Has anyone contracted c. diff while having a j-tube? My husband received his first j-tube in January 2008 and has had c. diff 3 times since then. It usually occurs shortly after having his tube changed. I know that it is quite common to get infected in a hospital setting, but was just wondering if anyone else had problems with this infection...There is no way of knowing if it is a new infection each time or just a recurrence. It is almost impossible to get rid of and there are only 2 antibiotics that will clear it and there is still no guarantee it will be gone for good. Flagyl, which makes you terribly ill itself, and Vancomycyn, which is very very expensive. The Vancomycyn without insurance would have been $2600.00 for a 2 week dosage. Thank heavens my husband has excellent insurance and we only had to pay $11.00.
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C. Diff
- By kayjay35
- Posted October 24, 2009 at 1:15 pm · 8 replies
- In Home tube feeding (HEN, enteral nutrition)
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- By dreamlady1931
- Posted October 25, 2009 at 12:36 pm
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My understanding of c.dif is that one is likelier to develop it after a course, or courses of antibiotics--much like staph appears. Hopefully, someone will correct this if i'm wrong. I was tested for c.diff many times after my bowel resection /chemo when my diarhrea was terrible. Never had it!
Good luck with it.
- By LoraOT
- Posted October 25, 2009 at 3:42 pm
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My daughter had C-diff, after her tube placement, on and off, for a YEAR! Unfortunately, she is also allergic (anaphylactic) to Vancomycin, so Flagyl was our only option. I think it made her more nauseous, but overall, eventually, it cleared it up.
Her GI doctor eventually told us that there are certain strains of Cdiff that are more resistant than others, and that is why it is such a big problem in nursing homes and other places where immunosuppressed people live! My daughter lived with me, but she had spent 10 months in the hospital with her cancer, and had it for the first time there. They also said that once you have it, you are prone to getting it any time you go on antibiotics.
What eventually cleared it up for Maria was 9 months of Flagyl, in a tapering dose. We started at a high dose for a month, then tapered it each month. It was the first time that something worked for her!
The other thing to be aware of is that Cdiff IS CONTAGIOUS, and if you share a toilet seat, then you need to keep Clorox bleach wipes around.
During the Cdiff and now that she has been clear of it for over a year, we used and continue to use a probiotic to try to help her stomach heal from all of the trauma! We have used Lactinex and VSL #3. VSL #3 we used every day, while she was still milk sensitive (because it has no milk protein in it). Lactinex we use one month on and one month off, one packet mixed with 30 cc's of water, per day. She has been on and off of antibiotics multiple times for pneumonias now...and no return of the C-diff!
Hope this is helpful!
~ Lora
- By charliegirl3
- Posted October 25, 2009 at 7:43 pm
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C.diff spores can lay dormant for along time and the become active again. I would suggest everyone wash their hands before touching anything and after. Like Lora said with the bathroom be extra careful make sure you clean it daily and i would designate a bathroom if you can to the one who has c. diff. I did that when I had it. I even washed my clothes seperate from everyone. i had twice now it was the most miserable things to go through. I tried probotics but they made my stomach cramp even more. hope you get over this little bump in the road.
- By kayjay35
- Posted October 25, 2009 at 9:37 pm
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Thanks for all of the responses... Yes, we are aware of what it is and how it can lay dormant and flare up...I clean his bathroom daily with bleach and that is the only bathroom in the house he uses. Whether he is having a flare up or not...He takes a probiotic daily. His GI told us once you get it you will probably have it repeatedly. Every side effect listed for Flagyl will hit him hard. He has not been on antibiotics and they say it is just his weakend GI system. Another thing is most times when he tests positive he has no symptoms other than bloating and feeling uncomfortable when using the j-tube at night. The thing the doctors cannot believe is that he has no diarhea. Again, thanks for sharing your stories..
- By grannylu
- Posted October 25, 2009 at 10:57 pm
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I had c-dif while in the hospital to have my original j-tube placed (3 tubes ago). It wasn't diagnosed until half way through so I may have infected others. It wasn't pleasant but I haven't gotten it again. I was given antibiotics and told that because I had been on frequent antibiotics previously that may have caused it. I do, however, have chronic diarrhea problems and take medicine for that so perhaps I could have had a mild case and gotten over it since then without knowing it.
I'll keep both you and your husband in my thoughts and prayers. Making nice with the "pot" is SO INCONVENIENT!
- By cp20855
- Posted October 26, 2009 at 9:17 am
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So sorry to hear of everyone's c dif experiences. Husband had it in hospital -- and several times afterward during the next year or so.
The way it was described to me, I don't think it's too likely that people with normal flora in their guts (me) will get it. (That doesn't mean I minimize hygiene!)
Just wanted to add that if you get it in hospital, try to get vanco before you leave hospital -- that way insurance paid at same rate it paid hospitalization.
Also wanted to add that there is quite a distinctive aroma to C. dif, so you don't really need to wonder if you have it!
- By kayjay35
- Posted October 27, 2009 at 7:55 am
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Well my husband is in the hospital now after heart catherization with ablation yesterday. Everytime he goes in there I worry that he will come home with c. diff again. But the heart catherization was a success and he can now eliminate 2 prescription drugs from his diet. YAHOO!!! He will be coming home later this morning and hopefully c. diff free. Thanks for sharing your experiences. It is always nice to know that you are not alone with your struggles.
- By jmkaya
- Posted October 28, 2009 at 10:11 pm
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i am happy to hear the catheterization was a success hopefully you and your husband are turning a corner...i just wanted to respond to one of the posts stating that if you have normal flora in the gut that you are not likely to get it...not the case in our situation...my 5 week old was hospitalized due to an allergic reaction to an antibiotic and got c diff from it and low and behold i, myself, contracted it...i have never had a stomach issue in my life and dealing with c diff i am so sorry for all of you who suffer from any stomach issues...i had to call my husband from the bathroom in the hospital and they sent a doctor in i thought my stomach was falling out! regardless it is incredibly contagious so continue taking every precaution! god bless you all and i hope happy and healthy days are ahead!
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