I was diagnosed with IBS about 20 years ago, which I really think is bull, because they really couldn't figure out the real reason behind me suddenly having stomach cramps and diarrhea all the time. I even spent a week at Mayo - and nothing. So, I have been living with it and understand when to eat, what not to eat, etc.
I was diagnosed with Lupus April 2012. Now that kicked my butt. I am on a multitude of drugs and seem to be pretty stable regarding Lupus. No recent outbreaks and my anxiousness has been resolved with another medication (Tramadol- I think).
Here is the weird thing. My appetite has been decreasing over the past couple of weeks. Not complaining about it because I really need to lose the weight. I haven't really changed my eating habits. I just eat a lot less than I used too. I also seemed to of almost cut cheese out of my diet, which is weird b/c I LOVE cheese. (there is a purpose for that comment).
Day before yesterday, I started having bad stomach cramps and feeling nauseous. As I was sitting on the royal throne, I realized that I had not had a BM for a couple of days - which is really weird. I sat there for an hour. Nothing. Later that day, I did the same thing. After about an hour (and no feeling in my legs) I started straining and rocking back and forth. I felt like I was going to pass a 20 lb baby through my rectum. It was sort of like my intestines went to sleep for 3 - 4 days and everything got impacted and started turning into rock. At one point - GROSS PART - I had to take tissue and help dig out parts to try and help the process. Seriously, this stuff was as hard as a rock. Couldn't get things to pass. So, I stood up and sort of shuffled around for a while until I could get to the point of going to CVS to get a laxative. Took the maximum amount and after about 4 hours I finally got part of it out. Hurt like HELL. The next morning I felt awful. Didn't go into work. I was sick on my stomach, run down and just felt terrible. Late last night, I think I finally got the rest of the backed up out of my system and then had diarrhea.
Long story - but has anyone else out there had any issues with intestines, etc.?
I have had this experience, so you are not alone. Decrease in appetite and then constipation. And I also felt so FULL, like I had eaten a 9 course meal, just stuffed and actually I had barely eaten. Lupus is dehydrating, are you a good water drinker? Good Clear H2O is important for me. Normally though, I have an urgency to go and I'd better get there PDQ! The plaquenil does that to me I think.
At the mayo clinic did they do any food intolorences. Not allergies. I had your symptoms for years the. Diagnosed with lupus and ibs I’ve had colonoscopies endoscopies gall bladder studies and nothing is wRong. I myself after reading and investigating found food intolorences have everything to do with IBS. First eliminate the 5 major food allergens one at a time for at least a week. Im not allergic, but have intolerance to wheat, gluten and cows milk product yes including choColate. Look into this it takes time but it’s with it. Good luck
My intestines do that.They seem to go to sleep for a few days, and I have hard stool.I know that Lupus can cause stomach trouble.I take stool softeners that helps.No ones ever helped me with the fact my stomach goes to sleep...May not have any helpful advise except Im with you.
Please remember that everyone has the right to their opinions and that no one need denegrate or imply that another member's opinion on this site.
That said, I have had that occur occaisionally and rbluejay43, take a stool softener which helps immensely.
I would ask at your next Dr. visit, however I have taken Tramadol and was told it was an anti-depressant not an opioid although it has a similar effect as one.
Miller482 what you are going through sounds terribly uncomfortable. I hope it gets better. I used to have stomach/intestinal issues (no diarrhea, yes constipation, nausea) until I started taking probiotics twice a day and eating plain yogurt. I hate yogurt, but read a suggestion that it be used instead of sour cream. I also put yogurt in smoothies. Probiotics and yogurt are supposed to help with both diarrhea and constipation. Aloe vera juice is good for constipation. It can be mixed into a glass of juice or cup of tea.
