Interesting Doc!
#81834 - 06/22/04 07:44 AM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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He knows the cause of IBS? REALLY? Well, please, share with us! I think we'd ALL like to know that one! Wow!
He's got you scheduled for all the right tests, Girlfriend, so this is great! And you'll be fine for the Big Day, not to worry. I loved my colonoscopy (well, if you can actually "love" something like that). Those drugs are marvelous! No kidding. I had the best sleep I've ever had, but unfortunately it wasn't nearly long enough. It seems to me I fell asleep instantly and it was no time that I was waking up -- and it was all over. I felt so good, I didn't even mind farting in front of everyone (you have to do that or they won't let you leave there), hugged all the nurses and kissed the GI. What was I thinking? Boy, did I feel GOOOOOOD.
The only bad part of the whole thing was the prep you have to do the day before. Starving myself, drinking all that laxative and having a full day of diarrhea ain't fun. But once you get through that, the rest is a piece of cake. And once the drugs wore off (damnitall), I was perfectly fine -- my old self again.
This is SOOOOO nothing you want to worry about. My Canadian realtor friend went through it amazingly well. The day of the prep, when she should have been at home pooping, she was out on calls, visiting homes and possible buyers and sellers -- I was blown away! She said it was no biggie, she just asked to use their bathrooms! Can you believe that? AND -- AND, after the procedure, she climbed off the table, walked out the door, and came by my house to let me know the status of our house sale!
Amazing woman.
So you'll do perfectly fine, Cutie-Pie.
And as for your being overweight, Girlfriend, if you're truly overweight, then I'm OBESE! Puh-LEEZE. However, he's right about the seratonin levels. I totally can't tolerate hot weather because it messes up my seratonin levels, which in turn REALLY messes up my IBS. Oh, I will have the WORST attack in the heat, oh yeah -- and it's always been that way.
However, "diet has nothing to do with IBS"? I disagree completely. When I changed my diet (thank you, Heather), I was much better. When I quit the coffee, I was SOOOO much better. I, for one, am living proof that he's wrong about that.
Still, I like him. Don't forget to keep us posted on his incredible discovery of the cause of IBS!
AND -- no more worry about the colonoscopy thing. Okay? Spend all that effort on excitement about the impending wedding. You're gonna make one helluva gorgeous bride! Oh yeah.
Bev
-------------------- <img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Jules, Great post. Sounds like this new dr. can really help you. Sometimes thats half the battle Don't get discouraged at all, with your wedding coming up you need to just relax and enjoy it.. Your BIG Day. I had an upper and lower GI test at the sametime and did just fine. They drug you up. Good Luck.. Congrats on your wedding.
-------------------- -----Marilyn-----
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Thanks everyone for your posts. Bevrs, I remember reading your story of your realtor friend. There's no way that I would be able to do what she did. When I get D, I HAVE to stay home, no way around it. I'm actually looking forward to "getting it all out" before the wedding. My fiance actually pointed that out to me. Plus, I'm going to be so busy with wedding planning, that I doubt I will get a chance to worry about the colonoscopy.
As for my doc "knowing the cause of IBS" I don't really believe him. But, I'm willing to try WHATEVER he wants me to to make me feel better. I find that any food messes with my tummy. IBS diet safe or not. Anyway, I went out and got some 5-HTP which is supposed to increase your seratonin levels. Heather also has a library archive article on seratonin levels testing in IBS patients that was a good read.
I'm feeling positive, so that in turn makes me feel 50 percent better.
Thanks all for the kind words. Two more weeks until the big procedure. I'm actually looking forward to it. How sick is that??
-------------------- ~jules
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Someone who listens, will do the tests and doesn't rush you when you are in his office! He deserves a big pat on the back. As for your colonoscopy I was fine the next day, maybe a slight gassy, I am IBS-D. As for SFS they have really helped me where my doctor didn't think they were necessary. Good luck with the test and keep us posted. What do they do for the lactose test? I didn't have this one done I just avoid it.
-------------------- IBS-D
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I will be having my first colonoscopy in the next few weeks, and I'm so relieved to hear that they don't trigger massive D for weeks on end for us Ders. I thought it was going to throw off my new-found stability!
-------------------- Christine
Those who can do; those who want it done better teach.
