Getting a little concerned?

Hello everyone. For about two days now I have been having little bowel movements of D. It didn't really concernec me at first but, now I am wondering what I should do? I just had my bowel resection surgery about 2 1/2 weeks ago. Of course my bowel movement started out as D at first due to surgery. My surgeon had me on flagyl an antibitotic for thirty days, but I have stop taking it for about a week now, I was just unsure of taking it for that long. When I was taking it as perscribed my stools were coming out very dark and had  an awkward smell, and were the consistency of soft served ice cream. Now that I haven't been taking it my stools were gradually becoming formed again, and Thursday afternoon they were fully formed. Thursday for dinner also I had some spaghetti and garlic bread. about two hours later I had a cramping pushing feeling down in my stomach, that was the start of my D. Yesterday I had went to the bathroom twice with light brownish D, and today I have gone three times since this morning. My bum is getting sore, and everytime the urge comes to have a bowel movement its that same awkard cramping pushy feeling. I was wondering should I take some immodium anit-D medicine and see how that helps or just go ahead and start back on my antibiotic, because I'm getting kind of worried and I don't want to end up with a c-diff infection. I was also considering getting me some yogurt that contains the live cultures (good bacteria) to try and offset  the bad in my gut. Oh yeah I also got a little constipated at the beginning of the week and had to take one dulcolax laxative, and I was able to go a few hours later, I don't think the D is from that though because I had taken that on Monday. So should I try some immodium and yogurt and see how that works or should I start back my antibiotic, I am really against them because of the damage that comes from taking them. I just really need some advice on what I should do? All advice is appreciated, THANKS.

Hi Steph I really don't know but if you were ok on the anti ,maybe you should continue. What was the reason your Dr. put you on them? lol gail

Hi Steph maybe give it some time. I find if I eat a banana it helps keep me solid I still have D sometimes but a few times a day sometimes .You could call your Dr. Mon. and ask what you should do if you do try the probiotics just go slow. lol gail

Go back on the antibodic. Please follow your doctors orders, furthermore that antibodic is also used as a treatment for crohns.

Do not eat yogert until at least 3 months after a resection, my GI says that since they contain active cultures it is not good for your guts until it is healed.

Stephx, I agree that you should go back on the antibiotic, and call your doctor on Monday. Diarrhea was my biggest problem after my resection. My doctor had me take fiber pills (1 pill 3x/day) and imodium 1/2 hour before meals. I tried that for about 5 weeks (with some success, but I didn't like taking the imodium every day), and then he prescribed Questran, which binds with the bile salts (that would normally be absorbed by the terminal ileum, part of which was resected). Questran did the trick - I take 1/2 packet (powder) mixed with water every morning. If you had part of your terminal ileum removed, ask your surgeon about Questran. It's been a life saver for me. I also take 1/2 to 1 imodium before dinner if I'm going out for dinner so I don't have to worry about poop issues when I'm out socially. Also, watch what you eat. I overdid it after my surgery, wanting to eat everything I had been deprived of for so many months. I found if I stuck to simple foods like cheese and crackers, chicken, yogurt (didn't know about the problem with the active cultures), ground beef, rice, bananas, apple sauce, peanut butter and toast, I felt better. Be patient. My doctor told me it takes 6 - 9 months for you body to adjust to its missing part and that turneds. I'm 7 months out from surgery and feel great (finally).

For your sore bum, I found that taking a sitz bath after each BM real helpful. A sitz bath is a plastic tub thing that I bought at Walmart. You fill a bag (looks like an IV bag) with warm-hot water and sit in the tub while the warm water flows in to keep the water at a warm temperature. It's good for healing, pain relief and keeping clean. You can try using tucks wipes after each BM and use an over the counter ointment like Desitin. Also, your doctor can prescribe a steroid ointment or suppository if necessary.

I hope you feel better!

Hi Steph how are you doing today? I was on pred. after my operation for a couple of months to wean off it so I didn't do the antibotics .At least you can talk to your Dr. about how things are going . I just did as my Dr.'s had advised. My surgeon said to try Imuran but it gave me a rash so I had to go off it. Don't stress about it too much . lol gail

Hi stephx,

Have you thought about doing a diet change? Maybe there's something you've been eating that isn't agreeing with you. Maybe try gluten-free or lactose-free. Some people on the board have had good results with that. I'm about to venture onto the specific-carbohydrate diet myself. Processed meats like sausage don't agree with everyone (I love deli meats, but they seem to aggravate my crohn's). You could try keeping a food diary to see if your symptoms are worse after eating certain foods.

I sure hope this is just a temporary setback, and the flagyl straightens things out for you again!

Hi Stephx

Sorry to hear you are going through this. The same thing happened to me after surgery but you should read ski bum's post again. As soon as i started taking Questran/Cholestyramine the D stopped. It's because i had the ileocecal valve removed and my surgery was in the terminal ileum. It gave me a new lwase of life and i have been in remission for nearly 10 yrs now. No pains either - it seemed to stop the pain also for me.

Best of luck,
Lila

Hi Steph Hope all is well and let us know how your visit went. lol gail