Ideas to make the D stop?

Marcia K · Post by **Marcia K** » Sat May 03, 2014 4:36 pm

My GI recommended 6 Pepto Bismol tablets per day for 8 weeks. After several weeks I was C so I decreased the dosage to 4 a day until the end of the 6 week period. I was lucky, I didn't have any side effects from it. It stopped the D and as long as I watch my diet I have been OK. Several times after eating out I got sick and took the Pepto again until it was under control again. My GI said not to change my diet.....luckily I found this support group and bought Tex's book.

Marcia K · Post by **Marcia K** » Sat May 03, 2014 5:31 pm

Sorry, I meant to say that I took the Pepto for 8 weeks.

robinc2525 · Post by **robinc2525** » Fri May 09, 2014 7:21 pm

Hi everyone, thanks to everyone who responded. I have read over your comments several times.

I have two questions:

If I do the Pepto treatment, should I try my best to get 8 tablets in a day for 8 weeks or if say, 4 controls my symptoms do I stay at 4? Just wondering if there is benefit to the full 8 tablets or if that's just a maximum to take.

Also, I started taking 2 Bendadryls at night and thought that was helping a little bit....but it seems to give me heartburn! I thought is was strange because I don't even take them during the day but when I stopped a few days ago the heartburn stopped. I am not a person who ever gets heartburn (except when pregnant) so I am pretty confident it's the Benadryl. I don't know why that would happen. Is that a common side effect?

Also an observation....my stomach has been making constant rumbling noises during this whole episode. Today I took a Claritin Reditab and the noises stopped. I don't know if it's coincidence but I'll see what happens tomorrow. If the Claritin does turn out to be helpful with the noises does this point to a mast cell issue?

Thanks for any ideas :)

Post by **tex** » Fri May 09, 2014 8:21 pm

Robin wrote:If I do the Pepto treatment, should I try my best to get 8 tablets in a day for 8 weeks or if say, 4 controls my symptoms do I stay at 4? Just wondering if there is benefit to the full 8 tablets or if that's just a maximum to take.

The 8 tablets per day dose was settled on because (according to published trial results) it resulted in an 85 % remission rate, overall, without causing an undue number of adverse events. However, since like most recommended medication dosages, that's just a one-size-fits-all, somewhat arbitrary dose, and not only do some of us not need that much for good results, some of us cannot even tolerate that dose. So it's not chiseled in stone. If I were taking it, and less seemed to work just as well, then I would take less, because if nothing else, that will at least reduce your risk of developing tinnitus from the treatment.

Robin wrote:Also, I started taking 2 Bendadryls at night and thought that was helping a little bit....but it seems to give me heartburn! I thought is was strange because I don't even take them during the day but when I stopped a few days ago the heartburn stopped. I am not a person who ever gets heartburn (except when pregnant) so I am pretty confident it's the Benadryl. I don't know why that would happen. Is that a common side effect?

I don't believe that's a common side effect, because I don't recall anyone else mentioning it, but it certainly sounds as though it was indeed the cause of your heartburn. Side effects are always possible, with any medication. You may be allergic to one of the inactive ingredients in it.

Robin wrote:Also an observation....my stomach has been making constant rumbling noises during this whole episode. Today I took a Claritin Reditab and the noises stopped. I don't know if it's coincidence but I'll see what happens tomorrow. If the Claritin does turn out to be helpful with the noises does this point to a mast cell issue?

Call me a starry-eyed optimist, but stopping the gut noises that are associated with MC reactions strikes me as a huge step in the direction of good digestion. And yes, if an antihistamine was responsible for terminating that symptom, that definitely indicates that inappropriate mast cell activation is part of your MC issues, IMO.

That's definitely a good sign.

Tex

Marcia K · Post by **Marcia K** » Sat May 10, 2014 6:58 am

Robin, I totally agree with Tex. As someone for whom the Pepto worked, I don't think you would have a problem reducing the dosage once your symptoms are under control. My gastro started me on 6 tablets a day, not 8. I reduced it on my own after a few weeks when trying to go to the bathroom was like being in labor. That's not a good thing, either! The Pepto does not work for everyone and it can cause tinnitus but I was one of the lucky ones who had success with it, along with major dietary changes. I still carry a box in my purse "just in case!"