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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by sarawati on January 28, 2003, at 10:50:34
Can anyone suggest something for this extremely embarrassing and inhibiting problem? After waking in the morning, and after every meal, my bowels are in a state of uproar for 1-2 hours. It means that I cannot go out or be far from a toilet because the knowledge that one is unavailable is certain to bring on an uncontrollable urge to go. My bowel movements are mostly quite normal, and I eat what I consider a very healthy diet. I have had this problem to a lesser extent for many years (I am in my forties), but in connection with recently changed job and personal circumstances it has spiralled out of control. Benzodiazepines will help by reducing anxiety, and loperamide reduces peristalsis, but neither is a suitable long-term proposition. Is there any other medication that will help? Any other way of coming to grips with the problem?
Posted by Eddie Sylvano on January 28, 2003, at 11:46:46
In reply to nervous bowel problems, posted by sarawati on January 28, 2003, at 10:50:34
>Benzodiazepines will help by reducing anxiety, and loperamide reduces peristalsis, but neither is a suitable long-term proposition. Is there any other medication that will help? Any other way of coming to grips with the problem?
-----------------------I went to 4 different doctors in an attempt to solve the same problem to no avail. Loperamide worked somewhat, and hyoscyamine worked better, but neither really solved the problem, as you've experienced. I'd given up on fixing it until I read several reports on PubMed about treating IBS with trycyclics, in particular with imipramine, so I got some. It worked great! I thought I'd never have a normal bowel, but things cleared up rapdily on just 20mg of imipramine (you can use more if you need it). It also has a fairly long half-life, so you only need one dose a day. Certainly worth looking into. There's also the added benefit of it's antidepressant and antianxiety properties at higher dosages, if needed. More than other ADs, imipramine also does a good job of "waking me up" and giving me energy.
Posted by luka62 on January 29, 2003, at 18:19:07
In reply to Re: nervous bowel problems » sarawati, posted by Eddie Sylvano on January 28, 2003, at 11:46:46
I was diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome about 8 months ago. The GI doc put me on Hyoscyam and otc citrucel tabs. It certainly helps significantly, but not completely. I'm on nardil, an MAOI, so I can't take tricyclics. I've been considering going back on Valium, due to a return of severe anxiety and panic, and wondered if it could help the IBS as well.
Posted by Alara on January 30, 2003, at 1:44:04
In reply to nervous bowel problems, posted by sarawati on January 28, 2003, at 10:50:34
>Hi Sarawati,
I have noticed that my Irritable Bowel Syndrome completely remits every time that I take antidepressants. Effexor is particularly good in this respect
Alara
Posted by seahorse on January 30, 2003, at 2:14:18
In reply to nervous bowel problems, posted by sarawati on January 28, 2003, at 10:50:34
I've had ibs since I was a kid, though it is better now. Still, I have bouts, and the best thing I have found is Bentyl--it almost always works. (I also have taken zoloft and wellbruitrin for a long time for panic annd depression--and take klonipin as needed--and I do need it when the ibs kicks in .) I understand there are new drugs available for IBS, however. Other thing is diet--when I am having problems, I stay away from salad, fruit, fried stuff...etc. My sister in law had very severe ibs and lost 30 pounds--no drug helped so she now follows very very strict diet for a couple of years and feels great, but eats no wheat, has all her food plain and broiled--I think it is diet folks with celric (?--something like that ) do (way too extreme for me!) Oh, and did your doctor suggest fiber supplement like fibercon? --mine had me taking it--did not work for me, but I know it does for others
Posted by Eddie Sylvano on January 30, 2003, at 8:50:59
In reply to Re: nervous bowel problems, posted by seahorse on January 30, 2003, at 2:14:18
> My sister in law had very severe ibs and lost 30 pounds--no drug helped so she now follows very very strict diet for a couple of years and feels great, but eats no wheat, has all her food plain and broiled--I think it is diet folks with celric
------------------Sounds like she was convinced she had celiac. I looked into that too, trying an exclusion diet for the wheat gluten that's supposed to be the cause of the problem (celiacs are allergic to gluten), but it never helped me. Celiac usually manifests itself early in life (think infants), because it's basis is mostly genetic.
It's impossible to avoid all gluten, anyway, I found. It's in almost everything with flour, which doesn't leave much.
Posted by Kathii on January 30, 2003, at 13:28:09
In reply to Re: nervous bowel problems, posted by Eddie Sylvano on January 30, 2003, at 8:50:59
I have IBS and also take Bentyl. I have found that Metamucil works very well and they just came out with it in capsules (no more goopy drinks!). Another thing to try when you're sore or not on schedule is oatmeal (flavored instant is fine). Oatmeal is soluable fiber and is more soothing to the digestive system than bran.
