More on Bile Acids (an important piece of the MC puzzle?)

Grahm · Post by **Grahm** » Fri Oct 23, 2015 11:31 am

Thank you both, I have left a call for my Dr. asking for a script. We'll see.....

thanks,
Connie

JMulkey · Post by **JMulkey** » Sun Oct 25, 2015 12:09 pm

Ok, just wanted to update. For the first time in about 7 years, I have the most norman I have had. Although still not regular, only about three bm during the day. The one problem I have had, is such extreme acid!!! Unlike anything I've ever had. I've taken meds for my stomach acid since I was about 16, seriously. I started on Creamalin in High School, and have just progressed from there. Yesterday I took two prescription strength Nexium about 10 hours apart and four 1000 mg. Tums occasionally during the day and still had so much acid that when I started on my coffee this morning, I felt it all the way down and it hurt like the dickens!! So this morning I've done something different. I only used about 1/2 of a packet and I took it after I had eaten my meal, whereas Friday and Saturday I took it immediately before my meal. We'll see how things go. I may have to call for a different prescription. Will let you all know. So....it helped with the bad D that I have had for years on end (it just boggles my mind that I complained about having D for so many years before they decided to do something about it), but it caused my stomach acid to be much, much, much worse....keeping my fingers crossed!

RKrumland · Post by **RKrumland** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 12:28 am

Hi,

I have become intrigued with the discussion here and the possibility that cholestyramine could help me. At one point following my initial diagnosis my GI doc suggested I try something along these lines and I finally got my FP doc to switch my Lipitor prescription to Questran -- just today, haven't filled it yet. And I'm also considering the EnteroLab tests, but haven't done those yet.

So, the question arises ... if I get the Questran and start taking it, is it likely to interfere in any way with any of the EnteroLab tests?

Just wondering ...

Thanks,
-- Rand

Lilja · Post by **Lilja** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 2:57 am

Hi,

I haven't followed this discussion thoroughly, because I was convinced that this was nothing I suffered from.

I lost 12 kilos in 2013, and seem to be unable to gain weight, though I appreciate the 2 kilos I have gained since January this year.

In an attempt to get more proteins and fats, I had 2 deciliter of full fat coconut milk yesterday, and my stomach reacted promptly and I have run to the toilet all night.

I have been D free for the last year, but the coconut made me react.

Hopefully, this was just a one time case and a reaction to fat, which my body is not used to digest?

Lilia

dfpowell · Post by **dfpowell** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 8:43 am

Hi Rand,

You could call Enterolab and ask them if the medication would interfere with test results. I don't think that question has come up recently on the forum.

DJ · Post by DJ » Thu Oct 29, 2015 10:14 am

I'm home from work with D and a belly ache today so I did some reading. The idea of cholestyramine sounded appealing but I was worried that it might create additional "plumbing problems" because I have two big fat gallstones. Today I read that cholestyramine can be helpful to a person with gallstones. I'm seeing my Integrative Practitioner on Monday and I will discuss this with her. I have cautiously hopeful thoughts and I would be happy to drink liquid sand if it will calm my gut. :drinkingmedicine:

Post by **tex** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 4:33 pm

Lilia,

Full fat coconut is what I consider to be a "rich" (potent) drink. Even though you drank slightly less than a cup, that might be enough to cause D if you are not accustomed to drinking it.

But maybe you just cannot tolerate coconut. Have you used it before?

Tex

Lilja · Post by **Lilja** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 7:23 pm

tex wrote:Lilia,

Full fat coconut is what I consider to be a "rich" (potent) drink. Even though you drank slightly less than a cup, that might be enough to cause D if you are not accustomed to drinking it.

But maybe you just cannot tolerate coconut. Have you used it before?

Tex

Tex,

I have used it in chicken recipes, but never alone. Now, a bit more than 24 hours after, I'm feeling fine.

Thanks heaven!

And thank you

Lilia

Post by **tex** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 7:32 pm

Lilia,

That's good to hear that you recovered so soon. You may need to start with a smaller "dose" and increase the amount slightly each day until your digestive system becomes accustomed to it.

Tex

Lilja · Post by **Lilja** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 8:11 pm

Tex,

Yes, "less is more".

Now I'm preparing for my sciatic nerve inflammation and spinal stenosis surgery on Tuesday; storing up food and beverages for the days I won't be able to go out. My son will pick me up after surgery and stay overnight, since I have signed a paper saying that I will be attended by someone for 24 hours after surgery.

It's funny; you have to sign a paper saying that someone will take care of you, since the new health care policy says you should be out of hospital in 4 hours after surgery and the hospital is no longer responsible. That is what I call "cover my ass policy".

I hope it will be as efficient as they want it to be

Lilia

Post by **tex** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 9:19 pm

Lilia,

Wow! They really are in a hurry to get people out of the hospital these days. I suppose that's good in a way, because most of the worst types of infections seem to start in hospitals. But as you say, if anything goes wrong during recovery, you know who they will blame.

I hope that everything goes smoothly, and you recover quickly.

Tex

Polly · Post by **Polly** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 10:08 pm

DJ,

Will keep fingers crossed for a successful trial. For some reason, I don't mind the texture at all, and I actually like the orange flavor (Sandoz regular prep). Keep us posted!

Lilia,

Best wishes for an uncomplicated and speedy recovery.

Polly

DJ · Post by DJ » Fri Oct 30, 2015 4:01 am

Thank you Polly. It would be amazing if cholestyramine could tone things down. On average, I would classify my intestinal state as "fair". My biggest worry is that my continuing room-clearing cough (and the underlying problem) will lead to upper GI cancer. I don't know enough about the digestive system to understand if excess acid in the small intestine could cause enough upheaval to create a volcano in the stomach.

Post by **tex** » Fri Oct 30, 2015 8:41 am

DJ wrote:I don't know enough about the digestive system to understand if excess acid in the small intestine could cause enough upheaval to create a volcano in the stomach.

Yes it can, because normally, the stomach will not release it's contents (chyme) until/unless the pancreas has released sufficient bicarbonate to neutralize any existing acidity in the proximal duodenum. This is a somewhat common cause of gastoparesis. And of course if the stomach cannot empty in a timely manner, this leads to gas buildup (as some of the chyme begins to ferment), resulting in backpressure on the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), and that can cause acid reflux.

Apparently most people (possibly including many/most physicians) are not aware of this feature of the pyloric sphincter. This is a protective feature for the duodenum, because unlike the stomach, the duodenum is not designed to handle stomach acid, and if the stomach were allowed to dump chime when there was no way for it to be buffered by the bicarbonate produced by the pancreas, the acid would quickly destroy the relatively delicate lining of the duodenum, leading to very serious consequences.

Tex

JMulkey · Post by **JMulkey** » Fri Oct 30, 2015 9:32 am

Ok, here is where I am. I am taking two of the packets of the med twice a day. It is Par Pharmaceuticals brand. So far the very first day things seemed to be a little better as far as the D but the acid was so bad I had to back off of the medicine. The next day I took it after eating and took a Nexium in the morning. The acid was much better, but now I'm a week in and the D is back to just water, three or four times a day, which is a little less, but still with urge and much gurgling. Should I stop it at this time or give it a few more days to see if it will do any good. I think it is doing something, because I don't have the pain in my upperleft side that I have lived with for years. So that's at least gone. Should I add in a Pepto a day and see if that helps any? Immodium? Because this D isn't getting much better, other than not as frequent. I'm at a loss, and frankly, a little depressed that things aren't getting better. It's been seven years and I'm just plain sick and tired of living this way. It controls my entire life and that's no life.