Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Heather, ?Bacterial Overgrowth, Nec. IBS Tests, etc.

Hi,

On abt pg. 10 of the IBS boards, I got into articles on bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine. Am wondering if this could be my problem or....part of it?

I've had IBS symptoms for close to 28 yrs. since shortly after a hysterectomy. Had been on bentyl many yrs. ago which didn't seem to do anything, then Librax. A few times I got into the just plain D mode as I did this summer....4th of JULY to be exact, but the Dr gave me Lomotil 10 mg and that took care of it. My current reg doc and GI won't prescribe it.

Last Jan -Feb. I was quite sick w/bronchitis and was on Levaquin for probably 25 days total, as the lst dose didn't work since it came back. I ALWAYS have a VERY GREAT DEAL of trouble getting over it!!!! They also put me on a prednisone pack.

Near the end of that, I got the D and the Dr. there (Florida) gave me promethazine which I took 1/2 tab. 2 x day which took care of the D promptly. Have had the urgency problem for soooooo long that I can't remember if I was having it BADLY after that or not. Do know that I could eat a few mild wings occasionally...maybe 3-4 once or 2x /wk. Couldn't eat spagetti sauce tho......least was afraid to try. 1 thing I know is that in FL you don't have to worry as much because all the stores seem to have bathroom facilities!!! That's not so here.......and the ones that do, you have to go upstairs or down and that takes more time that I OFTEN DON'T HAVE. That Dr. also checked the stool, but I can't say what all for!

Ret'd north in June and in July got the really bad D w/ the accompanying pain in the lower right as always. I used the promethazine again but this time it didn't clear it up. My reg. Dr. just said take Immodium & wouldn't prescribe promethazine (think the brand name is Phenegran).

Read abt. calcium helping and started taking 1/2 3 x day plus fiber supplement (metamucil) as usual..in fact a bit more and had been eating 1/3 c oatmeal every other day and in Fl started 1/2 half banana with it. No milk, of course, just sugar.

My regular Dr. only sent me for metabolic and lipid panel blood tests & said electrolytes were fine. Only thing was cholesterol was 230 instead of the 200 it usually is.

Said to see GI specialist. Took till abt Sept 10 (got in on a cancellation.... instead of 9/24, to get appt and only saw him for a moment.....the PA was the one I saw for the most part. He put me on Levbid 1 x da. at bedtime & just said I should have a colonoscopy which I did on the 24th and he found 3 small polyps, but said all else was healthy.

FYI: the Phenegran (promethazine is 25 mg) which I take 1/2 2 x day & if using Levibd (hyoscyamine is 0.375 mg ER T) which says to take 1 in the evening.

He did FINALLY (after I just abt. insisted) order the gluten test for wheat which was negative. I FINALLY got the PA to order the lactose breath test because I had to call the emergency pain line 2 das after the colonoscopy because of heart palpitations, insomnia, dizzyness, weakness and just feeling out of it. Not an ounce of energy....!

IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT I WON''T see the GI or the PA again unless I make another appt which would be a good 3 mos off she said!!! They w/call me on the phone w/the report.

Oh..after the Colonoscopy the GI popped his head in to tell abt the polyps and I asked what else I could do and he just said to take the Levbid & Immodium starting w/ 1, go to 2 thru 5 of them /da. as my husband recalls. I caught most of it but was so groggy.....altho was straining..... to be aware.

The above is trying to give you a bit of background altho you have answered some of my posts re different things in the past. But.....I'm sure you can't remember each person's history!!!

The present: Have been in most of the summer as going out always seemed to end in diaster as I'd only feel worse.Up until last Fri. nite I was taking the Levbid, but felt so badly w/the symptoms above and had an important function to HOPE TO MAKE Sat evening, that I took 1/2 promethazine Fri. nite and felt SO MUCH BETTER Sat.!!!! Also on the Levbid was only able to eat a VERY BLAND DIET....oatmeal, rice, rice milk, toast, chick noodle soup, potatoes, plain spag, noodles,bananas, appleasuce, carrots, zucchini occasionally. Other than rice milk , tea is the only thing I drink and have been drinking tea......for yrs!!!!! NEVER KNOW WHAT TO DRINK? Some of these I added after a response fr. you. On the promethazine, I seem to be able to eat quite a few more things..........!!!!!!

Did attend the affair.......stocked up on bread but did have some roast beef, greens, chicken french which I took the coating off, etc. I was amazed at what I could eat....even a couple cookies. I know that you mentioned that my diet was VERY LIMITED and I haven't been able to get stabilized..........if that means get the condition under control????

Have been looking for another GI doc, but no appts till at least mid Nov and we are supposed to leave for FL at the end of Oct.

My questions are:

1.Since I understand that promethazine is for nausea (which I don't ACTUALLY have), but it works well on the colon ???apparently.... cause they take away the pain, I'm wondering if if could be the bacteria overgrowth in the small intestine? Is'nt that where the promethazine would work????? IN OTHER WORDS, I'm wondering if the problem is in the sm. intestine and if the promethazine helps that enough, so that I don't get any EXTRA spasms in the colon to cause pain???? This is just a theory I've come up with from reading in the Research Library and wonder what you think of it?

I know the Levbid is for muscle spasms in the colon & works but gives me all these other symptoms. I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND the Dr giving me Levbid, cause I found out that it can cause palpitations! I WROTE DOWN UNDER ALLERGIES TO MEDICATIONS sheets and I do mean sheets at the GI's....... that anything w/adrenalin (made my heart go into tachycardia yrs. ago at a dentist) & I had oodles of trouble w/that for quite some years. My heart goes fast and they put me on inderal to slow it down. This was prob. 33 or more yrs ago & now am on a lg. dose of it cause of hi BP. I never could take things like dristan, nodoz, etc. anything that is a stimulant...... in any way! I think they give children Triaminic.....and my only daughter couldn't take that and I tried it and neither could I. It made her (a normally placid ) child like a wild one. Also, I can't drink coffee w/caffeine.......speeds my heart rite up!!!!! and I'm so tense and it takes a day to go away.

Ques. 2:
From your list, it states that they should do blood test for sed. rate and I forget what else. Also check for bacteria and parasites in the stool. Am quite certain that the Dr in FL only had the stool checked for blood. So.......could you please tell me JUST WHAT TESTS THEY SHOULD do in addition to what I have had done???

3. Any other ideas on what to drink.......besides the teas you mention? I also have GERDS (had endoscopy fr. this same GI who put me on Prevacid).. The prevacid actually seemed to help my IBS symptoms for quite some time.

4. With the promethazine, I actually seem to get a bit constipated. I mean that I don't always go EVERY DAY!!! But.......if I miss going for 1 da., I get the pain back. Am wondering if I should cut back on the Calcium Caltrate that I'm taking 1/2 3x day to 1/2 2x d. or 1/2 1 x day?

5. Think I already mentioned JUST what does stabilization mean?

Am very interested in what you think abt the possible bacterial overgrowth and drugs and recommendations.

Sorry for such a longggg post. Am interested MOSTLY in answers to the 1st 2 questions.

THANKS........Marnie

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