Stress and LC

tlras · Post by **tlras** » Sat Feb 02, 2013 2:23 pm

You are right, that is the BIG question! And it sounds like you are getting more fiber than I am at the moment. I'm like you and will not test out a salad as of yet. Last week I increased my vegetable intake and lowered some carbs and that seemed to help. I also started eating my red beans and rice again....though that hasn't helped me this week. I'm also afraid to try nuts as well. I'm thinking that if I add a fruit, maybe a pear or something, that that will probably do the trick for me. It is scary as I fear the D coming back but I've slowly been adding more fiber for the last few weeks and have had no issues. This surgery however, has made me sluggish. I'm fixing to brave some Plumsmart juice and see what happens. I think if we increase the fiber slowly, and listen to our bodies, then hopefully we can prevent the D.

I'll let you know how it goes. But so far the addition of beans and more veggies have not been an issue. I don't mind being a little constipated every now and then.....a welcome change from all the D. But this is my 3rd day without a BM so I gotta do something though I'm totally comfortable....weird.

Maybe I should try those apricots!

Terri

Post by **tex** » Sat Feb 02, 2013 5:03 pm

Terri,

If you were given any narcotic painkillers in connection with your procedure, they are very likely a contributing cause of slowed motility at this point. You may need a stool softener. When I was discharged from the hospital following surgery, I was prescribed ducosate calcium 240 mg, for that reason (one capsule per day).

Tex

Carriagehouse · Post by **Carriagehouse** » Sat Feb 02, 2013 5:55 pm

Terri,
I have had the same problem since my surgery on Wednesday and it is due to the pain meds. They advised me to start taking stool softeners as soon as I got home, which I did. I weaned myself off the pain meds as of Thursday night and I am just now (36 hours later) starting to have some success. A cup of decaf coffee actually helped. I have also eaten some fruit, which I had mostly eliminated since early December. Good luck!

Oh, and I'm down to one crutch AND I successfully made it upstairs and back down again this afternoon. Little victories :)

tlras · Post by **tlras** » Sat Feb 02, 2013 6:40 pm

But I don't wanna! lol! I haven't taken pain meds since right before they wheeled me into the OR. I refused them in the recovery room. I suppose the Toradol and the Percocet they gave me beforehand could be an issue along with being somewhat sedentary is what's causing the problem. The only fruit I found in the house were some grapes (no fiber there though) so I ate some of those. I'm now feeling the urge so I'm hoping to keep the Dulcolax in the medicine cabinet for now. I'm so bad about taking meds these days, but I will if I have to.

Great news Leslie! But a bummer you have to deal with stairs. Yikes! Be careful. Glad to hear your system is getting back to normal....well what's normal for us MC'ers anyway.

Terri

Carriagehouse · Post by **Carriagehouse** » Tue Feb 05, 2013 2:05 pm

I finally got all the meds out of my system and after 5 days of C caused by the pain meds, I am in the midst of a nasty flare. I don't think it's food related because I have remained GF/DF, but experiencing rapid transit with your leg in a brace that's locked at zero degrees is ...... challenging? A couple of times today I didn't think I would make it. So frustrating. Thinking perhaps it is being caused by stress? Had my first physical therapy appt yesterday and besides the stress of having to maneuver in and out of the car and drive myself, the session was really painful and I suffered all night. Trying all the calming techniques/suggestions. Sure hope this passes quickly :(

tlras · Post by **tlras** » Tue Feb 05, 2013 3:19 pm

Bless your heart, Leslie! And you had to get to PT by yourself.....that can definitely be stressful. If you are in a lot of pain, maybe you can take one of your painkillers? Probably not something you want to do as I hear weaning off those type of drugs can be hard as they can get addicting. I have heard of surgeries causing flares which was why I was terrified to have my surgery in the first place. And you have just begun in the healing process so I'm not surprised to hear that you are in a flare. I do hope it's short-lived and that it may just be from the stress of the surgery and dealing with this added pain. You are in need of that toilet you posted a pic of!! I feel for ya. Hang in there please and try not to stress too much.

