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I give up on food...(yes, I'm venting)

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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Posted 3/24/2006 7:11 PM (GMT 0)
I've had a really rough past few weeks with my IBS-C. It escalated into being so 'full to the brim" that it required a trip to the ER last week (bloated distended belly was very scary), starting my prep for my 'scopes' 4 days earlier (clear liquid diet, magnesium citrate and phosphoro-soda), not having an appetite yet still having to eat, ad nauseum.

All I've eaten since last Friday (scope day) is very soft foods - 99% 'white' stuff. I don't normally eat white stuff but I'm terrified to eat anything else for fear that I'll fill up again and it won't come out. I really haven't gone to the bathroom yet either. So, I'm still in pain (why I was having the scopes in the first place), I'm now in an AS flare because of the foods that I've been eating this week (yogurt, cream of rice, broth, eggs, etc) and I've still eaten nothing of substance; no major protein (chicken or fish), no vegies of any kind which I love, etc.

I'm still awaiting the results of my scope (possible Crohn's), but goodness gracious, what am I supposed to eat or do in the meantime? I need to eat, but I really am afraid to.

Any suggestions here? Thanks for letting me rant.

TIA, Sherree
Posted 3/24/2006 7:30 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Sherree,
Have you heard of Miralax? I used to take that for my chronic constipation. I used to be 7-10 days out w/out BM and then went to 1-3 days... that was before my change to IBS-D. It was the only thing that really worked for me and I took it on a daily basis with success. You need a prescription for it so you will have to call your doctor. Let me know if you have any questions.

side note: Some people used Miralax as a colonoscopy prep however the dosage is very different on a maintenance med regimine. I was on 17 grams a day and I could mix it in with any kind of drink I wanted (exluding alcohol).
Posted 3/24/2006 10:16 PM (GMT 0)
Des, is Miralax another type of laxative? I'm not sure I want to keep taking this stuff for the rest of my life. Doesn't always work when it's supposed to and then I get worse. I so hate this feeling...
Posted 3/24/2006 10:44 PM (GMT 0)
Miralax is a type of laxative BUT its not a stimulant laxative. Its an osmodic laxative so it doesn't affect the muscle contractions and tissues. What it actually does is pull water into your colon so its easier to have a BM given if that is a cause of your constipation. Miralax is very effective for people with medication induced constipation and colonic inertia. I know at least one other person who has crohn's and is on a regular miralax schedule. It is not the same type of laxative as exlax, dulcolax, mom, etc.
Posted 3/24/2006 11:07 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much for clarifying that. I figured it was 'another' laxative and know that they don't really work all that well. I think I have zip for inertia! I will definitely talk to my doctor about this...I appreciate the suggestion.
Posted 3/25/2006 12:31 AM (GMT 0)
If I were you I would stop the yogurt for a while and anything else that is dairy based and see if that helps. Have they said anything about adding fiber. I have friends with Crohn's and they all have had to add fiber and other meds. I don't think Crohn's you would have pain day and day out. I thought it was mostly attacks that one got and then they subsided. The eggs are giving you protein. I would think that chicken and fish would be fine with rice, potatoes or noodles. It seems like they should have told you what to eat. I think I would call the DR. and find out what you are supposed to do. You can always take a stool softner which would not be habit forming.
Posted 3/25/2006 12:45 AM (GMT 0)
Canyon, my GI doctor told me after the scopes that I was free to eat what I wanted. He did tell me to go easy since I hadn't eaten in a week. I think the problem is more in my 'head' than anything else at this point. I've never gone to the ER before for this (they thought I had an obstruction) and last week was just horrible between no food, prepping for the scopes and everything else. I think I'm afraid to eat because I was so nice and clean inside, that I wanted to stay that way (hope that makes sense). Everything I look at makes me question - will it or won't it go through. I'm calling my doctor on Monday - I really want to know the results of the biopsies and I need to know what to do from here on out - regardless if it's Crohn's or just plain ole' IBS. I am going to ask about the Miralax though. Now that sounds like something I really could use, instead of ordinary laxatives.

Oh, adding extra fiber is not an option -- it just sits there and doesn't move. You would think my insides have gone on strike!

In any case, thanks. I'll put the yogurt on hold (that and cheese are the only things that don't bother me, but I haven't eaten any cheese whatsoever this week) and try to incorporate something else into my diet this weekend.

Sherree
Posted 3/25/2006 7:45 PM (GMT 0)
Hi There,

Sorry to hear you are feeling so bad  Did you get my post in the IBS C and cheese post about the condition I have which is the solitary rectal ulcer syndrome?  I went through the exact same thing as you are going through now and the docs thought I had crohns for ages until I got a proper diagnosis.  I hope things start to settle down for you soon. 

Tori :-)

Posted 3/25/2006 10:36 PM (GMT 0)
Pity party is over! I feel bad for ranting the way I did, but I was just overwhelmed by everything these past couple of weeks. I finally ate some 'real' food last night - small portion of mexican chicken and beans. It kind of bothered me for a small time, but I got over it and I'm fine. It actually helped me with my appetite today. Now waiting to see how long it take to go from top to bottom (so to speak).

It really doesn't matter what my diagnosis is, I have got to get the situation of my C under control - that will be the first topic of business with my GI doctor. We will be talking about the miralax as well.

Thanks for the advice and for listening.

Sherree
Posted 3/26/2006 5:33 AM (GMT 0)
You might talk to your Doctor about a "motility test" to see if you are moving things correctly in your stomach. It sounds like from what you said that things just sit there. Fiber is supposed to make you move so I wonder if you are taking a soluable fiber. Insoluable fiber is difficult. Hopefully you will be doing OK soon. Until you get on some kind of regular diet you probably will not get things working well. Dairy can be constipating or cause diahrea depending on the system but cheese is known to be constipating.
Posted 3/30/2006 6:53 PM (GMT 0)
hi i have to say thank you as i have finally found someone that has same symptons than me!! obviously its not good that u feel this way but u no what i mean! i too dont go to toilet for weeks at itme and currently full up to brime, i look and feel 8 months pregnant! last week i had a colonic irrigation which was painful but worth it(short term) i went on liquid diet, soup and smoothies and was ok as also too scared to eat incase blow up again, but lost half stone in week and finally could lie of stomach as it was flat! but this was short lived, as had to eat as mum said looked ill/anaroxic!and god i feel awlful now, stomach is so painful., have acid reflux galour, cant get into any of my clothes, cant lie down have to sleep siting up!!just dont no what to do!!any advice to flatteren stomach as have run out of ideas!losing th ewill really.
Good luck with test, i got towaity till 2nd may, bring iton i say!

hope goes well
Posted 3/30/2006 8:45 PM (GMT 0)
Mads, If you live in the UK or outside the US why don't you just try the Motilium that you can get over the counter where you live. Take it about an hour before you eat or if you are bloated. It is a very common pill for bloating and available cheaply. It increased the movement of food from the stomach and therefor helps with the gas and acid. Unforutnately it has never gone for approval in the US but it has been around for about 20 years everywhere else in the world. Just no money to bring it to market here. It only costs around 30 cents a pill.
Posted 3/30/2006 11:07 PM (GMT 0)
Have you had your gallbladder removed ?? I just had galllblader sugery 2wks &2days ago. I am now so constipated that I was impacted 2 days ago . DR gave me miralax It works but it's hard on hemi's
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