Does anyone have these symptoms

[whoopi]

After several surgeries over the past two years (colon, etc.) I have severe diarrhea, fatigue, mood swings (usually low moods), crying everyday.  I believe some of my moods and weight gain are caused by some of the medicine.  However, the medicine has not helped the chronic diarrhea very much.  Any suggestions?  Please help if you can.  Thanks.

[Concerned lady]

I agree with EVERYONE who answered you! Good info!!

You really do need to sit down with a good doc AND a good pharmacist, (for a lot longer than a 5 minute visit!!) and find out how to SAFELY get off AS MANY OF those meds as possible (if possible). I suspect that the many drug interactions plus adverse (bad) side effects are a major part of your present problems.

Have you looked into holistic health at all? (Health food stores, acupuncture, homeopathy, herbs, supplements if safe, life style changes, etc.)

Take a look at Mike's website about Celiac Disease. I checked it out, and I liked it!

I'll also post "some Gastric Reflux tips" for you, in case some of them might be helpful to you. There's a lot of "holistic", yet medically sound info in these "tips".

************************************************************

Some GASTRIC REFLUX TIPS (without acid blockers):

GER=Gastro-Esophageal Reflux. (Gastro=stomach. Esophagus=food tube.)

LPR= Laryngeal-Pharyngeal Reflux. (Larynx=voice box, containing the 2 vocal cords. Pharynx=throat, above the larynx. The larynx is above the trachea/windpipe.)

Reflux=acidic or alkaline stomach material that backs up into the esophagus (food tube), causing any of these problems: VCD/Vocal Cord Dysfunction/Laryngospasm attacks, cough, voice problems, asthma, globus (feeling of lump in throat), constant need to clear throat, worsening of sinus condition, sore throat, pre-cancerous conditions of throat &/or esophagus, etc.

SOME GER/LPR CONTROL THINGS WE DO, that we learned from the excellent book: STOMACH AILMENTS AND DIGESTIVE DISTURBANCES, by Michael T. Murray, N.D. See page 9, References, in my website: http://cantbreathesuspectvcd.com   and, also see GER/LPR info on page 5, and on LINKS page.

PLEASE READ THIS GREAT BOOK. It may possibly be bought on-line, from Michael T. Murray

[glutenfree]

Hi Whoopi Hopefully this will help you.
I suffered for many years with Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Acid Reflux, Diarrhea, Chronic Fatigue and more. After many doctors and prescriptions I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease. Celiac Disease is when gluten(a protein found in wheat,rye and barley) destroys the Villi of the small intestine. Once this happens you will not absorb nutrients. Recent studies show there are more than 1 million people in the US with undiagnosed Celiac Disease. Most physicians in the US feel the disease is not prevelant. CD is commonly diagnosed in Europe.
You can request the following blood tests from your gastroenterologist.
Anti-Endomysial

[kimbacat]

Hi Whoopi, since you are taking Pentasa and pred, I'm guessing you have been diagnosed with IBD.  it sounds like you are still flaring if you are still having diarrhea while also taking lomotil, codeine and questran.  talk to your gi about modifying your treatment.  the optimal dosage for mesalamine (Pentasa) is 4g, so you can still go higher on that.  ask about immunosuppressive therapy (azathioprine or 6mp), which could help you cut out a lot of your meds, including pred.  I think there have been recent studies showing that mesalamine (Pentasa and Asacol) aren't as effective in controlling IBD after you have had surgery.  how long have you been on pred (which is the likely culprit for the weight gain)?  because 40 mgs is too high of a dose to be on for any length of time.  I would strongly recommend getting a bone density (DEXA) scan to make sure your bones are still doing ok, since age, IBD and prednisone can really decrease your bone mass.  and pred definitely causes depression and other emotional problems in many people.  depression definitely goes hand in hand with bowel disease as with any chronic disease.  maybe an adjustment in the Prozac dose, or possibly a switch.  SSRI's like Prozac can worsen the diarhea in some IBDers.  you also might want to try taking a really good multivitamin.  with diarrhea and the absorption problems associated with IBD, they can help.

I've had Crohn's disease for more than 25 yrs now.  I am NOT the norm for IBD and have had a pretty nasty time with it.  I've had 5+ abdominal surgeries and have a permanent ileostomy.  getting on the right medication treatments can make a world of difference and keep you from needing additional surgical intervention.  (I'm currently on Remicade and methotrexate for my Crohn's disease).  take care, I hope I was able to help.

