CDIFF

[Nancy D]

I have had CDIFF 4 times now, and yes I cheated and did eat Gluten.  My GI Doctor did say that one can get CDIF from

Celiac Disease if you do not stay Gluten Free, not all but enough folks.  This is my advice and no no I was not in the hospital as many get this from there.  FYI  Thanks  .

 

Nancy Dion

 

[trents]

Welcome to the forum, Nancy.

CDIF is most often associated with protracted and repeated antibiotic treatment such that the normal balance of microorganisms in the gut is severely disturbed. CDIF is an opportunist infection in that sense. It moves in when all the normal microbiotic checks and balances have been wiped out. Since many people on extended, heavy- duty antibiotic treatment are also hospitalized, CDIF has become associated with extended hospitalization. But certainly, it can occur outside of hospitals.

That said, there has long been the suspicion that there is a link between celiac disease and antibiotic use. The theory is that those who have frequently been treated with antibiotics have an altered mix of microbes in their gut that can lead to the development of celiac disease. That celiacs typically do not have a normal, balanced population of microbes in their guts has been demonstrated by research. These are the same conditions that can lead to CDIF, although your mention of what your doctor said in that regard is the first I have heard of this.

[Scott Adams]

I always heard this referred to a C. diff or Clostridioides difficile or C. difficile, but when I was a teenager I was treated with "low dose" antibiotics for a couple of years. I'll never know the exact trigger of my celiac disease, but it could have been a contributing factor for sure. I'm no expert in how to deal with it, other than to say that taking lots of probiotics, including eating yogurt if you can tolerate casein, would be important.

[trents]

Scott, was that teenage long term, low dose antibiotic treatment done for acne control by some chance? I was on tetracycline for years for acne back in the day. I think it was common.

[Scott Adams]

Yes, it was tetracycline for a couple of years...I had no idea at the time, but was happy with the acne results. I doubt there doing this nowadays...

[knitty kitty]

Nancy D,

Try high dose thiamine.  Clostridium bacteria make thiaminases, enzymes that destroy thiamine (Vitamin B1).

High dose Thiamine can help get rid of these undesirable pests.

See this article...

Infant botulism: is there an association with thiamine deficiency?

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25311602/

Thiamine is water soluble, can't be stored in the body (nine days).  There is no toxicity level to thiamine.  It is perfectly safe to take high doses.  

Please discuss this with your doctors.  

Hope this helps!

 

[Kate333]

On 3/2/2021 at 10:33 AM, Scott Adams said:

I always heard this referred to a C. diff or Clostridioides difficile or C. difficile, but when I was a teenager I was treated with "low dose" antibiotics for a couple of years. I'll never know the exact trigger of my celiac disease, but it could have been a contributing factor for sure. I'm no expert in how to deal with it, other than to say that taking lots of probiotics, including eating yogurt if you can tolerate casein, would be important.

Hi Scott. I have heard of lactose-free yogurt.  Is there also such a thing as CASEIN-FREE yogurt or other dairy products (esp. ice-cream or cheese, which I love)?  I have seen lactose-free cottage cheese on the market (Lactaid is the company).

[trents]

I would think you cannot have dairy without casein. It is one of the proteins that define milk. There might be some dairy substitute, however.

[Scott Adams]

I don't think there is a way to avoid casein, and lactose-free doesn't mean casein-free, as lactose is the type of sugar in cow's milk. Some people who have issue with casein don't have issues with goat's or sheep's milk products, and there are yogurts made from those. My wife eats a type of yogurt that is made with cashews, and doesn't contain any dairy from any source.