike anything he could explain. He would not sleep at night, for fear of me stopping breathing. C Diff is no joke. It's no mild irritation in one's life. It's a very serious disease that takes thousands upon thousands of lives each year. And yet no one we ever spoke to about me having it, had even heard of it. Just as we had never heard of it.

I believe with everything that I am, as does my husband and my family, that having this Fecal Transplant with Dr. Stollman, saved my life. As did my diet, my use of probiotics, and drinking water-no matter how sick I was... I could not keep anything in or down for weeks on end, but I refused to simply give up and knew dehydration would be the last thing I needed. In all the research we did on C Diff, we found the Fecal Transplant is basically used in last case resorts. And I was shocked to find only a handful of Doctors that were admitting to doing such procedures at all in the US. Less than a handful, honestly. Every day with C Diff is like having a day robbed from your life. Antibiotics have side effects of their own as well. I wish they had worked on me. But I am grateful in finding something else that did. Something I truly believe in and support and would do AGAIN without a second thought, if ever I were to get a reoccurrence of C Diff. One thing I cannot stress enough is to be assertive when it comes to your health needs. I am assertive. I requested tests. I asked for help. I still didn't get the answers for such a long time. Learn from my experience in any way you can. If you have been on antibiotics, and in a hospital or health care environment and are experiencing diarrhea, go see your Doctor. Request to be tested for C Diff, not just the standard parasites, and bacterial infections that are looked at.

Please, if you are currently battling C Diff. Know that you are not alone. Know that it can and will get better. Know that you can take your life back. Don't be embarrassed to ask for help. Don't be afraid to think outside the box. Don't be afraid or ashamed to talk about "POOP". I would become the poster child for poop in a heartbeat to save lives. This disease doesn't just hurt the person who has it. For me, in my own experience, my biggest pain in this was watching everyone else who loves me go through it with me. The helplessness of my husband and my parents. Their fear, their stress, and their frustration with the medical care I'd been receiving, or rather not receiving. I can't change what happened. I certainly never asked to get C Diff. I cannot change all that others went through in my experiencing it. What I can do is anything possible to help others in not getting this disease, in fighting it if they do, and in resuming their lives after they've beaten it... AND YOU WILL. If you are reading this and have C Diff right now, know that YOU WILL BEAT THIS!!! And you too will find a way to turn a negative into a positive. I didn't choose to get this nasty superbug, but I did choose to do something about it, and I choose each day going fwd to do all I can to help any one I can.

Question though. I bought bentonite clay in powder form, how much would you take and how often daily? and I have 150 mg tabs of oregano oil... However, if the clay is a natural drawing out agent, wouldn't it draw the oregano oil or sacc. boulardii? Definitely would be interested on an update with your status as well.

I have found that diet is very important. Before I was diagnosed I found certain foods I could have a fairly normal bowel movement. I did not explore too much and found the following to be very helpful: Eggs, squash, gluten free products (to avoid more yeast build up) AVOID SUGAR-that means fruit too(bacteria love sugar), Ezekiel bread, garden burger, proteins such as salmon, turkey. Low fiber vegetables-I did not find too many that agreed with me. Certain cheeses seemed to be alright, like the lighter cheeses. Multigrain cereal, like Barbara's brand. 1TBS of Flax meal a day.

My sister maintained a gluten-free, sugar-free diet for two months after going off antibiotics. This helped tremendously. She took the following and continues to do so on some. Acidophilus bifidus-400 billion Bentonite Clay, taken after antibiotics & probably a few weeks after probiotics. Garden of Life-Primal Defense. Nutribiotic GSE Grapefruit extract. Colloidal Silver-drink a small glass. Colostrum powder. Sacro B. Flore-Restore. I found Turmeric is powerful.

I think it is important that anyone going through this to always watch your diet for the rest of your life. Try to keep your body alkaline. Avoid excess sugar, greasy fatty foods, and alcohol. Read up on books that deal with natures antibiotics. Hopefully someday we find a cure and nobody has to go through this life altering illness.

