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Need advice about stomach/intestinal discomfort

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Posted 1/6/2009 10:09 AM (GMT 0)
Hi,  I've had lupus for ten years and managed to damage something in my digestive system with overuse of NSAIDs - If I had rich food after taking meds I would suffer with diarrhea immediately after.  I ended up in hospital with a stomach bleed and stopped taking the NSAIDS.  That was two years ago.  Lately, even though I no longer take the NSAIDS, I have found that I can get diarrhea when I eat rich food (ie Christmas Day) but also when I have had just a salad (the oil?).  This happens randomly and I can't seem to justify what aggravates the attacks anymore.  I also have the noisiest stomach after eating - it growls forever!! 

I don't get bad stomach spasms but sometimes feel like my intestinal area is perhaps slightly tender and inflamed.  Obviously, my lupus meds (plaquinal and azothioprine) do say I could be prone to diarrhea but the growling and tenderness????

Anyway, I would appreciate any advice you may have - oh, I forgot - it seems fungal infections can play some part.  I suffer from candida infections on an almost permanent basis - its always heavily present, though I didn't think I had any symptoms - perhaps that is it???  Should I start on acidophilous (sp?) on a regular basis - does anyone else have this?

Posted 1/6/2009 3:05 PM (GMT 0)
Hi kiwitoo, I did a little research and thought you might be having more going on then you think. Unfortunately if yu have one autoimmune disease there is a huge chance you have two or 3 you might check on this top under the UC section here is the link I hope it helps. You need to see your doctor about this it sounds absolutely miserable. and constant infections is not a good thing.

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=1005235


hugs
carol

Posted 1/6/2009 4:50 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Kiwi, I'm trying to wean off the NSAIDs myself and its a difficult thing to do. My doc prescribed Protonix for the esophageal spasm I was having daily. Felt like I was having a heart attack - not so much painful as scary when it feels like your heart is serving as a punching bag for somethnig inside you. Protonix is also prescribed for GERD (reflux) and it's really helped me. No spasms since starting it over a year ago (and if I miss a day, the spasms come back). It might help the spasms you have. Hope you feel better....

Posted 1/6/2009 6:23 PM (GMT 0)
One of our mods, ginny, knows a lot about the right kind of acidophilus to get to help the overgrowth of candida. Also, have you had a colonoscopy recently? iF not, it might be worth looking into to check for UC or any other bowel/GI issue. I have a mild case of UC and have to be careful about what I eat.
Posted 1/6/2009 8:08 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks everyone for your advice.  Okie, I appreciate you doing that research for me - it was an interesting read.  I'm getting a doctors appointment today.  Its time a bite the bullet and asked for more tests on further immune issues - sigh.  I shudder at the thought of another colonoscopy.  I had one two years ago (gee how time flies) it was all OK then but things have changed.

These boards are great!!

Posted 1/6/2009 10:25 PM (GMT 0)
HI Kiwi. I have a lot of GI issues, particularly my intestines. I was dx with Celiac in 2003 and continued to have diarrhea daily even after going on a gluten free diet. I had very noisey intestines, matter of fact that is how I discovered lupus, I went on the internet looking up "audible bowel sounds" and the first and only link was about lupus... it blew my mind shocked

I've had a very tender abdomen too, it could either be inflammation of your intestinal wall (which is what I was told) or intestinal inflammation. In 2005 after seeing my 3rd rheumy she suspected lupus right away and felt like it attacked my GI tract. She started me on Imuran and I could tell a difference right away, the diarrhea was gone! We've had to increase the dose a couple of times. I am now on 2 1/2 tabs a day because my system gets use to the dose and I can't eat too many fruits, veggies, etc these types of food can be very rough on an already sensitive GI tract, even dairy products can aggravate.

What dose of Imuran are you on? Has it been increased lately? I sure hope you get some relief soon! Feel free to ask any other questions.
Posted 1/7/2009 1:36 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Kiwi. I have no help for you but I have similar problems, only not diarehha. I get constipated and then when I have to go, I always feel sick to my stomach, I sweat and really have to go and can't. Sometimes I do get diarehha and go two or three times in a row and then still have to go and can't. Once I do start  going, I will have to go 5 or 6 times a day, a little bit at at time.

 I can wake up in the middle of the night with an upset stomach and know that within a few hours I will be having pain from being constipated.

I hate Lupus, it really sucks. I have a doctors appointment on teh 27th of this month and am going to see what my doctor thinks about my problem.

Good luck on your's, I know there are many people here who have great advice. I'm glad you found these boards, everyone here is awesome.

Connie

Posted 1/7/2009 1:48 AM (GMT 0)

jhmum - thank you!!!  That sounds exactly the same.  My instinct is telling me its lupus attacking my gut.  I'm on 150mg of Imuran (3 tabs) they upped it one whole tab the last time I saw the rheumy because I seemed like I was on a constant flare.  I had suspicions that the extra tab might have been responsible because all this new stuff has been happening since then - maybe not.  My usual doctor is away till the 20th so I will hang out till then as she knows me well.  Yesterday I ate a crunchy peach (I like them like that) but on doing research that may have been a very silly move. I can eat wheat products without a problem but dairy seems to be a trigger. 

