Patients with IBS Commonly Use Narcotics

Just a note here, sometimes a doctor might put you on them short term. Its not that they are not used at all, just not used long term.

Thanks Honest woman, I believe this is really important. IBSers already have low thresholds for pain in the gut and since narcotics can lower pain thresholds at the gut level even further it starts to become a catch 22 on treating pain with them. If they cause more pain you have to take higher doses. Part of this is connected to some of the actual problems found in IBS.

mustangluver

I am sorry your having so much trouble. Have you posted to the UC forum?

Also I just want to clarifiy IBS doesn't turn into UC, but a person can have both, but don't want to scare anyone it can change, two different conditions.

I totally understand how bad things can get and the thoughts of suicide, but there are ways to treat pain and UC and IBS. I am not sure narcotics will help on the inflammation end of UC either, but they may give them to you to get the pain under control first somewhat.

are you working with a doctor right now?

what part of the country do you live in, perhaps I can recommend some people that could really help.

I think nthey won't give you pain pills, because it can make both of the conditions worse long term and can cause more pain and more UC problems.

There maybe some other pain meds you could try as well that don't act like narcotics?

also sometimes they will use antidepressants for pain, because they can work on pain transmission via nuerotransmitters. Although that is more with IBS then UC for sure.

Another is hypnotherapy which has shown to reduce pain in IBS.

I am not to familar with that area, but found this page, are you seeing any of these doctors? Do you have a specialist gastro doctor?

http://www.ucomparehealthcare.com/drs/florida/gastroenterologists/Port_Saint_Lucie.html

I am sorry to hear you have both conditions, that has to be very frustratings and harder to treat, but keep the faith and we'll try to help also.

Just trying to help some here.


You can sometimes get into a study and they are free and there are different types of studies.



On the hypnotherapy you can also get a program you can do at home that is excellent.



Librium is a is a sedative hypnotic drug and not quite the same as certain antidepressants they use for pain, of course they don't work for everyone and they might not want to do that since you have UC. These drugs are also individual and it can be a process to find one that might work.



One thing is for sure, narcotics will long term make the pain worse by lowering pain thresholds in the gut, however sometimes a doctor will prescribe them short term for IBS and special circumstances. But you don't want to make it worse long term.



I am just trying to make some suggestions and I believe there are answers out there for most people.



Are you taking meds for the UC at the moment?



My IBS is very severe pain and I have had to find things that will help it as well. However, I have found things that do help.

Post Edited By Moderator (Admin) : 8/7/2010 11:06:17 PM (GMT-6)

Do you have blood in your stools right now or on a regular basis?

The home course isn't just "calming tapes" just fyi, but an important process.

for example

"Hypnotherapy Benefits Last at Least Five Years. Gut. 2003 Nov;52(11):1623-9.
204 patients prospectively completed questionnaires scoring symptoms, quality of life, anxiety, and depression before, immediately after, and up to six years following hypnotherapy. All subjects also subjectively assessed the effects of hypnotherapy retrospectively. 71% of patients initially responded to therapy. Of these, 81% maintained their improvement over time while the majority of the remaining 19% claimed that deterioration of symptoms had only been slight. With respect to symptom scores, all items at follow up were significantly improved on pre-hypnotherapy levels."

Again I understand the pain, mine are somewhat like migranes in my gut. Going on for almost 39 years now. But I have found relief and the have been 85 percent better for six years, then had a set back and doing somewhat better again although I do get set backs. To me there is always something new to try or I haven't tried before, especially as new research comes outs. They put me on a new drug recenlty at a low dose that also helped.

I went from four pain attacks a week to 3 in a year. Also if I get them now I can make them go away faster.

Our psychological wellbeing greatly effects pain and symptoms.

I am not sure what to tell you if they won't prescibe them to you.

There are some people I need to talk to and get back to you on all this.

 

mustangluver

I wish I could help you more. Some information itself can help I believe.

Its tough living with IBS itself, I can't imagine UC and IBS.

If you have weight loss or blood in your stools always get checked out again, they are IBS red flags and that might mean the UC is acting up.

How often do you get attacks form the IBS now?

Yes, i am going to ask for an antispasmodic...Makes no sense that a person should have to be in such pain..Back in the 70s and 80s docs didn't have a problem with easing pain. I had a huge attack that landed me in the hosp in 2001 and then didn't have another till 2008 and then this past week. Back in 82 i had to have my gallbladder removed..extremely painful..then i had a hysterectomy in 1999..very painful...I have bad insides...LOL

farcry

I would't take them long term. I do understand also and was in the same boat for a while. But its deceiving and can make it worse and lower the pain thresholds in the colon itself, which in IBS are alredy hypersensitive. You might also later need more for the same effects.

One of the best things I have done for my severe IBS pain is gut directed hypnotherapy. Which is also natural.

But there are also new drugs coming out soon and some others you might not have tried.

What are your symptoms?

There are different kinds of narcotics and actually I believe Lomotil is pretty safe to use long term if I remember correctly.

to mustangluver,

I live in Orlando. If you can make it here, I have an excellent GI doc. He is in a group called Digestive Disease Consultants. I recommend Dr. Raaj Popli. I've been seeing him for 5 years and he is sensitive, caring, knowledgable. He knows all about IBS. Mine is diarrhea always, painful, same symptoms you described. Puts me out of commission for days. Afraid to go places, eat out, etc. He has helped me tremendously. I too have bleeding- from hemorroids- caused by the diarrhea. I didn't know that could happen. He has helped with meds, and yes sometimes I have to use Lortab for the pain. It stops the diarr. too. I also take xanax occasionally because stress and anxiety make it worse. Holidays cause the worse flare ups. I take Lotronex also, and prescript. creams for the hemorroids. One partner in the group I definately would not recommend, he's rude. Just ask for Dr. Popli and you're in good hands. I don't know if they take medicaid, but it's worth checking. They have a web site. Look into it if you'd like. They do file insurance, so maybe medicaid. Good luck! I understand you. I too have suffered since childhood. I was a scrawny kid, afraid to eat. Parents didn't understand.  But I grew up and took control finally. Be your own best advocate. Luckily I have a fantastic husband who is supportive and understanding. Hope you have a good support system. This web site seems good. I am new. But when I saw you were in Port St. lucie, I had to respond.

If I can give any help or other info, let me know.

I know that narcotics cause dependency and can worsen a condition but i do not need to be on them every day. I just want something for when i get an attack that i don't have to suffer all day long or have to go to the ER...when ever i went to the ER they always gave me a narcotic to stop the pain..the last time i was in the hosp, they gave me Dilaudid...now everyone knows it is a great pain killer...my pain was so bad that the Dilaudid only lasted for one hour....Also just a note, i also get while i am trying to move my bowels, i throw up...it is horrible.