P.S. Use the above with my cat just a small full syringe type tube (minus the needle) and only used one a day and she no longer has C Diff either. Crushed up 1 standardized turmeric, 1 grapefruit seed extract and 1 daily enzyme and mixed with yogurt and filled syringe. Also gave her florastor and a primal defense occasionally (every few days as well). She's doing fine too now. And a little fish oil for the both of us. I'm so glad this worked for my cat as well because little people like cats cannot afford to lose too many pounds. This is a success story for us.

When I use the co-q10 I'm using a product brand from vitacost called CoQ10 Alpha Lipoic Acid Acetyl L-Carnitine HCl -- 700 mg. It is their brand name, and an easy way to get these very powerful antioxidants and immune builder's in one pill at a cheap cost. I'm also using Nature's Plus Bioperine when I take the Standardized Turmeric as it helps enhance it use.

When I first started I could barely eat anything with out throwing it up or it coming out of the other end so I used the Garden of Life's primal defense and the Florastor and Jarrow Formulas Jarro-Dophilus EPS a lot in the beginning. Cod Liver Fish Oil is also a big part of this and I don't always use the Barleans Omega Twin just sometiems. Iodine is an important part of this because most of us are low in iodine and iodine will kill C-diff spores. I use Iodine plus 2 or the Iodoral 12. 5 mg. But I am in my 50 fifties and some may only need the lugol 5 drops 2 to 4 times a day. Vitamin D is very important to as it really helps rebuilding the immune system. As is zinc, and I do use the Nature's plus Source of Life multivitamin Mini Reds only 2 a day and most everything else I listed up there I use.

Once the stomach can recover than you can lower the probiotic so you don't end up with a yeast infection. But take as needed to rebuild the flora. I usually use 1 primal defense every other day and florastor everyday for now. But dosing down the more balance you get into is the best so far as I know.

I found that it is as equally important to rebuild the immune system as it is to taper off the powerful herb antibiotic turmeric, over time to the flora health, and your immune is healthly. Another good flora builder is a product called mannafest it has 22 different flora and is a nice drink as well. And when you get better the more you will be able to eat normal cultured food to rebuild the flora. You know foods that have to age a bit to be flavorful. Wishing you all the best.

Anyways this is what I am using. Turmeric Standardized 2 tablets twice a day, 2 Nutribiotic Maximum Strength Defense Plus (grapefruit Seed Extract) Lugols iodine 5 drops 2 times a day up to 4x a day. Or use iodine Plus-2 once a day. Twin Labs Betaine HCI with pepsin, 1 tab 1 or 2 times a day. Nature's Plus Mini Reds 2 a day, 1 coq10 200 mg, Vitamin C with bioflavonoids, Vitamin D 2000 mg, Nature's way B- Stress Formula 1 a day. zinc, 1 selenium 200 mg. Garden of Life OmegaZyme Ultra 1 a day. Barleans Cod liver fish oil, Barleans Omega Twin, Florastor/and or Jarrow Formulas Saccharomyces Boulardii plus MOS 1 or 2 a day. And Garden of Life Ultra Primal Defense as needed.

My thought is that the Turmeric can kill the C-Diff and there is a lot of research on it. Oh yes and I eat yogurt daily. Good Luck. Use for at least a month to two months depending on the severity of the problem. Oh if you start getting to sleepy cut back on the Probiotics just a little, as they are yeast products and if getting to much can make you tired.

Here is an interesting article called "The End of Antibiotics and the Rise of Iodine" and it has some interesting comments on C - Diff.

http://www.naturalnews.com/022800.html

I got C-diff a few years ago... It stirred it all up and put me in the hospital for two weeks... Pretty serious. Once the c-diff and the damage it caused was cured... I've since kept it in check with diet and the supplements I mentioned... Pretty basic... No real meds.

Just recently I've had some funk down below... And I recognized the smell from when I was really sick before. I finally realized that I might have c-diff again... Everything added up once I started reading/thinking/paying attention to the symptoms.

So...I did some recent research... Came across this thread and others. I decided to try the Bentonite Clay... And oil of oregeno. I saw results overnight really.

