Re: Question meds and digestion

[Guest guest]

Bill Pearson wrote:

<<I've had terrible problems with digestion - a lot of pain

and " cramp " feeling distended or full in the gut, nausea, sometimes

too much pain to function and get out of bed. The doctors seem to

have no ideas on how to help with this. >>

Hi Bill,

The doctor didn't talk about IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) at all?

You have many of the symptoms. I don't want to 'diagnose' you but,

it may be something you want to explore.

My youngest daughter was just diagnosed with IBS and the doctor gave

her Levsin sublingual tablets. She calls it the 'miracle pill' and

says it stops the cramping dead in it's tracks.

Maybe it's time for another visit to the doctor?

SusieQ

[Guest guest]

Just an idea. My husband had what you are describing and he had a colonoscopy.

He had to have 10 " removed from his colon. You have tons of a colon. That was

2 years ago. Took care of the problem I am not a medical doctor at all. Have

they done this test for you? Gwen

Bill Pearson wrote:

I've had terrible problems with digestion - a lot of pain and " cramp "

feeling distended or full in the gut, nausea, sometimes too much pain to

function and get out of bed.

[Guest guest]

--- Bill Pearson wrote:

> I've had terrible problems with digestion - a lot

> of pain and " cramp "

> feeling distended or full in the gut, nausea,

> sometimes too much pain to

> function and get out of bed.

The bulk laxatives like Metamucil can cause a

tremendous amount of gas. Have you tried using a

rectal suppository 3 times a week?

Rectal suppositories stimulate peristalsis, but are

not as harsh as laxatives. You might try inserting one

every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to keep your bowel

in a routine.

Here is a site with other ideas.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/202319.html

Kaylene

Moderator

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[Guest guest]

Hi Bill

Simethicone is in Gas X and also in Maalox. It

relieves gas very quickly.

Unless it is a medication, such as Neurontin that's

affectiveness is decreased by antacids, you might try

taking a table spoonful of Maalox each time you take

your meds.

Kaylene

Moderator

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi Bill,

I get a lot of that bloating, cramp, etc. but mine is from the

problems in my L-spine and effects of meds. My doc put me on to

Docusate Sodium, Grape Seed Extract, Beano, and the occasional

suppository. It has helped me a lot.

Please! Do not mix these things with your meds without talking with

your doc first.

GBY

>

>

> I've had terrible problems with digestion - a lot of pain

and " cramp "

> feeling distended or full in the gut,

[Guest guest]

Kaylene, Bill and who ever;

Just a quick note, make sure it is the Maalox + (gas -ex)

they do still make the plain old Maalox that doesn't do squiddly for gas.

~ who lives on the stuff -- bout to write more in a seperate reply

[Guest guest]

Moderator Note: I replaced the broken hyper link with a tinyurl.

-------

Hi Bill, sorry to hear you're having digestion trouble on top of the

other problems -- as if you didn't have enough I know someone

already mentioned the under the tongue meds (quite helpful)

I have IBS-like symptoms that are caused by malformed and heavily

scarred intestines. I imagine that many of the same strategies that

work for IBS will help you even if it's caused by medication -- cranky

stomachs all need special care.

My PT is the one who hooked me up to a book " Eating with IBS " and

while I don't follow it expressly (the author is quite vegetarian

leaning) -- it has helped me a LOT. It is actually a cookbook -- but

there is an extensive introduction in which the author shares her own

encounters with IBS and how food and eating interact with a cranky

intestinal system. I am pasting the hyperlink in case some are unable

to use a link:

http://tinyurl.com/c58ew

In addition, I eliminated all gas causing foods. Beans, Cabbage,

broccoli, whole wheat, dairy, heavy fat/fried foods --are some of the

major ones. Then I added them in bit at a time and even so I know

there are some things that if I eat, I will pay later...

WebMD has an article on gassy foods here:

http://www.webmd.com/hw/health_guide_atoz/tm6319.asp

The writer does explain that meats range in digestibility as such:

(easiest to most difficult) fish, shellfish, chicken, other fowl,

pork, beef, wild game. So, I have learned to lean more on the

chicken/fish end of things. If it's easier to digest it slips through

the tubes easier!

Beyond the stay away from gas I also began changing HOW I eat. I eat

lots of small meals. My dinner is actually nibbled at over a couple of

hours. I find if I go out and eat the whole meal in <1 hour I'm

invariably in a world of pain and ill.

So -- doggy bags are great

The other thing is to ADD *soluble* fiber. There are a few sites out

there with info but there are 2 primary types of fiber -- and they are

NOT the same. There is non-soluble fiber (what many people call

" roughage " ). These include whole wheat, nuts, salad stuff -- these

things *do* make your system move. Except if your system is already in

trouble, it can cause spasms, which then can cause your system to stop

moving. In other words -- they can be *too* rough! Some of the foods

that cause me trouble can be handled if they've been processed. For

example apple sauce is very helpful for me -- raw apples = ouch.

Personally, I live on oatmeal -- kid you not Oat fiber is very

soluble. The additional bulk helps push everything along and by

spacing out 1 - 1 1/2 cup of oat bran cereal over the course of the

day -- it helps keep my tract " open " so that it doesn't squeeze closed

and go spastic.

There are several cold cereals out there that have 2 g + soluble oat

fiber. There are also several brands of oat bran bread that are very

good! You can also buy oat fiber, just the way you can buy wheat germ

-- and cook or add it to other things.

I also find that apple sauce works like a dream -- but the real thing

is just too rough and if I haven't had a few good days my system will

just well...balk and refuse!

BTW, Ginger (via tea or the candied stuff ) is wonderful for nausea!

I wrote a book -- but hope it is a helpful one

Bill Pearson wrote:

I've had terrible problems with digestion - a lot of pain and " cramp "