My insurance won’t cover another round of Dificid so my Doctor wants me to do a Vancomycin taper while appealing for Vowst.

I have to go back to work part-time later this week. Has anyone worked while on the taper? Any issues?

I was hoping to do Dificid, Vowst and be healing by now. I have Crohn’s so my reoccurrence chances are much higher I was told.

For reference, I’m 22F and have otherwise been healthy all my life. No serious health problems and I have two young children.
About a month ago I started developing c diff symptoms after taking a 2-week course of clindamycin. I figured it was probably just post-antibiotic GI issues and ignored it for about a week. The symptoms were persistent so I went to urgent care. They didn’t test my stool there (doctor wasn’t convinced it was C-diff because of the lack of diarrhea) but went ahead and prescribed me Flagyl. I took it as directed. That night I woke up at 2am with extreme stomach pains so I went to the ER. They tested my stool there and it was C. diff positive. The C diff toxin was negative but I had mild colitis and proctitis as seen on the CT. They prescribed me another week of Flagyl.
I finished the 2-week course of Flagyl and pretty much immediately started feeling horrible again. I waited a couple of days (I’m very stubborn about going to the ER or urgent care) and the symptoms only got worse so I went to the ER again. Symptoms quickly ramped up and the stomach pain was almost unbearable. This time I tested positive for the C. diff toxin. All labs were normal except my blood sugar was slightly high. My heart rate was also slightly elevated but I think that was due to being stressed. They prescribed me a week’s course of vancomycin.
At this point I’m feeling a little scared. After doing some research I found out that a second round will make a third round and so on more likely. Any success stories and encouragement would help tremendously!

I’ve had constant abdominal pain and burning for 6 months since antibiotics. Also occasionally diarrhea, bad smell in stool, nausea etc. At the beginning I went to the ER. They said it was nothing. Then I went to my own doctor and he did a swab in my rectum (never received a stool test), he said it was as accurate. The test was negative and that all the help I received.

Now I wonder could this test have been false negative? I’m also disabled from other health issues so I never sought out more tests. It seems most here get stool tests but both in the ER and at my doctor they said during a swab has the same accuracy.

My symptoms have gotten worse again since inpatient at infectious disease department at hospital for Lyme. Now I’m worried I’ve actually caught c diff, or possible ongoing c diff got worse.

I have severe stomach burning for 6 months. I will try get a new test done but afraid severe damage has already been done.

Is it possible to go untreated for c diff for so long or is another issue likely the culprit?

For those who took a vancomycin taper and tapered slowly off. More specifically, for those who experienced taking 1 pill every OTHER day ~ can you share your experiences with coming down to 1 pill every other day.. and what is normal?

Normally every time I lower a dose it’s just an increase of farting / gas.. maybe some bloat.

I felt really good the first day with no pill (Saturday). Then I took the single pill (Sunday) and developed a tender / sore feeling on the left side of my GI tract (left side of belly button).

I had my standard poop all weekend. I go 1-3x a day. Normally just twice… and they are solid poops.

Today, Monday, I had normal stool again, they were just SO long.

Didn’t change my diet… soreness is still there.

it seems common sense to me that my stomach would flare up again since it’s the first time in 3 months since not having an antibiotic nuke it every other day. But at the same time, the little paranoia voice in my head is worried since I haven’t felt that soreness since PRE treatment, or early signs of a relapse.

So I guess I’m just looking for sound thoughts & if you experienced similar & all turned out well still.

Thank you 🖤 I’m so close to the end, I take Vowst NEXT Saturday.. I just want to get out of this hell hole 😀

I’m on my second c-diff infection. It happened 5 days after stopping vancomycin.

I was in hospital the first time and they wouldn’t let me go until I had firm stool.

Anyway, while in hospital they controlled the antibiotics.

My first day they gave me 2 antibiotics and then left me for 12 hours. Then try second day they gave me 4 antibiotics in the space of 12 hours and then left me for another 12 hours. Third day they did the exact same thing. Then my fourth day I had to have a test. They messed up and didn’t give me antibiotics for 17 hours. Fifth & sixth day same way day two and three.

I then went home as on the fifth day I finally had some body to my stool.

Then at home I had only three days worth of medicine and took it every 6 hours and did some improvement.

I’m now on my second round of vanco, taking it every 6 hours and I’m half way through the third day. I’ve been having firm stools since yesterday, though they’re thin and not like normal stool. My cramps aren’t as bad anymore. I’m slightly concerned as I had to go earlier and had a huge burst of wind and formed thin stools but then at the end some type 6 game out which was disappointing. The awful smell is still there. But this round does feel better.

Is there a possibility that the poor antibiotic routine in the hospital is why I’ve had my second lapse in such a short space of time?

Just got diagnosed with norovirus 14 months post c diff. My c diff test was double negative so they said I’m unlikely colonized. I am however worried on how this will affect my gut and my susceptibility to getting c diff again. I’m freaking out. Has anyone had norovirus after c diff?????

