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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Tom Twilight on June 11, 2006, at 18:11:25
Apologies, I know really belongs on the health board, but I’ll post it here because I’m better known on this board.
I’ve long suspected that I suffer from some form of digestive “problem”
Its recently got really bad though, last two months
I Should have done something about it sooner but I’m to depressed and anxious.
To cut a long story short I’m experiencing a lot of er gas, for wont of a better word, bloating, persistent diarrhea /loose stools, having to “go” all the time
Worst of all is the pain!
I’ve been waiting to see if this will settle down by itself, but it doesn’t show any signs of doing so :(
Tried Imodium, Ginger, peppermint oil e.c.t with no results
When I mentioned this to my GP he told me that I probably had IBS which had worsened as a result of discontinuing Marplan (!)
Even though the two things did not strictly co-insideHe didn’t want to do anything about it, no tests nothing
Give it a few weeks he suggestedQuestion is Firstly: What the *Hecks* wrong with me?-Could it be Colitis or Crohn's Disease?
Secondly: What should I do about it?
The only idea I’ve had so far is to go and see another GP and beg for help!
Don’t have Hypochondria, and actually hate going to the doctors, because there so unhelpful, (this is the UK!)
Posted by Larry Hoover on June 11, 2006, at 18:11:25
In reply to Persistent Stomach Pain-Scared-Advice Please!, posted by Tom Twilight on June 8, 2006, at 14:51:17
> When I mentioned this to my GP he told me that I probably had IBS which had worsened as a result of discontinuing Marplan (!)
IBS sucks, dude. Been there. Got the t-shirt.
> Question is Firstly: What the *Hecks* wrong with me?-Could it be Colitis or Crohn's Disease?
Could be, I suppose, but your symptoms are virtually text-book IBS. Particularly if: you feel at least temporary relief after moving your bowels.
There is a wonderful med for that, one I had been getting through a compassionate drug company. They just gave my doctor boxes of samples, to pass on to me.
It's called pinaverium bromide, trade named Dicetel. Solvay Pharmaceuticals. Magic.
> Secondly: What should I do about it?
Some people discover trigger foods, that if nothing else, exacerbate the problem. So, you may want to keep a food/symptom diary. Instead of 24-48 hour transit time (normal bowel), your type of IBS can be as little as six hours, end to end. Nutrient absorption falls, and you can be sick from that alone.
I hope you can get some Dicetel. It's a GI-specific calcium channel antagonist. If you can't get that, maybe a differect calcium-channel med known for its GI effects? Maybe Ed could help you work backwards towards such a desirable "side effect"?
Lar
Posted by Tom Twilight on June 11, 2006, at 18:11:26
In reply to Re: Persistent Stomach Pain-Scared-Advice Please! » Tom Twilight, posted by Larry Hoover on June 8, 2006, at 15:34:28
Thanks Lar
Your a star!
Probably is IBS, I'm almost certainly assuming the worst because I'm tired.
Probably changing my eating habits would help
I'm used to eating big meals with vast amounts of chilli based sauces.Switching to smaller meals might be an idea
How do you manage your IBS if you don't mind me asking?
Posted by Phillipa on June 11, 2006, at 18:11:26
In reply to Re: Persistent Stomach Pain-Scared-Advice Please!, posted by Tom Twilight on June 8, 2006, at 15:40:28
Mettamucil is helpful too. Bulky stool. And can't you phone Ed I know you've talked on the phone before Ed told me this. Good luck Tom. Love Phillipa ps I have it too.
Posted by Larry Hoover on June 11, 2006, at 18:11:26
In reply to Re: Persistent Stomach Pain-Scared-Advice Please!, posted by Tom Twilight on June 8, 2006, at 15:40:28
> Thanks Lar
>
> Your a star!
>
> Probably is IBS, I'm almost certainly assuming the worst because I'm tired.Simple things first. That's all your doctor was doing, too.
> Probably changing my eating habits would help
> I'm used to eating big meals with vast amounts of chilli based sauces.> Switching to smaller meals might be an idea
Smaller, more frequent meals, so there isn't a big "blob" of food to process. A food diary would probably show if there's something in the chilli sauces that's triggering you. The mere fact you've eaten that way for a while does not preclude your only having recently developed a sensitivity. You can develop food sensitivities or allergies at any time. Life's a bitch, some times. The foods you prefer may be ones you've always had a slight sensitivity towards.
I can't eat tomato-based sauces except intermittently. If I do so three days in a row, for example, I'm guaranteed to be hurting bad, and for a while. It's like I can stand it once, and if I let my gut rest, I can soon withstand another such meal. But if I don't let it rest in between, it gets really upset.
Onions trigger me. Dairy products. Intermittent, I can do, usually.
> How do you manage your IBS if you don't mind me asking?
As I've been saying. There is also, IMHO, a functional malnutrition feedback loop. That's why I mentioned that in my earlier post. I've inferred that something I don't absorb well when my gut is all a mess is also something necessary for my body to heal and/or keep my gut functioning better. There's a vicious circle thing that locks in the cramping. I found that when I stabilized my mood with nutrients, I pretty much stabilized my gut, too. And my asthma, and hayfever, and GERD. And headaches, come to think of it.
If a few days on a blander diet seems to give any sense of relief, you really need to do the diary thing.
