Did the doctor get a fecal sample? That is how CDiff would be diagnosed.
It is really common to get diarrhea with many antibiotics. Sometimes probiotics help; usually as a nurse I recommend people eat yogurt every day while on antibiotics. In addition, until the diarrhea resolves you could avoid acidic and irritating foods.
Not to be too gross, but CDiff has a distinctive odor...working on the hospital unit, we could hit the floor for a shift and pick out which patients had it. So a really strong odor that is unusual for you would be another possible symptom.
If the diarrhea continues you might see your primary provider for a test kit to give a fecal sample. You do it at home and bring in a tiny tube. It sounds yucky but it isn't bad or embarrassing-you aren't walking in the office with a big bag or anything. That way they can test for CDiff.
More than likely, though, once you are off the antibiotics for a bit things will settle down. Even if it is CDiff, unless you have a compromised immune system you can take medication to treat it. If you want to discuss this further, please let me know. Thanks for writing and I hope you feel better soon.
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Hi Anonymous
Did the doctor get a fecal sample? That is how CDiff would be diagnosed.
It is really common to get diarrhea with many antibiotics. Sometimes probiotics help; usually as a nurse I recommend people eat yogurt every day while on antibiotics. In addition, until the diarrhea resolves you could avoid acidic and irritating foods.
Not to be too gross, but CDiff has a distinctive odor...working on the hospital unit, we could hit the floor for a shift and pick out which patients had it. So a really strong odor that is unusual for you would be another possible symptom.
If the diarrhea continues you might see your primary provider for a test kit to give a fecal sample. You do it at home and bring in a tiny tube. It sounds yucky but it isn't bad or embarrassing-you aren't walking in the office with a big bag or anything. That way they can test for CDiff.
More than likely, though, once you are off the antibiotics for a bit things will settle down. Even if it is CDiff, unless you have a compromised immune system you can take medication to treat it. If you want to discuss this further, please let me know. Thanks for writing and I hope you feel better soon.
October 8, 2010 - 6:56amThis Comment
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