A New Norman or Norma?

jgivens · Post by **jgivens** » Tue Jan 22, 2013 3:21 pm

I have not had D for 16 days now. Hoooooray! However, what I am having does not resemble Norma(n) for me in any way, shape, or form--literally! I hate to be so graphic, but I really want to know if this is what I should expect from now on. I can go 3-4 times a day and it is usually constipated stool that is either in the shape of pencils, (as in pencil-thin) or more like rabbit pellets. Is it going to always be this way or is this all part of healing and what 15 days of Pepto will do to a person. I cannot imagine how you people who have taken Pepto for 8 weeks have done it. I also know that desperate people do desperate things! Please, someone tell me what the new Norma(n) is supposed to look like. I realize that it may be different for everyone, but will I ever see Norman again?

Leah · Post by **Leah** » Tue Jan 22, 2013 7:57 pm

Jane, it sounds like you need to lower your dose of Pepto, but I will let others who have done this protocol, pipe in. ... but yay that it's working!

Leah

tlras · Post by **tlras** » Tue Jan 22, 2013 8:03 pm

Hi Jane,

I did the Pepto for 12 weeks and every now and then I would get a little constipated but I was only going once a day or every other day. It could be from the Pepto. Have you tried lowering the dose slightly? You might not need 8 pills a day. How much do you take? I actually did 7 pills a day as 8 made it harder for me to go to the bathroom. And, yes, a few times, they were like pellets and never thought I had a complete BM. Have you looked at the Bristol stool chart? It was a great topic of discussion at a New Year's Eve party I went too....lol! Oh my....my parties are just not the same anymore! More importantly, do you have pain?

Hope this helps some.

Terri

tlras · Post by **tlras** » Tue Jan 22, 2013 8:04 pm

Oh good....Leah agrees!

Terri

jgivens · Post by **jgivens** » Tue Jan 22, 2013 8:39 pm

I have not had any Pepto Bismol since January 6. I saw my gastroenterologist on the 9th of January. He wanted me to take it, but not even for 2 weeks. He was horrified when I told him that I had taken it for 15 days. He said, "Do you know how close bismuth is to arsenic on the periodic table?" So...January 6 was also the last time I had D.

It sounds like I should probably put in a call to his office and find out what to do about the constipation? I do not want to start the D. again, but the bowel movements I do have are certainly not Norman.

I will look at the Bristol stool chart--never heard of it before, thanks to both of you!

MaggieRedwings · Post by **MaggieRedwings** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 5:50 am

I would defininitely cut back on the Pepto. Never did anything for me but then again, I seem to be a bit different than everyone else on the healing scale.

Love, Maggie

tlras · Post by **tlras** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 8:35 am

Oh wow...didn't realize you were already off it. Maybe you are one of those who is going to alternate between C & D. Some on here do. It sounds like you definitely don't need the Pepto since you've been D free for 16 days. Apparently some doctors think differently in regards to Pepto. My doc was okay with the 2-month protocol. And our body is able to purge the Bismuth when taken in low doses. It didn't affect me at all.

I wish I knew what to tell you. Have you tried adding just a little bit of fiber? I went 3 days this week with no BM at all. All these bananas, rice, corn products I assume. So I ate some black eyed peas last night....just to increase my fiber a little and the little bit of extra fiber helped. I think I'm at the point in my healing where I can eat more veggies and even beans and therefore, hopefully not get constipated again. It was starting to get uncomfortable though I have to say I'll take that over the D I was having.

Terri

jgivens · Post by **jgivens** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 8:57 am

Yes, I have been so busy eating things to "bind" that now I'm wondering how to get a happy medium/balance. I see my acupuncturist today and she might have something to "move" me along. I know that I have been somewhat dehydrated for weeks if not months and may just all be culminating with C. I am drinking LOTS of fluids all day long for the last 2 weeks.
I will call my Dr tomorrow if eating something with some fiber in it doesn't do it today. I feel like I have to go and even have cramping and spasms but---nothing! So frustrating...

Leah · Post by **Leah** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 12:32 pm

I agree. You are probably ready to add some things into your diet. I have bean able to add beans, salad, and many veggies I was staying away from previously. That would be the natural way to get to where you want to be. It's good news really. I am sure you will find the right amount of fiber for your system. good luck

Leah

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 2:04 pm

Narrow BM's can be an indicator that there is inflammation

gross part BM conversation - what colour is it?
the darker the colour the longer the transit time and this can be an indicator that you might be slightly constipated

Post by **tex** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 4:37 pm

Gabes wrote:Narrow BM's can be an indicator that there is inflammation

"Ribbon" or "pencil" shaped BMs are the result of either swelling or inflammation or both (or a stenosis in the colon, which should be noted on the endoscopy report from the colonoscopy exam, if a stenosis is present).

Tex

jgivens · Post by **jgivens** » Wed Jan 23, 2013 7:24 pm

Thanks, Tex and Gabes and all who have weighed in on this. My acupuncturist also pointed out that my digestive system is so screwed up right now that it is not sure how it is supposed to behave. Seven months of diarrhea, two weeks of Pepto Bismol and I want everything to be normal again. I guess that IS expecting a bit much!

In addition to the needles, she did infrared lights on my tummy and cupping. The cupping was very interesting and I think helpful. It really made my gut growl as only an MCers gut can growl.

I'm sure that there is probably still inflammation in my colon, as the stools I do have though they are dry, (and light colored) look like there is still quite a bit of mucous. Not as much as when I was having D, but enough that I can see it.

I think this is a time for me to use a lot of patience and I DID get some dried apricots today that in the past have always made me have to go. I had a few and can feel that there is progress toward some movement. We'll see!

Fish2575 · Post by **Fish2575** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 1:59 am

I have also heard that "pencil poops" can be a sign of rapid transit through the system or a blockage (thin because they are squeezing past something-the same idea with inflammation) With the pellets it is possibly that.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bristol_stool_scale

In case you don't already have it!

And if you have extra time on your hands to listen to something, I respect these guys for their knowledge:

http://scdlifestyle.com/2011/09/scd-ant ... odcast-26/

Don't know if the links will work

jgivens · Post by **jgivens** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 1:18 pm

Thanks for the websites. I had found the Bristol Scale. Never knew such a thing existed, but of course, it does. Thank you to the very polite UK docs who came up with it!

I have the SCD book but did not know about this website. Very helpful.

And last but not least, I had some dried apricots yesterday and some flax seed oil and between that and the acupuncture I received, I am happy to report that I approached the most Norma(n) today than i have in 7 1/2 months! Finally some relief and no diarrhea as I was so afraid of if I tried anything new in my diet.

I have to get over that fear of trying something new and remind myself that the worst that can happen is that I might have diarrhea for a day or two. I will not let it go for 7 months again--ever--without at least trying all of the new "tools" I have now at my disposal thanks to this group and a fantastic gastroenterologist.

tlras · Post by **tlras** » Thu Jan 24, 2013 1:43 pm

Great news Jane! Glad the little bit of added fiber helped!

Terri