Imodium Advice??
#233539 - 12/23/05 09:58 AM
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anlikerm
Reged: 09/16/05
Posts: 1320
Loc: NC
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I am confused as to what kind of attack I'm having now....I'm usually IBS-D.
But, this morning I woke up horribly C!! I am having an attack right now, well it's been coming and going all day for the past 4 hours. I still don't think I'm done.....I get horrible cramps that put me on the floor, I can't sit, I can't stand up straight, I'm doubled over in pain....I've had 7 BM's but they're small. No D, at all. They're very hard BM's. It doesn't feel like I'm going to have D. It just hurts like hell!! It feels like I'm just going to keep pushing out small BM's. I don't know..... 
Do I take an imodium since I've had 7 BM so far, even though there's hardly anything coming out??? Is this a C attack or a D attack??? I don't know. This one has me stumped!!! Please, anyone with any advice???
I've never had an attack like this before. No nausea or stomach upset, THANK GOD!!! Just REALLY INTENSE left side pain!!!!!!!! Rectal cramps REALLY BAD!!! I can't even sit down.
Michelle 
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Call Your Doctor
#233543 - 12/23/05 10:17 AM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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Michelle, please call your doctor or go to the ER. Your symptoms are the exact same kind I had when I had my first diverticulitis attack. I don't mean to scare you, but the only "cure" is a course of antibiotics to kill the infection. In the ER, they'll do a catscan and spot it immediately. They'll also give you a shot for the pain.
I too am a "D", but I also have diverticulosis which I did not know I had until I got the attack, and, like I said, my symptoms were EXACTLY those you describe. People with diverticulosis don't know they have it until an attack like yours breaks out (which is then diverticulitis).
Please -- call your doctor immediately.
Bevvy
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She told me that I was just C and to take some tylenol for the pain. I'm not kidding my doctor's are IDIOTS!!
Anyway, I think it was just really bad C, I don't know. I am okay right now. I just had a really really big BM and I'm not as crampy now. I just had my colonoscopy last month and he said my colon was extremely healthy looking. No diverticulosis or inflammation or anything. So, I don't know.
Thanks, BEV!! I will keep this in mind and if it gets really bad again, I will just go to ER. My doctor doesn't care. Take Tylenol...yea, that will make my stomach feel much better!
Michelle
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She told me to go to ER is I spiked a fever. I'm just shaky right now, no fever. 9 BM's so far!
Michelle
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But your email is not available...
The only reason I'm not OVERLY concerned about it being infection is because I don't have a fever AND even though I'm wore out from all the pain, I can still eat! That's not like me. I cannot even think about food without throwing up when I'm having a D attack. So, I don't know....what do you think?? I feel fine right now....since I got all out out of me. It was very intense coming out but I'm fine right now. No pain.....It comes and goes, though.
Michelle
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Imodium is for loose, mushy stools. Never take it for hard stools, or for D due to a virus (like when you're throwing up and having D at the same time).
You'll eventually pass this, but for now, take soome tylenol for the pain and grab a heating pad for your tummy to move things along. This will pass, don't fret!! Find a comfortable position and wait it out.
~nelly~
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As long as there isn't any blood in the stool or you don't feel pukey or spike a fever, you're having an attack. The way to tell is you're going to feel absolutely fine between bouts of cramping, explosive gas, and hard rabbit poos.
Remember to breathe, and drink lots of water (which will move things along and cut the duration of your attack). The sweats might make you uncomfortable, so keep a wet towel near the bowl if you need to wipe yourself down.
{{{{HUGS}}}} to you! Hang in there! 
~nelly~
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Gotcha! I just took a 1/2 Imodium because I finally had a really really Big BM and it ended up being loose. So, I guess it was a just a HORRIBLE HORRIBLE C to D, attack . Wow, that was intense!!
Thanks for letting me know about the Imodium. I didn't think it was a good idea, but I wasn't sure....I was afraid that if I didn't take any it would keep coming until it was full blown D but it didn't. It was just a little loose.
I am taking Carafate right now which causes major C. So, maybe that's why it's doing this. I'm going to grab the pepto and get on the road! I have to finish christmas shopping. I don't have time for another attack, today!!! Wow, that's probably why I am IN attack mode! I still have 4 presents that I have to buy!!
