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Bulking Fiber - New doc said no - I should take.........

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Posted 9/29/2007 6:10 AM (GMT -8)
I had typed a long long post then I hit something and it deleted it....

Anyway I take 100% natural Phyllium Husk Fiber -  He said Fiber was rough on colon - and I should use Imoduiom.

I tried it a couple days now I am having blood.

I will go back later and post long post angain tonight - along with what I take in sig line -

but since I have taken the Imoduim the last two days I have had several BMS with lots of blood -  some so much that the water in bowel was all red.  I am not going to take the Imoduim anymore.

Anyone else have this trouble........

I will post the long post later

Posted 9/29/2007 8:22 AM (GMT -8)
Using imodium on a regular basis could cause toxic megacolon. I would be very careful with this. Once in awhile it is ok to use this, but to replace it with fiber??? I don't understand where your doc is going with this. I would definitly ask questions. I am glad you stopped the imodium..good choice. Please do keep us posted and take care.

Janice
Posted 9/29/2007 9:13 AM (GMT -8)
I have some questions...
Is your doctor a GI, has he performed a colonoscopy on you, what other medications are you taking, what specific reason did he mentioned for taking the imodium and did you experience problems with the psyllium husk fiber or does he just think it's too rough?????

If you experience a worsening in symptoms you should report them back to you GI in order that you can be properly treated. If you don't like your doctor try another one. My experience is that each one uses a different treatment approach.
Posted 9/29/2007 9:30 AM (GMT -8)
Weird, my GI told me to take a fibre supplement daily for the rest of my life (I use prodiem, it's similar to metamucil) it has helped a great deal, no D and less frequency as I now have larger deposits fewer times a day compared to many times a day with little deposits, it was the best advice I've gotten from any GI to help with my crohns-colitis.

I'm even able to tolerate eating fibreous foods with no gas or bloating from them.

He suggested this to me while I was in a very bad flare (going 15 times a day at the time), I am still flaring, just not as severely, I go 5 or less times a day now.

:)
Posted 9/29/2007 2:51 PM (GMT -8)
I can't believe that your doc suggested you use Immodium on a regular basis! I'm in shock! I ALWAYS have some sort of nasty rebound when I must use it for travel or another reason.

I MUCH prefer to use a fiber supplement.

IMO, it sounds like this doc is WAY off base...
Posted 9/30/2007 11:45 AM (GMT -8)
Everything I have read has said that fiber supplements can help UC...not the other way around. When I was first diagnosed, my doctor said fiber supplements can help bulk up the stool.
Posted 9/30/2007 1:12 PM (GMT -8)
There are different kinds of fibre. You'd have to find out which one will help you by trying them. Not all are created equally...and read all the labels, for some have artificial sweeteners in them that will encourage diarrhea and much discomfort.

okiemom..are you on any meds???


quincy

Posted 10/1/2007 2:41 PM (GMT -8)
Sorry, have not been able to post -

Yes I have had UC since about 99 - had times were it was gone - then when I had our son in 2003 - WOW - it came back with a force - lost 130 LBS before I gave in and went to the doc......
the GI and I did not see eye to eye on everything but I kept trying. I dont think diet starts UC but when you are in a flare - I have to be careful.

Anyway I got sick - an infection in my leg in 2005 = they never could figure out why, but it was possible of immune system due to the pills from the UC - so I stopped taking all of it.

Well, I now take Xanax XR 1mg tablets, I was taking psyllium husk fiber .52 mg per tablet. I was taking the ( and am back to taking them ) 6-7 pills 2 or 3 times per day. I take Probiotics, calcium with Vitamin D, and slow release Iron. I was having some formed BMS sometimes a little blood but very little - and very little mucus

Well when I went to the new GI last week he told me that fiber can be rough on the colon and I need to take Imodium AD -
plus
Lialda 1.2 mg ( 2 of them) in the AM
canasa 1000 mg suppositories 2 xs per day

he told me to take the Probiotics, calcium with Vitamin D, and slow release Iron
just no fiber - replace it with Imodium A-D

WELL!!!!!!!!!

