Question:
Off and on diarrhea on a daily basis - 3 weeks post op RNY
Hello - just wondering if anyone has had intermittent diarrhea which can last up to 3 days in a row. My doctor gave me Flagyl and said it might be a bacterial infection in the colon - but the symptoms persist. When it gets bad, I have to go almost every 5-10 minutes. It is always yellow or orange in color no matter what I have eaten. Anybody have something similar, and what did you do? — Arlene I. (posted on July 6, 2004)
July 5, 2004
I'd see your doctor again, or perhaps another doctor if you don't feel
comfortable with him/her. You can get deyharated fast. Don't wait.
— Danmark
July 6, 2004
Arlene: Giving meds for a condition that is being guessed at is not really
good. You doctor should have referred you to a gastro doctor to have a
colonoscopy done if he suspects a problem with your colon. If you know a
good gastro doctor, I'd definitely make an appointment.
— juju524
July 6, 2004
Arlene - I had the same problem early on (I'm almost 2 years post-op now.
It lasted for several weeks - as a matter of fact I remember being worried
that it would not clear up by the time I went back to work at 6 weeks
post-op. It would hit without warning and there were many times when I
didn't make it to the bathroom in time. My surgeon prescribed something
for me - I don't remember the name of it but it was some power you mix with
water -something like Medimusil - it was really nasty tasting stuff.
Anyway - I think it has something to do with your body getting adjusted to
the high protein - or maybe it is the sugar alcohols you get in some of the
protein products such as the protein bars, etc. Mine did clear up before I
went back to work - it still hits me every now and then - can't always
figure out what I ate that caused it - I ocassionaly take Imodium if it
becomes a problem and that usually does the trick. Best wishes on this
journey - it's all worth it. -Margaret
— Margaret G.
July 6, 2004
Is there cramping? Do you drink milk or eat ice cream? Cheese would not be
in this catergory, for example.
— vitalady
July 7, 2004
Are you getting in your water? I was re-hospitalized 2 weeks out for
dehydration and had lots of diarrhea.
Leslie RNY 6/17/03 267/168/150
— Leslie R.
July 7, 2004
I wish I could remember the name of the diet my doctor told me to go on to
stop diaria. It worked great. I'm thinking it was called "BRAT"?
I hope there are some nurses here that might know it. Every letter
reparsented a food... example, T for toast, R for rice, A for Apples,... I
forgot what the B was for. Anyway, I ate those foods, and only those foods
for a day or two, along with some pepno bismo and it stopped it fast. The
pepno on it's own did'nt do it.
— Danmark
July 7, 2004
Hi~ I had horrible diarrhea for so long after my surgery. They did two
stool samples checking for a bacterial infection and both those where
negative. I'm now on month 10 post-op. My internist first put me on
antibiotics and then put me on a medicine called Cholestyramine. She said
it was to help me adjust to having my Gallbladder removed. Did they remove
yours also? I now take 2 immodium caplets before every meal. It's the
only thing that controls it for me. Good luck and I hope this posting will
be helpful to you.
— LaRena A.
July 7, 2004
Daniel:
FWIW, the BRATT diet is Bananas, Rice, Apples or Applesauce, Tea and Toast.
My doc prescribed before for a nasty stomach bug (but I haven't used since
the surgery and would be scared of dumping on it). For me, it worked too
well and actually caused constipation - go figure.
— Debra R.
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