I started using a lot of things at once because I am/was a little scared... But a combination of Bentonite Clay and Oil Of Oregano seems to have detox'd my gut and gotten rid of the c-diff... At least the really noticeable signs... Watery stool, little signs of blood, bad smell... None of which are normal for me. I noticed real results in days... And it was gone in about a week. I took both Oregano and Bentonite on an empty stomach... Faded out the oregano once I saw real results (5-6 days). Once it seemed like I was really about done... I started having some cramps/ pain...so I backed off most everything... And took aloe gel and creeped back in with clay and all the others... Except oregano. I'm having normal healthy bowel movements now. I still have some healing to do... My gut just feels taxed.... But I'm pretty sure I'm good to go in as few as days... probably a couple of weeks at most.

The clay is easy and mostly flavorless... Seems to be pretty safe overall and effective for countless things. I'll probably be taking a maintenence dosage from here on out. It helps with ph... Which seems to be pretty key in keeping things working but I've never payed attetion to it... Just when I'm scared. I chose a brand of clay that is just a liquid in a brown bottle I saw it at two different popular health food stores. I took it twice a day... Then a few times a day for a couple of days once I didn't have issues and noticed real change. My aunt works at a popular health food store... And she was helpful... Turns out she takes bentonite clay everyday... So that helped me take it with confidence... I wasn't too sure about it until I talked with her.

I also took/take:
Coconut Oil
Tumeric
L-Glutamine - empty stomach
Good Probiotics - Boulardi type
Aloe Vera Gel - empty stomach
Multivitamin
Cod Liver Oil

I don't necessarily recommened all this at the same time so much... But it is all good stuff for the gut... I mix it up... And used each during the main detox week.

I ate/eat a lot less sugar, dairy... And drank tons of water. Laid off beer/coffee completely. That said... My appetite is healthy and I've always found that my systems rallies quicker when I eat a lot... And regularly... Just not a bunch of bad food... But not necessarily health food either... Just mindful of certain things and when I eat them. I eat alot of turkey sandwiches.

Hope this helps someone. Both the Clay and Oregano were new to me as I've always looked for Colitis info... Not so much c-diff. Both seem to be pretty effective for a multitude of things. I'd recommend them. Good Luck!

I just wanted to thank you for taking the time to share your story and tell you that I am so very deeply sorry for the passing of your mother. It makes me so angry and sad to read what the doctors did TO her. My heart and prayers are with you and your family.

2)Mag O7 capsules, by aerobic Life!!! . The Mag o7 is an oxygen supplement bound to Magnesium... C-Diff is anaerobic and cannot survive in presence of 02... I believe I took the caps first and then 1/2-1hr later the BioK so the caps wouldn't kill the BioK.

I had instant relief but needed to stay on for 2-3 weeks to feel completely better... Hope this helps someone, because C-Diff is misery!

Julie

p.s. I am on this website because more recently I have been suffering from a different type of abdominal pain(weird gas pockets), especially when I lay down, and also seem to have developed milk intolerance (but not lactose, oddly enough as their is an actual test for this) and was wondering if this was maybe a possible result of my prior C-diff infection... Well maybe I will just try my old remedy and see if it works, but also will try the bentonite, because that sounds like it will absorb toxins.. just what I need! ...

I have found several medical research team articles that document the use of what is called kefir for C-Diff (and other bugs like this). It works very well for getting rid of this superbug. The treatment they used is a type of yogurt, but the yogurt is not made with pasteurized milk. Kefir has been around for centuries. It originated in the Caucasean Mountains (research kefir for full history).

What I've read is that all of the test individuals recovered from C-Diff with no recurrence, using the kefir treatment. They stated that antibiotic treatments had little to no affect on the disease. Kefir is staggered througout the day with the antibiotic, as they gradually decrease the dosages of the antibiotic, finally replacing it totally with the kefir, which is taken every day for awhile.

Any good store that carries a wide variety of yogurts carries this probiotic liquid (I get mine at Kroger and Meijer). In Kroger, go to either the yogurt or the healthfood sections. Meijer - yogurt section. Look for a container shaped like a small milk bottle. It comes flavored or plain. I use a brand, raspberry flavor, which both stores carry where I live. (Google online for coupons, and for what this container looks like.)

I personally stopped the antibiotic (Flagyl) right away. Instead, I drank a 1/2 cup of kefir four times the first day, then went down to 1/4 cup four times a day for about a week. I mixed it with a little bit of filtered cold water from the fridge, which watered it down a bit and made it a little easier for me to drink (I'm a woos, even though the stuff tastes good right out of the bottle. ). I have since replaced the water with about six ounces of Meijer brand, "not from concentrate" orange juice. The drink tastes like an orange cream popsicle. Quite good, actually.