I did that for 2 days and had almost a full red bowel in the bathroom - sorry for graphics - I have been taking the fiber yesterday and today - all is back to normal and have not seen any blood today - and starting to get formed BMs back.

I thought about calling the GI - I have my first scope with him on the 16? of October.

I am glad to know that others are not fans of Imodium A-D - the first doc had me taking 10-15 per day -
this time I only took 3 for the whole day.
Posted 10/2/2007 12:04 AM (GMT -8)
Wow...interesting regarding the imodium daily dosage. It's not to say you can't ever take them....but I think that if it's flare related, you shouldn't unless you absolutely need to for an occasion, etc.

It seems the fibre is working for you already...which is awesome. What form of psyllium are you taking and how much?

I personally would encourage you to ask for the retention enemas rather than using the Canasa. It'll treat up to and into the sigmoid.

Hope each day you feel better.

Some doctors..sheesh!

quincy
Posted 10/2/2007 3:56 AM (GMT -8)
10-15 a day??? Holy cow! What he trying to send you the hospital???? I can't believe a doctor would say that let alone a GI. I tried Immodium years ago and it didn't agree with me at all. I only took 2 or so and had such a horrible rebound affect and my gut hurt for a long time. Occasional use of Immodium is ok, like when you need to be in social situations but as long as you don't use it long term or in high doses you should be ok.
Posted 10/2/2007 4:11 AM (GMT -8)
I used imodium that way, Red_34. Some people, like me, can tolerate and need that many in order not to get dehydrated. I used to take 6 when I got up in the morning prior to work. I'd then pop several more throughout the day. I had no problems and my GI was fully aware of it. Now in remission, I couldn't possibly take that much. Everyone's different.
Posted 10/2/2007 5:22 AM (GMT -8)
I'm going to get some bulking fiber today and I did use immodium one night last week and will be using it this weekend have a friends wedding to go to....i'm afraid if I use it too much it will make me sicker or lose it's potency.
Posted 10/2/2007 5:49 AM (GMT -8)
Burli, I'm very aware that everyone is different but obviously the immodium didn't agree with Okiemom. 10-15 a day is asking for trouble in SOME people. And to me, that seems like an awefully high dose to be on because anti-D's can increase the risk of toxic megacolon in people with UC. That is why it is to be used sparingly and only if needed. I realize that some people are ok with immodium and have no difficulty but the facts are the majority of people with Uc should always use caution when taking this.
Posted 10/2/2007 6:40 AM (GMT -8)
It was the GI before the one I am currently seeing that had me taking that many.

Now I just tried to take 2 - 3 per day and that is what happend - the blood was horriable. I stopped taking them and the next day it went away.

I plan to call new GI and tell him what happend when I tried to take Imoduim.
I would not suggest anyone take that many at a time. Again some people recat differently do different things.

The bulking fiber seems to work better in the long run for me.

I am not sure what toxic megacolon is.
Posted 10/2/2007 8:02 AM (GMT -8)
http://ibdcrohns.about.com/od/ulcerativecolitis/a/toxicmegacolon.htm

You will need to copy and paste to your webbrowser.
Posted 10/2/2007 3:56 PM (GMT -8)
Just to set things straight. I would never suggest others pop 4-6 imodiums in a whole day let alone at one time as I have done on occaisions. Don't do as I do they always say? I've had UC for a long time and know my conditions and body well. I clear everything through my GI. He suggested I increase my dosage as needed in order to prevent me from complications due to severe diarrhea I was having. I agree that imodium can cause TM and TM can lead to death.
Posted 10/2/2007 7:43 PM (GMT -8)
I do not know why I started reacting to the Imodium. But after living with UC - nothing seems to stay constant :)
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