Cholestyramine

Hi everyone,
I am approaching week 3 (Tues) of recovering from ileal-colic resection.. I am eating low residue bland foods. I start out in the am with a formed, soft stool, and then get D (with the bile fat floating) around 2 more times each day. So it's not horrible, but I feel weak and tired and have bad cramps when pooping. I am thinking of asking my GI to try cholestyramine. I did just have stool cultures and they are negative for all infections. I am wondering if there is a disadvantage to trying the cholestyramine early? Will it stop my bowels from learning to function on it its own? I know it can cause constipation, but I was thinking of trying a tiny amount to see if it would help. I'm supposed to go back to work on June 16 and I'm getting worried about functioning. Still easily weak and tired. Thanks, as always for your advice!

Hi Kazbern,
That's what I was trying to figure out. I have heard that your bowels adapt to the new resection over time and D decreases. So I was wondering if I artificially add a medication, does that slow down the process, or does it have nothing to do with that? Thanks

I wouldn't have thought it would have made any difference, but that's just a guess as well, sorry. All I can tell you is that taking oxycodone for a few months never interfered with my small bowel's ability to adapt - completely different drug, yeah, I know. But opiates do have an effect on bowel function; they are notorious for causing constipation.

Basically I think it's pretty hard to destroy bowel function. Years of laxative abuse can do it, but nothing else that I've heard of.

I love my Cholestyramine. Been on it since, gosh, 2002? Of course it's the one thing my GI wants to take away from me. Hey lets stop taking the one medication that allows you to leave the house every day. He doesn't think it helps or that I need it. I have a lot of bile from having my gallbladder out. Thankfully it's my GP that gives it to me and not him. So tough buns to him.

I'm glad you're going to look in to getting it gumby. Sounds like it could be a great help to you too.

I've been using Welchol to help with the bile acid absorption. I've been playing with the appropriate amount to help with the D but not cause constipation. I just wanted to throw that out as an option you can ask about. Although at this point I'm thinking that I may have more going on than bile acid problems.

I really don't know why he doesn't want me to take it. All he says is that he doesn't think it's doing anything for me, and that I don't need it. Which is a bunch of bull. I think it's what habs is saying actually. He doesn't like me to take any Imodium because of possible constipation. But it's funny because I am never constipated, and I know how much to take of what so that I don't over do it. I think it's just him covering his butt with that. I'm glad I was able to help habs, I know exactly what you mean about having a life with it. It's not going anywhere! lol

Easy Trigger!....sorry that is something Al says to me when I am pushing things too much.  I really think you are trying to be 100% better faster than I would expect.  Heck it hasn't even been a month.  I don't care if it was lap, I still say they moved your guts around and that takes time to recover from let alone the surgical aspect.  Even just get pressed on for diagnostic tests takes my guts a few days to readjust.

The gas pains will likely happen for a while until you are back to eating more normally.  We have been doing lots of work on the house and turning the water off for periods.  It takes a few runs of the faucet before it runs without spitting air.  I look at our guts the same way.  You are not putting through the same amounts of liquids and solids and your guts are still playing catch up.  I know you say you are not eating much.  Perhaps it would be better to try eating some more...just small amounts all day.  I know this helps kick my gut back into gear when I fast for 4 days before a scope.

As for the cholestyramine affecting the gas....I don't really know that.  It more binds the liquids so I am not so sure it would impact the gas.  Like I said before, if you are going to start it, I recommend trying a small amount to see what the least you can use is.  My bloat seems unrelated to the cholestyramine...the C I was having may have been completed unrelated to the cholestyramine as I look at it in the rearview mirror (small pun intended).

I get that you are gun shy.  I am thinking maybe wait on the cholestyramine until you get back to what was your normal diet.  You may eat enough fiber to bind the liquids when you are there...I unfortunately will never eat enough fiber for that.  You can always ask for the cholestyramine and then keep it in reserve for a later time if getting in to see the doc is difficult.

You are not a whiner...you just had surgery and are trying to get back on with life...you are a trooper!