Thanks Nelly! I'm making some strong hot chamomile tea right now!! And I will take some Tylenol for the pain so it will kill the chamomile headache, too! It upsets my stomach, though. I don't like taking tylenol. I wish I had one of your Valium!!! LOL!!! Send me one over the wire!! 
Michelle
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I've never had an attack like this before, but I think that's exactly all it was/is...I don't know if I'm done or not!! LOL!! Usually I'm D all the way!!!
It's got to be the Carafate doing this to me. I will call the Doc about it and see if she wants me to keep taking it.
Thanks for being here for me, girls!! I don't know what I would do without these boards. Actually, two years ago when I first came down with IBS........before I found this board I was on the phone with my doctor constantly! She was tired of hearing from me. We actually get along now because I just tough it out, now. I don't call her unless I'm having problems with meds. But, today put me on the floor and that kind of freaked me out a little bit. I've never had an attack that painful before. But, unlike my D attacks.....I wasn't nauseated. So, I don't know which is worse but they both SUCK!! LOL!!
*MANY HUGS*!!
Michelle
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Got Fruit?
#233568 - 12/23/05 12:50 PM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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What great news to hear your colon is free of "pockets" -- obviously it wasn't a diverticulitis attack. Whew. Sure did sound like it though!
You say you feel fine now? And you got it all out? No pain? That's GREAT!
Michelle, do you keep a food journal? I used to keep one for over 3 years, every single day, in a chart form, recording everything I ate and its reaction. It was the best thing to help me pinpoint my triggers.
Have you gone on hiatus from fruit or veggies lately? I sometimes get backed up a little if I don't have my regular diet of blueberries and salad. Okay, for you it might be bananas and vegetable soup, but you get my drift.
I'd take it easy for a day or two, but try to get some veggies down you, cooked up so it's easily digestible, and maybe a fruit smoothie? Not a lot, but just enough to start regulating yourself a little.
Do you take a SFS? Have you tried Equalactin?
I know this is easy for me to say, but my suggestion is to find a different doctor. Sorry, but she doesn't sound very helpful to me....
Bevvy
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Hey, Bevvy!!
Whew!! Yea, I got it all out, finally. Yep, I'm good now, I think. My tummy is a little sensitive right now and when I eat it still wants to move a little bit but it eventually calms down. I'm eating okay but I can't eat alot at the moment. Hell, I was eating MORE......DURING the attack than I can eat right now.
I haven't been eating any fruits and veggies lately besides bananas and mushrooms. OH, and potatoes. Lots of Potatoes. They really help my GERD but I guess they are stopping me up. So, I'm pretty much on all SF diet. I don't eat much IF because my D was so bad last month.
Maybe it's time to start eating a little IF now!!
I do keep a journal. 2 1/2 years now. I took a few bites of soy yogurt yesterday and I haven't had soy yogurt in a loooooong time, but it didn't trigger an attack yesterday. Could it be that??
I take Citrucel "Clear" three times a day and when I woke up I felt fine. After I took my Citrucel it started moving things along and BAM! Attack about 10 minutes later. So, I guess it was my SFS that triggered the attack. Don't usually have a problem with the SFS. It usually helps alot!
What's up with that??? Maybe I would have had the attack anyway, no matter what I put in my mouth. I just happened to put the SFS in first! I don't know.....I can't pinpoint it.
I was telling Nelly that my doc put me on Carafate to coat my tummy so I don't get an ulcer (because of my GERD) and that is supposed to be very constipating. So, that's probably what's doing it. She told me that I would get C and to take MORE fiber!!
So, that's probably what's going on...
I'm going to go get me a knitting kit after I finish my christmas shopping, today and see if I start doing it on Christmas day. It's just going to be me and the hubby here. No family in this state and no one is coming so it will be a really boring day, here....Won't be anything good on TV, either....GREAT DAY TO START KNITTING!!
I'm sorry if I scared you. I was kind of freaked out at the time. I haven't had pain that INTENSE, well EVER!!
*HUGS*!!
Happy Holidays!!
