The ongoing saga that is my GI tract

[NoDecafPlz]

So first went to primary and he put me on Questran. This is used primarily to reduce cholesterol but is also given off label to firm up loose stool.

Second, Went to a different GI specialist this time and asked him directly, if I had microcolitis, would increasing fiber be the first step to rectifying the diarrhea? (I was already reduced to eating pretty much brown rice and banana chips.) He said if the increased fiber has helped me turn the corner, since a had a colonoscopy in 06, he would only request another this time with biopsy if diarrhea restarted.

So here's what I'm doing in total.

15 grams of soluble fiber with each meal. What ever it takes, chia seeds, psyillum husks, apple pectin, grapefruit pectin, fibercon.

Done with diary and gluten (I had been doing this and will continue)

Organic raw food bars - these things are delicious and with 200 calories have 14 grams of fiber per bar.

Increase fruit and ugh vegetables.

So far, gas and bloating but I'll take that over not leaving the house.

[SCI-Nurse]

Hi,

I am glad the fiber is helping. Wow, that is alot of fiber and you sound like you are following the program. Hope it continues to work well.

AAD

[marycsm77]

joe,

have you been tested for all food allergies, just wondering, or i should say most.

[ekephart]

Talk to the GI doc about charcoal for the gas and bloating. That can be more than a little uncomfortable but it is better than being afraid to leave the house. The gas and bloating should get better as your body adjusts to all the fiber.--eak

[Eileen]

One word.....Beano :)

[LindaT]

Oh Joe, I just want to take you out for a cheeseburger and a beer.....maybe it would cure what ails.
Forgive me, it is not a humorous thing for you and is meant is a kind way.

[DIGGER]

I'm waging my own war with the same problem you've got Joe.
Did you take any antibiotics (Cipro/Levaquin) just prior to the onset of the gut problems? I've had 3 uti's in 9 years, taken ABx for them and ended up with bad diarrhea each time, First time induced c-diff and all that entails.
Second time no c-diff but very loose smelly stool. Thirty days of acidophilus got me back to normal. This last time (Nov of 2010 to date) same deal only much worse. Nothing has helped. Had 2 occult cultures, nada...get bad gas,cramps and spasm's in stomach,extreme belching when food hits bottom. Only thing I've found to slow it down and firm it up is taking shots of Pepto during the day. Any of this sound familiar ?

I know there's a delicate balance of flora in the GI tract needed, but I can't help believing the ABx is killing off something else also.

[crypticgimp]

i swear by prebiotics i take plus the primadolphilus optima i take from nature's way and aloe juice. these three things have kept my diarrhea in check and make the bloating and gas go away. gl!

[Le Type Français]

i swear by prebiotics i take plus the primadolphilus optima i take from nature's way and aloe juice. these three things have kept my diarrhea in check and make the bloating and gas go away. gl!

You buy all of them at Wal-mart, crypticgimpalooza (wink)?

[NoDecafPlz]

Well, 3 am this morning, it all went to shit, literally.

I had done everything right, except as a reward to myself, I stopped at sonic and had a $2 root beer float yesterday afternoon. Well fuck me.

I'm going in for the colonoscopy with biopsy. I know it's the zoloft turning my intestine into a plastic sleeve. I read up on it online. I have the choice to switch to cymbalta or cut back and off altogether.

Thoughts/opinions?

[marycsm77]

Joe,

How long have you been taking the Zoloft? Did the psychiatrist/pcp, start at a low dosage and increase? Are you taking it with a full meal? Do you eat anything besides fruits and vegetables and added fiber? All meds can produce side effects. Nausea, diarrhea, constipation, anorexia, weight gain, are all common. A lot of these, dissipate with time, as the body adjusts. People will often times tolerate them to achieve a therapeutic effect.

I have known more people than i could count who have been prescribed Zoloft and dont recall any c/o diarrhea, however i'm well aware that it is a side effect and sure there are people who experience it. If i were you, I would have the colonoscopy if that is what your md is suggesting. If you continue with the diarrhea, have the physician taper you off the zoloft and start another med. However diarrhea is also a side effect of Cymbalta, i believe. As i say, it is a side effect of tons of medication, doesn't mean you will experience it.

Haven't you had GI problems for a very long time? Are you saying that starting the Zoloft has exacerbated them?
hope you feel better...

[crypticgimp]

Ltf I don't shop at walmart but u can get aloe juice at the Asian markets or I get the super concentrated stuff online which is expensive but works better. If walmart carries natures way then u can get the stuff there. I get my prebiotics online from same company as the concentrated aloe. Its a protocol that works for me. If I deviate, ihave issues.

Decaf, yea meds can mess ur system up! Go talk to ur dr for sure. U gotta be able to do something I hope! Tc!

[Scaper1]

Prebiotics were a huge help to me too, their use snapped a vicious cycle that I was in for nearly a year.

[Le Type Français]

Ltf I don't shop at walmart but u can get aloe juice at the Asian markets or I get the super concentrated stuff online which is expensive but works better. If walmart carries natures way then u can get the stuff there. I get my prebiotics online from same company as the concentrated aloe. Its a protocol that works for me. If I deviate, ihave issues.