I have gone thru these problems for 40 years. Sometimes I have severe sweating with them and have vomiting at the same time. At one time I would faint quite a few times also. Then about ten years ago when I had gall bladder removal the surgeon told me that part of my lower bowel is paralyzed. Now I rarely have these episodes but I make a high protein diet shake with fruit in them and I don't have the same bowel problems. Despirte everything and even using a diet protein shake supplement I still gain weight! If only I would lose. I don't even lose weight on a diet. My metabolism is lousy and my exercise, what little there has been due to issues, is non existent now due to my foot problems. I just put it all down to "part of life". I am too tired to figure out anything else. :)
Before I was diagnosed with Lupus (which I believe I have had for quite a while w/o diagnosis), I had similar problems. Finally my colon ruptured and I ended up with peritonitis and a colostomy. It happened again while I was still in the hopsital and again, peritonitis and all of the colon gone. It turns out that the bouts of constipation were caused by diverticulitis and the rupture was from taking too many laxatives (Dr. prescribed). So, when someone talks about the kind of constipation you are describing, I say go to a gastroenterologist NOW before anything awful happens. You are drinking a lot of water and sounds like you also watch your diet - something else may be going on. Hope you find some relief soon!
If I scare any of you into getting checked, I consider it a blessing! I don't want anyone to go through what I went through just because I hated the idea of having an exam... Having and dealing with a colostomy has been as life changing as dealing with lupus and all of the other autoimmune diseases I have. Please, don't self diagnose...get a checkup!
I have IBS-C. If you are taking any medication that says may cause constipation and you already have gut problems then you have to take that into consideration. When people become backed up they feel full and do not want to eat. IBS can go either way. You can be constantly going to the bathroom or not at all. If I do not keep up on taking laxatives I get very constipated. My cramping at times has been so bad I've almost passed out and I have to keep a bucket near me in case I get sick. It's like being in labor for me. 5 hours is the longest attack I've had and I wanted to die.
If you read other posts you will see that even though that medication you are taking is good for anxiety it is also very addicting and there was someone from these boards who ended up having to go to rehab to get off the pill. I was given it and never took it once I full read up on the medication. Always look into what the long term side effects can be as well. I think IBS is a BS diagnoses personally but after I had many tests there was nothing else they could label me as having. Try to stay away from dairy and pay attention to how often you use the bathroom. If you go for more then a day I would suggest trying a stool softener first and if that does not work take a non stimulant laxative.
I have had the same symptoms for many years, finally a the gastro did a test on me to check and see if I had gastroperesis, she said "I'm sure you dont because its usually in severe diabetics and elderly" so suffice to say I do have it. It means slow stomach emptying. There is a treatment for it called Reglan but I try to take it sparingly because it can all of a sudden have bad side effects. There are times that I just need it, nothing moves, feel like I aate a big thanksgiving dinner. I also was told to take miralax everyday. So between, miralax, eating at least 1 fruit a day, salad, 2 tbls flaxmeal on my cerial I usually can keep it under control. Hope that helps!
Alley
prtyblueyz said:
I have IBS-C. If you are taking any medication that says may cause constipation and you already have gut problems then you have to take that into consideration. When people become backed up they feel full and do not want to eat. IBS can go either way. You can be constantly going to the bathroom or not at all. If I do not keep up on taking laxatives I get very constipated. My cramping at times has been so bad I've almost passed out and I have to keep a bucket near me in case I get sick. It's like being in labor for me. 5 hours is the longest attack I've had and I wanted to die.
If you read other posts you will see that even though that medication you are taking is good for anxiety it is also very addicting and there was someone from these boards who ended up having to go to rehab to get off the pill. I was given it and never took it once I full read up on the medication. Always look into what the long term side effects can be as well. I think IBS is a BS diagnoses personally but after I had many tests there was nothing else they could label me as having. Try to stay away from dairy and pay attention to how often you use the bathroom. If you go for more then a day I would suggest trying a stool softener first and if that does not work take a non stimulant laxative.
Hello members... I would appreciate it, if this discussion is kept to the main point it was refering to IBS complication's and not judging what members take.... regarding Medications and Addictions
All individuals with Lupus or IBS are given meds to help suite there bodies and if any signs of symptoms being to much, then they should either refer back to their specialists or GP's for a furthur consultation.
