I need support

I haven't been as active on the boards as I have been in the past. I'm still maintaining my weight and was lifting up until this week. I've had multiple rounds of antibiotics for an abscessed tooth, and Monday morning I got hit with C.Diff. I'm not sure if everyone knows what that is, but it's the big warning in the paperwork you get with antibiotics.

It's got me down. I don't know when I'll be able to start working out again. I haven't seen a doctor since the ER on Monday night, my doctor wants to see me when I finish my antibiotics. I'm in limbo.

Exercise is my go-to stress reliever. I can't go to the gym right now, not just for my low energy but for the health of others. I'm worried about what the future looks like for me. Is this something anyone has been through and come out okay on the other end? I've found some C.Diff support groups but they are all doom and gloom and I don't think it is representative of what really happens. I think the people who take their pills and get better don't go online and talk about it, so the support groups are full of people who are having more trouble. But maybe I'm wrong. I don't know. I'm hoping that I will finish my meds and be part of the 80-90% that overcomes it with the first treatment. Anyone been through this or known someone who has?

Replies

AnnPT77

ExistingFish wrote: »

I haven't been as active on the boards as I have been in the past. I'm still maintaining my weight and was lifting up until this week. I've had multiple rounds of antibiotics for an abscessed tooth, and Monday morning I got hit with C.Diff. I'm not sure if everyone knows what that is, but it's the big warning in the paperwork you get with antibiotics.

It's got me down. I don't know when I'll be able to start working out again. I haven't seen a doctor since the ER on Monday night, my doctor wants to see me when I finish my antibiotics. I'm in limbo.

Exercise is my go-to stress reliever. I can't go to the gym right now, not just for my low energy but for the health of others. I'm worried about what the future looks like for me. Is this something anyone has been through and come out okay on the other end? I've found some C.Diff support groups but they are all doom and gloom and I don't think it is representative of what really happens. I think the people who take their pills and get better don't go online and talk about it, so the support groups are full of people who are having more trouble. But maybe I'm wrong. I don't know. I'm hoping that I will finish my meds and be part of the 80-90% that overcomes it with the first treatment. Anyone been through this or known someone who has?

I don't have a lot of details, but I know that one of my casual friends had C.Diff and recovered fine. I'd say she's average-ish in health, to start, so it's not like I'm talking about some kind of nutritionally-perfect, super-fit person: Just a normal middle-aged woman, pretty good diet, a little on the heavy side (high normal to low overweight BMI, I'd guess), does yoga a few times a week, but not super active otherwise.

ahoy_m8

So sad for your health setback. It’s a real bummer. And scary. Good on you for asking for the support you need. No first hand experience but I have two friends, one in her 60s and one in her 50s when diagnosed. Both were hospitalized when they had it. Both recovered fully and are just fine now. The older one in particular was super smart about getting rest and really took time ramping up to her previous activities. She does moderate gym workouts a couple days a week in winter and in summer plays golf and rides horses for exercise. She did a lot less the summer following but did travel and entertained houseguests and was back to normal by fall.

I feel for you missing exercise for the stress relief. I really do. Maybe a guided meditation app? Or try a couple gentle yoga routines? It took over a year of practice before I actually found yoga calming. Probably it took that long to attain sufficient mastery of the poses. I enjoy it in the evening with chill music. My routines are only 12 minutes! It feels like genuine self care now. It doesn’t replace rigorous cardio or heavy lifting, but it’s something.

Take care and let us know how you’re doing!

Saskatchebun

Hi! I'm so sorry you are going through this. I had C.Diff after taking antibiotics for a minor infection 3 years ago. It was really, really hard and I felt very alone and very sick. It took me 5 months to get better - but I did and you will too! ♥️ I'm here for you if you want support!

ExistingFish

Thank you, guys. I know there are people out there who recovered well.

Also the bad news, my 2-year-old had some symptoms so the pediatrician put him on the same medication I'm on, we are stil waiting on his stool samples since it was over the weekend. I hope he doesn't have it.