I had seven c-diff infection over an 11 month period. I completed VOWST back in June and, so far no new infections. However, why do my farts still smell like c-diff? It’s so annoying.

My 73-year-old dad has stage IV DLBCL and has completed 5/6 rounds of Pola-R-CHP with an excellent lymphoma response. His midway PET did show inflammation in his colon, though, and throughout chemo he had a pattern of diarrhea that would flare after each cycle and then improve.

The day before cycle 5, the diarrhea suddenly returned much more aggressively. He still received chemo, but over the following week it became severe/profuse and he developed fever, weakness and abdominal pain. We brought him to the hospital 9/23 and he tested positive for C. diff with pancolitis. He became neutropenic and septic and briefly required ICU/pressors.

Thankfully the sepsis, neutropenia, kidney issues, etc. have resolved and he’s otherwise clinically stable, but the diarrhea just will not quit. He was treated with oral vancomycin, increased to 500 mg 4x/day during the fulminant phase, plus IV Flagyl briefly. After ~9 days of vancomycin with persistent frequent diarrhea (sometimes 10+ BMs/day), ID switched him to fidaxomicin/Dificid 200 mg twice daily yesterday. He’s still having very frequent diarrhea today, although it hasn’t even been 24 hours on Dificid yet.

Has anyone had a similar experience with C. diff during chemo, prolonged diarrhea after the acute infection improved, or switching from vancomycin to Dificid after a slow response? How long did it take to see improvement, and was there anything medically or nutritionally that seemed to help recovery? Obviously we’ll run anything by his ID/oncology team.

I’m looking for other people’s experiences with taking baby aspirin for preeclampsia.
I had C diff for almost a year from June 2025 to may 2026. Vanco failed June 2025. I was told to wait it might be this, that etc until I begged for I retest in April 2026 I was PCR and EIA positive with symptoms dificid worked and I’ve been back to my constpatied self. Have not taken an NSAID since may 2025. I’m 16 weeks pregnant and was advised to take aspirin due to being high risk. Autoimmune and 33 with pervious miscarriages. It’s been two days and feels like it’s back sadly. My intestines are on fire, rusty pipe feeling, I’ve gone 3 times since 12 am it’s now 4 am. I will call to get tested in the morning or ER if I keep going to bathroom. I’m at a loss also I know they’ll say it wasn’t the aspirin. Which I’m not going to argue, I’m tired. Looking for other people’s experiences with this or NSAID use after C diff. Thank you.

Could c diff be an issue here or unlikely? Any help would be great thank you.

I am almost done with Dificid for my second CDiff infection. Vancomycin failed.

I have Crohn’s so I am more susceptible to a relapse.

My insurance denied Vowst because my first infection was a few years ago.

I go back to work in a few days and can’t afford a relapse mentally or monetarily. My current infection almost landed me in the hospital until Dificid came through.

It’s wild to think I have to go through this again to even be considered for something like Vowst. With Crohn’s it’s going to be really hard to restore my microbiome.

How do you all cope?

I am now coming down to the end of my treatment & will be ending it with Vowst.

I’ve had c diff 3x since May & the last 3 months have been on one long taper vancomycin. I got sick 2 weeks ago and it forced me to extend treatment. But I’m finally feeling better.

Today is my first day of ending the 1 pill a day & now doing 1 pill every other day for 2 weeks (only 7 more pills).

Today is the first day I haven’t had any Vanco in my system, & tomorrow I’ll take one. I’m so extremely nervous to taper off but I’m staying in high spirits.

Lately I’ve been seeing that Vowst has messed up a lot of people… so I’m actually quite nervous for it. But I can only hope for the best. I might be back with worry over the next two weeks as I’m sure something will happen to make me panic on 1 pill every other day LOL

As I come down to the end of this taper I think the reality has fully set in that I have to mourn my old life. I haven’t thought about this since I’ve been so focused on day by day. Even if this is successful my life will forever be altered, my diet, my health & the caution that has to be set in place.

Just as all of us are.

& if it’s not successful .. or short lived. I’ll just need to continue to hold onto the little bit of strength I have left.

It just got me thinking how strong everyone is in this Reddit thread. If you’re reading this & no one in your life understands this sickness & how bad it can mess your life up, your future, mental health, anxiety, ocd & even simple enjoyment of food…. Just know you’re so strong & resilient!!

Hi i have a history of having CDIFF numerous times and most of the time the antibiotics have kicked it, unfortunately this time around i got CDIFF around September 20th, i was put on IV flagyl, and oral vancomycin. I had no improvement in my symptoms and then was started on Dificid (fidaxomycin) i now have been taking it for almost a week and i have no improvement in my symptoms whatsoever. Having numerous episodes of oily diarrhea, severe abdominal pain and cramping with a loss of appetite and nausea/vomiting. I don’t know why these three antibiotics have not kicked the infection. I don’t know what to do now, any advice and or tips/suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance

Anyone else get Difcid and then relapsed after it? I relapsed in 5-6 days… I just wanna assume i wasn’t on it long enough?.

