Gastro Intestinal Involvement with Lupus

[TrudieC]

Has anyone had their gastro system affected?  I have been having awful pain in my stomach and inflammation in my small colon and diarrhea in conjunction with my Lupus flare.  Can someone share?  What should I look out for?  When do you go to the doctor?  I already had other bowel issues and this is new.

[cudagirl]

Yes yes and more yes.  If you are having serious diarrhea I would at least call your dr.  You don't want to dehydrate and be in the hospital.  Gosh I totally understand your pain.  I have had horrible gastro issues.  I really think you should call you Rheumy dr.  You might have a piggy back disease like IBS or Chrones.

[TrudieC]

I actually had ulcerative colitis when I was younger and have had surgery to remove my large colon and a j-pouch operation.  It has been 16 years and very successful.  Went to my GP and he seems to think I have pouchitis and put me on cipro and flagyl.  My concern is that he didn't even think of the Lupus.  I hate that this disease makes me feel like a hypochondriac and you don't know what is important or not.

[cudagirl]

I get your point, and feel the same way.  I now have a wonderul PCP that knows I have this and will at first look that way, then others.  I got a bad lung infection last year and he thought it was pneumonia, but later found out it was caused from Sjogren's and told me that taught him a lesson to listen to me.  After all I know my body.  I too feel like a hypo, and I had to quit work last year.  I was so tired of calling in sick.  Good luck.

[luppygirl]

omg i just typed out this long thing then i submitted it and it disappeared.  I am upset. Long story short. had to run to bathroom at least 15 times a day.  they thought it might from taking plaquinal. you know a lovely side effect.  Well i got a colonoscopy done and it turned out to be ulcerative colitis. Now i take more meds for that. So if you have any questions feel free to ask them.  Take care everybody

[karajo]

Hi girls,

I too have serious gastro problems, but have found a WONDERFUL herb.  I can't tell you what a God send this has been to me and many others with chronic diarrhea.  It is called Slippery Elm Bark.  You can either get it @ a health food store or order it from Puritan Pride Vitamin. (on-line)

If I don't take my 1 capsule/daily, I get gushing diarrhea (unannounced of coarse...at the most inopportuned time) sorry for the TMI.  But these things can be the difference between carrying on a "normal" life and being "dead in the bed" from the effects of dehydration.

I hope this God created herb can help someone else like it has for me.
Blessings to you all. Kara