Hi everyone,
I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving.
I need some input/advice here. For a couple of days I had the big C, and so last night I took some epsom salts to try to help. Well, it more than helped (partly because I read the directions wrong and thought it said tablespoons, when it was actually teaspoons I was supposed to take!). Within an hour everything I had eaten in the last six hours went straight through me - pure liquid - and my stomach was roiling. This morning, my stomach is still roiling, and I have terrible cramps and that awful urgency to get to the bathroom, but when I do, my body has so little to release. I took half an immodium about half an hour ago. Does anyone have any other suggestions for how I can treat these terrible cramps and the roiling, angry soup I have in my belly? I'm in NYC with my best friend, and I don't want to be holed up in bed the whole time. That would be such a disappointment!
Thanks for anything you can add.
Best,
Beth
Epsom salts
Moderators: Rosie, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Beth, I hope someone checks in soon that has some advice for you. I also hope the immodium will kick in soon so maybe you won't need the advice. I've never taken epsom salts, much less an overdose, so I don't know what to do about it. I wish I did.
Shirley
Shirley
When the eagles are silent, the parrots begin to jabber"
-- Winston Churchill
-- Winston Churchill
Beth,
Bummer. The kidneys remove magnesium sulphate, so if they are working efficiently, it will eventually be eliminated from your body. I would assume that drinking plenty of liquids will help this process, (and help to keep you from becoming dehydrated).
There is a medical antidote, but as far as I know, it's only used in cases where the patient has severe respiratory and cardiac effects due to an extreme overdose, or an otherwise adverse reaction. It's 10 ml of 10% calcium gluconate slowly infused intravenously. Calcium chloride is also an antidote, but it must be administered the same way, (IV).
If your kidneys are not performing normally, (or if you know that you have a renal problem), and/or you experience significant respiratory and/or cardiac problems, please seek medical help immediately.
Tex
Bummer. The kidneys remove magnesium sulphate, so if they are working efficiently, it will eventually be eliminated from your body. I would assume that drinking plenty of liquids will help this process, (and help to keep you from becoming dehydrated).
There is a medical antidote, but as far as I know, it's only used in cases where the patient has severe respiratory and cardiac effects due to an extreme overdose, or an otherwise adverse reaction. It's 10 ml of 10% calcium gluconate slowly infused intravenously. Calcium chloride is also an antidote, but it must be administered the same way, (IV).
If your kidneys are not performing normally, (or if you know that you have a renal problem), and/or you experience significant respiratory and/or cardiac problems, please seek medical help immediately.
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.
Beth,
I thought I'd better add this, since I didn't want to scare you into thinking that you may be at a significant risk of a serious reaction.
The adverse reactions that I referred to in my response virtually always occur when magnesium sulphate, (epsom salt), is administered intravenously, (such as during childbirth). I believe the risk with oral ingestion is very low. Uncomfortable as it is, it's highly unlikely that you would be at risk of any serious cardiac or respiratory effects.
I hope you can get it out of your system quickly, and start feeling much better. Some days it's just hard to win.
Tex
I thought I'd better add this, since I didn't want to scare you into thinking that you may be at a significant risk of a serious reaction.
The adverse reactions that I referred to in my response virtually always occur when magnesium sulphate, (epsom salt), is administered intravenously, (such as during childbirth). I believe the risk with oral ingestion is very low. Uncomfortable as it is, it's highly unlikely that you would be at risk of any serious cardiac or respiratory effects.
I hope you can get it out of your system quickly, and start feeling much better. Some days it's just hard to win.
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.
Beth,
I'm sorry I didn't think of this sooner, but if you can find some slippery elm, it will stimulate your stomach to produce a protective coating that will protect against gastric juices, (stomach acid), which, (presumably), should help to soothe the epithelium of the rest of your GI tract downstream.
http://www.healthy.net/asp/templates/ar ... le&ID=1460
Tex
I'm sorry I didn't think of this sooner, but if you can find some slippery elm, it will stimulate your stomach to produce a protective coating that will protect against gastric juices, (stomach acid), which, (presumably), should help to soothe the epithelium of the rest of your GI tract downstream.
