GI doc visit and finally got Budesonide

cjbndtsn · Post by **cjbndtsn** » Thu Aug 30, 2012 3:35 pm

Hi All,
Just had my 1st visit with GI after 8 weeks of pepto treatments. She thinks there is a great improvement since I'm not going 10 to 12 times a day and wanted me to continue pepto instead of a steroid. She thinks that going 2 to 5 times a day is good and that I will probably never have a formed stool again. She said that according to Mayo CLinic that once you start it you won't ever come off of it. I said no way!!!! I'm pepto'd out and ready for chgs. I told her the only reason I started seeing chgs is because I went GF over 3 weeks ago. She said well it won't hurt you to do that but you have no Allergies to Gluten. So therefore that is not what is seeing the improvement!! My tests came back negative when they tested me for celiac. I wanted to just start laughing because I have read so much on here about how that cannot be an accurate test. I have so much more confidence in this forum than I do her. So I got the script and start it tomorrow. She is also really hung up on my type 2 diabetic medicine 'Metformin' and is convinced that that is also the reason why I haven't stopped so I'm going to check with my family doc about that. I told her I had 1 'normal' in 3 1/2 months and she then corrected me that they don't use the word normal because no one has normal stools everyones is different. REALLY???? I really do NOT care for her at all but I got the script so I grumbled through the visit.
ANyone have any thoughts on the Metformin???
Also.....I also only got part of my script filled because they said that Budesonide is back-ordered everywhere at Walgreens and they are having trouble getting it. Has anyone else seen that issue??? I'm scared to start this and then not be able to get the rest filled because they can't get it.
Pretty sad when I couldn't wait to get home so I could type this up to you all and get your advice.....lol
thanks all

Post by **tex** » Thu Aug 30, 2012 6:10 pm

Hi Cathy,

I don't know much about Metformin (and I have never taken it), but I do know that the most common side effect is said to be diarrhea, unfortunately. Even a blind hog finds an acorn now and then, so your doc could possibly be right about that.

I have to disagree with your doctor about her claimed nonexistence of "normal" BMs, though. Stools are not snowflakes, and there is most definitely a normal pattern that most people achieve when everything in their digestive system is working properly. The problem with your doctor's perception of that phenomenon is that she typically sees sick people, not "normal" people, so she has no way to relate to normal. She probably has untreated, non-celiac gluten sensitivity herself, so she naturally assumes that everyone else is just like her.

Tex

cjbndtsn · Post by **cjbndtsn** » Thu Aug 30, 2012 6:22 pm

Tex............Exactly my thought............I knew I'd get some amusing comments as I could barely hold myself back while there. I just wanted that script!!!!! LOL :yourock:

I'm going with input from you thousands and not her. She was rude as heck........lord I hope this doesn't ever happen to her because she won't know how to treat it!!!!!

Leah · Post by **Leah** » Thu Aug 30, 2012 7:46 pm

What a horrible doctor Cathy. Well, at least you have you Rx. I would fill it and start using it. Is it just for a month 's worth? That gives you two weeks to keep going back to the pharmacy to get the rest. I haven't heard about any shortage of Budesonide. Is there another pharmacy you can try?

When you do start it, I hope it brings you swift relief :)

Leah

cjbndtsn · Post by **cjbndtsn** » Thu Aug 30, 2012 9:12 pm

Leah,
I'm going to start taking it tomorrow. I got 70 pills and I have to take 3 every morning for 6 weeks and then down to 2 a day. I have a little over 3 weeks to take to start with. With my insurance we can only fill at Walgreens. I called a couple others here in town but they didn't have any and said that I would have to get the rest of my 1st script filled at the Walgreens that started it.....that makes no sense to me since they can all call up my records and see exactly what happened but oh well. I'm anxious to start this and start recovering sooner. Since my 5 Guys fries last Sun I've had a really rough week so I'm ready for relief.

