dierreah for over a month now, any advice?

Hi. I'm new here and I've had dierreah for over a moth! Its making me terriably weak and I also get nausuea at times. I've gone to the doctor and was told its likely IBS. I was perscribed an anti spasm medication that won't work. I am going back to the doctor on the 25. Does anyone have any advice? I hate to even eat! Uuugh its soooo awful! Any advice is appercieated. Thank you

Realsis,

I am so sorry that you are not feeling well & having diarrhea problems. It sounds like you have i.b.s but of course I'm not a Doctor. I would suggest reading up online for i.b.s., or going to the library & checking books out. I'm not sure what spasm-medication you tried but there is other kinds. Also, I agree with crampygrammy...Have you tried imodium. I could give you other suggestions for medications if you're interested, just let me know. Then you could ask your doctor as they are prescription except for the imodium anti-diarrhea which is over-the-counter. Is there anything specifically that you are aware of that you might have changed a month ago when you began having the problems? Foods, work, family, extra stress that you haven't had before that point? Sometimes you have to kind of make a check list and see what things make it worse & what may make it better? I have done this with my husband, my 7-kids, & myself. 3-of my kids have i.b.s., & I do feel extremely guilty for passing this on to them.

I actually wrote a long paragraph about my i.b.s. issues that consumed my entire life for 43-years. However, I didn't think you wanted to hear about me rambling on & on. But to say the least i.b.s. completely took over my entire life 24/7. I could only go to stores or any place if I knew exactly where there bathroom was & only if it had at least more than 1-stall. As I was always worried about being stuck on the toilet & holding someone else up from going to the bathroom. We had to get a Full-Size Van & carry a porta-potty with us at all times. I've had too many colonoscopies & any & all bowel tests over the years. Needless to say, for me, thru the years it damaged my intestines, along with other medical complications. This year my intestines completely shut down & quit functioning, so in May I had to have an ileostomy.

I wish you all the best & hope that our posts help you in some way. Smiles sent your way.
Your Healingwell Friend,
Serenitee

P.S. If you ever feel like chatting my email address is posted under members or just click on my name & it will take you to my profile.

ileostomy, Pelvic/Bladder Trauma & Dysfunction, Colon tore thru Vaginal Wall & Colon & Bladder fell out of my body. I have had 15 surgeries on various areas of my body over the years.

Hi there. I am a colon cancer survivor and am existing w/o my lower colon/sigmoid (the area that acts as a reservoir and holds back stool). I am pretty much a straight pipe now and food zips thru me. Early on 12 years ago I was having D and 3 bm's during one meal - I was a mess! I couldn't leave home and barely leave my bathroom, couldn't drive a car, I was a stay at home mom at the time and my daughters were in 3rd and 6th grades. Consequently we were having a lousy summer, they were stuck at home with mom who was holed up in the bathroom most of the time.

Until I got online and went to cancer forums. That's where I heard about a low residue diet, this diet is recommended for patients experiencing severe D due to having chemo (which wasn't my situation but I felt like they did). I looked over that diet list of foods and thought, well what do I have to lose by going on this diet? Not a thing. I was a brand new person within 48 hours, my stool was formed, easily passed and not messy at all. I went on that diet faithfully for 2 years or more. Keep a food diary to keep it all straight. I determined that my go-to foods on the LRD were bananas, plain yogurt, white rice, white bread (from my local bakery or Sara Lee), plain english muffins (Bay's, found in the chilled section of the grocery near cream cheese usually), cottage cheese, plain baked potatoes, instant mashed potatoes (ironically over from scratch), plain pasta or mac/cheese, iceberg lettuce salads with minimal fresh veggies, roasted chicken/turkey, white fish.

I am still on this diet about 75% of the time now, 12 years later.

A LRD saved my quality of life, first my surgeon saved me from cancer (Stage I) but if not for that LRD I would have still been eating fresh fruit such as berries, pineapple, etc. and whole wheat products. Whole wheat just wreaked havoc on my gut.

Just imagine what the insides of your colon are like right now - probably raw. You need plain food to pass so your colon can begin to calm down and heal.

Just google a LRD and you'll find lots of links.

My surgeon said it was fine for me to be on this diet.

realsis,

PROBIOTICS

I've been there before, you need to start taking probiotics Bio-K plus and Renew Life Ultimate Flora Critical care are two excellent ones.  THey will replace the good bacteria in the colon that was lost from the diahrea.

METAMUCIL

This is important as well it bulks up the stool and absorbs the water in the colon, making the stool easier to pass.

Don't take the sugar free one as it contains aspartame which will worsen your Diahrea.

Cut out the wheat and flour products-many times these cause major problems for us with any colon problems.

Try to eat white rice, chicken breast, fish, bananas,

Lettuce and raw veggies are rough on the bowels-cook your fresh veggies

Is milk and its products a problem-maybe switch to rice milk, soy milk or almond milk all very good.

If eating processed foods elimate them , many fillers and junk are added to these foods.  Sugar is also a problem-bacteria in the colon feeds off sugar.

Drink as much water as you can..

Ask your doctor for LOMOTIL it slows down the colon and is much stronger than immodium it works very well.