I'm presently immune to the IBS, though, due to a high opiate intake for pain. I have quite the opposite problem, just now. I fear rebound effects, when I get off the corker meds. :-/
Sometimes IBS responds to SSRIs, or other antidepressants. The TCAs, via anticholinergic effects (usually seen as a side effect in others without diarrhea-predominant IBS). It could be caused by them, too (paradoxical effects). The rhythmic contractions of the smooth muscle of the gut wall, that propel food through your gut, are under serotonergic regulation. It all depends on what 5-HT receptor types your mama and papa gave you, just how the whole thing balances out, with respect to serotonergic/cholinergic meds. It gives new meaning to the old saying about gut feelings, doesn't it?
I wish I had the patience and attention to collect a really good diary myself. I think I've missed at least one trigger, all along. It's the "thrice provoked" thing that can make it really hard to sort out. What if it's e.g. black pepper that triggers you? How would you ever figure that out?
Best of luck with the detective work. I feel for you. And, do press your doctors to see if you can get that Dicetel stuff. I'd have lost at least one job without it.
I'd try to stay away from Pepto-Bismol or Maalox or the like, except for acute symptomatic treatment. I think you can easily over-use them.
There are a number of common trigger foods listed in this article, and it has some pretty good advice, all around:
http://www.webmd.com/content/article/86/99279.htm
I personally disagree with the reliance on medications, though, unless you can't manage it with changes in your behaviour. I only use the Dicetel for acute treatment. Like, I've got an important business engagement, and it doesn't look like I can leave the house. In 45 minutes, I'm golden. But it doesn't fix the problem, ya know?
Lar
Posted by ed_uk on June 11, 2006, at 18:11:26
In reply to Persistent Stomach Pain-Scared-Advice Please!, posted by Tom Twilight on June 8, 2006, at 14:51:17
Hi Tom
I think you should try a different GP. S/he would probably prescribe something like mebeverine (Colofac) or alverine (Spasmonal). Mebeverine is the most popular, it's used mainly for painful IBS.
>peppermint oil
You tried Colpermin?
Ed
Posted by pulse on June 11, 2006, at 18:11:26
In reply to Persistent Stomach Pain-Scared-Advice Please!, posted by Tom Twilight on June 8, 2006, at 14:51:17
i hesitate somewhat to offer you at least one of these two ibs forums (#1), and i haven't had much experience reading the other one.
#1, imo, even though the woman who runs it, has received many best of web type awards for what that's worth (?), well, let's just say - again imo - the predominantly women posters there are youngish, neo-uppie, breeder types and VERY clique-ish. many also have eating disorders - no problem with that, of course!, but they do tend toward obsessing over every single aspect of their particular variety of ibs to an extent that i, surely, need NO more help with - the obsessing, that is. so, go at your own risk. btw, the few men posters seemed much more real, and had retained a GENUINE sense of humor.
here is that "#1" forum:
http://www.helpforibs.com/messageboards/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?Cat=
here is the other forum:
http://ibsgroup.org/groupee/forums
Lar has posted to you some excellent info - i wouldn't add a thing, and really shouldn't, as i have the 'opposite' type of ibs - to that which you are describing. i know your type is horrid, but i'd trade it for mine in a ny minute.
so sorry that you are suffering so...
regards,
pulse
Posted by rvanson on June 11, 2006, at 18:11:53
In reply to Persistent Stomach Pain-Scared-Advice Please!, posted by Tom Twilight on June 8, 2006, at 14:51:17
> Apologies, I know really belongs on the health board, but I’ll post it here because I’m better known on this board.
>
> I’ve long suspected that I suffer from some form of digestive “problem”
>
> Its recently got really bad though, last two months
>
> I Should have done something about it sooner but I’m to depressed and anxious.
>
> To cut a long story short I’m experiencing a lot of er gas, for wont of a better word, bloating, persistent diarrhea /loose stools, having to “go” all the time
>
> Worst of all is the pain!
>
> I’ve been waiting to see if this will settle down by itself, but it doesn’t show any signs of doing so :(
>
> Tried Imodium, Ginger, peppermint oil e.c.t with no results
>
> When I mentioned this to my GP he told me that I probably had IBS which had worsened as a result of discontinuing Marplan (!)
> Even though the two things did not strictly co-inside
>
> He didn’t want to do anything about it, no tests nothing
> Give it a few weeks he suggested
>
> Question is Firstly: What the *Hecks* wrong with me?-Could it be Colitis or Crohn's Disease?
>
> Secondly: What should I do about it?
>
> The only idea I’ve had so far is to go and see another GP and beg for help!
>
> Don’t have Hypochondria, and actually hate going to the doctors, because there so unhelpful, (this is the UK!)
>Sounds like IBS to me, but I am not a doctor.
Pepto-Bismol helps me better then anything I have tried.
Posted by Dinah on June 14, 2006, at 10:04:38
In reply to Re: Persistent Stomach Pain-Scared-Advice Please! » Tom Twilight, posted by Larry Hoover on June 8, 2006, at 15:34:28
> Instead of 24-48 hour transit time (normal bowel), your type of IBS can be as little as six hours, end to end. Nutrient absorption falls, and you can be sick from that alone.
Really? Hmmm... I've got the sort with spasms after I eat, and spasms at other times just for the heck of it. My doctor gave me something to take if I'm away from home, but said to just let nature take its course if I'm at home. As you probably know, I've been feeling increasingly more and more ill. Do you think this could be a factor? Aside from making sure I take my vitamins, is there anything else I should do?
I know you aren't a doctor, but you explain things much better than any of my doctors (except perhaps my beloved headache neurologist who's now gone with the exodus).
This is the end of the thread.
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