How much is too much

I once likened IBS to erectile dysfunction. And look how long it took them to cure that (and I daresay men were working REAL hard to get a cure for it). The problem with IBS is that it doesn't have one singular cause. Maybe it's hormones, maybe it's anxiety, maybe it's mixed signals from the brain to the intestines. And that doesn't count the parasites, bacterias, yeast, bad gall bladders and appendices and everything else that cause bowel problems.

Are you taking imodium everyday, or just when you go out? Once a week ought not to hurt you. I can't remember if it is Lil or Des who used to use imodium heavily and eventually went from having D all the time to A, and the doctor thought long-term usage of imodium had caused the shift in symptoms, but I seem to recall she was using them daily for years before anything happened.

Have you tried the calcium? Even if that only helps you out some, it may make your imodium use a less frequent thing and thus lessen your chance that it will affect your intestines. I told the last G.I. that I went to see that I was taking one or two everyday for two months to control the diarrhea and she said, "That's not that much." Considering I had never before been able to take more than 1/2 of one without getting severly constipated, I thought that sounded like a lot! She never told me to stop them after a while or take less or anything. I eventually found the calcium and that went a LONG ways towards straightening me back out and I was able to drop the imodium.

Caltrate 600 w/ vitamin D is what you're supposed to get. I get the generic version at Walgreens and it's a HUGE bottle for $14. I bought it last summer and I still have it (although I don't take them every day). You can take up to two a day (maybe three, but ask the pharmacist if this is okay; you can OD on calcium and mess up your kidneys). I got good results from taking one in the morning as soon as I got up and one right before bed. I don't know about you, but I was always worse in the mornings, so this was best to combat that. If you get worse later in the day, take the pills to coincide with the later time the best. If you should start to get constipated, cut back to one a day or one and a half. Just tinker with it as you need to. I hope they work for you.

Yes its true my doc doesn't recommend Imodium daily or long term. I know that all docs are different though. I did use it every day for years and I found out I had diverticulitis at age 28. My doc suspects that the pouches in the diverticulosis was caused by my purposely "backing myself up" for all those years. Diverticulosis is caused when stool pressure makes your intestines weak in spots and causes pouches. Diverticulitis is caused when these pouches become inflamed and/or infected. Not a good thing at all, been in the hospital on very high doses of antibiotics and liquid fluids. Next infection, doc wants me to consider surgery. My doc says its okay on a short term basis but for me now I can't handle it. I'm doubled over with cramping pain anytime I take it.

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_{Hugs, Des}

_{Co-Moderator ~ IBS Forum}

_{Dx: IBS 1989, Diverticulosis 2004, UC 2005, Sjogren's 2006}

_{Meds: Sulfazine EC 1000mg, Mesalamine Enemas, Chlorzoxazone 500mg, Naprosyn 500mg, Symax SL .125mg, Protonix 40mg, Xanax XR 2mg, Miralax 17g, Supplements}

 

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