Leah · Post by **Leah** » Fri Aug 31, 2012 12:35 pm

Just remember Cathy that this is the time to really eat with your intolerances in mind because if the diet doesn't change, then your symptoms could come right back once you are off the Entocort. I hope it works quickly for you.
Leah

gluten · Post by **gluten** » Fri Aug 31, 2012 3:43 pm

Hi Cathy, There is such as thing as a normal stool. There are pictures on the Bristol Stool Chart. You can find it online by searching, " Have You Examined Your Stools/Poo Lately ". It also explains what each picture means. A friend who has type II diabetes had many loose bowels a day. She started taking a probiotic VSL-No3 one capsule a day and now she has some solid stools. She does not have MC. If you decide to take it call the surrounding drug stores for the best price. You do not need a script. Ask your doctor about taking it. If a doctor told me that there is no such thing as a normal stool I would look for another doctor. I used to have a normal stool and working hard to get back to the same. Send your doctor the link for the pictures. I do eat a gluten-free, no refined sugar and limited diary diet.

cjbndtsn · Post by **cjbndtsn** » Sat Sep 01, 2012 5:47 am

Yes I know what you mean.........I could probably count on my 10 fingers the total # of times I had D before this started. I was always NORMAL before. I have had several people ask me if I was taking a probiotic but I haven't yet because I don't know that much about them and haven't seen much on this forum about people using them. I do see my family doc this coming Wed because they are going to switch my Metformin (type 2 diabetic medicine) to something different since my GI doc is so hung up on that being the issue. I will ask him what his thoughts are with adding a probiotic. I just started my entocort and switched to Claritin yesterday so I'm hoping between the combination I will soon see relief. THe problem is with changing so many things at once I don't know how I will determine if 1 helped more that the other. I guess at that point if I start seeing NORMAL experiences again.....it doesn't matter what caused it as long as I can maintain it. THanks for the info on maybe trying probiotics!!!!

Leah · Post by **Leah** » Sat Sep 01, 2012 9:48 am

I used probiotics for the first six months of healing. I recently stopped ( because I am "normal") to see if I see a difference. Why spend the money if my flora is OK? If things act up, I will start up again. I have to add that I still do my daily dose of L-Glutamine. That will be my next experiment. One thing at a time :)

Leah

cjbndtsn · Post by **cjbndtsn** » Mon Sep 10, 2012 4:09 pm

Well a bit of an update on getting my script filled the rest of the way. I called Walgreen's and they did get more budesonide in so they can finish filling my script now. However my insurance rejected it because they just submitted the 70 pills they gave me and not the full 90 original amount. I understood that they billed insurance the full amount and then that was what I paid the copay on. But they only billed my insurance for the 70 pills so now I have to pay the rest!!!! What a racket!!!! I said NOWAY and that is what they should have told me to begin with and I would've tried another Walgreen's even in another town if necessary. I now have the Walgreen's manager involved and am suppose to find out tomorrow what THEY are going to do to resolve the issue.
Also.........my family doc DID get me into a new GI doc and I go see them on 28th of Sep. I hope this guy will be a bit more understanding and willing to listen than the original GI doc. She always made me feel like an idiot and that I couldn't possibly be having the trouble I was having. So We will see how that goes then.

thanks for listening(really reading) but I needed to vent and wondered again if anyone else is having trouble filling their script.

Post by **tex** » Mon Sep 10, 2012 5:14 pm

Cathy,

Depending on how Walgreen's handled your prescription, your insurance company might agree to pay their share of the other 20 pills if you pick them up 30 days after you received the first filling. IOW, that way it would look more like a monthly refill. Insurance companies don't like to pay for the same drug twice in any given month. If Walgreen's listed the 70 pills as the total amount of the prescription, though, that won't work.

Tex

Post by **Rosie** » Mon Sep 10, 2012 9:46 pm

Cathy, in the past when for some reason my pharmacy (Save-On) hasn't had the full prescription, they ALWAYS give me what what they have on hand, but don't bill until I pick up the rest of the prescription when it's available. Your pharmacy messed up and should make it right for you!!

Good luck!

Rosie