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**SandyRN** · 02-20-2007, 02:46 AM

I was going to suggest simple OTC Immodium and see how that does. It shouldn't dry you out as badly as the RX's and it works for me to stop that viscious cycle, most of the time anyway. I'm sorry your IBS is so bad right now...if it's not the IC then it's always something else!

I have taken Librax before, but that was well before my IC. I do remember it helping those awful cramps though.

**mela414** · 02-20-2007, 06:53 AM

Thanks Sandy. My uro's office called and we talked for a while. She thought it would be better for me to try a shorter acting med like Levsin SL. I am going to start with half of a pill under my tongue and see if it helps. I don't really have diarhea.....just lots of cramping ALL THE TIME....before I eat, after I eat...when I wake-up. I get so bloated after each meal and experience abdominal pain. My BM's are not the way they used to be.........but at least they are not water!(don't want to get to graphic here....haha). I also have a history of adhesions....and Zelnorm made me worse. I actually think I have an adhesion somewhere on the lowere right that is causing me problems. Sometimes I feel like there is a knife stabbing me there or even a pulling sensation. When the adhesion is acting up there is even more swelling and pulling after a BM. I am sure that sometime in the future this will have to be adressed again but for now I am trying to keep things moving easily with diet so as not to aggravate the adhesion but my IBS is pretty angry too! So there's actually a few things going on.
As usual, thanks for you input.

**topcop229** · 02-20-2007, 08:49 AM

Mel,
Sorry that you aren't feeling well and can't get the right meds. I hope that your doc comes up with something soon to help you out and relieve your symptoms.

Claudia

**yvette** · 02-20-2007, 09:46 AM

Mela: I have to agree with Sandy, but maybe try Immodium Advanced Chewables...the advanced chewables work faster than the caplets and the advanced version has simethicone to help with the bloating and gas.
I actaully jsut had an *episode* 15 min. ago and 1 immodium adv chewable did the trick.

Fennel tea I have to say helps with the bloating, gas discomfort really well. I hate the way it tastes (kinda like black licorice) but add enough table sugar and its tolerable.

I hope you find something that works!
Hugs,
y.

**mela414** · 02-20-2007, 12:23 PM

Thanks Yvette, I already take chewable gas-x tablets and they seem to help. My attacks are mostly cramps and bloating. Lately, when I go I have more bloating and pain afterwards. I seem to stay bloated until things calm down which is why I think adhesions are involved. Once there is movement, things get flared up from the activity and more gas gets trapped and causes more bloating. Just my theory.....or is this the way IBS feels like for everybody? I mean after you go shouldn't you be flat and calm???? With me I have more bloating and pain...hmmmmmmmm. I just don't know anymore.
I did fennel tea for a while and I actually like the flavor but my bladder cannot tolerate anything anymore! The only hot beverage I can drink is hot water with honey.
I don't think I need immodium at this point because I am not having diarhea......just loose.
The thing is I am hungry and want to eat but as soon as a bit of food goes in there the cramping starts. Sometimes water alone does it. This morning I had such bad cramping when I woke that I had sharp pains shooting way down there! This is nuts!

Oh well.........I feel like a freak talking about these things but between the IC and the IBS it gets to be too much. No one really understands....and I don't even bother saying much but it is hard to sit through a dinner with other people.
I took half a Levsin SL before dinner and I think I am handling it farely well....other than my heart beating a little faster and feeling a little buzzy I think I am OK....but right after I ate I had to run to the bathroom and now I am sore and swollen.

I hope that this med will get things to simmer down. If not....on to the next med.....but never again Pamine Forte!!!!!

**topcop229** · 02-20-2007, 12:32 PM

Mel,

You mentioned whether it's normal to be bloated after going, that you felt you should be "flat and calm." I don't know about others, but I've been freakishly bloated for weeks now, and going doesn't seem to improve it whatsoever...

I hope you can find something, whether OTC or from your doc, that will help you feel better and not have all that cramping after eating or drinking even water. You've got enough to deal with already, right!

