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GI bug and Immodium question

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Posted 12/27/2010 1:39 PM (GMT 0)
I have been up all night with the runs(~15x) and vomiting(~8x). I called the OBGYN on call because I wasn't sure what I should do. She told me to take immodium and drink gatorade. My question is according to the box of immodium i should not take more than 4 in one 24 hour period and I have already taken 4. Things seem to be slowing down and I am wondering if it is ok to take more.
I am pretty sure this is a bug and not a flare because of the vomiting and my family was sick just last week. I'm sure I caught it over the holiday weekend.

Thanks in advance for your advice. Also, would you call the GI dr?
Posted 12/27/2010 3:57 PM (GMT 0)
Never ever take more than what is said on the box. Taking more than instructed can lead to toxic mega colon where everything stops on your colon swells.
Posted 12/27/2010 4:21 PM (GMT 0)
oh great. I took 4.5 pills from 2am to 6am today. i'm pretty sure i puked most of them out though
Posted 12/27/2010 5:46 PM (GMT 0)
If you have a gastro bug, you want it OUT, not to stay in. I would get a better probiotic and slam your system with them instead.

Are you back on the nightly rowasa?

As well...fibre supplements will help get rid of the bug.

You're also close to giving birth...could be part of it regarding hormonal changes.

Take imodium sparingly...please..please...

You're not on oral 5ASA meds either..are you the one the doc wouldn't prescribe them to? That alone could be a problem...tell that baby to hurry up..lol.

feel better soon,
q
Posted 12/27/2010 6:46 PM (GMT 0)
I agree, you shouldn't take immodium but just let the bad stuff get out like it wants to!

Immodium is good stuff for calming UC, but will always make you feel worse, not better, if you take too much.
Posted 12/27/2010 7:07 PM (GMT 0)
thanks guys. I haven't taken any more immonium - just those 4.5 pills early this morning. It was crazy. Found out today that at least 15 people at the party on Saturday are experiencing the same things today.

I feel much better today.
I am going to go back to nightly Rowasa starting tonight. Not sure how long I can keep it in tonght, but still.
Haven't been able to eat anything yet - OB nurse said that is ok for today. I'm not even hungry.

I've only got a few more weeks - can't wait to get this kid out!

I called the GI dr and asked for other meds besides Rowasa but he is out of hte country until next Tuesday. Nurse told me to go on Rowasa nightly again and not skip nights anymore.
Posted 12/27/2010 7:08 PM (GMT 0)
Do you guys think I should be worrying now about toxic megacolon? I doubt it - but it is kind of freaking me out. That is what the on call OB told me to do last night and I was so desperate at that point. I was on the toilet at one point with it coming out both ends. Absolutely horrible.
Posted 12/27/2010 7:28 PM (GMT 0)
also, the OB on call said the reason for the immodium is to slow things down so I didn't start going in to labor. Ugh - I really hope I didn't myself up now. I was have really nice BMs for the weeks prior to getting this bug. Solid and once a day in the morning. I was quite proud. Now I don't know what to expect....
Posted 12/28/2010 5:35 AM (GMT 0)
It seems the worst is past and probably did if you were going from both ends at the same time....I had that twice in my life and it was at the very least humbling.

Consider the probiotics at least twice a day. You'l probably feel out of sorts with a sore tummy for a while. If you can eat at least a bit, maybe some soup and crackers..I find that soothing.

Yeah, I can see about the imodium and the labour, makes sense for sure...but what you don't want to do now is flare..so the nightly enemas are a good recommendation.

at least you're not the only one suffering. Seems someone at the party or prepping the food didn't wash hands. That type of bug spreads like wildfire and sets in just as fast..ugh.

Keep us posted as to how you're doing..

q
Posted 12/28/2010 9:40 PM (GMT 0)
the worst has definitely past - yay! that was not fun.

I take Align right now and on the box it says once per day - are there any consequences to taking it twice a day. I see you take a different brand - I will have to look in to those. I just went with what the GI dr gave me.

Eating has been better but still not that great. I haven't really had a BM - either from not really eating or from the immodium. I just hope I didn't back myself up.

So far the total count of people at the party who got this is at 22!! At least that helps me realize that I wasn't flaring. Although I will be paying attention to things of course.

Seriously - I cannot wait until this pregnancy is over. I think I could deal with being diagnosed with UC and also this nasty bug - but add pregnancy on top of it all and sometimes I just break down. 2 more weeks though and I know once I see him it will all be worth it.

Thanks again for your help quincy! I really value your opinions and advice.
Posted 12/29/2010 7:25 AM (GMT 0)
You're welcome!

Yeah, that misery in company...I'd feel better at 22 sick. NOT good. Stool samples would have helped at least to know. Maybe someone else did and you'll eventually find out.

Yes, you should be able to take 2 align daily for a while...I double up on mine, either one or the other. I certainly would double up on both of mine if that happened to me.

Just curious when you started the DHA..what brand are you using and how much?

I'm wondering if you're taking any prebiotics such as fibre. That should help the probiotics work better.

I guess your appt cannot come soon enough...maybe baby will too!

q
Posted 12/29/2010 4:33 PM (GMT 0)
i found out one person went to the dr and they said gastroenteritis - my guess is it was a norovirus since it was only really bad for about 24 hours.

i need to change my sig - i havent been taking dha for awhile - it was a prenatal supplement recommended by my first ob dr. i haven't taken it in months though. i think the brand was stuart.

what sort of prebiotics do you recommend?

my gi dr wants me to come in a few weeks after the baby is born. i had an ob appt today and he wants me to wait 6 weeks after delivery to get colonoscopy. bummer!! i really want to have it done.
Posted 12/29/2010 5:01 PM (GMT 0)
If you deliver vaginally, there's no way you'll want a c-scope very soon after you deliver! Everything "down there" is swollen and sore! :) So I agree with your OB to wait the six weeks. You might want to consider just having a s-scope, since the prep and sedation might be pretty rough with a new baby, especially if you're breastfeeding.
Posted 12/29/2010 6:18 PM (GMT 0)
Fibre is a prebiotic...fibre supplements. I take metamucil capsules. Some probiotics have prebiotics in them.

I can totally see a possible s-scope instead of a c-scope...your UC is fairly limited anyway, that would be a good first step. Hopefully oral 5ASA will be prescribed and you'll improve.

Ah, regarding the DHA.
q
Posted 12/29/2010 7:23 PM (GMT 0)
thanks for the tips ladies! I was worried about the soreness factor afterwards but at the same time I really really want to know what is going on with my colon since I never had a full colonoscopy to begin with. I am also afraid of flaring post-partum but will stick to the nightly rowasa when possible.
Posted 12/29/2010 7:42 PM (GMT 0)
You really might want to push your GI for a script for an oral med to start immediately after delivery. It will be really hard to use (and retain!) an enema every night with a newborn, since he'll be up so often, and you won't have a predictable nighttime sleeping schedule for a good long while.

Also, if you notice symptoms are getting worse, my best piece of advice is to treat it very, very aggressively. The last thing you want is to be in a nasty flare with a newborn. Trust me!
Posted 12/29/2010 10:12 PM (GMT 0)
I totally agree. I can't picture myself doing an enema every night for 6 weeks with a newborn until I get a scope. I'm going to call him next week when he's back from vacation. He said before he doesn't want to give me oral meds until he sees where the disease is exactly. But I need to be healthy for the baby and don't want to risk it. Thanks fir the support and keep your fingers crossed that I can convince him this time!!
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