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Original poster

Would love a medical professionals advice please

140 replies

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 01/01/2016 21:16

Hope someone can advise on this tricky situation.

Have been plagued by UTIs and sinus infections recently which ended in me having about 6 courses of different antibiotics, which was a concern as I have had a proven c difficile infection in past.

Saw GP while on holiday at in laws this week as had uTI and sinus symptoms again..tested positive for UTI, had blood and pus coming from sinus..temp 38.4

Prescribed co-amoxiclav but on day 2 of it have really bad diarrhoea.. constant all day.

So feel like should stop the antibiotics but then don't want the sinus infection/UTI to flare up.

Plan was I was to hand in urine and stool samples to own GP in Tuesday but call emergency GP here if worse over weekend.

Not sure what I should do, or if they could even do anything?

Any advice welcome. :)

OP posts:
FadedRed · 02/01/2016 15:38

Fanjo you have my sympathy, for what it's worth. You do seem to stuck between a rock and a hard place.
How long is it since you last had active C diff? Were you in hospital then? If it is fairly recently, then it might be worth ringing the ward for their advice, or they might be able to ask the on-call IC nurse/pharmacist on your behalf? It's a long shot but it might help you decide what to do for the best, and if they can't help you'll be none the worse for asking iyswim.

Original poster
fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 02/01/2016 16:31

It was a few years ago but was the last time I took multiple courses of ABs for an infection. I didn't have to go to hospital thankfully just had metronidazole and then vancomycin

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FadedRed · 02/01/2016 16:48

OK, so that's not going to help.
I can understand the OOH Dr saying that the current diarrhoea won't be due to active C diff, but the fact that the Co amoxyclav is changing your normal bowel flora is creating the optimum environment for any remaining C diff to start proliferating. A vicious circle.
At lease you do now have some Trimethoprim, which is less likely to cause this and more specific for UTI's.
Wishing you all the best.
Don't be slow to go to A&E if you get any serious exacerbation from any of your 3 problems e.g. high and increasing temperature, increasing pain or bleeding. The doctors there will be able to contact on-call lab/Microbiologist if necessary.

FadedRed · 02/01/2016 16:49

'lease' = 'least'

Original poster
fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 02/01/2016 16:58

Yes I can understand why he said that at first but it definitely could be since on my 7th course of antibiotics in 6 weeks.

Thanks- will definitely seek help if I get worse. Still got temp but stomach has settled a tiny bit.

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Original poster
fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 02/01/2016 16:59

Thanks for listening to my woes Thanks

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3littlefrogs · 02/01/2016 17:08

I know you must feel exhausted and poorly, but it would be worth trying to do steam inhalations to try and keep the sinuses draining.

Drinking fresh ginger infusion with honey is also good for sinuses - it helps to keep the discharge liquified so it can drain out.

Try and keep hydrated.

I hope you start to feel better soon.

SauvignonBlanche · 02/01/2016 17:11

Bloody hell Fanjo, sorry you're having such a rough time. Flowers

I used this to help me decide to stop taking my antibiotics.

I was prescribed Flucloxacillin on 23/12/15 by a GP who said he didn't think I had a surgical site infection (from my latest go a brain surgery) but was giving me them 'just in case'.

After having CDiff after 6 weeks of IV cephalosporins in 2014 I wasn't keen but got the prescription anyway as it was just before Christmas and thought I'd watch and see.

On Christmas Day evening my head felt hot and sore so I started taking them. Obviously by Boxing Day morning my symptoms had disappeared but I thought I'd finish the course. I had such bad nausea and diarrhoea I decided to pack it in.

My bowel symptoms improved for a bit (just while GPs were open) then kicked off again on NYE. I spent most of yesterday on the loo and resolved to contact OOH today, hoping that the labs would be open and I'd be able to take a stool sample in but have only been once today. Whilst out buying more bleach.

Am praying that it is not a reoccurrence of my CDiff and will keep my (very clean) fingers crossed for you too.

Original poster
fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 02/01/2016 17:12

Thanks will also try these things :)

Yes am tired..DD needs constant supervision especially when here.

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Original poster
fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 02/01/2016 17:13

Oh sorry you are going through this too sauvignon . I hope it turns out not to be it.

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Original poster
fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 02/01/2016 17:18

Hopefully it's just that the flucloxacillin disagreed with your tum.

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SauvignonBlanche · 02/01/2016 17:25

Yes, fingers crossed.

Why do these things always happen when everywhere is shut? Xmas Hmm

FadedRed · 02/01/2016 20:20

Fanjo sorry, I missed the bit about 7 courses of AB in 6 weeks - misread it as longer period in the recent past, then this current lot of Co amoxyclav in past 48 (now 72+) hours - that'll teach me to read things properly. In that case you are absolutely right in that the current diarrhoea could be active CDI starting up again. Fingers crossed it isn't.
Sauvignon sympathies to you - CDI on top of brain surgery is awful, poor you. Flowers

Original poster
fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 02/01/2016 20:59

Yes I hope your head is also feeling better now sauvignon

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SauvignonBlanche · 03/01/2016 14:40

My symptoms seem to have settled down - thank God!!
Still have to try and get an appointment tomorrow as I think I an feel a bit of stitch at the distal end of my wound, I'll ask the practice nurse to have a look, it's frustrating not to be able to look myself.

Hope you're feeling better Fanjo and mange to get home in one piece.

Thanks FadedRed, it was pretty gruesome at the time but am over the worse now, am hoping to be back at work next week.

Original poster
fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 03/01/2016 16:53

I'm OK thanks. Tum is settling. Risked starting the trimethoprim as still have UTI symptoms. So far so good

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Original poster
fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 03/01/2016 16:53

Home tomorrow Grin

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FadedRed · 03/01/2016 18:32

Keeping my fingers crossed for both of you and your problematic internal workings!

SauvignonBlanche · 04/01/2016 14:55

It's bloody started again today! Angry

Saw a Nurse Practitioner today who removed the remains of a stitch from my poor head and I'm going to take a sample in tomorrow.

Original poster
fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 04/01/2016 15:08

So has mine. Got out of car and felt really faint and had diarrhoea. High temp again. Will try to get sample in tomorrow.

Hope you feel better soon

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Original poster
fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 04/01/2016 15:08

I managed to go to a toilet...that sounded like I was caught short in car park.

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FadedRed · 04/01/2016 16:23

I can only keep sending my sympathy and hope you get better soon. (Probably be more useful to send a couple of large corks Grin, though not a humourous issue, you both appear remarkably stoic considering your problems. Flowers
That was a close call, Fanjo, I'll retune my mental imagery on seeing your latest post.

Original poster
fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 04/01/2016 17:15

Got home and suddenly felt really faint and hot and cold. Called NHS24 and apparently a pharmacist will call me back within 3 hours.

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Original poster
fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 04/01/2016 17:24

Personally I think if someone can't stand up they should see a doctor but seemingly not

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FadedRed · 04/01/2016 17:32

Oh that's not good Fanjo, I hope you get sorted soon.