[Brachial6]

I stopped taking opioids after 16 years due to the bad side effects after being on them for 16 years. It has been about 2 months now and I continue to have diarrhea and continue on the generic Lomotil to control this problem that never wants to go away. My primary physician told me not to even drink decaf in the morning and to stay away from all caffeine! I can live with decaf but I'm sick of having this diarrhea problem! Any helpful tips will be appreciated by anyone who has chose to get off opioids like me! Thanks so much!

[Jomar]

Do you still have an open wc case?
Might ask dr or atty about adding this to your claim, as it is a side effect of injury/meds...

You might also post on our Medications forum and the Chronic pain forum, members on those forums might have suggestions.

[Brachial6]

Thanks Jo*mar for your quick reply to me! I do continue to have an open WC case with two big companies and will do exactly what you recommend! You are the best! Thanks for all you do on this site!

[DejaVu]

Hi Brachial6,

You'd written your post quite sometime ago.
I imagine you are doing better now. I hope so.

Just incase, I will briefly mention a protocol which can help with chronic diarrhea. First of all, it's very important to be sure there is no pathogen causing the chronic diarrhea. More and more a pathogen named c.difficile is a problem. It's important to seek medical attention.

I had done some research a few years ago on this problem.
I found a doctor specializing in chronic diarrhea in people living with HIV.
He had suggested: Imodium AD tablets and the use of Citrucel tablets.
Take 1-2 Citrucel tablets with each meal, which will help to form a more solid bolus. Imodium will help to stop the diarrhea. Do not eat dairy while trying to stop the diarrhea.

I have suggested this protocol to several people. They had ongoing diarrhea for varied reasons. Mostly, their bowels had gotten into a pattern and had continued on. This protocol had interrupted the pattern and had "normalized" their bowel function within a week or so.

While many medical people suggest a BRAT diet (bananas, rice, apples, tea), the BRAT diet has not proven helpful in any studies.

I have found a diet of rice (white or brown) and lean protein most helpful with the above mentioned protocol of Imodium and Citrucel. Most people I have seen do this protocol have gone back to their usual diet within 5-10 days.
It's important, in my own humble opinion, to also add a probiotic.

I hope this is helpful to someone reading this thread.

Love All Around,

[bluesfan]

Hi Brachial6

You have my sympathy on the diarrhea issue. I had a chronic case after an appendectomy and the accompanying antibiotics. Due to an autoimmune condition I have to take steps to avoid getting chronic diarrhea and I can back up Deja Vu's suggestion re probiotics. That's my first line of defence. I take either LactoBif by California Gold Nutrition or PB8 by Nutrition Now - both available from iherb. The PB8 is much stronger (14 billion CFU) - it's so effective I suspect it tends to cause the opposite ie: constipation - if taken daily when the digestive tract is functioning healthily - so I use it less frequently but it's great for stopping an onset and good against candida. The LactoBif (5 billion CFU) is more tolerable for every day gut maintenance.

I hope this may be helpful although the cause of my diarrhea is different to yours - all the best for finding a workable solution.

[Brachial6]

My problem was solved with Metamucil! Per my physician, I needed more fiber!
You were right! Thanks for all you do for this site!

[Brachial6]

DejaVu My problem was solved with Metamucil! Per my physician, I needed more fiber!
You were right! Thanks for all you do for this site!