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Hey Jules or for anyone else reading this post,
I was so glad to read your post. I went to a Neuro gastrointerologist on the insistence of my OB/GYN. My OB told me that he is one of the few Gastrointerologists that is actually a NEURO gastro. He actually works on the NERVES of the gut. The center of all of our dysfunction. This particular gastro also gave me the "no, it is not all in your head" speech. He also said that seratonin levels play a big part in our IBS symptoms. He tested my actual intentines with a brand new revolutionary machine called an EEG (or something like that). He told me that the contraction pattern was indicative of insulin sensitivity. I am still trying to understand this, but it had something to do with the fact that my hormones are out of whack, causing my body to not process sugar correctly, increasing seratonin levels and in turn causeing my severe gastro problems. This sounds possible as my IBS started the day after I had my baby suggesting a hormonal connection.
He told me that he is actually going to treat the PROBLEM not just the SYMPTOMS. His name is Dr. John Mathias out of Houston, Texas and works at the Texas Women's Hospital. He has done EXTENSIVE research on this and has been well published. This is supposed to be a revolutionary finding on IBS. He has put me on a diet that is actually the opposite of the IBS diet. It is actually a diet for diabetics - low carbohydrates (which turn into sugar in your system) and high protein and low glycemic carbohydrates (that do not effect insulin rates) like certain vegetables. He said that anti-spasmotics were worthless and has put me on Klonopin, an anti-seizure type drug to stop the contractions in my intestines. This drug is supposed to help with the actual nerve that controls the contractions. He also put me on another medicine called cyproheptadine. This is usually used as an antihistamine, but also helps with the seratonin levels and hormones. He said that if I did not seek tretment, my condition would eventually lead to endometriosis, fibromyalgia, or diabetes later. He said that this is why there is such a strong connection between IBS and fibro and endo.
Like I said, I am brand new to this diagnosis and I am certain I have not explained this new diagnosis or the medications very well at all. And because it is soooo radically different from what I have heard I am still extremely cautious about it. I have another appointment with him on the seventh of next month to go over his findings once again and to get a better understanding of his diagnosis and the medications I am on.
Now, this is NOT to say that this diagnosis and treatment is right for everyone who has IBS and that Heather's diet is wrong. I AM IN NO WAY SAYING THIS. Please do not misunderstand me. IBS is a diagnosis when nothing else is found. But in reality, there are so many other things that may cause IBS-like symptoms that have not been discovered as of yet. This is JUST what my doctor said and could only be specific to me or other women with hormonal problems that have caused this strange biological/hormonal/seratonin/gastro imbalance. I would love to help anyone else out who was told they have IBS but may in fact have this problem. I am actually still not convinced this is it, but I know that all of the women that took part in his published studies have been greatly helped or even put into remission, including one of his nurses, as long as they keep their sugars low by sticking to the diet.
Ok, the point to this post. I would really love to hear what kind of medications your doctor will put you on. They may in fact be the same as mine? My personal email is available if you would like to discuss this further. As I said, I am still very confused about this new diagnosis, and aside from the diet issues, our doctors are pretty much stating the same conclusions. Please, please, please keep me posted and for anyone else who may have read this post, any comment would be greatly appreciated.
confused and frustrated
-------------------- Dana
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heather robin,
i believe the lactose intolerance test is where you drink a cup of lactose, then blow into a machine. i was told that it takes 3-4 hours. i'm going in on July 19 for mine. i'll update when i can.
-------------------- ~jules
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DanaNoel
#82156 - 06/23/04 05:32 AM
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BL
Reged: 06/01/03
Posts: 3522
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I found your post very interesting. One thing that sparked my interest was your mention of the medication Klonopin. I'm curious---do you have IBS-C or IBS-D? I'm wondering because I take a small dose of Klonopin occasionally (for an unrelated medical problem) and I haven't noticed that it has helped my IBS at all. I'm IBS-C and sometimes I thnk this med has actually made my C worse. Did your doc prescribe it to help you with C or D????
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I am actually an IBS-D, but my doctor did say that this would work for both. I am still so confused about it and I really hope this works for me. I will definitely keep everyone posted.
Thanks so much for your reply
-------------------- Dana
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Re: DanaNoel
#82247 - 06/23/04 08:55 AM
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BL
Reged: 06/01/03
Posts: 3522
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Thanks. Do you mind me asking how much he told you to take? I usually only take it at night-- if needed--- because it makes me so drowsy! I never knew there was such a thing as a neuro-gastro doc. I will have to check and see if there is one in my area.
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