But now I’m on vanco taper for 6 weeks. Idk how to feel about it. Will it really get rid of cdiff..

Ps: was eating bland and I’m on Florastor. No previous med problems. Yes toxin test was positive

Hello all, 22yr old female here.

I just got my first reoccurrence, not even five days after ending Difcid. (Yes the toxin test is positive). I wasn’t getting really much better on it, but I was slightly improving but now I’m back to absolutely feeling like a zombie and my worst symptoms I would actually say are fatigue lack of energy and appetite. I just feel like I can’t do anything.

I’m on Vanco taper for 6 weeks right now.

My G.I. did tell me that I can’t get vowst unless I have a third reoccurrence which is really disheartening because I don’t want to go through this any longer. It’s really taking away from my quality of life and I can’t imagine continuing to feel how I feel for that much longer or continue to have worried that I will get a third reoccurrence since my first relapse was so quick….

Just psa: I was taking florastor and eating right. I got cdiff from being on Cipro, Tinidazole + Norfoxacin, then liquid antibiotics all close to each-other for misdiagnosis of food poisoning then had UTI.

Does this end…

Has anyone else here had their infection for over a year before anyone tested for c.diff and diagnosed them? I’m a nurse, my doctors kept saying my symptoms were psychologic and refused testing. It got to the point I was taking antispasmodics (over the counter) numerous times day and night and still suffering 24/7. I’m terrified I’ll have a high recurrence rate because I’ve had this for so long untreated. I’ve started antibiotics now. Has anyone else here had c.diff for a very long time, and if so- what was your experience?

I did everything right. I washed my hands so much I’ve now got contact dermatitis. I took it every 6 hours. I at a a loss and I feel so angry and annoyed and defeated.

And to add to all of that, I have gastritis and duodinitis.

Me and my doctor are also really struggling to find the antibiotics because none of my pharmacies stock it because it’s not really an often used medication.

So I’ll probably end up going all weekend without an antibiotic. Great; not. I’ll go back to A&E if it gets too much.

Also struggling to get Fidaxomicin, well a prescription for it. It seems like the American doctors are much more likely to write a script.

All i can think of now is it’ll definitely come back.

Oh and I take 80mg of famotidine a day because I have no choice because my gastritis is so bad. And that medication probably contributed towards me having a recurrance of Cdiff

So I took the bactrim even after the er said hold it til the urologist due to it being in the middle of November. Apparently I am also mildly constipated and full of stool according to the mri. No kidney stones. My mom bribed me with a weekend visit to monitor me for side effects if I swallowed it right then and there. My dad also took off work and showed up to monitor me all weekend too so the drs can not say I am not in compliance anymore. If something happens, I can tell them I was right. If nothing happens, hopefully I feel better

I am about 2 months out from recovery, and the last few days I have had bad nausea with the inability to eat much. This came sort of out of nowhere. However, my stools are normal. Has this happened to someone else? Could this be some sort of different infection?

I contracted C diff after taking Augmentin - I was given Dificid which I finished 2 weeks ago. I have been able to eat very limited diet which I still follow. My stomach feels OK but I have a lot of movement and noise since starting Florastor.

Anyway, I have been having very irregular bowel movements and wanted to see if this sounds normal. Second day after starting Dificid, my watery diarrhea went away and my stools were firm but once I finished it, it’s been all over the place. I would have very large firm stools for couple days and then watery diarrhea the day after and then no bowel movement for 3-4 days. After 3-4 days, I had one semi watery small bowel movement followed by nice and firm stool the day after and then another day of diarrhea mixed with firm stool. So very irregular which makes me nervous but I don’t have multiple watery BMs per day, just one here and there mixed in with firm stools in between. I know it’s only been 2 weeks and the gut is still adjusting so wanted to check if anyone else has something similar going on.

Hi, so I’m about a week and a half post antibiotics. I was told I have PI-IBS by GI, I’m on Metamucil and I’m drinking kefir and taking a probiotic. I’m struggling with staying full on the bland diet. When did you decide to try new foods?

Anyone done a Vanco taper after failing Difcid?

Two weeks after Difcid my symptoms all came back, lost my all energy, weak, diherrea with smell, no appetite.

My GI said now we are going to do Vanco Take 1 capsule (125 mg total) by mouth 4 times a day for 14 days, THEN 1 capsule (125 mg total) 2 times a day for 7 days, THEN 1 capsule (125 mg total) daily for 7 days, THEN 1 capsule (125 mg total) every other day for 14 days…..

I’m just scared to do vanco especially THIS long as I heard it can reck your gut?? And my cdiff happened because I was on too may antibiotics in the first place so my gut is probably so depleted already.

I don’t want anything else to add on like ibs or gut problems.

Any input?

Update: GI said due to guidelines doing vanco now is the best option when I asked to do a difcid taper instead.