**mela414** · 02-20-2007, 03:13 PM

Thanks Topcop. I'm not sure what is going on because I am experiencing bladder pain now too. Nothing out of the ordinary for dinner...so it can't be that. Could it be the Levsin? Oh ......I did have half a cookie (biscotti) that had some dried cranberries (something I never have!) but when I had one the other night I was OK....hhmmmmmm ...it was only tiny amount...not like a whole bowl of fresh berries! I'm very thirsty too....so I'm drinking a lot of water....another levsin side effect????
OK...gotta get back to my hot water bottle....I hope this passes soon. Let's see if this happens again when I take my levsin tomorrow.

**topcop229** · 02-20-2007, 04:02 PM

I guess it could be the cranberries, but you would think that since you had them the other night with no problem and only had a bit, it wouldn't bother you. But, I cannot even drink a SIP of soda or coffee with caffeine because it's my biggest trigger.

I have never taken that med, so I would check it out online and see what the side effects are and if your symptoms match up with that. I would keep getting as many fluids as you can and if you continue to see symptoms, let your doctor know in case you need to change meds.

**mela414** · 02-20-2007, 04:30 PM

I'm sucking down water as we speak (write)....I guess I won't know what triggered it until I take another dose and see what happens.

I just checked the ingredients on line....and it is sulfated which is something that I don't do well with either. Anything sulfated or citrated causes me to flare.....

The thirst and rapid heart rate are side effects..........damn I am so sensitive!

So, I guess i'll have to wait this out and see what tomorrow brings. I already asked my dr to mail me a script of Donnatol just in case the Levsin SL was not for me. I might give the donnatol a try when I am feeling up to it and see how I make out with it.
Thanks for the support.........

**topcop229** · 02-20-2007, 04:38 PM

I'm no doctor, but if you are having the rapid heartbeat as well, you might not want to continue with that med...I would call the doc as soon as you can, maybe you can just stop taking it until your other script arrives. It's not worth messing with your heart!!

Claudia

**mela414** · 02-21-2007, 01:41 AM

I think you are right Claudia. I am not going to take it today. My bladder is in such pain! I'm pretty sure it was something in the pill that irritated me. I'm not even going to call the dr because there is already another script on the way. I have this problem with sensitivities to so many meds that after a while it's frustrating to keep telling them that I can't tolerate a med for one reason or another. I'ts also upsetting to hear their reaction...."oh you are the most sensitive patient we have"....or.... "boy, you can't take this or you can't take that".....or ...."I don't know what to give you because you are so delicate"!!!

I am going to stay home and rest today. it hurts too much to even get dressed and get out. I hate when this happens! I hate to have wasted days!
Just venting here. Thanks for tryng to help! Hope you have a good day!

**mela414** · 02-21-2007, 02:29 AM

I just checked the ingredients to donnatal online. I don't think I should take this drug either! It has some of the same ingredients(hyoscomine sulfate) with the addition of a phenobarbital, atropine sulfate and scopolomine sulfate! There's no way my body can handle this! I would be totally dried out!

I don't want to go through the same thing as when I took the Pamine Forte.....another type of scopolomine that totally dried me out and caused retention! I was so dry that I couldn't even swallow food!! OH NO!! I am panicking here!

I think I am going to go back to my natural approach with more probiotics. They seemed to help when I was taking them consistently.

**topcop229** · 02-21-2007, 05:09 AM

Please keep us posted on how your bladder feels without the meds. Also, don't think of it as a wasted day, think of it as a deserved day of rest and recovery. Watch some tv, read a book or magazine, just do something that makes you feel good and relaxed.

Claudia

**mela414** · 02-22-2007, 01:54 AM

Hi Claudia,
Thanks for the encouraging words. My bladder is less sore today but not back to my "normal". I am watching what I eat and drinking plenty of filtered water. I started back on my probiotics last night ....so let's see how long that takes to kick in. I did not take the meds and will not fill the prescription of the one that is due to arrive. I've researched the ingredient to a few other antispasmotics on line and have 2 that I might consider trying agian at some time in the future. They are not sulfated so I my bladder may be ok with them. For now, less is better and I'll have to work around the IBS more naturally.
I hope you have a good day...........thanks again.

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Help! I need an IC medication!

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