Michelle
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Yep, NOW I'm having the "typical IBS-D" attack....Nausea and all! I am not going to be going out to finish christmas shopping, today. I even took Imodium and I still have D. So, I'm done.
Going to bed, now.....can't handle the nausea!
Michelle
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I got your email and I just sent you a big' ole long email, back, and I don't think you got it because I went into my sent items folder and no email that I have written past 12/18 was sent. That's the last email that was sent. So, EVERY email that I have sent since 12/18 is gone! In CyberSpace somewhere! OMG!!! Something is wrong with my email, big time! I will email you back from my work email merchantappraisal@yahoo.com, when I get home tonight. Man, that suck! That was a LOOOONG email!! Crap! It will probably go to your junk folder because your email went to my junk folder. So, check it there. Going to get my knitting kit! Hoping I don't have an attack while I'm out!!
Talk to ya soon!
Michelle
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Actually, I totally empathize with you. I've got the biggest firmest juiciest ripest trapped poo in me! My cervical spine is KILLING ME! I'm wearing slippers. Anyways, drink lots of WATER. (I feel so blech that I'm doing flat gingerale and feel so much better!) Grab a heating pad. Put those feet up.
It's like I've got the biggest KINK in my colon. One of those twister cramps. (Ever had one of those twist tie kind of cramps?) For me, I know it's because I haven't had a SOLID FORMED bm in awhile and well, it takes time to regain bowel tone and get those pelvic floor muscles in shape. So, I'm doing squats, too. I feel like this bm is fighting gravity! Popped tylenol--feel much better too!
If you're up to some safely prepped veggies, that will help.
Confession: NOTHING makes me go more than BEETS and these organic unsulfured apricot snacks.
Anyways, all will be well when I drop the BOMB! I'm so glad I quit Nexium; my D is so much reduced! Also, the Nexium belly distention has vanished completely.
Hang in there.
Kate.
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I think the trigger was Millet! I ate Millet the day before yesterday but I guess it is just now catching up with me. I usually take imodium daily and today I didn't. Yesterday, I went to eat some more of it and my stomach turned, so I put it away and ate something else. I guess my tummy was trying to tell me, yesterday that Millet is bad for me!!! Never again!!!!
NO MILLET!!!
Michelle
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CyberSpace
#233616 - 12/23/05 04:44 PM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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Nope. Didn't get it. But I did get a long e-mail from my bro, telling me about our mother, whom I have heard nothing about for 20 some years. It made me nauseous.
Truly. I feel very sick. I'm not kidding. Amazing that our parents can reach us like this -- it's that cyberspace crap, ain't it?
I need a Jack. 
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Michelle,
I hope you feel better soon. I too have had explosive gas and pain. What a drag.
Hugs,
June
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I hate to hear that made you sick....that sucks! Crap! Not this close to Christmas!! Grab ya a Jack and "forget about it!" 
I hope everything turns out okay!! I just got home and I feel like crap too! I cannot believe I left my house feeling as Shotty as I did and went out into Atlanta!!! I have done lost my mind!!!!
Michelle
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Yup, millet could definitely do it. I used to try to eat it, but suffer an attack afterwards.
We do, though, have to try new things, so kudos to you for testing the waters with millet. Maybe try quinoa. It's much more gentle! Millet gives me much worse attacks than oatmeal. Actually, brown rice is nicer to me than millet or oatmeal. But they're all mean!
Kate.
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C follwed by D
#233659 - 12/24/05 06:41 AM
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Nelly
Reged: 08/06/04
Posts: 4381
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Usually I'm a D too. If you make yourself too constipated with one med or another, you'll get the same thing, Hard, small poos that shoot out like cannonballs, followed by your usual D. From one part of your intestine you're drawing liquid from your stools. If you draw too much too quick, you'll get C followed by D.
The idea is to draw it out more slowly. It's kinda like diabetics with insulin and sugar, you have to regulate the amount of Imodium and IF in order to get a good BM consistancy.
Rest up and you'll live to do battle another day! I say declare yourself Queen of Chrismas and lounge out on the divan with every throw pillow in a three chair vicinity. And have people bring you presents. If that works, let me know and I'll do the same thing.
