Cholestyramine
 

My gastroentrologist prescribed this for me to reduce the unpleasant side effects following a resection for Crohns. It helps me.
Any one else have experience with it?

This is the same principle as Metamucil, only needs an RX.
One has to be careful with it because it can remove drugs before they are absorbed. As long as you watch your timing in taking it and space your drugs around it, it will work well too.
Cholestyramine is used to lower cholesterol too. That was its first purpose. It acts as a sponge to absorb fluid and bacteria and their toxins.

I think in kreink's case, he needs to find out WHAT is doing this.
If he can remove the trigger easily (like sorbitol or Olestra), that will solve the problem.

Gastroparesis
 

Kreink,

Hi - sorry to hear what you are dealing with... how did your doc diagnose the gastroparesis? Have you had a gastric empty study, manometry, etc???

The gastropareis itself could be causing all the problems, and if you stick to a gastroparesis diet may improve.... (I've had gastroparesis for nine years and there are a number a restrictions on what you really should or should not eat - and you'll notice a difference immediately) Hope you get to the bottom of it... but if they have definate diagnosis of the condiiton - again, diet change could help significantly.... (just google Gastroparesis diet - U of Va has a great site on GI issues, as well as many other hospitals and medical schools)

Hope you feel better....

Kreink-I feel so awful for you! But do not feel bad talking about poo, this is a place that will not judge you, we all have bowel issues! When I was on 3600 mg. gabapentin,I was still as constipated as before I began taking it, I just can not see that as the problem, but I am not a doctor. Due to the opiates,etc., that I take, I was constipated all of the time, for 2-3 weeks at a time, which is dangerous.I read about xenical one day, saw the side effects included loose stools, got excited, doctor let me try it, works like a charm, as long as i take it with abit of fat.Go and get checked, you do not need to live like this!

I have been off the Omeperazol for almost 2 weeks now, and there has not been a change. Still having issues with soft bowel movements that are difficult to prevent. Went for a walk yesterday and got 2 miles away and began to have problems.:(

I am not ingesting anything with Olestra or Sorbitol and I am following my dieticians recommended diet. I had my gastric emptying study back in August/September.

At the time I was having problems that put me in the hospital several times over the summer. My doc put me on domperidone with each meal. I have been able to scale back my use of domperidone with no discomfort or nausea.

Its possible it may be medication related and I will bring that up with my doc. Back in december my pain meds were increased somewhat and the cymbalta was added to the gabapentin. Maybe it is related to that.

Well, I think you need to see the doctor.

Typically drugs cause symptoms in the beginning, and then the side effects become less as your system adjusts. Your Cymbalta dose is not high either, but some people are just very sensitive to the nausea/diarrhea it can cause. There are people who cannot take any SSRIs because of this side effect.

Dromperidone (Motilium) increases movement, and if you still use ANY of it, even a small amount, it might be the culprit when combined with the other two drugs you are taking.

Keep us in the loop. It may be you just have a bug, and this will be self limiting with time.

It very well may be a bug that is resistant to everything you've tried
so far. I mean..... resistant to everything!
Possibly some form of really strong antibiotic will help,
but bugs become resistant to that as well.
We've battled some strange bugs with my quadriplegic son.
He is susceptible to many more things than I knew existed.
We also are dealing with MRSA, & that is a real quandary.

Hi Kreink,

I would try the Fibre for bulking as Mrs.D has suggested. I have had both bowel and bladder problems from meds. I am now on 2 different meds for reflux and experiencing bloating,fullness,breathlesness. I was on a beta blocker called metropropol (Sp?)

My god how that thing messed up my digestion. I thought it was gastroparesis for sure as I had so many of the symptoms. Turned out it was the Beta Blocker. I would have food & liquid go up and down up and down all day. It was so embarressing as people could here it. It was so noisy it was like a concert. I had really bad bloating and spasms in my esophagus. It was misery.

It may take a while to normalise if one of your meds is the culprit. Don't give up hope. The problem could go away as quick as it came. There was also a few other members on here who were posting about similar problems and both eventually resolved.

I don't have diareah or like what you are describing but do have stomach conditions and excess gas where my lower stomach fills up with so much air. Anyhow a few thoughts I have. I know you said you are following a diet that was prescribed but have you looked at other foods that may have an effect like dairy? I know the mention of sorbitol but anything else that you have changed since this happened in your diet or even vitamins?I know in the past you said you were on a low fiber diet but what about now and do you think possibly trying a bland. The only other thing I can suggest about digestion is to eat mini meals that are balanced cause it may be easier on the system. Feel better

same problem
 

Hello!

I do realize now that your post was a long time ago. I was wanting to share with you that I am having the same "messy" and distressful problem you are/were, but I have discovered why. It's the Gabapentin. I did a lot of clinical digging into their research and they said that it can cause some issues, but they admitted to nothing like what we are going through. It's several times a day and happens at night. I guess one good point about being a girl is Ive just gone out and bought a ton of period pads, but (and sorry for the graphic nature) the slimy mess left on me to clean is disgusting. I've never experienced this an don't know what to do! There is NO warning, ans I cant even feel it happening. It's not like a regular bowel movement at all.

Do you have any answers? I have to be on it a few ore weeks

Thanks. Amy