Welchol and IBS

After hitting bumps along the road in my own situation here I can totally understand what you mean.

On a positive note, I had a normal BM this AM after taking 2 Welchol along with 1 Caltrate at lunch and then the same again at dinner. I can now see I am going to have to continue tweaking things as I go. I am not sure what or if the Align is doing to help at this point with the diarrhea but I would like to believe it is keeping my gut healthier at the very least.

Do most of you who take Welchol take all of it at one time or twice a day?

So far I am doing better. Still having to tweak things off an on. During my last flare up I had increased my Welchol to 2 tablets at lunch and dinner along with 1 caltrate at lunch and dinner. Yesterday I was feeling a bit on the C side so I left off my lunch dose of medication all together. In the afternoon I finally got some relief and so at dinner I took 1 Welchol and 1 Caltrate. Today so far I have not gone to the bathroom at all but don't feel C. I am wondering if the Caltrate has a culmulative effect and that is why I am now starting to need to back off of the meds a bit. Does anyone know? All in all though I feel more pos. because at least I am not having D. now.

how long does welchol take to "kick in"? My diarrhea is gone, but I still experiece the "urgency" after I eat. I just started the drug today...I took 2 pills about 2 hours ago. Just an FYI, I had my gallbladder removed 3 weeks ago. Thanks!

Thanks for the info!!!!!

I usually eat very well. But this "urgency" happens after everything ,even just a little snack like applesauce, or a small piece of protein. I had the diarrhea for only a day or two, but this constant "urgency" is making me a little scared....I hope it dissipates! The doctor thinks it will. I took 2 pills a couple of hours ago and just had a little snack.. and I'm starting to cramp a little! I'm very thin and am trying to gain 8 pounds...with this new setback after the gallbladder surgery...I hope I can put the weight back on! Like I said I just started the medication today....I'm not the most patient person!!!

Is calcium carbonate the one to take? and how much? I'm on my third day of Welchol and really haven't seen a difference....no diarrhea, just constant urgency.....and it's sending me into ANXIETY ATTACKS! I'm so scared that this will last forever! Right now I'm taking 2 pills in the morning and 2 with lunch...I have to take the Welchol with food because I find that it does upset my stomach. Will the Welchol take care of the "urgency"..does anyone know?

Thanks!

IBS and Welchol

Where do I begin I am a 47 year old male that has had on and off digestive issues after eating most of my life. Two years ago my life was turned upside down as my stomach was no longer something I could control. As long as I can remember I have always carried a pocketful of Imodium - until it stopped working, I was having to use the rest room 6-8 times a day, next started "Bathroom Mapping" (where you plan your social life around the availability of nearby and clean restrooms).

It was depressing to have life take such a bad turn - mornings were my worst time, and it would cause me to show up late every morning. I would have to wake up 2-3 hrs earlier to try and clear my stomach so I could make the 25 min drive to work, with out the the frantic search for a restroom.

I had to cancel most early morning meeting, and never wanted to go out to a restaurant or movie with the fear of not being able to reach a restroom. So I started the process of seeking a specialist - (here where the fun begins) I went to a total of five GI specialist (all that specialized in IBS and Cohn's disease ) next came the testing a total of 25 stool samples, 15 blood tests, two Colonoscopy's , two Endoscopes - everything one of the five physicians had the same answer; "Tests are all clean it must be IBS" they came the questions are you depressed ? are you sure your having stomach problems ? and finally after pleading I was given Diphenoxylate/Atropione - which is basically Imodium on crack - so now with pills in hand my day would start with still waking up 2-3 hrs earlier and having to use the rest room. then taking 4 pills b/4 I could leave the house ( the drug make you tired and dizzy) driving to work in a fog - then taking two more pills b/4 lunch and one or two more b/4 dinner.

I kept that crazy insane procedure for one year - it was my band aid to get out of the house dizzy tired - I was still able to work 15 hrs a day work out at the gym 5 days a week and only use the bathroom once or twice a day. So I accepted this has my new life's regiment - as I couldn't find another option.

Then one of those life changing miracles happen - a family friend just happen to be watching the Discovery Channel and there was an interview with a physician that spoke loud and clear and hit home ! His name is Saad F. Habba, MD and he was talking about a syndrome named after him called Habba syndrome- he went on to talk about the medical community response to IBS and not fully understanding the condition - so this is the difference between IBS and Habba Syndrome; see http://habbasyndrome.com/_wsn/page3.html
It is an association between a dysfunctional, intact gallbladder and chronic diarrhea. Patients with the syndrome present with varying degrees of chronic diarrhea (three or more bowel movements per day for at least three months). Diarrhea is classically described as frequent, loose bowel movements and may be watery in nature. They could be explosive at times and may even be associated with great urgency and even incontinence. Diarrhea is mostly after meals (post prandial diarrhea). Because of this urgency, patients usually look for a bathroom wherever they go, also known as "bathroom mapping".

