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If you've had your gall bladder removed and you haven't tried taking Questran, try that first.
HTH.
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[Research tells us fourteen out of any ten individuals likes chocolate. - Sandra Boynton]
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Sand,
Thank you so much for the patience of writing all of that information, I will not take it lightly. I guess I did read wrong or is was written wrong about the calcium, because I have been using the calcium citract, only 400 per tablet once a day and tried twice a day with a SF, but maybe that has been a cause. I have been 100% diagnosed with IBS through zillions of tests, no celiac, no crohns, no colitis, etc. I have followed Heather's diet, until I get the confusing messages from others, and I do know what one can tolerate another cant. I wanted to try tums, so I will try those again, I love the fruit flavored ones, and since I have lost so much weight and my Mom has osteoporosis I am a prime candidate for it, so I need it for my bones!! I did know the Vitamin D is essential to the absorbption of the calcium, it was the magnesium that scared me whether is caused d or C....
As far as anti-depressents, I have tried Prozac in the past, which was the period of time in my life when I ate pretty much whatever and had very few attacks, but still got them. I have since tried the Prozac and it keeps me up at night which it never did before, and I don't sleep well as it is, so I stopped it. I was on Adapin (doxepin) for 4 1/2 weeks and NEVER slept, so I had to wheen off that that as well. I have a prescription for elavil, which I was told to take at bedtime, but it made my heart race, so of course I stopped that. I have heard a lot of good things on this board about Lexapro, so I have been wanting to talk to my doctor about that one. However, right now with possibly starting a new job, I don't want to be on any kind of medication that will make me poop, sleep, or be hyper.
From what I understand Lotronex is not available in the United States, or at least that is what I have been told. It was taken off the market because of severe adverse reactions.
I will get calcium tomorrow, only got dressed today at 3p.m. recovering from my attack last night. My husband went to see his family doctor today and was explaining the reaction I had with my hands freezing up and getting numb and tingling and he had a name for it and he said it sounded like when my colon goes into spasm it is trying to function properly and by doing so it is exhausting other parts of my body of it's oxygen and blood supply. Now, with that information I would think I could find a vascular doctor that could make sense of that!! I have been to the cleveland clinic, my opinion they suck. I had test and tests and more tests, sent me home with the adapin (doxepin) and after 4 1/2 weeks of not tolerating it I called there 4 times and left messages with actual nurses and NO ONE has called me back. How does that sound for such an excellent hospital? I was shocked. My husband's neurologist said he would see me, but has to wait until he gets my records from there, so maybe he could put the blood/oxygen thing together. I was told before that when I have passed out on the toilet from the pain being so bad, to have a brown bag and breathe into it, but I couldn't even make it to the bathroom last night, after the arms went so did my legs feet and butt, I couldn't walk, let alone sit on a toilet. I have had to crap laying on the floor before... sad huh?
Several have mentioned the hypnosis tapes, I can't afford them right now, but would love to get them. I'm not working, my husband has MS and just has his entire sigmoid colon removed (lucky guy) just kidding, along with a very severe bladder/colon attachment that was secreating bowel into his bladder, he is lucky to be alive!! So funds are tight. I've checked the side effect of the lorazepam and it does not say anthing aobut abdominal cramping, so I will keep that when needed. I'm just still confused that when the last GI specialist said that if the prescription medication I take for colon spasm doesn't work, if I take one when it is happening it is not colon spasm, then why in the heck do I get relief after I have diarrheaded myself to death, doctor!!!!!
I also want to check into the nautropathic remedies also. I am desperate, I was absolutely serious last night when I told him I wanted a colestomy. I think I could live with the diarrhea, but not the ungodly, inhumane, gut-wrenching-labor pain, numbness, tingling, nausea, etc. effects as well.
Thank you again!!
Cheryl
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IBS-D, extreme pain and cramping - GERD - lactose/dairy intolerant, OCD, Fibromyalgia
DX: w/ Multiple Sclerosis 3/10
I can do all things through Christ who strenghtens me. Phil 4:13
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Still have my gallbladder, they say it's good......I say take it if it'll make me better!!1
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IBS-D, extreme pain and cramping - GERD - lactose/dairy intolerant, OCD, Fibromyalgia
DX: w/ Multiple Sclerosis 3/10
I can do all things through Christ who strenghtens me. Phil 4:13
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Girl,
Good luck with the vaginal exam, I would worn them ahead of time. I did when I had an appointment, I told them I was in the middle of an IBS attack and they were very sympathetic!! And yes, you can drink water. I too was scared to drink anything cold ever again, but I drink 3-4 bottles of water a day room temperature. I mix my acacia in it and it's never cold and I have no problem with that, but since reading that cold water post, I have never had cold water again!! I like your comment, one day at a time.....
Thanks!!
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IBS-D, extreme pain and cramping - GERD - lactose/dairy intolerant, OCD, Fibromyalgia
DX: w/ Multiple Sclerosis 3/10
I can do all things through Christ who strenghtens me. Phil 4:13
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I don't think fructose is a problem unless you have a fructose intolerance. Too much fructose, like anything, can cause problems, but I wouldn't start eliminating whole groups of fruit. For me, the best thing has just been to follow Heather's advice 100% and try to get over my own silly fears. I've never been a big fruit eater and there are some fruits that give me a lot of gas, but they don't necessarily make my IBS worse.
