Loperimide usage
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Loperimide usage
I have a diagnosis of LC. I took my second round of steroids ending in early May with good results. I saw a naturopath and did a round of Nystatin for intestinal yeast and was put on multiple supplements and all were tolerated well. I follow the FODMAP diet. Last week I got hit with a viral illness that I suspect was the Norovirus. Vomiting, diarrhea, fever, aches. I lost 4 lbs in 2 days. UGH! Very low tolerance to even 'safe' foods at this point. I really don't want to go back on the steroids. My question is the use of loperimide. I have found that occasional constipation is followed by a flare so I avoid using it. I am leaving on a trip in a week. As we all know this puts the anxiety into the mix over reaching a bathroom as necessary or ruining a whole day for my family by a flare. Should I try regular loperimide?? Should I just bite the bullet and request steroids again?
Sorry the virus caused a relapse. In all honesty, budesonide would take a lot of the worry out of the situation, but I can understand your reluctance to use it.
The beauty of using Imodium (or some other form of loperamide) is that you can easily and quickly adjust the dose without worrying about the side effects of taking a powerful drug. Plus the fact that it works pretty well for most people.
You could always carry some insurance to fall back on if you need it (a package of budesonide), in case you feel the need to use it in the middle of the trip. Your gastroenterologist (or your GP) should understand that and be willing to provide the prescription. In a pinch, it could salvage a bad situation, and the security of knowing that it's there if you need it might work wonders to lower your stress level, which in itself will lower the risk of a bad experience.
Good luck with your travels.
Tex
The beauty of using Imodium (or some other form of loperamide) is that you can easily and quickly adjust the dose without worrying about the side effects of taking a powerful drug. Plus the fact that it works pretty well for most people.
You could always carry some insurance to fall back on if you need it (a package of budesonide), in case you feel the need to use it in the middle of the trip. Your gastroenterologist (or your GP) should understand that and be willing to provide the prescription. In a pinch, it could salvage a bad situation, and the security of knowing that it's there if you need it might work wonders to lower your stress level, which in itself will lower the risk of a bad experience.
Good luck with your travels.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.