These symptoms are usually very distressing and may cause social embarrassment and interference with daily activities. Some patients are even homebound in fear of social embarrassment. Some lose weight because they are afraid to eat for fear of getting diarrhea.

Diarrhea is rarely nocturnal, unless the patient had a late meal close to bedtime.

It is not associated with blood, unless it comes from irritation of the rectal area as a result of frequent bowel movements.

Dr. Habba found that this type of diarrhea is associated with dysfunctional gallbladder.


Is there pain associated with this syndrome?

The patient would not necessarily have abdominal pain related to the gallbladder disease. They could be completely free of any abdominal pain. The gallbladder function is only determined by an abnormal radio-nuclear test that studies the function of the gallbladder (DISIDA scan with CCK injection). This test is non-invasive and can be performed in all well-equipped hospitals and radiology centers.


If ultrasound of the gallbladder is normal, could I still have the syndrome?

Absolutely. In fact, most of the patients with the syndrome have normal ultrasound of the gallbladder. However, the presence of gallstones on ultrasound does not rule out the diagnosis of the syndrome.

So as the lights went off in my head - I called and met with DR Habba - at last i met a Dr that understood my frustration and my problems !

He assured me that we will find the cause of this problem and not have a label of IBS - then set me up for 7 tests some which I had already but he felt that we should repeat them as he would perform all the GI testing. Optimistic but cautions i agreed the following tests were arranged at a local hospital near Dr Habba

Radio-nuclear test that studies the function of the gallbladder (DISIDA scan with CCK injection), Colonoscopy, Endoscopes , all were performed in a hospital with the exception of ;Blood Work, Blood Testing , Sonogram

Most of friends and family thought I was insane to undergo all of those tests (some of which were done multiple times b/4 - but I needed answers and didn't want to spend my life on drugs that left me dizzy and dazed 24/7.

I felt in good hands with DR Habba, and the following week we met to review my results. Eureka after reviewing my exams I was the poster child for Habba Syndrome - a normal Gall Bladder functions at over 50% mine functions at 8.5 % - so Bile was leaking into my stomach and acting as a laxative every time I would eat !!!!!!!!! - hence the urgent rush to a restroom every time I ate.

So the plan was to use a drug called WELCHOL - the drug is designed to lower your cholesterol but has a unique side effect that it soaks up your Bile. So I stopped taking the Diphenoxylate/Atropione - omg I could think again ! I felt alive ! So the journey continues he tells me that in 48 hrs I will feel "normal" - I started today and so far so good - i am able to eat with out the urge to rush to a rest room my head is clear .

So please please don't let your physician label you with IBS or make you think your insane - there is help out there and there are answers - enclosed is DR Habba Info ;

Saad F. Habba, MD
12 Bank Street, Suite 102
Summit NJ, 07901
Phone: 908-273-3434
Fax: 908-273-3210

http://habbasyndrome.com/index.html

Four days is to short of a time for Welchol - your not giving it a fair shot and regarding the indigestion my physician also put me on Prilosec OTC

Hang in there ! - and keep asking your doctor questions - he works for you !!!

I work out 5day a week and found it hard to keep weight on and starting drinking some of my meals - it seemed to work well with out the need to use the restroom - i drink Muscle Milk http://www26.netrition.com/cytosport_muscle_milk_rtd_page.html it give me the vitamins and protein and the weight I need to keep - and it tastes good too ;)

they sell it all over but here is one http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/store/en/browse/sku_detail.jsp;jsessionid=XCQ1QR4I2QWWUCQUC4YFAFQKCQL00UNE?id=CY-1017 its for the Vitamin Shoppe

after at least 3 byrs of diarrhea and worried sick i have found what seems to be a miracle pill, welchol. I have been on align for about 3 weeks, it helped with the urgency but the yellow watery stools continued. In lack of better words my butt felt burnt and raw. I am a nurse so my knowledge and my fears were getting the best of me! I had a colonoscopy EGD and ultrasound gall bladder all were negative, a friend works in GI and suggested welchol, my doc precsibed it and today was my first day and it worked, I promise ONE pill has worked!!! I actually had a brown formed BM today! I was so excited. welchol can cause constipation so I am going to take just a half pill for the next couple of days and see what happens.Finally I feel encouraged. I dont know if this is true or in my head, but for the past few months I ve had some kinda weird feelings in my head, kind a felt out of it a little, severe insomnia but today I feel more like me! I wonder if all tha diarrhea I was losing too much??? My alk phos was elevated a little on my lab work 2 months ago, but Im sure the chronic diarrhea could take its toll on a persons lab work ??? I cant believe I had real poop today!! yay!!

Sheila, your husband should not take Welchol if he does not have diarrhea. The only thing it does is absorb bile in the intestines; it doesn't do anything else. If he doesn't have bile, or something else he's taking already controls it, he will just wind up constipated if he adds Welchol.