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So sorry you're still having to deal with all this pain. I don't have much to add since the others seem to have been so helpful and are very knowledgeable. I do have to admit I was surprised to hear you were taking calcium citrate since my understanding, according to Heather's book, is that calcium carbonate is better for IBS-D. From all the contrary comments I see on the IBS boards (I'm sure I've been at fault too), I just follow Heather's advice and eating guidelines.
Big hugs! I'm so sorry your last GI doctor was such a jerk. Sheesh! Just from what I know about you from these boards, I would never consider you a patient who's just shopping for drugs!  That makes me so mad! Have you even ever tried painkillers instead of anti-spasmodics for your IBS pain? Again, hugs, hugs, hugs! I hope you get some answers and some real help for your IBS soon.
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Maria! Maria!,
No I have not tried painkillers and I have had someone suggest that before, like vicodin or something? I really just thought the lorazepam would have kicked in last night, wanted to take the whole bottle. Yes,I guess I mis-read or mis-undedrstood the whole calcium thing, even though it was not a lot and has not been for long, maybe that has been part of my problem. I am going to get new calcium tomorrow and will introduce it slowly when/if I become stable....hoping and praying here!! Have you tried pain killers, what kind? Thank you so much for the hugs, no I'm trying to decide on a safe dinner....maybe just some toast again... Some doctor's are realy jerks!!!
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IBS-D, extreme pain and cramping - GERD - lactose/dairy intolerant, OCD, Fibromyalgia
DX: w/ Multiple Sclerosis 3/10
I can do all things through Christ who strenghtens me. Phil 4:13
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No, I haven't tried painkillers either. I'm like you, a bit hesitant when it comes to trying new meds. However, I had a horrible lupus flare this morning and I was in excruciating pain for five hours, so I can kind of sympathize with your IBS attack. It's so horrible to be in that kind of pain -- you can't think right, you can't move. It just hurt all over! I didn't know what to do, but I'm thinking about asking for something for those days where the pain just won't ease up. My doctor had given me a presciption for low-dose vicodin, but I never used it and now they've expired. I know some people on here have discussed taking painkillers before, like Vicodin and Codeine, and that's how I knew to ask my doctor. Ibuprofen just makes my IBS symptoms worse, and Tylenol doesn't even touch the lupus pain. I think the lorazepam works on spasms, but yeah it doesn't do much for pain. My doctor said it just helps you "cope" or deal with the pain better, but it's not going to stop it.
Do you have some chicken broth? Maybe a nice, hot cup of broth, along with some toast, will give you some strength back and not be too hard on your digestive tract.
Edited by Maria!Maria! (10/01/07 03:59 PM)
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It sounds like you're having a terrible time and I wish I had more to suggest. I'm so sorry to hear about your husband. It seems like sometimes everything just goes wrong at once. I'm shocked to hear about the Cleveland Clinic - my endocrinologist thinks the world of it. I guess it's good to know the story but bad that they didn't help you at all.
Quote:
From what I understand Lotronex is not available in the United States, or at least that is what I have been told. It was taken off the market because of severe adverse reactions.
It was taken off the market several years ago because some patients taking it died. After patients who had done well on it protested, the FDA re-approved it but doctors who wanted to prescribe it had to agree to abide by various conditions.
As I said, my GI guy thinks it's safe as long as the patient is attentive. According to him (this conversation took place about 3 years ago) the people who died while taking it were elderly (I'm not sure how he defines that), became constipated, and did not stop taking Lotronex when that happened.
Lotronex is certainly a "big" drug and care is needed when taking it, but if I couldn't get my IBS-D under control any other way I'd give it a try. You can read what the maker has to say here:
web page
I take lorazepam as needed for anxiety (I'm having a bit of a miserable spell myself although not nearly as bad as what you're dealing with) and I find it quite helpful for that. I'm not entirely sure but I think it may be mildly constipating for me which would be a good thing if it works the same way for you.
I never got much relief from the anti-spasmodics I was on. Once Heather's approach started working for me they helped with that last little bit of upset but when I was suffering from full-blown IBS-D using an anti-spasmodic (or Imodium) to stop it was like using a traffic cone to stop a freight train.
I'm really sorry the ADs you've tried haven't worked for you. Maybe Lexapro will do the trick once you get a chance to try it.
I do hope you find something that helps. Good luck with your possible new job.
Take care.
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[Research tells us fourteen out of any ten individuals likes chocolate. - Sandra Boynton]
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Hi,
If I'm not mistaken Syl has been diagnosed as a fructose malabsorber, and being the information guru that she is, it's suggested as something else to possibly consider.
But if you loved eating apples, or whatever, and gave them up because of the boards, I think maybe you need to step back and re-read the original diet advice. It's easy to read all these rules and individual advice and think we all need to apply them but it's so tough already, so just see how you feel. If eating an apple with peanut butter makes you happy, get amongst it (gently!) unless you can actually pinpoint that it causes you problems.. and then maybe it's the peanut butter!!
Fructose itself is not listed as a trigger. I think it's important not to impose new restrictions if you don't feel you benefit from doing so, physically or mentally I mean too.
Personally I eat one piece of fruit a day, but I love apples, so I usually make mine an apple!
Good luck
Jodie
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