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Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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Posted 4/21/2006 8:32 AM (GMT -8)
Just an update...I saw her yesterday and she was floored that my GI hasn't tried another course of Flagyl to see if that helps eradicate the diarrhea and fevers.  The last time I had Flagyl was about three years ago; previous to that I took about three courses of it during and after my months in Africa.  We'll see; I don't expect it to do anything miraculous, but maybe it will!  She wanted to add a course of Ciprofloxacin at the same time but the last time I took Cipro I ended up having a couple of days where I had diarrhea literally 30x/day, and that was just completely exhausting - so she held back on that idea, thank goodness.  Then she said I should look into going to Seattle to see specialists at Virginia Mason Medical Center (anyone heard of this place?).  I'm not ready to go that route yet after the Mayo fiasco...so much time and money that I don't really have right now.  She didn't think it was out of the realm of normalcy that I would go out of state again to see someone.

The other thing I appreciated is that she asked if I needed pain meds for those occasions when the pain hits like a ton of bricks.  It happened two weeks ago at work and I ended up in the ER with the requisite fluids and morphine.  The pill form of hydrocodone takes so long to start having an effect and when I told her this she said it may be unavoidable to go to the ER, but that next time it happened I should call her to come in right away and she may be able to help me in the office, or at least call the ER and let them know what my deal is.  I didn't take her up on the pain meds since I have a small stash at home but the fact she even asked was really reassuring.

 

Posted 4/21/2006 8:42 AM (GMT -8)
Sarita,
It looks like you have a good person looking out for you and your well being. Thats what we long for so much in our healthcare professionals and the fact that she listened to your needs is great. I hope the flagyl gives you some relief. Make sure you are taking those probiotics along with it :) Let us know how everything goes. Crossing my fingers for you!!
Take Care
Posted 4/21/2006 8:54 AM (GMT -8)
Finally some good news! Congrats on finding yourself a GREAT NP!
We are are pulling for you that Flagly works. Please keep us posted.
XOXO
Posted 4/21/2006 10:51 AM (GMT -8)
Wouldn't that just be the thing if a few more rounds of antibiotics along with lots and lots of probiotics cleared you up? I think if it was me and it worked, I'd make a hit list of doctors--in the order I saw them in--and go around and kick the dust out of their pants and say, "What, were you dense or something?!?" I'm telling you, I was terribly tempted to do it after I got my gall bladder diagonsis that I had to wait on for 5 years. I think I saw 5 or 6 doctors during that time that couldn't figure out what my mother new from the get-go.

Of course my mother has always said that nurses know more than doctors, LOL.

I so hope it works for you. Even if it just helped some, that would be a benefit. I think you said before you weren't on calcium, but you might want to try some of it while you do this since I have read online that it can help heal the intestinal tract and soothe inflammation--both of which can be caused by bad bacterias. Lord knows if that's your problem, you've had them in there long enough to really trash the place.

Keeping my fingers crossed for you. :-) :-)
Posted 4/21/2006 3:21 PM (GMT -8)
I know some about Virginia Mason Hospital and their Specialty Clinics. Virginia Mason has a lot of GIs and some that specialize strictly in IBD. I don't know any of the doctors listed here: https://www.virginiamason.org/body.cfm?xyzpdqabc=0&id=1175&action=list&department=80&subAction=locations

If your NP has someone specific in mind or has a connection to get you in there, you might think about it.
Posted 4/24/2006 11:34 AM (GMT -8)

Thanks for the info, Ides.  I might look into it one of these days if I get desperate enough again (not quite there yet - "yet" being the operative word).

I'm on day five of the Flagyl.  So far, so-so.  It's giving me headaches and nausea every day; common side effects, I hear.  But I had three days of great poos - Thursday through Saturday.  I mean, they were picturesque!  I was so proud and optimistic.  Then on Sunday I had the big D again all day long.  Crushed.  But it's not over yet.  I still have five days left to go.

I just feel like I have so much medication and "stuff" in me - Flagyl, Protonix, Zofran, Imodium, and acetominophen, plus I've started the calcium, Citrucel, and probiotics again.  I feel icky and washed out, like a marshmallow.

Posted 4/24/2006 12:10 PM (GMT -8)
Picturesque poos, ROFL!

Well, maybe that diarrhea is just a big, heaping expulsion of bad junk. Of course antibiotics can give you the runs all on their own, so maybe you've made the switch from diarrhea for bad reasons to diarrhea with an explainable (and temporary) reason.

Yeah, I'm making this up as I go, but here's to hoping for you anways!
Posted 4/24/2006 6:01 PM (GMT -8)
Good luck, Sarita! Please keep us posted.
Posted 4/27/2006 11:22 AM (GMT -8)

I'm on day 8 of the Flagyl and I am proud to report that I haven't had the big D since Sunday!  I am having beautiful poos again!  The headaches are also improving.  I think that part of the reason I've been so nauseous is that I started taking zinc again - that stuff is hard on my gut, even if it's good for diarrhea, so I'm taking that out of the regimen to see if that takes care of it.

I am so excited to see if this will last beyond the end of the 10-day course.  Some people with IBD are on Flagyl long-term, so if I finish it and start having the D again, I might inquire about whether long-term use might be beneficial.

Posted 4/27/2006 11:34 AM (GMT -8)
WOO-HOO!
Posted 4/27/2006 8:19 PM (GMT -8)
Great news!!! Keep keeping us posted!
Posted 5/1/2006 4:44 PM (GMT -8)
I finished up yesterday...and I'm on DAY 8 with stunning bathroom glories...I am telling you, if this was the trick, I wouldn't mind walking to the @#$* Mayo Clinic and telling them to eat you-know-what.  Uh, did that sound too aggressive? 

Posted 5/2/2006 6:44 AM (GMT -8)
I just hope this keeps up for you! And even if you relapse again after a time, you said that some people go on and off of it for ages to keep normal--if that's an option for you, then even a relapse wouldn't be the end of the world. And maybe this and your agressive regimen of probiotics will be all you need to stay good for good.

I'm with you on calling up doctors and saying, "What, are you an idiot? I told you that was what was wrong with me five years ago. I told you how to fix it and you wouldn't. I know more than you do!" Etc.

LOL, you should call and ask for a refund since they didn't do anything to solve your problem and your problem was clearly solvable. I mean, you wouldn't pay a contractor who looks at your house and tells you it can't be fixed, especially when a second contractor comes in and does the job right up. Doctors ought to be treated like every other business person in the world and made to earn their pay through success of practice.
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