When did you contract C. difficile
February 2020
Where did you contract a C. difficile infection?
Outside of any healthcare setting
How long did you have C. difficile?
235 days
Please describe your story
I contracted C Diff while on a course of Cipro for a diverticulitis flare. No one, not a single medical person (and I’m married to one!) mentioned that Cipro is a huge offender in the antibiotic-induced rates of C Diff. I strongly feel that a warning should be given on these frequently prescribed broad-spectrum antibiotics that these medicines will decimate your gut flora and to take precautions. That might have saved me 235 days of misery. My misery was compounded by the fact that FMTs were halted during COVID so that option was off the table. A twelve-week taper of Vancomycin and Dificid finally took care of it. This was truly a horrible, horrible experience.
Is there anything you wish people knew about C. difficile infections?
I wish people knew the prevalence of it. Most people assume it is only a disease found in nursing homes and hospitals.
In your experience, what could have made the biggest difference in your experience of C. difficile?
The biggest difference for me would have been access to an FMT. I was actually five days away from getting one when everything got stopped because of COVID. I had even paid for the specimen from Open Biome.....in case anyone was wondering, the going rate for a vial of frozen shit is $2000.
Thank you Paula for sharing your story about your experience with C. difficile! We hope that by sharing your experience, someone else can find the information they need and know that they are not alone!