~nelly~
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hehehehe.....I will do that, Nelly! Thanks! "Queen of Christmas!". I'm going to remember that for tomorrow.
The Imodium and IF is what's hard for me to regulate. Especially being on all these medications because they all contribute to either D or C. So, I can't find the balance right now. I either don't take enough or I take too much.
I'm doing okay this morning so far. No BM. I guess I lost all of it, yesterday. I am on day 3 of going back on the Elavil and had a hard time waking up, still groggy and a little nauseated and gassy. I think they are side effects. I think this one is going to contribute to C, too, along with the Carafate. The Nexium contributes to D.
They put me back on it because I'm not sleeping at night. I did sleep better last night but I still woke up alot. I don't like drug side effects.....
So, now I'm on 3 prescriptions. They're trying to kill my liver and kidneys, that's for sure!! 
Michelle
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Thanks, Kate....
I wish I would have tried something that would have been safer, like oatmeal or brown rice or something. I just didn't think about the consequences of eating the millet at the time. I heard that it was good for my GERD and didn't realize that it could have been and ended up being very bad for my IBS.
I feel like crap, today, again already. It's gotta be this new med. I have totally lost my appetite. I don't know if I can stick this one out or not. I don't remember having these side effects when I was on it last time.
Michelle
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Michele, I am totally experiencing your agony. Having stopped Nexium, my D is decreased. Pepto. stops fluid from entering your stomach/g.i. tract, so, if you can stop using Pepto. more fluid will hydrate your gut & things will pass less painfully. The lactose-free generic Gravol is really helping me with the nausea. Ditto for the flat gingerale.
However, if you cannot at the moment, don't worry about it.
Isn't the throbbing awful, though! I haven't used Pepto. in
well over 24hrs., so the pressure is significantly subdued.
I can feel fluid being absorbed by my gut and I can walk around, etc., with less pain & spasms. So, now the poop is being hydrated (watch me get a water rush!) and will continue to pass less painfully. Now the trick is not to get dehydrated (my urine has been REALLY DARK) and the poops that have shot out so far have been kind of brown/red. (No, I haven't been eating carrots/sweet potatoes/squash. No, it's not Benefiber which I stopped because it makes my D worse.) Maybe rosehip tea?
Anyways, Nelly is right. Put your feet up and treat yourself royally. Drink lots. Lots of soft foods (chunks are hard to pass with those rectal spasms. I'm having them too--it's like somebody short circuited my whole lower back--cervical spine to rectum). Thank goodness for naproxen.
Kate.
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Well, millet is probably the most alkaline grain. It's funny though--sometimes an alkaline food can cause an acid reaction. Talk about pellets that cause spasms!
Try quinoa when you're up to being experimental. I'm okay with it--just lazy at the moment. I know what you mean, though, about needing "different." Maybe rice noodles? A nice fragrant jasmine rice with something? How about organic rice noodle soup. (Imagine Asian Style Chicken Broth is fabulous)
Take it easy.
Kate.
Edited by Wind (12/24/05 08:08 AM)
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I"m glad your D has decreased since you quit the Nexium!! That's awesome! And if your tummy is doing better, it was probably time for you to come off of it. And you quit the fiber, too?? Wow! I tried to come off of my fiber for 2 weeks and I got really sick. I couldn't eat anything and my gut felt raw all the time, like it was empty. I'm used to the full feeling that the fiber gives me. I feel full all the time! The doc told me to stay on it because it helps flush the acid out of my system. I have to agree with him. I feel better when I am on it than when I'm off of it. But, it doesn't work for everyone. So, you might be one of those people ....Like Bev. She can't do fiber either. I wonder why Benefiber made your D worse?? I have never tried it. I take Citrucel "clear" and if anything, it makes me C. It definitely has NEVER made my D worse.
I'm sorry to hear you're having those cramps today, that I had yesterday! It definitely sucks!! I don't have pain today. Just icky feeling, no appetite, stomach upset......but, no cramps!!! Whooo Hooo! I think I would rather deal with cramps than this stomach upset though. It's no fun to not be able to eat. I was eating just fine yesterday, even through the attack....until the D attack hit. Then came the nausea and I couldn't even think about food let alone attempt to ingest it!!! Bleh!!!!
