You're probably right about the Pepto. That's the main reason why Dr. Fine stopped recommending it, (he's the GI doc/researcher who originally developed the Pepto treatment, over 10 years ago).
You might want to consider trying D-mannose:
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=10609
Tex
New Study On The Association Between MC and Celiac Disease
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Hi Stanz,
I achieved full remission without ever taking steriods or anything stronger than Imodium Advanced. It can be done.
In my case I got onto adjusting the diet early - after just a few months of D I decided to ignore what the doctor and dietitian said and stopped eating dairy - instant improvement. Later I relapsed and found that HRT was the culprit - even the patch form was no good for me. I had to be totally supplement and med free before I found that one - living on rice, honey, bananas and eggs.
I gave up gluten when I had D with the HRT and found that whilst it didn't affect my LC, it did have a big impact on my weird autoimmune conditions.
As part of the journey I also had some homeopathic and naturopathic treatments. Suspect they helped but the key was still diet.
These days I try to stay GF and DF, and find I have pretty much the same issues as a normal person. If I eat too many nuts and GF licorice I will get soft BMs. If I eat a big heap of beans or lentils I will get gas. Perfectly normal responses for anyone. If I eat gluten my head is fuzzy, I get odd swellings and feel off my peak. If I eat too much I put on weight.
It did take a bit of trial and error to find the subtle causes of my problems - the hidden gluten and dairy. The dairy in regular Imodium got me a few times. One subtle upside is being able to stop my asthma meds (Pulmicort) - I suspect the lack of dairy and wheat and the increase in D3 levels (D3 is in my Calcium tablets) have caused that.
The other thing I notice is that now I have been stable for a while, dairy traces don't cause me the problems they used to. I am almost brave enough to do a big dairy challenge.
Hang in there. It is possible to find remission without drugs. Mind you, I perfectly understand those doing the drug route - I went very close to demanding drugs, but managed to hang in just long enough.
Lyn
I achieved full remission without ever taking steriods or anything stronger than Imodium Advanced. It can be done.
In my case I got onto adjusting the diet early - after just a few months of D I decided to ignore what the doctor and dietitian said and stopped eating dairy - instant improvement. Later I relapsed and found that HRT was the culprit - even the patch form was no good for me. I had to be totally supplement and med free before I found that one - living on rice, honey, bananas and eggs.
I gave up gluten when I had D with the HRT and found that whilst it didn't affect my LC, it did have a big impact on my weird autoimmune conditions.
As part of the journey I also had some homeopathic and naturopathic treatments. Suspect they helped but the key was still diet.
These days I try to stay GF and DF, and find I have pretty much the same issues as a normal person. If I eat too many nuts and GF licorice I will get soft BMs. If I eat a big heap of beans or lentils I will get gas. Perfectly normal responses for anyone. If I eat gluten my head is fuzzy, I get odd swellings and feel off my peak. If I eat too much I put on weight.
It did take a bit of trial and error to find the subtle causes of my problems - the hidden gluten and dairy. The dairy in regular Imodium got me a few times. One subtle upside is being able to stop my asthma meds (Pulmicort) - I suspect the lack of dairy and wheat and the increase in D3 levels (D3 is in my Calcium tablets) have caused that.
The other thing I notice is that now I have been stable for a while, dairy traces don't cause me the problems they used to. I am almost brave enough to do a big dairy challenge.
Hang in there. It is possible to find remission without drugs. Mind you, I perfectly understand those doing the drug route - I went very close to demanding drugs, but managed to hang in just long enough.
Lyn
I had no idea that Imodium could have dairy
I am taking Kirkland brand anti-diarrheal (Loperamide Hydrochloride 2 mg) X 8/day. I see on the label now that it says that this label doesn't contain full product info and of course I recycled the box.
I have learned that D-Mannose is something my ND stocks, so I may try that, Tex. I am on the fence about HRT, I had a hysterectomy at 26 so began going through menopause very early and have been on .625 Premarin for probably 20 years now. Have the logical fears of rapid aging and loss of interest in sex should I quit taking it and I'm a cougar, so have that fear as well. I guess I should try to taper off, as my MD has suggested, I just feel better with it - I think...
I started taking Glutamine powder today, my ND prescribed 2 rounded tsp X 3/day and have only taken it once. Don't seem to have my MSG reaction which was a fear, but I feel like a complete space cadet, flushed, kind of "wired", I don't like the feeling. It is a struggle to want to eat anything. I am either not hungry at all or starving and once I start to eat, I immediately regret it, so I just don't eat more than one small meal a day. It's early on in my taking any of these supplements, 3 mos GF, DF, trying to be patient.
I have learned that D-Mannose is something my ND stocks, so I may try that, Tex. I am on the fence about HRT, I had a hysterectomy at 26 so began going through menopause very early and have been on .625 Premarin for probably 20 years now. Have the logical fears of rapid aging and loss of interest in sex should I quit taking it and I'm a cougar, so have that fear as well. I guess I should try to taper off, as my MD has suggested, I just feel better with it - I think...
I started taking Glutamine powder today, my ND prescribed 2 rounded tsp X 3/day and have only taken it once. Don't seem to have my MSG reaction which was a fear, but I feel like a complete space cadet, flushed, kind of "wired", I don't like the feeling. It is a struggle to want to eat anything. I am either not hungry at all or starving and once I start to eat, I immediately regret it, so I just don't eat more than one small meal a day. It's early on in my taking any of these supplements, 3 mos GF, DF, trying to be patient.
Resolved MC symptoms successfully w/L-Glutamine, Probiotics and Vitamins, GF since 8/'09. DX w/MC 10/'09.
Hi Stanz,
Did a google for you, and got the expected result: http://www.manekineko.us/catalog/produc ... anguage=en
That Kirkland product contains lactose. It also contains colours, and you never know if these contain gluten. Imodium advanced is the only one that have found that doesn't contain lactose.
The Premarin also has lactose: http://chealth.canoe.ca/drug_info_detai ... =942&rot=4
Of course, it all depends on how sensitive you are, but the lactose in tablets was a problem for me when I was in a flare.
Do think about going completely drug free for a short period to see if it has any effect- just to identify a trigger. Then you can make sensible decisions about the long term. Obviously if there is a risk of dying or serious repercussions without meds, then you need to be sensible and talk to your doc. MC is pretty aging on it's own - all that dehydration is bad for the skin.
Just because something has been fine for years doesn't mean it is still fine. My favourite foods were dairy and bread, and for 47 years they did me no recognisable harm, then the MC was triggered and it changed.
Lyn
Did a google for you, and got the expected result: http://www.manekineko.us/catalog/produc ... anguage=en
That Kirkland product contains lactose. It also contains colours, and you never know if these contain gluten. Imodium advanced is the only one that have found that doesn't contain lactose.
The Premarin also has lactose: http://chealth.canoe.ca/drug_info_detai ... =942&rot=4
Of course, it all depends on how sensitive you are, but the lactose in tablets was a problem for me when I was in a flare.
Do think about going completely drug free for a short period to see if it has any effect- just to identify a trigger. Then you can make sensible decisions about the long term. Obviously if there is a risk of dying or serious repercussions without meds, then you need to be sensible and talk to your doc. MC is pretty aging on it's own - all that dehydration is bad for the skin.
Just because something has been fine for years doesn't mean it is still fine. My favourite foods were dairy and bread, and for 47 years they did me no recognisable harm, then the MC was triggered and it changed.
Lyn