ExistingFish

And on top of all this, I'm not really under the care of a doctor for this. It is such a mess.

The endodontist Rx the last round antibiotics he left a standing order and went on vacation, so didn't even talk to him. Was seen in the ER, but my test wasn't back when they let me go (and told me everything was "All good!"). The only thing in my chart was updated that my result came back the DR wrote one sentence in my report about Rx Flagyl for the C.Diff. I didn't even leave the ER with that Rx in hand, I had no way to actually fill it. They wanted me to follow up with my MD, but their office called and said it would be better to see me after my antibiotics.

So I'm in limbo. I was given no instruction on diet, they actually discharged me from the ER with information for stomach virus (I guess that is what they were indicating I had since my test results weren't back). I've been given no instructions on whether to stay home, when it's safe to be around other people, the proper way to clean so others in my house don't get it, I've had to get all of that from the internet. When I took my 2-year-old to the doctor (I called first) they had us leave through a back door, which I understand but it made me feel so bad. The social stigma is bad. They could have done all of it over the phone too and saved us coming in. Why didn't they just do that? Why did they make me bring him in and then make it so bad to shove us out the back? It wasn't like there was fecal matter hanging from us. We were clothed and washed our hands meticulously.

My anxiety which has been well managed for over a year with diet and exercise is so bad. There is a gut-brain connection and my gut is in distress so my brain is too. I started my period on CD 18, which is insane I didn't think the body could do that, not enough time to build a lining, you know? I think it may be some defense mechanism when there is a toxin in the body or something.

I'm crying right now, I'm a little upset but we just deep cleaned the bathrooms and the bleach is really irritating.

I noticed my 4 year old's hands are raw from washing so much. I meant to put lotion on them but I forgot and now I feel guilty about that.

I'm falling behind at work. I work from home, so I've worked some this week. I need so much more sleep but the insomnia from the medication is rough.

Thank you for listening guys. This is the only message board I've been on that really is full of kind people.

PAV8888

Hang in there boo! You're in a rough spot but you'll make it out fine! 🤗

ahoy_m8

Wow. I really sense your frustration and uncertainty. You said your GP wanted to see you after finishing the antibiotics, but it sounds like it would help to have someone to talk to NOW. Can you call your GP office back and ask for someone in the office to talk over the phone for these very reasonable questions? E.g. a PA, nurse, case worker, etc. It's nice when a GP is the quarterback when multiple doctors involved. That is supposed to be their role.

kshama2001

ExistingFish wrote: »

I haven't been as active on the boards as I have been in the past. I'm still maintaining my weight and was lifting up until this week. I've had multiple rounds of antibiotics for an abscessed tooth, and Monday morning I got hit with C.Diff. I'm not sure if everyone knows what that is, but it's the big warning in the paperwork you get with antibiotics.

It's got me down. I don't know when I'll be able to start working out again. I haven't seen a doctor since the ER on Monday night, my doctor wants to see me when I finish my antibiotics. I'm in limbo.

Exercise is my go-to stress reliever. I can't go to the gym right now, not just for my low energy but for the health of others. I'm worried about what the future looks like for me. Is this something anyone has been through and come out okay on the other end? I've found some C.Diff support groups but they are all doom and gloom and I don't think it is representative of what really happens. I think the people who take their pills and get better don't go online and talk about it, so the support groups are full of people who are having more trouble. But maybe I'm wrong. I don't know. I'm hoping that I will finish my meds and be part of the 80-90% that overcomes it with the first treatment. Anyone been through this or known someone who has?

Exercise is my go-to stress reliever too. (Used to be food, then booze etc., then back to food.)

I agree with the recommendation for physical yoga.

Additionally, this yoga philosophy/guided meditations CD (which has no yoga postures) has been especially helpful to me in times of severe stress:

Yoga for Emotional Flow: Free Your Emotions Through Yoga Breathing, Body Awareness, and Energetic Release

I've been to two workshops with Stephen Cope and just adore him.