I keep waiting for a flare to happen as I got a little bloated last night. So far so good. I managed to finally conquer the C from my surgery but things are still slightly sluggish. My plumsmart juice, Lara Bar and pineapple did the trick.

Praying your flare goes away soon! Is it worse than before the surgery?

Terri

Post by **tex** » Tue Feb 05, 2013 3:21 pm

Hi Leslie,

That's a heck of a note, but you're probably correct that the stress is playing a big part in your flare. In the meantime, if you haven't already tried it, you might find Imodium to be beneficial. It should at least remove the lion's share of the urgency.

Here's hoping your digestive system will settle down soon.

Tex

tlras · Post by **tlras** » Tue Feb 05, 2013 3:25 pm

OH yes, Imodium is some good stuff!! That or Pepto. Feel better!

Terri

Leah · Post by **Leah** » Tue Feb 05, 2013 4:22 pm

Oh Leslie. I feel for you! People forget that stress doesn't just mean mental stress. Your body is PHYSICALLY stressed right now, so it's no wonder you have flared. So sorry. Tex had a good suggestion with the Immodium.
Feel better soon
Leah

Carriagehouse · Post by **Carriagehouse** » Tue Feb 05, 2013 6:40 pm

Thanks Terri, Tex & Leah
Will try the Immodium, thanks. Every time I put anything in my mouth (even water) it is instantaneous. Yep, Terri, it is quite a bit worse. Might have to pull out the Cholestrymine powder for a couple of days ..... I'm guessing the healing process will be delayed with little nutrition and and virtually no sleep.

tlras · Post by **tlras** » Tue Feb 05, 2013 7:22 pm

I know this is after the fact...but did you check to see if your pain killers and stool softeners did not contain gluten? I avoided the stool softener as I figured any type of laxative was gonna cause a problem eventually. That may not be the case with you but just something that crossed my mind. Stay away from the fruit! That could have set you off. I'm now suffering from an inflamed, irritated bottom due to my last 2 Bm's not being as comfortable as they should be. So I'm screwed either way I look at it. Hopefully, it'll get better soon. Feel like I gave birth again...jeez!! Plus, I'm having what feels like bladder spasms.

I hope you feel much better tomorrow! I'll be thinking of you. Let us know how the Imodium works!

Terri

Carriagehouse · Post by **Carriagehouse** » Tue Feb 05, 2013 7:32 pm

Terri - I get those spasms, too. I always called them colon spasms, but my GI said they're bowel spasms. He prescribed Hyoscyamine which dissolves on the tongue and works very quickly. Mine are so bad that I break into a cold sweat and faint if I don't remain laying down, preferably in a fetal position. I've told any number of doctors about them and they just brush them off. I have to say I have had fewer since eliminating most fiber from my diet.

jgivens · Post by **jgivens** » Tue Feb 05, 2013 9:16 pm

Leslie,
I am just hoping for your sake that the Imodium kicks in and you can get a good night's sleep. The stress to your body for day 1 in PT alone, would cause D. I hope that you are not climbing stairs to get to the bathroom.

Carriagehouse · Post by **Carriagehouse** » Wed Feb 06, 2013 3:49 pm

Nothing is helping and I've lost 2 more pounds. I still have to take Meloxicam, an anti-inflammatory, for swelling of my knee after surgery. (It is really swollen and badly bruised.) Could that be the culprit? This is really miserable.

jgivens · Post by **jgivens** » Wed Feb 06, 2013 7:02 pm

My vote is with the anti-inflammatory causing your D., Leslie. I have NEVER been able to take NSAIDS even years before I was diagnosed with colitis. It was as if I had taken a laxative--sometimes as much as 30 minutes after taking whichever one the orthopedic surgeon was "just sure would be great".

Can you do ice packs for the pain and swelling? That might be preferable to the NSAID. Who knows what is happening to you internally. A wretched state of affairs, indeed!