What's the Diff?

Two years ago...almost to the day...I was diagnosed with Clostridium perfringens. This is a cousin of Clostridium difficile. It took some time, and some tests, and some visits to various doctors, but after almost 2 months, my problems were all behind me (oh you just know I couldn't resist saying that!)

Everything in that region of my body has been fine, until recently. On a Friday afternoon, not too long ago, I developed a pain in my stomach, which is very unusual for me. After several hours, the pain had lessened, but I had developed other issues. I figured it was just some sort of bug going around, and laid low for a week. But, the problems continued, and actually worsened. I decided that the colitis I had two years ago must have returned. We were planning to go away for a week and I was concerned. I called the Gastroenterologist to see if they could fit me in, hoping to get some medication to help. I explained that I might have a 'colitis flare', which seemed to do the trick and I had an appointment, just like that! I saw a nurse practitioner. I was impressed. She prescribed a medication to ease cramping and one that might help my system, and gave me a take-home test. The rest of that day, and the next day, I felt great and had no symptoms, so I actually called the pharmacy and had them put the medications back on the shelf. Wrong thing to do! A few days later it was back, and almost a week later I received a call from the nurse practitioner....the results of the test showed that I didn't have C-perfringens, I had the real deal. I had acquired C-difficile, or C-diff. 

What?! Where? When? How? Why me?! 

If you have ever read about C-diff, it's one mean bug. It can run rampant in hospitals, and is becoming more frequent outside of institutions. It can be lethal. Everyone has the c-diff bacteria in their gut, and often, if people are taking an antibiotic that kills 'good' bacteria in the gut, c-diff, being resistant to many antibiotics, has a chance to flourish and take over. That wasn't the situation in my case, and I still don't know why c-diff took hold, but an antibiotic was called in. Both the pharmacist and the nurse practitioner stressed that I must take the medications evenly spaced at 6 hour intervals, in order for it to be most effective, and I must finish every pill. I set alarms on my phone, and customized them! I selected music. My alerts included, "What Do You Got?", "Bad Medicine" and "Getting Better All the Time"....I used a soft "thud" for the 1:30 AM alert, since rock and roll music would be a bit too startling at that time of day night! I've finished the course of antibiotics. Things seem to be on the mend, and I am keeping my fingers crossed. I don't want to be messing around with this bug again! 

However, despite my being impressed by the nurse practitioner at my initial visit, as I read more about the disease, and how devastating it can be, and how difficult it can be to eradicate, I became disenchanted. The nurse practitioner never suggested that I read anything. She never explained that C-diff bacteria spores can remain viable on a surface for several months....and up to a year in some cases!! The nurse practitioner never explained that household cleaners, and alcohol-based hand cleaners are not at all effective against c-diff. The nurse practitioner never explained that the growing c-diff bacteria populations release toxins that can damage cells in the intestinal lining. 

I realize now how fortunate I was to have licked this thing so promptly. It generally doesn't work that way!  I worry that I might have shared the bug with others. I worry that the Mister, who is vulnerable due to antibiotic use, is vulnerable. I worry that this is not the last I see of this disease. I keep waiting for the shoe to drop....it isn't a good feeling!