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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 12/3/2010 4:39 PM (GMT 0)
I have actually been feeling pretty good Crohns wise, and my diet is getting back closer to what it was prior to my recent kidney surgery.  But had a family doc appt on Tuesday, and no matter that I am eating more, I lost another 5 lbs.  So now I have lost 16lbs since I had the kidney surgery.  I have had a few doc appts and I go into them thinking for sure I had put back on a few pounds.  But everytime, its that I have lost again. 

And I suffer with more C than D and my system is getting really slow.  I still use my stool softners nightly, in fact been taking extra the past couple of nights, but haven't gone in 2 days.  Which for me is not normal.  The stool softners usually help me to go at least once a day.  Not feeling too bad yet, but know that can change at any time.

Just so confused, because all my recent blood tests have been good, had a CT Enterography in June 2010 no sign of strictures or narrow areas.  But I keep losing weight and things have really slowed down.  I am sure part of the slow down is diet and meds caused.  Think I will go out and get some more Senekot today, and try that tonight to see if things start moving again.  Don't want to get too backed up, as that can be a bad time for me.  Drinking apple juice right now, but it doesn't seem to work as well for me as it does for others.

Confused because honestly I feel pretty good and have an appetite!

Thanks for letting me vent!

Hugs to you all!

Posted 12/3/2010 6:16 PM (GMT 0)
hey nanners, to me that doesn't sound cd related, I guess maybe you need more blood work to see if it isn't something unspeakable. I'll being praying for you.

Posted 12/3/2010 6:32 PM (GMT 0)
I'm with you on not being backed up too long. That leads too all sorts of pain and vomiting. If I don't go for one day, I will take Miralax. I just can't face two days of it and the price that will carry. I definitely feel for you...

Sometimes I slow down too. This week I've not been on any pain meds, so I know that's not the reason why. But I also know I haven't been as good about hydrating as usual. Typically I drink tons of water. The past week I've not drank quite as much.
Posted 12/3/2010 6:50 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks! I don't think there is anything seriously wrong, but I just don't like getting this slow down I am getting and so confused about the weight loss. Doc didn't seem too concerned either. I have recently added folic acid into my supplement mix and wonder if that is the culprit. I looked on the net to see if it could cause constipation, but didn't have any luck. I do follow a modified low residue diet all the time, but I have been eating like this for awhile and never had issues with constipation as long as I took the stool softners. Told my husband that if things don't start moving soon, I am going to go out and eat a salad. At least the roughage might help. Hugs!
Posted 12/3/2010 7:07 PM (GMT 0)
could it be your thyroid?

Calories in/calories out....this should be a simple equation, but sometime your metabolism can change suddenly.

I can hear how frustrated you are. And by all means, eat some salad!
Posted 12/3/2010 8:13 PM (GMT 0)
C is much worse than D in my opinion ;(

I take kiwi fruit juice and prunes woth the senacot when I get backed up - utterly miserable to have this set back !!!

{{{hugs}}}
Posted 12/3/2010 10:00 PM (GMT 0)
I have another suggestion to help keep things moving.  It's called Plum Smart.  It is a lighter gentler prune juice.  And much more palatable to drink as well.  My wife uses it whenever things quit moving.
Posted 12/3/2010 10:51 PM (GMT 0)
Gail, I know what you mean about weight loss. For some reason it weighs heavily on the mind. I've lost so much
that I'm beginning to look as sick as I feel. Every time I go to the docs I've lost a little more, and silly me thinks
'what the hell'. I guess we gonna have to grin and bear it, and just hope that what we're thinking in those dark
crevices of our minds, does not come to anything!! (((hugs)))
Posted 12/4/2010 4:09 PM (GMT 0)
Well Day 3 here and STILL HAVE NOT gone!! And thats after drinking 2 glasses of apple juice, ate a salad, took stronger stool softners and Senkot. And of course avoiding the binding foods. Not in any pain per se, just feel a fuller feeling. Hopefully, maybe I will go later, but feeling quite frustrated at the moment. Hubby making me some Avena (liquidy oatmeal drink). Trying all I can! Hmmmppphhh....
Posted 12/4/2010 4:40 PM (GMT 0)
I wish I had some ideas, but I don't really. Hopefully this bout of constipation will clear up sooner rather than later. Once you do finally go, I would eat carefully for a few days afterwards: fibre, plenty of liquids (preferably room temperature/warm, rather than ice-cold), no cheese or bananas. See if that keeps the constipation at bay; if it does you basically have your answer! I hope it turns out to be that simple.

