bentyl???

Hi there everyone....

I have tried it and use it occasionally.  I just find it makes me feel a bit drugged, foggy, spacey.  But it does relax and the next morning my insides feel much better.

Hi..I've used it for 19 years...awesome. It can relax the eyes and make you feel a bit drugged as Lizard99 states...but it also depends on the dosage and how often you take it during the day. You're also on ativan...so, the two can increase the side effects.

What's the dosage and how often are you to take it?

q

---

Hi quincy,

The Bentyl was just prescribed today and its 20mg and to take 4xs a day.  I am worried about the interaction with the ativan but I do only take .50mg of that as needed.  Since I am so sensitive to medications I wonder if I will be bothered too much by the side effects.  I will, however, try anything to get a good nights sleep and have less gas pain!

Thanks for you responses, you are a great asset to this site.

Happy holidays

Amy

Thank you for the kind sentiments Amy.

I'm in Canada...it's called Bentylol, but the dosages are the same.

20mg is what I eventually graduated to from 10mg which I used for about 16 years. So, the 20, I've used coming on 3 years.

It can give you a "relaxed" feeling, especially my vision (my lazy eye gets more lazy..lol!). I can't, however, imagine me taking it 4 times daily and ongoing unless I was at home and in a lot of continual discomfort.
But, everyone is different. I do take it as needed.

You have the little white pills that say 20 on them. Are they scored?
If not, you can still purchase a pill splitter and take half 3 times a day and the full 20mg at bedtime. I've split mine as well until I realised I can take them without any hindrance to "functioning". But, if I'm tired, they'll help me relax more.

I would suggest you not take the ativan until you see how you do with it.

Explain the pain you're having. Is it throughout your colon, gas, cramping, spasming, stomach, rectal, all day, nights only, after eating, when waking up..etc?

Let me know how they work for you.

quincy

---

Bentyl worked for me for only a few weeks & then my pain was back, but then that's how some of these meds do with me. I do the Donnatol liquid stuff...Gad-zooks that stuff tastes bad!!!!!!! You can't hardly put enough grape flavoring in that one to make it better!!!! But I get better control of dosage, and it gets into the system faster cause it's a liquid...it is Belladonna/phenobarbitol/hyasciamine mixture, so one needs to be extremely careful with it if the doc will give it to you. I like it cause I Don't necessarily have to take the full 3 tsp. dosage if I'm not in need, but can later increase it if it's not helping enough or whatever...Too bad some of these other meds weren't as nice to work with...if it tasted better, I could OD, I suppose. You gotta REALLY NEED relief to drink this stuff!!!!!! Good luck ! Happy Holiday Season!

---

             

Hi Quincy....

Hi Amy....try splitting them at 10mg ... you can always double up...it's an option.

You really should try the Rowasa retention enemas rather than just the suppositories. I know that will deal with the rectal inflammation faster..and help with the gas urgency as well.

just out of curiosity..what do you eat? Sometimes tweaking the mix can offer more comfort.

It's going to be a warmer week here...if it offers more snow, I'd prefer it colder. sigh. Interesting the patterns of the weather..and how much influences it. I know living along the lakes, there's a different impact.
I really feel for the areas that have been hit with the severe storms..be them snow/rain or whatever.

Let me know how it goes for you.

quincy

---

I dont think I have ever tried the rawasa enemas.  I had pancreatitis about 6 years ago and may have used them then.  They do sound familiar but again not positive.  Its funny now that I think back there was never a definitive reason for my pancreatitis but my doc said that it may have been as a result of my UC, now that we know I have it for sure. 

Wow...suffering from pancreatitis is awful. My sister has had it for many years. I hope all is well with you regarding that now?

Interesting about the reflux part...I remember my doctor saying low in the rectum inflammation can cause stomach symptoms...don't exactly know how, but there have been many on here saying they're having more stomach symptoms and then soon have more "flare" symptoms...so, I think if you get more meds to the rectum, that might be improved.

The other thing is that the pancreatitis symptoms may mimic reflux?

The Rowasa is a good start....try and get the brand name rather than the generic 5ASA...harder to use I have read.

Regarding food...protein is definitely a good thing for you to eat. If you can have eggs, having them in the morning for sure is a good thing. Boiled...one with some toast keeps me for a long while.

Actually, eating small meals many times a day keeps the colon still working. Yes, I know it's already working overtime, but the overtime thing is what you want to calm. To get it to a proper rhythm of processing rather than reacting will help.

How are you doing on the Bentyl?

q

---

Hi Quincy...

Hi Amy...did the doc get back to you?

