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Help with Severe C Difficile related Chronic Diarrhea and Food Malabsorption

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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Posted 2/23/2016 9:17 PM (GMT 0)
I'm trying to get my Mom help. She has been suffering with chronic diarrhea for several years. She contracted lymes disease and thus was prescribed antibiotics for treatment. Because of this treatment she contracted C Difficile for which she was treated I believe with antibiotics and other medications.

Ever since she contracted C Difficile, she is completely intolerant to even the smallest amount of dairy, fruits, and most vegetables. This is on top of the very rigid diet she was following for more than 20 years due to the fact that she has Celiacs Disease.

It seems that she is only able to reasonably tolerate meat but even that does not go very well sometimes. It is terrible because she literally can't eat more than a couple of berries or she will have have painful cramps and diarrhea. I feel terrible because this is a daily struggle for her and I am worried about the long term health effects of her nutrient malabsoption.

She has gone to many doctors, nutritionists, and specialists but none of them have been able to help her. The most frustrating thing about it is that several of them, including specialists at the Mayo Clinic, have basically disregarded her symptoms and told her that "everyone has a sensitivity to fruit". While that may be true if you overindulge in them, my Mom cannot tolerate even the smallest amounts of pretty much all food now whereas she was fine before the C Difficile.

This has made everyday life very uncomfortable and difficult for her. Any help from people who have experienced similar situations or intolerances would be greatly appreciated.
Posted 2/24/2016 1:09 AM (GMT 0)
I developed chronic diarrhea in 1994, a few months after my youngest was born. It just showed up 'out of the blue'--no particular reason. The doctor told me sometimes the digestive system gets "stuck."

Long story short: Since I could only keep food (any food) in me for about 1.5 to 2 hours, then have to run to the bathroom, I needed help! I couldn't even leave the house!

I tried various elimination diets, various meds (I no longer remember the names) and you-name-it, I tried it! Finally the GI doctor put me on Elavil (amytriptyline), not for depression, but because it's so drying. After some time, and a diet of cooked potatoes or cooked carrots, plain hamburger or chicken, and white bread toast (for months on end), I slowly saw improvement. It took me a while to realize things were slowly improving.

Even today, I have some urgency, but absolutely nothing like I used to be. I gained weight (had been down to almost 100 pounds and I'm 5'5!) and now can eat most foods, though I do sometimes get little flareups. I have developed a problem with plain eggs (scrambled, foo yong, hard-boiled) recently, but don't know where that came from!

Perhaps your mom could discuss the possibility of taking Elavil with her GI doctor? The doctor I had is now retired, but I'm so thankful he prescribed the Elavil. I took 50 mg at night.* It does make one sleepy.

I wish your mom the best! It was the worst health-related thing I ever dealt with! So frustrating.

ETA: * Note I was given 50 mg of Elavil. However, I don't know how my GI doctor decided on that particular dosage. It may vary per person, I don't really know. I did find it made me very sleepy, and I only took it an hour or so before bedtime. I could often feel quite sleepy even the next day, so that should also be discussed with the doctor. This is only my experience, and this was many years ago. I hope it helps.
Posted 2/25/2016 8:20 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for your suggestion. I will pass it on to her. Any other suggestions or tips would be greatly appreciated. I hope you are feeling better.
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