With regards to the weight loss, I basically have the same problem. I have lost a bit more weight, weight I don't have going spare. (I weighed myself today. 85.4lb. What? :/) It worries me a bit, because I'm not in an acute flare-up and I'm not going a million times a day. I'm just going to wait until after Christmas and see if I've put on any weight once the festivities are over :-/ Christmas is certainly a good excuse for eating more than you normally would.
Posted 12/4/2010 5:00 PM (GMT 0)
did they do your kidney surgery from the back or the front? are you at least able to pass gas? If not, you might have post operative ileus or small bowel obstruction. perhaps an xray is in order?
Posted 12/4/2010 7:03 PM (GMT 0)
They did the surgery retroperitoneal approach (more flank). And yes no problems passing gas, in fact I have alot:) Did get a little to move out, but literally had to help it out. Hopefully that will help the rest to move out too. Hugs~!
Posted 12/4/2010 8:33 PM (GMT 0)
I'm more concerned about your unexplained weight loss.
Can you afford to lose a few pounds?

Also, are you able to eat a raisin bran muffin or a bunch of blueberries? Those might help you go. You can also try mineral oil, if you don't think it will interfere with the CD.

Feel better soon!
Posted 12/5/2010 12:24 AM (GMT 0)
Nanners sorry to hear you are in pain. 2 glasses will keep me regular in that situation, but if I am struggling with back up I have been known to drink a half gallon to gallon in a day.
Posted 12/5/2010 2:49 AM (GMT 0)
Can you walk? Getting things moving sometimes is helped by you getting moving. Brisk long walks if you are able. Hope things get going soon! :)
Posted 12/5/2010 5:19 AM (GMT 0)

Hope you soon get relief Nanners and things start working Bev x

Posted 12/5/2010 1:42 PM (GMT 0)
I'm sorry things aren't going well. I really have no suggestions, just a (((((HUG)))))
Posted 12/5/2010 3:48 PM (GMT 0)
Yesterday, I only got a small amount out, and had to literally HELP that part out. I was hoping that that would open the "way" up some and more would come out. I am now on day four, and getting really concerned. NOTHING, and I mean NOTHING is coming out, except gas. At least I have that. I am doing anything and everything I can, avoiding binding foods and meds (as much as I can), drinking apple juice all the time, eating raw fruit (no peels), eaten salads, taking stool softners and using Senekot.

What the heck is going on? Why is nothing moving out. Still not feeling super bad, but really concerned because I have to go to work tomorrow. And I can't be out right now. My thought for today is to try an enema to get the dryer part out so the rest can come out too? Thoughts???
Posted 12/5/2010 4:30 PM (GMT 0)
Four days is really not good. I would probably be calling the doc, because I have never had that happen.
Posted 12/5/2010 10:09 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Gail,
I tend toward constipation too, and it has been a bigger problem lately. How much Senokot are you taking? Do you think you are losing weight because you are so bound up that you are eating less? By day four, I'd go ahead and either increase the Senokot dose, or try the enema. I get really uncomfortable if I skip more than one day without a bowel movement. Call your doc tomorrow if you don't get anywhere. You have been through a lot...I'm sorry you are having a hard time!
Posted 12/6/2010 12:26 AM (GMT 0)
Did have some more come out on its own. Not a super large amount to make up for not going for days, but enough to get some relief. I am going to continue with what I have been doing (i.e. stool softners, Senekot, and lots of fruit and juice). Hopefully it will open up the floodgates.

Still stay this slow, will definetly call the doc. Thanks so much everyone for your thoughts, wellwishes and ideas. By the way Gumby last night I took two instead of one, and will do the same tonight. Hugs!
Posted 12/6/2010 12:28 AM (GMT 0)
Get the PlumSmart!  I have someone near and dear who swears by it in the kind of need you are having.
Posted 12/6/2010 12:35 AM (GMT 0)
mdf34, can you get it at any grocery store? I am willing to give anything a shot at this point?
Posted 12/6/2010 3:31 AM (GMT 0)
I don't have the constipation problem but what you describe makes me think an enema would be a good thing. I don't know what type though perhaps your doctor can make a suggestion. Why not give him/her a call? It sounds miserable to endure.

Is it possible for you to walk or exercise a bit to move things along/

I hope this resolves for you soon. Guy

Posted 12/6/2010 3:33 AM (GMT 0)
PS I see you take calcium. Some types like Calcium Carbonate (IIRC) can cause constipation
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