Long shot - Has anyone had C diff while pregnant? TMI prob, sorry.

[Flossam]

Because I think I might. I work as a nurse and on my last shift before my two weeks off I suddenly had horrible diarrhea just before I finished. That was last Sunday, and it has been ongoing since (good days and bad days). I thought it was getting better end of last week, only going once a day but this weekend it got worse again.

I think it might be C diff because of obviously my job, the foul smell of it and also because I have just found a link between reducing stomach acid and increased risk of C diff. I've recently been swilling Gaviscon like its going out of fashion. I have an appointment tomorrow morning with the GP, but a google search doesn't seem to turn much up, and one that it did turn up which I started reading scared the s**te out of me as information on the internet has a tendancy to do!

Oh bugger.

Will see if i can find out something for you sweetie.

Forgot to add - it wont be until i get back from hospital with DD.

Oh is she ok? Is it a check up?

You can't know it's C.diff till you've given a sample and done a test - it could well just be a miscellaneous bug that's going round.

If your immune system isn't compromised and you're not on anti-bs for anything else it should [cross fingers] be self-limiting.
The most useful thing you can do is boost your friendly bacteria by laying off the Gaviscon (if you can bear it) and getting hold of some Yakult or similar, or even just live bio yoghurt.

I do plan to do that and obvious understand about giving samples, but I've dealt with dozens of cases and you kind of develop a nose for it... [yuck emoticon]

I know the 'nose' - I used to be the one in the lab doing the tests! But (TMI) I've had stomach upsets where my lab-based 'nose' has suggested diff, or even salmonella, and I've been fine within a couple of days.

Don't sweat it, honestly - what knocks out an elderly, drugged up, i/c patient won't necessarily have the same effect on you.

I had it while recovering from a c-section Flossam. You are right, the smell is unmistakeable and the experience really, truly grim
Boundless sympathy, but I think MrsB is right. If you are otherwise well (which I was apart from just having had an op IYSWIM) then it does, ahem, blow itself out.
I was taken off the nasty IV AND oral ABs which I think were exacerbating it and it did get better immediately, but I had it for about a fortnight all told. Awful. I was living on flat coke, plain boiled rice and plain yogurt. You poor thing

hey do you mind if i ask what c diff is? giving a stool sample and having blood tests today as had bad tum for a month and now muca and blood in it. sorry tmi.ta

Clostridium difficile
(As in extremely difficult to get rid of)
Good luck, I hope you don't have it too

|link{http://www.cdiffsupport.com/aboutcdiff.html\link here for you}

I have thought it before too MB. Its just that this has been going on 8 days now. I shall go and get my yoghurts, hope for the best!

I am managing to eat everything, still really. Am avoiding rich foods now (saturday wasn't fun!) but generally find within half and hour of eating a meal I'm in the loo! Ikea's on Saturday, sainsburies yesterday... Its so embarrassing when you are stuck in a public loo, horrified, waiting for everyone to leave so you can sneak out. Please say I'm not the only one!

Can I just add to MrsB's excellent posts that in terms of frinedly bacteria, the best way to ingest decent amounts regularly is by buying good quality acidopholus bifodus from the health food shop.

Good luck. Get well soon.

SM, if you have had c diff once you are more prone to get it again, especially while on antibiotics.

Oh. Bummer.

Ah, there you go - didnt need me at all

Was taking DD to fracture clinic for check up.

She shut her finger in a car door on friday and has broken the tip, which is no big deal, its the fact that she has almost completely ripped the nailbed up that is the problem. They were contemplating referring to a plastic surgeon again today . However, they have deemed that little can be done really, and she should have full function.

Hijack over....

I hope you are feeling better soon my lovely. x

Sorry SM - I am a great believer in taking actimel etc - they prescribe our patients yakult when they are diagnosed with c diff, but I can't help wondering if there could be a preventative use of it too. Especially if they are going to go on antibiotics etc. The treatment of C diff with vancomycin when necessary could justfy the cost of this. You may never have it again, just watch out for the warning signs. Hope you stay well.

VVV poor DD and very worrying for you. When does she go back? I hope they are more positive next time and that she is managing ok with her poorly finger. Poor little thing.

As for me, well after all this, so far I haven't now been since sunday evening. So for the time being I have cancelled my appointment and will see how I go. Perhaps a couple of days of taking it relatively easy were what was needed, I was very busy all last week decorating the bathroom!