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new ideas to control diarrhea?

cp20855
0 Recommendations

Hi,
We learned recently about liquid Lomotil, made for children but more easily absorbed for adults. My husband has been using what the pharmacist thinks is a huge amount (20 ml, 4 times a day), and it does seem to be helping.

He also takes DTO (deodorized tincture of opium) and trazadone (sleep med that has constipation as side effect).

Also helps if he eats only rice (I cook it in fat-free chicken broth) and chicken (prepared w/o fat). We're working on expanding the diet one food at a time.

Some of other things that haven't helped: cholestyramine, octreotide, codeine pills.

Just wondered if anyone has found anything else that helps!

Thanks,
Carol

Explore topics in this discussion:

Cholestyramine Constipation Short bowel syndrome Trazadone Diarrhea Sandostatin Morphine

15 replies

oleyfriends

Two articles that might help:

Dietary Management for Short Bowel Syndrome: What You Eat Does Matter http://www.oley.org/lifeline/Dietary_Management_SBS.html

Controlling Diarrhea in Patients With Short Bowel Syndrome
http://www.oley.org/lifeline/95-015.html

Oley Staff

dreamlady1931

Carol,

I had a lot of difficulty managing diarrhea when i first had my bowel resection. While i took Lomotil, i hated the way it made me feel--like someone filled my gut with cement--but i still had diarrhea.

What worked really well for me was a product called Ceralyte. It works on osmolality of the gut--using a large rice molecule to help with fluid absorption. That is one way it is different from other oral rehydration solutions. It was used in 3rd world nations to combat diarrhea and is now often used by triathletes, i'm told.
It's a bit spendy. But it really helped me alot.

You can find it at Ceralyte.com. I think they have some trial packages:--if not, i'd be willing to send you a couple packages to try.

I also know of a mom who boils rice until it totally disintegrate: like the rice molecule in the ceralyte, i would guess. Then use that fluid to drink--i'd probably add a flavoring--but there are many out there now.
Good luck with this!
Mary

cp20855

Thanks, he does drink Ceralyte as rehydration fluid. Don't think it stops the diarrhea.

cp20855

Thanks, Oley staff. Good to be reminded of all these things. And I guess he ought to try the cholestyramine (again) and benefiber and the stuff to bring back good bacteria and the stuff to bring back good yeast. Should he do that all at once? Or one thing at a time?

oleyfriends

I'm not a clinician so I can't really answer your last question about whether to try all these new therapies at once. I'd ask your husband's physician.

cp20855

I have asked. He thinks one at a time. :(

Sheesh, I just found a grocery receipt for -- gatorade.

cheneyfox

Hey, I have severe diarrhea cuz of sbs and crohns. I was on morphine, after opium no longer worked and then sandostatin. Right now I'm in an intestinal rehab program. It involves diet. I'm missing most of all of my intestines and I'm on the edge. But I really think the IRP will help the most. I would check into finding one near u. Even tho I live in Dallas I have to travel 600 miles for this treatment.

CC

cp20855

Thanks for suggestions. It is getting better overall, but still Big D doesn't stand for Dallas in our house!

He's participating in a study of GLP2 == not just sure what it is -- a growth hormone, I believe. Anyway, a lot of pros in different field are contributing their expertise. I'll let you (all) know if anything comes of it.

Carol

oleyfriends

Carol,

Am happy to send you information on GLP2 if you are interested. Send your email to me at dahlr@mail.amc.edu.

GLP2 is a growth hormone that may help the bowel/intestines to adapt so they will absorb more nutrients and fluids. The goal is to reduce or eliminate the need for TPN in patients with short bowel syndrome.

Roslyn Dahl
Oley Staff Member
(800) 776-OLEY

cp20855

Thanks, Ros, sure, send glp2 info. i hope to be able to let YOU know more about it eventually!

oleyfriends

Carol --

In order to send the information on GLP2 I need your email address or a street address.

SEND EITHER TO MY EMAIL: dahlr@mail.amc.edu

Daughterhelpingmom

Hi Cheneyfox,

What exactly is intestinal rehabilitation? Is it a modification in diet, medications, etc.?

cheneyfox

It is a diet that helps create surface area and allows what intestines are left to work at their most optimum. I have 130 cm of my small intestines left and a little over a foot of large intestines and they say that this diet will keep my from having to be on TPN for the rest of my life and or have a transplant. They do use some medications but it doesn't rely on medications alone. I have been working on the IRP diet now for several weeks and while I am not where I need to be to get off TPN I can see a difference. I have to travel to Omaha to get this treatment because it isn't offered in Dallas. There are other hospitals that do this program in the US. The Cleveland Clinic, a couple of hospitals in Calfornia and I think the Mayo Clinic to name a few. If you would like info, I can scan and email you a portion of the information they sent me and you can get an idea of what to do. Please don't go off TPN WITHOUT medical professional help. It could kill you.

Cheryl

cp20855

yes, please! i would really appreciate seeing what is in this diet! ccleibee@gmail.com

Daughterhelpingmom

Hi Cheneyfox,

I would also like to see what's in this diet for my mom.
Can you email it to me at dwnfe07@yahoo.com.

Thanks
daughterhelpingmom

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