What's the big Diff?

Well, turns out the difference between C Diff & Candida is indeed quite big.  Clostridium difficile is a bacterium that can cause symptoms ranging from diarrhea to life-threatening inflammation of the colon.  Whereas Candida Albicans is a fungus that is a part of the normal gut flora. When Candida gets out of control it weakens the intestinal wall causing similar symptoms as C Diff.  Both are exacerbated by antibiotic use since antibiotics kill the good bacteria and the bad bacteria (thus, the need for some really good probiotics).  Both are symptoms of immune dysfunction of some sort.  Both can be mild or severe but the similarities perhaps end there.

C Diff can be life threatening.  Candida is not.  C Diff can be contagious, Candida is not.  C Diff is a bacteria.  Ironically, a C Diff infection is caused by antibiotics & also cured by antibiotics (which can worsen Candida).  Candida is a fungus.  Treatment is a two-fold approach of dietary restrictions & antifungal meds or herbs which will have no effect on C Diff.  Both, however, can benefit from treatments aimed at boosting the immune system as well as treatments targeted to healing the digestive tract.

So, where do I go from here?  Honestly, chances are I have both.  First up is dismissal of all Lyme treatments since antibiotics exacerbate both.  A simple stool test for C Diff will identify it's presence, then I'll go on antibiotics that treat it (which will also produce a "killer herx" according to my LLMD.  Killing off Lyme is never a bad thing.)  Any further antibiotic treatments are on hold (including IV antibiotics, which is where I thought I was going next).  Instead she's going to test my immune systems and in the meantime prescribe some targeted treatments to boost it and switch me to herbal remedies for Lyme.

She immediately put me on an enzyme supplement to break up biofilm.  Biofilms are mucous film that form  protective layers over bacteria and fungi colonies.  They basically hide behind this film, safe from treatments.  Candida especially likes to hide from antifungals in the biofilm;  Lyme spirochetes also think biofilm is a nifty place to hide.

And she's putting me on A-L Complex, an herbal formula designed to support the immune system and improve the body’s ability to defend against microbial infection.  A-L is available in oral drops, which is good news for me since my digestive system is so destroyed that I currently can't keep any pills down.

So, time to batten down the hatches.  Time to start saying "no" to outside commitments   Time to stock up on easy meals.  Time to stay home, prepare to feel bad (herx) and rest, rest, rest.  My kids have gotten used to a busy lifestyle for a while, but they're both pretty good at playing by themselves.  It's a good thing since we'll be home a lot!