Within 24 hours, after taking 1/2 cup two times the first day, the severe diarrhea began to decrease. Within two days, it was gone. It's been seven months, and I have not had even a hint of a recurrence.

I still drink one or two servings of the 1/4 kefir to 3/4 orange juice or water, once or twice a month, just in case, because I have a history of intestinal problems since childhood. I have also started adding a 1/2 cup of cold water with 1/2 cup of aloe vera juice (buy at healthfood store), to keep my stomach and intestinal lining healthy (I extensively researched this). It knocks out any trace of heartburn, for some reason. I only use the aloe once in awhile when the heartburn rears its ugly head (after I slip and eat something with sugar in it).

She is now out of hospital back in SNF for rehab, and diarrhea started getting worse again pretty quickly even tho on Vanco for 4 wks. Doc extended it 10 days more. Meanwhile - I expressed concern that she may have a UTI (with diarrhea in diapers and CNAs not making effort to get her to bathroom no wonder! ), and put her on Macrobid without telling me. Now I know and am torn - the UTI could make her very sick again, but so can the C Diff. He says Macrobid isn't one that causes C Diff like Levaquin does. So I compramised and said ok to 5 days of it. Making myself sick too worrying about this, managing it, advocating and researching. Are there any good antibiotics she could be on that won't make C Diff worse?

Her doctor has been as much use as a chocolate teapot, prescribing metrozidanol (flagyl) 3 times every time it came back. All he was doing was weakening my mother and strengthening the bacteria. They've told us since feb that vancomycin was only available intravenously. After her 4th re-occurence last week they've now prescribed it in tablet form. I can only put their failure to give her this medicine earlier is because of cost. Her doctor has also been no help whatsoever in nutrician, supplements or any other advice to support her recovery.

Luckily, I spent 7 months on a candida diet last year and this gave me some knowledge on how to help mum. I've got her on probiotics (thanks for the mention of saccharomyces boulardii). I've also been giving her grapefruit seed extract, oil of oregano, spirulina, aloe vera juice, brewer's yeast, nettle tea, bee pollen and garlic capsules. I've also finally got her to give up sugar, wheat and dairy as I'm sure they all feed bacteria. I've also been juicing for her regularly, massaging her with lavender and tea tree oil, giving her reiki and crystal elixirs made to boost the immune system, heal her digestive organs and to remove toxins.

All of this does seem to be slowing it up a bit and she's not been as ill as in previous occurences, but I know I've not been doing the natural remedies long enough. I've just picked up her vancomycin so hopefully both treatments combined will help her combat it this time. She's lost so much I've just been to the sports nutrician shop for some protein shakes as the ones they gave her from the doctors are full of sugar. The NHS here in england is light years behind on it's awareness of nutrician and supplements. So thanks for all the posts that have helped clue me up on this vile disease, they gave me valuable support and knowledge.

I thank those who provide this life-saving site for us. Bless you and bless you, again!

About three or four days after the procedure, I began to have stomach pains in my upper abdomen that progressed to really being painful. I called the doctor and told him and he ordered me to come in for a CAT scan. I did the prep the next day and went in. After the scan he called and said that I had diverticulitis, which I had never had before. I really think there was something done to my colon that should not have been done. He gave me levaquin and flagyl to take for 14 days. After this I continued to have diarrhea and cramping. I called him again and he ordered a stool culture, which I did the next two days.

After this, he called and said that I had C. Diff. I was devastated, all this for having a colonoscopy that I did not want. I am now on Flagyl. I refused to take the vancomycin, because it was so expensive. Even with my insurance it was going to cost me $500. He agreed to me taking the Flagyl if I took two probiotics with it. He told me to get Florastor and take four times a day and Flora Q to take two times a day. The pharmacist had to order it for me. I have been on this for two days now and have not seen any relief yet. The antibiotic is causing more diarrhea than the C. Diff. I would advise anyone that is not having any trouble to never have a screening colonoscopy. At my age, I should have known better. My family and the doctor was greatly encouraging me. My gut was telling me I did not need it. I will listen to my gut next time.

Many Thanks,
Danny