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Can someone recommend anti-spasm meds

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 5/25/2014 1:52 AM (GMT 0)
As many of you know I do not have the UC dx, but rather struggle with daily multiple bm's, had my sigmoid removed 15 years ago (malignant tumor) and 15 inches of my colon removed above that point. Reconnected after a temp ostomy, to find myself with 15+ bm's (small in amount) per day, for life. Over the years various approaches have helped - low residue diet, weekly saline enemas, probiotics, eating 12 hours on, 12 off each 24 hour time period, keeping a food journal, etc., etc. In the past year I made a job change and began taking generic sudafed - Pseudoephedrine - each work day. It worked great at quieting my active and noisy gut (however I don't really struggle with all out D, just repeated trips to the bathroom since internally there isn't a place for my body to store stool).

Still with me?

I had to go off Pseudoephedrine due to it making my blood pressure spike.

And now it's as if I am starting all over again, the past 6 months returned me almost to normal, no don't get too excited for me - I still went plenty of times per day but I was no longer bloated, my gut wasn't a beast, it was just - ever so quiet. Lovely in fact.

I want a quiet gut again. I gave up my dream of pooping once a day, years and and years ago, those days are long ago, a blur actually.

I figure you all are just the best this HW website can offer, I love you all, you've never once said, now look Marsky, you don't have UC you can't hang out here. So thanks for that.

Are there other anti-spasm meds that would quiet my gut and slow down the bowel wall contractions? But not raise my BP?

I am struggling so much again and the beast in my belly is back.

Thank you all.
Posted 5/25/2014 1:58 AM (GMT 0)
Will dicyclomine do the trick? My GI prescribed it a while back to help calm down spasms in the morning. Filled the prescription, but never really took it, so I can't say anything. You'll have to research that part yourself. :)

Best.
Posted 5/25/2014 1:59 AM (GMT 0)
I've heard Bentyl, which I think is the same as what Guardian recommended.
B
Posted 5/25/2014 2:06 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Guardian7 and B - upon researching dicyclomine/Bentyl warnings state if you take blood pressure meds, to tell your doctor. I probably shouldn't take this. Sounded like it would help me though (bowel wise). My BP spiked to 191/81 while on the other med. I have to be careful now, on two BP meds.
Posted 5/25/2014 2:20 AM (GMT 0)
Hmmm, I don't know if it would be enough but what about those enteric coated peppermint pills? I know it's more holistic...but just a thought b/c of the Bp issue.
Posted 5/25/2014 2:26 PM (GMT 0)
I did read about pep oil capsules. Wondered if anyone here takes them. Thanks for the reminder. I know I need to be careful now (what fun, not!).
Posted 5/25/2014 3:49 PM (GMT 0)
Good luck Marsky! I think you will find more,people on the IBS forum who use them. If u decide to try, let us know how it goes!
B
Posted 5/25/2014 4:31 PM (GMT 0)
If bentyl doesn't work then maybe you would be a candidate for wellbutrin along with some tricyclic antidepressants. It's an off-label therapy that helps calm the intestinal spams down as well as relieve some UC symptoms:

Here's an interesting medscape review of tricyclics for IBS and IBD.

The IBD and IBS groups had moderate to severe baseline symptom scores (2.06 vs 2.12; P = .15). After antidepressant therapy, there were slight to moderate improvements in the IBD and IBS groups (1.46 vs 1.30; P = .20). Improvement was at least moderate in 48 of 81 patients in the IBD group and in 35 of 77 patients in the IBS group (59.3% vs 46.0%; P = .09).

For stress and blood pressure issues, I'd try herbal remedies like holy basil, cayenne and maybe even medical marijuana. I find holy basil calms me down after I take it.

Best.
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