Sweet deal. Thanks for that. I know aloe is good for the skin, why not the GI tract? ;)

[crypticgimp]

aloe has been used by the chinese for centuries. it's awesome for ppl with ibs and diverticulitis cuz it soothes and it's just awesome. i rly hope a med change helps decaf. i HATE being locked in the house due to my bowls

[bob clark]

Well, 3 am this morning, it all went to shit, literally.

I had done everything right, except as a reward to myself, I stopped at sonic and had a $2 root beer float yesterday afternoon. Well fuck me.

I'm going in for the colonoscopy with biopsy. I know it's the zoloft turning my intestine into a plastic sleeve. I read up on it online. I have the choice to switch to cymbalta or cut back and off altogether.

Thoughts/opinions?

Hi Joe,

I've tried a half dozen anti-depressants and I'm still a miserable old fuck! They don't work for me. I remember that Lexapro slow release capsules did give me diarrhea which surprised me because pills usually don't have any effect on me or my GI tract. Antibiotics don't mess with my GI tract at all. As they say, "We're all different".

Hey, more power to you for getting up on the stage and doing your comedy routine. I'd be worried to death. Just in case you might want to get a joke ready for the topic of SCI and diarrhea!

Good luck with the colonoscopy and biopsy. Maybe they'll find a reason for your problems. Why do we always have something stupid to worry about?

Bob.

[NoDecafPlz]

The last couple mornings have been very bad, like c diff bad. I would think I had a c diff relapse if it was smelling or I had been on antibiotics recently.

[chick]

Well, 3 am this morning, it all went to shit, literally.

I had done everything right, except as a reward to myself, I stopped at sonic and had a $2 root beer float yesterday afternoon. Well fuck me.

I'm going in for the colonoscopy with biopsy. I know it's the zoloft turning my intestine into a plastic sleeve. I read up on it online. I have the choice to switch to cymbalta or cut back and off altogether.

Thoughts/opinions?Is the main problem/issue diarrhea?

Is the diverticulitis all resolved?

RE the zoloft, you know for sure that this is causing the problems (what exactly? what symptoms), because those problems/symptoms started at the same time you started zoloft? Are the problems you think are directly linked to the zoloft lessened when not taking zoloft? If you haven't reduced or stopped zoloft, maybe try taking that out of your regimen to see what effects you see.

Sorry to hear about this acting up agin. Hope you find relief soon.

[JimmyMack]

One word.....Beano :)

Now thats funny

JimmyMack

[Lawdog14]

after getting a clean bill of health from my G.I. Dr., it was recommended that I boost my fiber up to 30 g a day. Through fruits and vegetables, fiber con, and now a fiber one bar every day, I have noticed a serious crease in flatus (gas). I'm wondering if gas can cause autonomic dysreflexia? Today I was feeling absolutely horrible with really no explanation. While I'm a little bit embarrassed to admit, after dinner I experienced some gas which relieved some of the clammy/sweaty feelings. I know that our bodies will adjust over time to any change in diet, but I was curious if anybody else had an issue with gas and autonomic dysreflexia.

I am hesitant to try Beano because I've heard and read about bloating, diarrhea, and an increase in gas if not taken correctly. I have seriously looked at the prebiotics. What is the difference between prebiotics and probiotics?also what should one expect when they initially start taking one of these supplements?

[Lawdog14]

http://nutrition.about.com/od/therapeuticnutrition1/p/pro_prebiotics.htm

I found one answer.

[crypticgimp]

so think of prebiotics as fertilizer and probiotics as the seed. the seed cannot grow properly if you dont fertilize the soil. the same is true for the intestines. it's why you need the prebiotics and you need a BROAD spectrum of probiotics to keep the balance. so your probiotics need to have about 6+ strains to be super effective at stopping diarrhea. that's why i take a 14 strain probiotic + my prebiotics.

[jody]

oh, I had digestive probs with zoloft. dumped that. are they testing for celiac (sp?) probs? I got puffy celia when I took that stuff.
sorry you have to do the rubber hose in the bum.

I have to go get my girls smashed pancake thin between two pieces of glass, and I was feeling anxiety but now that I know you got to go end up, im ok with the pancake torture.

[NoDecafPlz]

It's always been diarrhea. It's nuts. It's SSRI's in general. I've cut down to 50 mg and I think, for now, I'm going to try to ween myself off it. No, no diverticulitis thank God, last time was like maybe 6 years ago.

Do you believe the bloody scheduler hasn't called me backed from the GI Dr.??? I called last Thursday. When I see inefficiency in Dr's and staff, I don't follow up. That irks me.

Is the main problem/issue diarrhea?

Is the diverticulitis all resolved?

RE the zoloft, you know for sure that this is causing the problems (what exactly? what symptoms), because those problems/symptoms started at the same time you started zoloft? Are the problems you think are directly linked to the zoloft lessened when not taking zoloft? If you haven't reduced or stopped zoloft, maybe try taking that out of your regimen to see what effects you see.

Sorry to hear about this acting up agin. Hope you find relief soon.

[DIGGER]

FWIW, a round of Flagyl has me on track again after six months of misery. After the third day things were markedly improved, have one day left. The short of it, called my old (now retired) GI Dr. "I don't care that the test was neg. take the Flagyl anyway. that bug is notorious for hiding". This may not pertain to you, but for about $45 bucks its worth a try.