I was wondering if anyone can offer any insight. I have a Jpouch (2nd one as first one failed). My takedown was almost 2 years ago. I have had one or 2 strictures since then and had surgical dilation. About 2 weeks ago I had the flu so I went to my personal doctor, who is well aware of my UC medical history. He prescribed Cephalexin 500 mg 2x a day. I took it as prescribed (started 1/27). Then things started happening, which I didn't think any big deal about. I thought I had a yeast infection as I had terrible itch/burning. So I treated with Monistat. Then, this past weekend I started to feel really sick on my stomach and had painful cramps and explosive diarrhea. Yesterday was worse. I thought maybe I had another stricture. Then a thought hit me. Let me check my meds and their side effects. I have every single one of the effects for this Cephalexin. When I looked it up on the internet it said that if you've had UC talk with your doctor before taking it as it can possibly lead to CDiff. I made an appt with my gastro doctor just in case it is a stricture but why would my personal doctor prescribe this medicine knowing my history? I called him and of course could only talk to his nurse and she said he said to stop taking the meds and keep my gastro appt. Well, duh. I knew that much. So now I am worried I have Cdiff due to the med I was taking. Which this, of course, leads to another round of more meds - which make me feel lousy. I can't take Flagyl and pretty much all those other drugs make me feel sicker than the original symptoms. I just don't understand why I would be prescribed that particular drug knowing my history. I guess really I'm just looking for a shoulder to cry on because I know my family is sick to death of me. Just kidding, they are really fabulous but they don't really understand the emotional toll this takes on people like us. Thanks for listening. Liz
Well, it is not just cephalexin that can lead to a C. diff infection. It is pretty much any antibiotic except Flagyl or Vancomycin. The question I would really be asking is why on earth would your doctor prescribe antibiotics for the flu!?! Antibiotics are totally inappropriate for a viral infection. Unless you had a secondary bacterial infection, I just do not get it.
I was put on IV antibiotics when I was hospitalized in December for a presumed virus, but they could not figure out what was going on, so just threw everything at it. I was also put on Tamiflu (the antiviral for the flu).
Anyway, before you go assuming it is C. diff, just continue with your plan of stopping the antibiotic and seeing your GI. You could call and see about an order for a C. diff toxin test while you wait for your appointment, since it takes a little time to process.
More than likely, it was just the standard side effects and not the C. diff infection.
Jan
I was put on IV antibiotics when I was hospitalized in December for a presumed virus, but they could not figure out what was going on, so just threw everything at it. I was also put on Tamiflu (the antiviral for the flu).
Anyway, before you go assuming it is C. diff, just continue with your plan of stopping the antibiotic and seeing your GI. You could call and see about an order for a C. diff toxin test while you wait for your appointment, since it takes a little time to process.
More than likely, it was just the standard side effects and not the C. diff infection.
Jan