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Spooky
Some of you may have seen this my earlier posts in another other thread. I thought I got hit with a stomach virus last weekend, because I had the onset of very acute diarrhea, and I was feeling somewhat fatigued. Over the next several days I continued to have very liquid stools and a very gurgly stomach (mostly around my old stoma site - not entirely unusual for me, but the frequency and loudness of the sounds was), but otherwise felt physicall fine. I was taking imodium for a few days (as many as 4 per day) but stopped Thursday night. Anyway, stools finally started looking like they were firming up Thursday evening. They remained more solid through Friday. However, last night I was hit with horrible cramping (but more in the upper rather than lower abdomen), extremely loud and persistent belly gurgling, and I wasn't passing very much other than gas and small amounts of stool. I was also burping. I passed more stool this morning, and my stomach is a little quieter. Not much cramping today.

Is it possible that I've had a partial blockage all along, rather than stomach virus? I've had blockages before but they haven't presented this way. Also, I don't really FEEL any blocked area. I've upped my fluids but all I'm doing now is peeing.

Of course, being the weekend there's nobody I can call. Thankfully things seem a alittle better today. I really don't want to resort to the ER if things get worse. Not to mention, my family is overseas until the end of the month, so if I had to go in, I've got nobody to come and feed the cat. *sigh*

Also, I just had my 6 month follow up with the GI last month--he's going to think I'm a hypochondriac if I bug him again so soon.

2013 has been a crappy year for me. :/

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TE MarieTE MarieMember
Do you have dry cat food? We leave our cat for days with lots of food and water and he's ok. If I were you I'd do that plus a can of whatever you normally feed your cat.

If it gets worse then you need to go in. For now please stick to Broths and the apple and white grape juices - you know. I hope you don't have a blockage. Are there any urgent care facilities around you? Would they have the kind of imaging machines needed to see if you have a blockage? Can you feel a tender point anywhere? I get them under my stoma and around my belly button sites. I'd also put a heating pad on my abdomen as well.

Can you call your doctor's service and see if s/he is on call this weekend? You might get lucky and s/he is on call, otherwise they usually won't help. I did get my GI's partner to call me in an antibiotic once when I thought my c.diff was back and I was 5 states away - so you don't know unless you ask the question.

Feel well!
TE Marie
SpookySpookyMember
If worst came to worst, she'd probably be ok for a few days. I've left her overnight before. I'm just thinking worse case scenario, in case I'd have to leave her for 4 or 5 days.

I'm not as bad today; passed some stool and gas. Still gurgling. No cramps. I sometimes have a tender spot below the old stoma side; I can't really feel anything there, though.

My GI doesn't have a weekend service. There is an oncall for my GP but only until 3; I didn't get a call back. They'd probably just tell me to go to the ER. There is an urgent care I could go to tomorrow if necessary.

I walked around the block; I will probably go again shortly.
Spooky
TE MarieTE MarieMember
It sounds good you passed some stool. You might have a partial and walking around helps too! Those spots are the worst for me, sometimes they get super hard and I have no idea why.

I see you live in Canada so guess you wouldn't have an insurance problem if you had to go to the ER. I just hate them here. Maybe they are better up in your neck of the woods Wink
TE Marie
CTBarristerCTBarristerMember
I have had partial blockages which resolved through walking. One of them was brought on by taking too much imodium. It is very dangerous IMHO to take a lot of imodium if you have any kind of blockage history, and/or are concurrently taking antibiotics or other agents that can slow things down. The fact that you passed stool indicates it is a partial at worst, and if you keep walking it will pass.
CTBarrister
suebearsuebearMember
It does sound as if you never had a virus, that this is a PO located around your stoma site. If it happens again, massage the area, drink sugary drinks and walk. And since you weren't taking imodium after Thursday, and all was normal Friday until the evening, you might have a build up of adhesions there. If you continue to pass gas and stool, stick to soft foods until you can be seen.

Sue Big Grin
suebear
SpookySpookyMember
I already know I do form adhesions, so an adhesion related blockage would be no surprise to me, though obviously hugely discouraging if this were the case. I'm drinking a ton; passed a little more stool this evening. It's very thick now. If it is a blockage, it's definitely a partial one, though I've never had one with the pouch before, only when I had my ileo (and 2 post-op). Thanks for the replies. Hopefully I can ride this out until I can see my own doctor. Really hate the ER. I've basically never had positive outcomes when I've had to go.
Spooky
SpookySpookyMember
Well, it's interesting. I saw my GI and a resident this morning. They think I probably did have a virus, and that I might have given myself a partial obstruction by taking imodium! I wasn't taking that much, but I guess consistenty taking it over 3-4 days caused the problem. I have since been passing some stool and I no longer feel any discomfort, and they thought my belly felt fine, so they didn't want to do any imaging (I've already been irradiated to death, and because I had MRI enterography 6 months ago which showed no narrowing or kinks). They're giving me to Friday. I'm supposed to call back then if I'm not feeling better, and then they'll either do an x-ray or get me in for a scope on Monday if required, in case I have pouchitis (I don't think I do. Pouch feels fine and I have no urgency.).