The gas is probably from the colon inflammation....especially since you're having diarrhea (having inflammation higher than the rectum/sigmoid)...the colon moving fast/spasming will push everything out fast without having time to become formed. The bentyl will help at least somewht.

Have you been taking the Bentyl ?

Do you take hte Asacol twice or thrice daily?

It's good the pancreatitis was a one time thing...you do get blood tests done regularly to check liver/pancreatic enzymes right?

Do you remember what meds you were taking for pancreatitis?

Have you checked out any of the gastro diets that some on here have tried? There's the SCD and the Maker's Diet and a few others.

Have you considered to try probiotics? I may have asked you that before...if so, which ones did you try?

It's possible the yogurt is giving you some of the gas...when are you eating it? I get severe discomfort from yogurt, although would have it on occasion if I have a craving. It's actually worse than consuming other milk products which is interesting.

Are you taking any calcium? sometimes that's touted as a gut/gastro calmer. I would suggest one with magnesium and vitamin D...and there are some with zinc as well..which is good for healing.

Sometimes 5ASA meds will cause diarrhea for some..there are other 5ASA meds that you might consider to try. One is Lialda...it's a once a day med...something to ask the doc.

Yes, winter/snow has been around for a while now....it's been cold (which I prefer), but the temps are starting to warm just below freezing (which makes everything mushy and sloppy). It's supposed to actually rain on Christmas..hope they're wrong..ugh.
I've seen reports of the storms throughout Canada/US....not a nice way to introduce winter..sigh.

Please let me know the outcome with the doc....do you have an appointment with him soon?

Just curious..have your periods been up and down as well?

Hang tough...I hope this can get figured out before you start your new job...Hope it's after the holidays and new year...which is stressful enough.

Talk soon,
quincy

---

Hi there...

Hi Amy....good to hear you're feeling a bit better. Amazing how enough sleep helps!! I think you should try the Bentyl (10mg) before bedtime. It'll help you sleep...well, it does me anyway.

I think part of the reason you're having diarrhea is because you're eating fruit/oranges. The probiotics...I take them at bedtime..but I do notice when I've taken them during the day I have had more discomfort from gas. Bedtime is better for me...

I use Natural Factors Protec... I do on occasion add Primadophilus Reuteri. The Reuteri comes in pearls...I've taken them during the day and have no ill effects..which is positive. Those two I'd suggest.

You do know that you can take the Asacol twice a day....maybe a higher dosage less times a day might work for you. I've never taken them more than twice..works better for my schedule. As well, it's less likely to forget dosages.

If you were to "try" them that way....do 5 and 5 and see if that helps.

Do you eat any protein? What meats are you able to eat?

There are normal blood tests that should be done at least once or twice a year for UCers....definitely complete blood counts, liver enzymes, kidney enzymes, pancreatic enzymes, potassium, sodium, Vitamin B-12..and a few others I can't remember.

Since you have had pancreatitis in the past, you should still have it checked at least once a year....my opinion. What was the reason you had it? blocked pancreatic duct? meds?

REgarding feeling beat tired....yes, I have days I literally conk out on the couch or in my chair (with my cat curled up on me..it's HER fault!!) for 2 - 3 hours...out cold that I wouldn't even hear the phone ring. There are other days that I don't do that at all...but when I'm flaring, I'm definitely more tired and just lie down more often and just be quiet....as well, I'll take more bentylol during the day..but if I'm nauseated, I tend to take Gravol, an antinausea, which will make me more tired.

I'm wondering if you've had your B-12 taken. You should make sure it's even registering because low B-12 will have you feeling tired. I don't take iron supplements. The only time I did was when I was in puberty..a long while ago. I'm always tested for low iron because of how pale I am...but it's always good. I don't get periods any longer (hysterectomy)..so don't add it through supplements. I do eat meat and have an egg every morning.

It's understandable to become paranoid....or have anxiety about how you're feeling....especially if you may feel that you're not being looked after properly by the doctor. I think you could think about making an appointment and bring a list of questions you believe are most pertinent for how you're feeling....and make sure you see the doc again in every 3 or 4 months to touch base and continue adjusting treatment to make sure the meds are doing their thing and that nothing else is out of whack.

I agree to look into your gut/food book and see what you CAN eat (that you're not allergic/intolerant)...so that you begin eating enough food. That way you'll keep your energy level up and maybe the diarrhea will lessen.

Hope you have a feeling better day....let me know what the doc says.

quincy




Read the info on Vitamin D....that in conjunction with Cal/mag and zinc will help your energy.

Are you taking any artificial sweeteners in any preparations? That can cause diarrhea.

Next question...are you sure you're eating enough?

---