Hopefully yours will pass soon!! Are you totally stopped up??? I think I am. I finally had 1 BM and it was not formed at all....not hard stools like yesterday. I think I'm going to be stopped up for the rest of the day.
I am having a hard time eating again. It's definitely the Elavil. This happened with the Remeron and I had to come off of it because it never went away. But I was on the Elavil for 2 years and never had this problem while I was on it, I don't think. Not sure.....if I did....I just stuck it out because I ended up doing really well on it after 6 months. Gained 20 lbs!
Anyway, I WAS eating just fine before I started taking the Elavil this week, but would have alot of pain....now the pain is decreasing but I can't eat very much. Loss of appetite. Which one do I want to deal with more??? I certainly can't have my cake and eat it too.....you know like ... no pain AND able to eat. It's only one or the other.
I guess I will just call the Nurse on Monday. She'll probably tell me to stick with it for a couple weeks and see if the side effects pass.
Certainly glad to hear you're doing better! I bet your red/dark poo is the rosehips tea. Try laying off of the rosehips today and see how it comes out. I drank some earlier this week and it came out dark red, too. So did the Black Cherry tea. And Twizzlers.....So, yea. I've had ALOT OF dark red poos this week!!! LOL!!
Are you still being treated for an ulcer?? I HOPE it's not signs of an ulcer.....just monitor it closely.
Hey, Should I order the generic Gravol or will the brand name be okay??? OH, I hope it gets here today so I can take it tomorrow if I get sick. I don't want to be sick on christmas day.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!
Michelle
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I know!!! Those "little balls" were pretty crunchy! I can definitely see the connection between those "pellets" and the pain I was having yesterday!! Not good!! I have never had quinoa before. I will check that out. Is it good??
Wow, even just the thought of Millet makes me want to barf, now. It's like getting sick off of alcohol. You can't even think about it without feeling ill.
Do you think I could eat oatmeal, yet?? I had to quit it because it was giving me too much gas. I ate oatmeal for breakfast every single morning for 2 1/2 years and just had to quit it in October. I haven't touched it since. I couldn't even finish eating a bowl of it before I would start belching!!!
I figured I would get the probiotics in my system really good before I tried to reintroduce it to my system. I have been on the Primal Defense now for 2 months, so it should be working by now. It does pretty good. I don't have as much gas as I used to. But, this morning I do!!!
Michelle
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Hi Bevvy,
I'm sorry about the bad e-mail about your Mom. I know that mine does tend to drive me nuts. Thats why I live in San Jose and she lives in Florida.<smile> Can you do something good for yourself today? You are in my thoughts.
Sincerely,
June
P.S. Whats a Jack?
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Jack to June
#233680 - 12/24/05 09:02 AM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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Thanks for your post. When I think about my mother, I remind myself of other mothers who were worse, and it makes me feel a lot better. I didn't have it that bad; it's just that my biggest fear in life is turning out just like her. It's a struggle I've had and apparently always will.
Jack is my best friend. He calms down my colon better than any drug and has helped me through bad times quite often in my life. I'm referring, of course, to Jack Daniels. Good stuff....
I used to live in Palo Alto. Nice place, just can't afford it now.
Thanks again,
Bev
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Hi Bevvy,
I have heard that blackberry brandy helps some people with diarrhea but not Jack Daniels.<smile> I can't tolerate any alchohol though. I was very sick on my wedding day when I had some champagne!
Take care,
June
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Hypnosis Then!
#233687 - 12/24/05 11:07 AM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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June, you're gonna be blown away by Michael. He totally rid me of my anxiety. Totally.
You need to find a spot where you can be all alone for that half hour every day, same spot, same time, every single day for 100 days. It's YOUR time. My spot was my recliner. At 7:00 p.m. every night, hubby took our little dog out of the condo for a walk, and said he'd be back in a half hour when the tape was finished. He'd return to find me in the recliner, sound asleep with the earplugs still stuck in my ears. Do you know, even today, several years later, I can't help but fall asleep as soon as I curl up in that recliner! Michael's GOOOD!
Great gift from hubby! Smart man.
Merry Christmas!
Bevvy
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