BUT... and this is a whole other area of bad news. My GI is leaving at the end of summer. Frowner I'm so disappointed; I really like him and this is yet another blow. I'm being referred to someone else in the unit--but ironically, the doctor they are referring me to is the same GI I was referred to 18 months ago, but he was too busy to see me. I mentioned that to the secretary, but she said that since I'm being "referred from within" that they will make every effort to accommodate me. I was also given a card for the IBD staff nurse, who I can call any time if I have problems or questions. At least that's something, but finding a new GI was a process for me and now I'm starting this all over again. Frowner

But I guess, going forward, I may not be able to rely on imodium. Not that I ever used it heavily--I'd take 1-2 here and there, before a long car trip or a concert, etc. Frowner
Spooky
CTBarristerCTBarristerMember
quote:
They think I probably did have a virus, and that I might have given myself a partial obstruction by taking imodium!


That is also what I thought when I read your other posts. I did it to myself taking not very much imodium - like 4 in a 12 hour span, but it was coupled with antibiotics.

Imodium cannot be taken like it is candy. There is a tendency to think it is no big deal to pop a few here and there, because it is sold over the counter and how can it be a big deal to pop something sold over the counter like candy is? Plus when you are having diarrhea, you just want to throw things at it to slow things down. Normally it is a better idea to take Pepto Bismol to get this particular job done, although I understand they told you not to take it, which I find weird because I have never heard PB as opposed to NSAIDs being tied to bleeding. Anyone who is prone to blockages should be very careful taking imodium (especially if also taking antibiotics) and err on the side of less rather than more.
CTBarrister
SpookySpookyMember
I have never popped imodium like candy. Smiler I've also never had a blockage with the pouch, until now (if that is indeed what it was, which is very likely. My prior blockages were post surgical, and I had one partial with the ileostomy caused by eating chop suey--I now avoid bean sprouts). I took imodium only when needed, i.e. before a car ride, weddings, concert, etc; most weeks I didn't take it at all. The most I've ever taken in a day has been 4, which I guess is 4 too many. But it appears the combination of perhaps having a virus, taking the imodium for 3-4 days in a row AND all the thickening foods I was eating on top of everything else maybe created the problem. Again, I always have used imodium sparingly. I may now not use it at all. Ironic, since my surgeon felt it was fine for me to take up to 8 a day and actually encouraged it at one point.

Pepto Bismol has some properties similar to aspirin, actually, so I suppose if you have a sensitivity to it and there is already a problem, it could contribute to bleeding. I'm actually not the first. I believe Dave who used to post on this forum had a bleeding problem which was eventually attributed to PB.

I'm moping about my GI still, though. :/
Spooky
kathy smithkathy smithMember
I'm so sorry that you're losing your GI. With all the doctors some of us have seen, when finding a good one, it would be wonderful if the practiced forever.

I would think that if you haven't had problems with Imodium in the past that you could probably continue to take it for 'special' occasions since you weren't taking it continually. I think you're right, it was probably a combination of thickening foods and Imodium. Some people are more sensitive to a particular medication than others. I can, and have, taken 8 per day for an extended period of time when on vacation (or even more though I know one supposedly doesn't receive any added benefit beyond 8).

Everyone reacts differently and you're always aware of how YOU react to food and meds. You are your own best advocate.

kathy Big Grin
kathy smith
SpookySpookyMember
Thanks. Smiler It is definitely a blow losing my GI. I've only been seeing him for a year, but I was really impressed by him from the start, he was very personable and accommodating, extremely knowledgeable about pouch issues. He'll be tough to replicate.

You are definitely right; we are all very individual. As with food tolerances, it's whatever is right for us. I may eventually go back to taking an imodium here or there and I'll probably always bring it with me when travelling, but I'm not sure I'll be taking it any time soon, nor will I ever take more than a couple a day.
Spooky
TE MarieTE MarieMember
Spooky are you still sore under your stoma? I have several places that are sore.

I'm glad they think things are going to work them selves out and also think imodium is better than PB. My Mayo GI has me taking Prescription Lopermide capsules vs OTC. When I get pouchitis my stools are water like and these work fast. He told me last year to quit taking pepto bismol. I have chronic cuffitis so that makes sense.

CTBarrister is correct, the first dose of antibiotics quickly slows everything down but Spooky wasn't taking antibiotics.

I'm sorry you are loosing your doctor. I hated it when my GP retired. She referred me to a wonderful Internist that turned out to be a God's send for me. Hopefully your referral will turn out to be a good one too.
TE Marie
SpookySpookyMember
I am doing a little better. No specific sore spots. I'm not 100% though. In terms of frequency and consistency, I'm somewhat slower than I usually am but I am passing stool and gas and I'm no longer in discomfort; that is why they want me to wait until Friday, as on exam my belly felt fine and I wasn't in distress, and often these things do resolve themselves.

Cipro really slows me down, almost immediately. But in general it makes me feel lousy so it's an antibiotic I'll probably avoid in the future. If need be, I'd rather just stick to Flagyl. But hopefully we can avoid any antibiotic course.

Yeah, I hope any new doctor I see will be just as good. I just hate having to start over. Not to mention, there's no telling how long I'll have to wait for an appointment, and I find that a little distressing, in case I'm "left hanging" in the interim.
Spooky

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