Source:Slippery Elm Bark is a soothing nutritive demulcent which is perfectly suited for sensitive or inflamed mucous membrane linings in the digestive system. It may be used in gastritis, gastric or duodenal ulcer, enteritis, colitis and the like. It is often used as a food during convalescence as it is gentle and easily assimilated. In diarrhea it will soothe and astringe at the same time. Externally it makes an excellent poultice for use in cases of boils, abscesses or ulcers.
http://www.healthy.net/asp/templates/ar ... le&ID=1460
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.
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artteacher
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I'm sorry, Beth, the only thing I know to do when I get like that is to not eat. There are a few safe foods for me: pears canned in fruit juice, canned green beans, grapefruit, that promote a calmer stomach. (meaning they aren't irritating, they're not even neutral, but actually help calm my stomach) Even those things, I probably wouldn't eat when my stomach was the way you're describing, until it had a chance to rest a little.
So sorry, I sympathize,
Marsha
So sorry, I sympathize,
Marsha
Thank you, Wayne and Marsha, for your suggestions. Wayne - I went out and bought some slippery elm bark as soon as I read your suggestion. I really think it helped - I actually went out tonight and enjoyed myself the whole time! My stomach barely made a peep.
Still cramping a bit, but so much better. Wow, this is a tough row to hoe at times.
Best,
Beth
Still cramping a bit, but so much better. Wow, this is a tough row to hoe at times.
Best,
Beth
I'm so glad you were able to have a good time, after all.
Yep, it can be tough at times, but as long as we keep learning as we go, it gets a little easier every day, (well, almost every day).
I hope the rest of your weekend goes smoothly.
Wayne
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.
Beth Im so sorry that you had the big D while in NY. The last time I took epsom salts was years and years ago, I was tyrying to dry up my milk, so thats how long ago. Its used in Ireland and Wales as a laxative, so there you go dear. I remember the result of that time in my life, I spent on the toilet.
Hope alls well with you now and it was just a new lesson on life.
Take care, Janet
Hope alls well with you now and it was just a new lesson on life.
Take care, Janet
jmg
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Hi Beth,
If you should ever want to try magnesium again, I've used Milk of Magnesia in the past, and I think it's a little gentler. It's good the slippery elm helped, too!
Love, Marsha
If you should ever want to try magnesium again, I've used Milk of Magnesia in the past, and I think it's a little gentler. It's good the slippery elm helped, too!
Love, Marsha
Beth,
I'm glad the worst is over. In the long run, your experience may help you. Here's why.
Dr. Fine has developed a protocol for a clean-out with Epsom salts. It has not yet been published as far as I know. I know about it because he emailed it to me once. His theory is that the cleanout washes out stool antibodies (to gluten, dairy, etc.) that otherwise would hang around for a long time and create havoc.
This is the same theory that explains those folks whose MC often improves dramatically after the cleanout procedure for colonoscopy. Several years ago I had a wicked stomach virus on a cruise (Norwalk virus, I'll bet) with horrendous D for days. Once I recovered, I had the best BMs I had had in years.
So, perhaps there is a silver lining after all.
Love,
Polly
I'm glad the worst is over. In the long run, your experience may help you. Here's why.
Dr. Fine has developed a protocol for a clean-out with Epsom salts. It has not yet been published as far as I know. I know about it because he emailed it to me once. His theory is that the cleanout washes out stool antibodies (to gluten, dairy, etc.) that otherwise would hang around for a long time and create havoc.
This is the same theory that explains those folks whose MC often improves dramatically after the cleanout procedure for colonoscopy. Several years ago I had a wicked stomach virus on a cruise (Norwalk virus, I'll bet) with horrendous D for days. Once I recovered, I had the best BMs I had had in years.
So, perhaps there is a silver lining after all.
Love,
Polly
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.