I've recently found out that C-Diff Colitis is chronic. Is there a specific diet to help manage this monster?

My husband was recently hospitalized for C-Diff Colitis from too strong an antibiotic (clindomyacin). He's had a massive heart attack with a stent implant, a completely replaced hip, a defibrillator implant, and uses a CPAP for sleep apnea. He say this C-Diff is worse than any of the other stuff that's happened to him! He's just miserable. He really has no appetite, but if there was a specific diet that would help with the diarhea, I'm sure I could get him to eat. I'm making sure he stays hydrated with Gatorade and Pedialyte. He has a low-grade temperature (99.4) and sleeps a lot. Will we be prisoners in our own home all summer with this?

I've recently found out that C-Diff Colitis is chronic. Is there a specific diet to help manage this monster?
Pseudomembranous colitis is an infection of the colon often, but not always, caused by the bacterium Clostridium difficile. Still, the expression "C. diff colitis" is used almost interchangeably with the more proper term of pseudomembranous colitis. The illness is characterized by offensive-smelling diarrhea, fever, and abdominal pain. It can be severe, causing toxic megacolon, or even fatal.





The use of broad-spectrum antibiotics such as clindamycin and cephalosporins causes the normal bacterial flora of the bowel to be altered. In particular, when the antibiotic kills off other, competing bacteria in the intestine, any bacteria remaining will have less competition for space and nutrients there. The net effect is to permit much more extensive growth than normal of certain bacteria. Clostridium difficile is one such type of bacteria. In addition to proliferating in the bowel, the C. diff also elaborates a toxin. It is this toxin that is responsible for the diarrhea which characterizes pseudomembranous colitis.





The disease is usually treated with metronidazole (400 mg every 8 hourly). Oral vancomycin (125 mg every 6 hourly) is an alternative but, due to its expense, is often reserved for those patients who have experienced a relapse after a course of metronidazole (a common outcome). Vancomycin treatment also presents the risk of the development of vancomycin resistant enterococcus, and its use for the treatment of C. Difficile infection is now questioned by some institutions. Occasionally metronidazole has been associated with the development of pseudomembranous colitis. In these cases metronidazole is still an effective treatment, since the cause of the colitis is not the antibiotic, but rather the change in bacterial flora from a previous round of antibiotics.





Adjunctive therapy may include cholestyramine, a bile acid resin that can be used to bind C. difficile toxin.





Saccharomyces boulardii (a yeast) has been shown in one small study of 124 patient to reduce the recurrence rate of pseudomembranous colitis.McFarland LV, Surawicz CM, Greenberg RN, et al. (1994). "A randomized placebo-controlled trial of Saccharomyces boulardii in combination with standard antibiotics for Clostridium difficile disease". JAMA 271 (24): 1913–18. PMID 8201735. A number of mechanisms have been proposed to explain this effect.





Fecal bacteriotherapy, a procedure related to probiotic research, has been suggested as an alternative cure for the disease. It involves infusion of bacterial flora acquired from the feces of a healthy donor in an attempt to repair the bacterial imbalance responsible for the recurring nature of the infection.





Anecdotal evidence suggests kefir can help treat pseudomembranous colitis.If antibiotics do not control the infection the patient may require a colectomy (removal of the colon) for treatment of the colitis.





Once the diagnosis of pseudomembranous colitis is made, your doctor will stop the antibiotic that was associated with development of the disorder. Sometimes, this may be enough to resolve your condition, or at least ease signs such as diarrhea. Once you begin treatment for pseudomembranous colitis, signs and symptoms may begin to improve within a few days, and they often resolve completely within two weeks.





To treat more severe cases of pseudomembranous colitis, your doctor will choose from among a number of medications, particularly antibiotics other than the one associated with your illness.





To support your doctor's treatment for pseudomembranous colitis, several self-help measures may benefit you:





Drink fluids. Drink water and other clear fluids, such as apple juice, tea and bouillon. Stay away from carbonated beverages, orange juice and other citrus drinks, alcohol, and caffeinated drinks, all of which can make your signs and symptoms worse.


Eat several meals of small portion sizes throughout the day. This is better than eating two or three larger meals because the smaller meals tend to promote more normal bowel movements.


Eat foods that can help ease diarrhea. These include rice, bananas, plain baked potatoes and toast.


Avoid high-fat, fried or spicy foods. These can worsen your symptoms.