AS WE ALL ACT TO MEDICATIONS IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
None of we are Doctor's to advise on medication's and what should and should'nt be taken, only to give one another our experiences of a situation and what medications help we, then it's up to each individual to act how they think best with their specialists.
(Plus new members need help and positive responses from we...not negative replies regarding previous postings on medications)
PLEASE KEEP TO THE DISCUSSION POSTED - Thank you Terri :)
I'm not going to get into this with you. That was not my intentions at all. You took what I wrote and went way too far with it. I do not appreciate you acting like I do not care about others or for that matter do not understand what they are going through. Because what you said pretty much would of really set me off I'm just going to move on to another post and ignore this one from now on. Do not judge me, you don't know a thing about me and you have no idea what I think, how I feel or what my intentions were. You should take time to read what you write before you hit send. Make a mountain out of a hill doesn't help anyone either. I'm only human.
jujubeee said:
I don't usually say anything on these boards, but I've noticed that these posts are getting way to judgmental and scary. Addiction is a possibility but why go there? Do you not understand that many people with lupus are dealing with pain and may get relief from pain medications? Some of these women are young and have their whole lives ahead of them. Why scare them about the medications they are already taking? You are not a DOCTOR and I do not think you should be offering medical advice to young and naive women. Just because one person here posted about being sent to rehab for an addiction it doesn't mean that medication is BAD. It means that person had a particular problem. Statistics say that people with chronic pain DO NOT BECOME ADDICTED, so chances are she won't and you scaring her and/or degrading her is condescending just because she is on tramadol. It works for her anxiety and I feel like your scaring her out of it and I do not approve.
No wonder so many people are leaving this site. What is going on?
Julie
prtyblueyz said:
I have IBS-C. If you are taking any medication that says may cause constipation and you already have gut problems then you have to take that into consideration. When people become backed up they feel full and do not want to eat. IBS can go either way. You can be constantly going to the bathroom or not at all. If I do not keep up on taking laxatives I get very constipated. My cramping at times has been so bad I've almost passed out and I have to keep a bucket near me in case I get sick. It's like being in labor for me. 5 hours is the longest attack I've had and I wanted to die.
If you read other posts you will see that even though that medication you are taking is good for anxiety it is also very addicting and there was someone from these boards who ended up having to go to rehab to get off the pill. I was given it and never took it once I full read up on the medication. Always look into what the long term side effects can be as well. I think IBS is a BS diagnoses personally but after I had many tests there was nothing else they could label me as having. Try to stay away from dairy and pay attention to how often you use the bathroom. If you go for more then a day I would suggest trying a stool softener first and if that does not work take a non stimulant laxative.
I actually see a GI doctor amongst my bevy of specialists. I've had chronic upper stomach pain ever since I had my gallbladder out (4ish years ago). I was seeing her at the same time I went to my rheumy for the first time and after a bunch of tests that came back fine from the GI doctor, she had no clue what was causing my pain.
Then I told her about my Lupus diagnosis and she said, well at least we know what's causing it now. I have bouts of constipation then bouts of diarhea. I'm on a medicine called Hyocyamine that I take when I start having the debilitating stomach cramps, it's the only thing that helps.
I'm so sorry that you're going through this and hopefully you can get some relief.
I have also dealt with what you are describing. For me, we discovered I have become very sensitive to caffeine. More than a few ounces a day of caffeine of any type (for me it’s soda) makes it very difficult to have bowel movements. I make sure that I drink over 40 oz of water, I try to make sure it’s SmartWater because it has electrolytes that can leech out or become irregular. Good luck!
Many pain medications cause constipation. It's about how your body reacts and as diverse as this disease is, our reactions to the medications are just as diverse. There should be no judgement from anyone, as I am certain that were we to list all of our meds, someone had a bad experience with one of them and is not going to be a fan. I find that a stool softener helps when I feel like something like "Digestaid" or other natural probiotic. Just me.
Hugs,
DeAnne
maryjtome said:
im not sure what pain meds you are taking they can severly constipate you