Posted by whitman on February 1, 2003, at 18:57:51
In reply to Re: nervous bowel problems, posted by Kathii on January 30, 2003, at 13:28:09
Just curious. Have any of you been taking Lamactil. I Started taking it the first part of August. Labor day weekend I got sick with what I thought was the flu. Until it didn't go away. I would get better for a few days and then bam it was back again I would be on the toilet nonstop. I couldnt eat, I had the chills and body aches. I couldnt eat dairy but lactade didnt help. We thought it could be IBS but after 2 1/2 months and 20 pounds later we decided to try going off lamactil and a week later it was gone and didnt come back. So your IBS me be linked with something else.
Posted by Luka62 on February 1, 2003, at 19:09:45
In reply to Re: nervous bowel problems, posted by whitman on February 1, 2003, at 18:57:51
> Just curious. Have any of you been taking Lamactil. I Started taking it the first part of August. Labor day weekend I got sick with what I thought was the flu. Until it didn't go away. I would get better for a few days and then bam it was back again I would be on the toilet nonstop. I couldnt eat... We thought it could be IBS but after 2 1/2 months and 20 pounds later we decided to try going off lamactil and a week later it was gone and didnt come back. So your IBS me be linked with something else.
This is the first I've heard of that! I started taking Lamictal a little over a year ago, and it was a short time later I started having bowel problems. Sometimes it was so bad I'd have to take pain medication, because my sciatic nerve was being irritated, and the pain was unbearable.
A GI doc diagnosed me with IBS this past September.
I take Hyoscyam, and Citrucel tablets, helps a little. But going off the Lamictal wouldn't be an easy choice, because it's the first real effective mood stabilizer I've ever been on.
Posted by whitman on February 2, 2003, at 10:45:45
In reply to Re: nervous bowel problems » whitman, posted by Luka62 on February 1, 2003, at 19:09:45
I took the same meds for it as you did, and they hardly touched it. I know how hard it is going off of the Lamictal, but for me it was no choice being very sick and in bed for 2 1/2 months was sending me into a deep depresion. My moods have been up and down since. We are trying to find another good combination, the Lamictal was only part of a cocktail that included Trileptal, Geodon,and Wellbutrin. I have tried about 5 others that I couldnt take because of side effects. So I geusse I am pretty sensative to meds. My doctor said that the lamicatl could have been causing lesions on me bowel because he has seen lesions in the mouth from it and the mouth is only an extension of the gut really. So I am not sure how serious this can get. I would check it out with your doctor. Good luck!!!!
Posted by sarawati on February 2, 2003, at 10:47:51
In reply to Re: nervous bowel problems » whitman, posted by Luka62 on February 1, 2003, at 19:09:45
Many thanks to the many respondents to my original posting. I am, however, not sure that I have IBS - I certainly never have any cramps or pains, and never diarrhea. It may be an obsession combined with nerves - it is quite clear that I am alright as long as I have ready access to a toilet at all times. Can anyone think of something that would help this sort of thing? I have tried various antidepressants through the years, but nothing has seemed to help that much.
Posted by Margit on February 3, 2003, at 1:29:26
In reply to Re: nervous bowel problems » Luka62, posted by sarawati on February 2, 2003, at 10:47:51
My daughter has the same problem whenever she is under a great deal of stress. She then takes peppermint capsules and they seem to help. You can get them at a health food store.
Posted by bozeman on February 3, 2003, at 23:29:36
In reply to Re: nervous bowel problems » Luka62, posted by sarawati on February 2, 2003, at 10:47:51
Could also be food allergies. I had very similar symptoms as you, had 5 to 15 bm per day, but not diarrhea -- just very fast evacuation. Turns out it was my body trying to pass through quickly things it didn't want to deal with. My doc says there are 3 kinds of food allergies -- the immediate kind (that causes life-threatening response for some people), the intermediate kind (that can manifest 3 to 12 hours later) and the delayed kind (you got it, 12 to 60 hours later.) She arranged for me to have an "intermediate and delayed" allergy test called an ELISA test, that uncovered about twenty things I react badly to that I never suspected, that DIDN'T show up on my skin / RAST allergy test. I eliminated them from my diet and 7 days later, my bowels were as normal as anyone I've ever known. I've religiously avoided the foods on that list and have had not one problem since.
There are of course doctors out there who say it's pure baloney, but I guarantee you they've not tried it. :-) (haven't we all met doctors like that?) My insurance paid for it like any other diagnostic test and I am sure better off for having taken it.
ELISA / ACT Biotechnologies LLC
Sterling VA USA
800.553.5472
email: clientservices@elisaact.comBe sure to get the Diagnostic test and not the Screening test if insurance is involved.
Hope this helps
-- bozeman
> Many thanks to the many respondents to my original posting. I am, however, not sure that I have IBS - I certainly never have any cramps or pains, and never diarrhea. It may be an obsession combined with nerves - it is quite clear that I am alright as long as I have ready access to a toilet at all times. Can anyone think of something that would help this sort of thing? I have tried various antidepressants through the years, but nothing has seemed to help that much.
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