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I went to my GI at the end of March and he put me on Asacol. It does not seem to be doing anything for me. I usually pass them. I do somehow seem to get enough to make me so full of gas, have a rash showing up and have a lot of pain in my stomach. I had to go to my GP Wednesday and he Rx me Lotomil. He said he wanted me to try it to see if it helps. Can I take both at the same time? I can not get anyone at the GI's office to call me back. GF and DF are coming along but I am sure I am still getting "glutened" at times.
Also, I have started to gain an extreme amount of weight which given my diet now and the amount of d I am still having is not right. I walk on the treadmill everyday (it is supposed to help to be active with fibro pain) and have really restricted myself on what I eat. Has anyone else had unexplained weight gain?
Yes, you can take Lomotil with most of the other drugs prescribed for MC. I doubt that it's going to stop the rash, or the stomach pains, though. All it will do is slow down your motility, which will reduce the D. Be careful that you don't take too much each day, because some people have had problems with constipation if they took more than they needed. Many members here find that the original formulation of Imodium works just as well or better, and it doesn't require a prescription.
This disease affects everyone differently - some of us gain weight, and some lose weight.
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.
Sharon, Imodium was better than Lomotil for me, but as Tex says, it's very individual.
I originally gained weight too. For me, when I first started reacting, almost all grains seemed to make me bloat with a lot of water weight. That might not be true for you - but since I have cut all grains, except for small, occasional portions of rice, the bloat has stopped. I had a couple of health-brand corn-only corn chips last night, and it was OK for me. The particular foods/grains that work for you may be different.
Imodium also was better at relieving cramping the Lomotil, for me.
The gas and stomach pain can be side effects from the Asacol. I experienced the same thing when taking it. Unfortunately, the latose in Asacol made me more sick than when I started. Ultimately, I was switched to Pentasa.
I'd be concerned about the rash, though. Keep calling the GI and mention the rash. Never ignore an allergic reaction.
I used lomotil early on before entocort came back on the market here in the US. I had my own system for how I used it.. three or 4 mad dashes to the john.. take a pill.. If I had three or 4 more mad dashes I took another one... that usually did it and I could be out of the house for a couple of hours to do errands.. then I stayed home the rest of the day and was exhausted.. the lomotil made me soooo sleepy.
grannyh
PS asacol made me sick so I couldn't take it.
