update on doc visit

Hi ndm good to hear your gp took your concerns onboard. That's half the battle! Haven't taken lomotil but it is supposed to work well. Has the caltrate helped yet? It takes a few days for it to build up in your system. If you see no improvement with the half a caltrate pill 3 times a day I would up it after 2 days to 1 full pill 3 times a day with food. Give it another few days to see if it works. I hope things improve for you very soon. The gi doc will probably put you back on welchol but in my opinion if it's not helping there's no point in taking it. Take care and try to remain positive although I know it's very difficult too when you feel so bad. The key is to take one day at a time and remember that most people adjust after many months. Unfortunately we are the unlucky ones having to go through this. Take care. X

Hi, glad you got some positive action from your doctor and hope the appointment with gastro is a step nearer to a solution to your problems. :-)

YES! I have a friend who takes Lomotil, not sure why I didn't think of that or Bentyl. They are supposed to slow the diarrhea and help with cramping, possibly nausea! Wonderful news. I knew the Gastro consult was coming. You need that. Thanks for the update! Hoping the Lomotil works magic for you

Thank you all so much!  

Acejohnston, I just started on the caltrate, and because I had to be out for the doc, I loaded up on Imodium, so don't know yet if the caltrate has helped, but I intend to keep it up.  If the GI doc wants me back on welchol, I'll have to tell him it did nothing for me for the entire month I took it.  As for one day at a time, I know that's the best approach--some days, it just gets a bit much as you know.  

Octavia, thank you.  I am very fond of my GP and while I'm a bit overwhelmed with two more appointments, I know you're right--step by step and things must be ruled out or in.

Jennifer, yes, your crystal ball told you the GI guy was in my future!  Since my problem is the "D" word, thinking about the magic juice and it's results in prep for a colonoscopy is not on my wish list, I was hoping to avoid him, but perhaps there will be other answers.  I do hope the Lomotil does the trick.

I appreciate feedback and support from all!

 

Hi ndm I really hope they work for you I was on Lomotil for 20 years because of IBS they worked fine until I had my gall bladder removed after that they didn't touch the D, I have to take Immodium which I have taken up to 9 in a day and Colsevelam. Just be careful you dont take anymore than prescribed they can have weird side effects.

Saw the GI doc today--he's a real sweetheart.  Started off the appointment by showing me a picture of his 22 month old granddaughter named Nora!!  That was a cheery way to begin.

He's a good listener and let me go on about all of my symptoms.  He had some interesting info for me.  Highlights:

I've been taking over-the-counter acid reducers for the chest pressure and he told me that they contain magnesium which can contribute to diarrhea.  He recommended Tums which have calcium.  I think there's a connection there to the Caltrate which also has calcium which I am taking already thanks to the good advice here!

He thinks the diarrhea is due more to a new drug that my GP added last fall to help with my migraines.  Topamax (don't know the UK name) has eliminated the migraines but has side effect of diarrhea.  While the GB surgery can cause "D" afterwards for a time, he thinks the Topamax added insult to injury.  He recommended I stop the drug and see what happens.

Wouldn't it be weird if the GB symptoms just happened to occur at the same time as the Topamax side effects?  When the GB was removed, the docs confirmed that it was in bad shape, so there is no doubt that it was diseased, but I can't help wondering now if the Topamax accelerated the problem.

I'm also wondering if the migraines, which were pretty awful, will come back, but he said there is another medication we can try for those.

To be honest, this is the last thing I would have expected to hear.  I'm really glad I was able to see him so quickly and I'm hopeful this is the answer.  I'll be tapering off the Topamax, but I'll keep you all posted on the progress.