Lol I googled all sorts of word combinations except 'audible bowel sounds' and all links lead to bowel diseases - I shall now go and google those words.  Thanks once again!!  What would we do without the internet!!

Posted 1/7/2009 1:50 AM (GMT 0)
Stacie, What on earth do you eat if you're on a gluten-free diet and can't eat many fruits or veggies? I seem to remember you talking about this before but I don't remember what you said? When I'm on a gluten-free diet, other than rice and sweet potatoes, fruits and veggies are all I eat. Well, I guess there are our proteins. But what a rough diet. You poor thing.

Kiwi, I'm happy you joined us and hope you do get some answers to your problems. It seems that's all we do around here - look for answers, and sometimes we even find them! Keep us up to date.

Pat
Posted 1/7/2009 2:32 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Smokeyswife and PattyLatty - thanks for the welcome. Doctors may be able to diagnose and treat us but being able to talk to a group of sufferers offers a lot more of an expert opinion - how many times to you ask the doctor something and they just shrug?? Ask someone here and someone is bound to know what you are talking about - our symptoms have to be the same for some of us!!

Smokeyswife - what you describe is exactly how it was for me on NSAIDS. Rush to the loo and sit and sweat with waves of nausea - just waiting for the next bout of diarrhia - HORRIBLE. Since a gave them away that all stopped. Are you on NSAIDS?
Posted 1/7/2009 3:24 AM (GMT 0)
Kiwi, hang in there. Take a look at the link below. I hope you get some relief soon! Take care

yourtotalhealth.ivillage.com/can-lupus-affect-intestines.html

Pat, I can eat veggies and fruit just not a lot of them. Let's say I have a banana two days in a row, that will throw me into terrible cramping, etc. I usually have to stay away from citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruit, pineapple, even peaches.....all of which I LOVE! I can't eat a lot of salads (which I love too!) or raw veggies like cauliflower, brocolli, cabbage, carrots, etc. Sometimes my diet is very bland just depends on how my gut is feeling, if it's sensitive, my local grocery store has GF bread that I love, pizza, cereal. I just take it a day at a time.

A usual day of eating me for, like today.... hot cocoa for breakfast, taco salad with cheese for lunch, an apple and yogurt for snack and 1/2 hamburger and french fries for dinner. We eat a lot of chicken and I can tolerate lima beans and green beans pretty well.

I hope you going back on the GF diet helps your symptoms.
Posted 1/7/2009 9:26 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Stacie - I'm obviously not as good at this googling as I thought I was.  I was looking everywhere for mention of that.

Posted 1/7/2009 3:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Kiwi. I had a colonoscopy yesterday and yes, I can hardly wait for the next one. I have chronic diarrhea. Doc said the colon looks fine and biopsies should be normal. I suspect (and doc agrees) it's my meds. I don't want to stop any of my meds, so doc says I can take as much immodium (over the counter) as I want. The only side effect if too much is taken is constipation. I've already been taking immodium for a couple of months, so now I can just run with it smilewinkgrin   Love, Butterflake
Posted 1/7/2009 5:27 PM (GMT 0)

Hey Kiwitoo and others.  I found more answers that I seek today.  The diarrhea and the ability of Lupus to affect our gastrointestinal system, and why does my rheumy or my reg doctor talk about it? 

going to ask this time of my rheumy these questions.  Sometimes GERD causes other sickness.  Acid reflux happens at night, and often the acid and food is breathed into my lungs, which causes indigestion and sometime phumonia

thank all of you, and hope that the day will bring to you something that will make your smile on your face only for a moment.  all of you have give me some inspiritaion

Hester

Posted 1/7/2009 10:51 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Kiwi, I did the search several years ago so maybe it's changed since then. Maybe it was just God putting it right there in front of me smilewinkgrin

Take care
Posted 1/8/2009 2:37 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Kiwi,

 

Oh man, I'm behind on this topic!  Yes, acidophilus is SO good for you.  I also had a colonoscopy done when I was having chronic diahrrea.  When i got onto the acidophilus I lost 30 pounds and my stomach/intestine/bowel issues cleared up totally. It took a few months, but holy smackers, it worked. 

 

I take the Metagenics brand.  Refridgerated is best. At least 10 billion organisms is what you need. I took 2 a day for the first 3 or 4 months, and now I'm on a maintenance dose of 1 every day or every other day.  My BM's are like clockwork. And I just feel better overall. In fact, it has allowed me to consume a little dairy now. I am lactose intolerant - big time, but I seem to be able to enjoy a few pieces of pizza every now and then!  So maybe it will help with your food sensitivities too.

 

 

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