[whoopi]

Thanks so much for all of your helpful information.  All three of my doctors are aware of all the medication that has been prescribed for me.  However, the gastro. monitors the amount and which medicine I will take when.  He tries to change it around to see which medicines work best together.  So far it has not been successful.  It has definitely gotten better since a year and a half ago, but a long way from being well.  Needless to say, I'm confined to the house a lot.  

In answer to an earlier question, I'm 52 this year.

Thanks so much for everyone's input.

[Nanny]

Whoopi,

I entered these drugs in my drug interaction website and this is the information that it printed out.  I could not find the Lotrimin on the list.  This includes interactions with food or beverages, too.

Potential Drug Interactions
You searched for interactions of combinations of the following drugs: Activella, Bentyl, Bisoprolol, Claritin, Codeine Oral, Doxycycline, Hydrocortisone Oral, Levothroid, Lomotil, Nitroglycerin Capsules, Pentasa, Pravachol, Prednisone, Prevacid, Prozac, Questran.



(Caution: not all drug interactions are known or reported in the literature, and new drug interactions are continually being reported. This information is provided only for your education and for you to discuss with your personal healthcare provider.)

CHOLESTYRAMINE (in Questran) may interact with LEVOTHYROXINE (in Levothroid)

When these drugs are used at the same time, cholestyramine may combine with levothyroxine in the stomach and prevent it from being absorbed into the body. If this happens, then potentially less levothyroxine would be available for the body to use and blood levels could become too low. This could make levothyroxine less effective in correcting hypothyroidism (also referred to as an "underactive thyroid"). If these drugs are used together, allow at least 6 hours to pass after taking a dose of levothyroxine before using cholestyramine. Discuss this potential interaction with your healthcare provider at your next appointment, or sooner if you think you are having problems.

This interaction is poorly documented and is considered moderate in severity.

HYDROCORTISONE (in Hydrocortisone Oral) may interact with ESTRADIOL (in Activella)

Estradiol may block the breakdown of hydrocortisone by the liver. If this happens, blood levels of hydrocortisone could be increased. This may cause an increase in both the intended effect and the side effects of hydrocortisone, including stomach irritation, facial swelling, and mood changes. If these drugs are used together, your doctor may want to monitor you closely for side effects and adjust the dose of hydrocortisone if needed. Discuss this potential interaction with your healthcare provider at your next appointment, or sooner if you think you are having problems.

This interaction is poorly documented and is considered moderate in severity.

PRAVASTATIN SODIUM (in Pravachol) may interact with CHOLESTYRAMINE (in Questran)

When these drugs are taken at the same time, cholestyramine may combine with pravastatin in the stomach and prevent it from being absorbed into the body. If this happens, then potentially less pravastatin would be available for the body to use and blood levels could become too low. This could make pravastatin less effective. If these drugs are used together, avoid taking pravastatin within 4 hours after a dose of cholestyramine. To make this schedule easier to follow, consider taking cholestyramine before meals and then take pravastatin in the evening before bedtime. Discuss this potential interaction with your healthcare provider at your next appointment, or sooner if you think you are having problems.

This interaction is poorly documented and is considered moderate in severity.

PREDNISONE (in PREDNISONE, Prednisone) may interact with ESTRADIOL (in Activella)

Estradiol may block the breakdown of prednisone by the liver. If this happens, blood levels of prednisone could be increased. This may cause an increase in both the intended effect and the side effects of prednisone, including stomach irritation, facial swelling, and mood changes. If these drugs are used together, your doctor may want to monitor you closely for side effects and adjust the dose of prednisone if needed. Discuss this potential interaction with your healthcare provider at your next appointment, or sooner if you think you are having problems.

This interaction is poorly documented and is considered moderate in severity.

HYDROCORTISONE (in Hydrocortisone Oral) may interact with CHOLESTYRAMINE (in Questran)

Take hydrocortisone and these drug a separate times to prevent mixing in the stomach. Take hydrocortisone at least two hours before these drugs or six hours after these drugs. Discuss this potential interaction with your healthcare provider at your next appointment, or sooner if you think you are having problems.

This interaction is well-documented and is considered moderate in severity.

ALCOHOL may interact with DOXYCYCLINE (in Doxycycline)

Doxycycline is broken down and removed from the body by the liver. If you are taking doxycycline and have been consuming alcohol on a regular basis for a long period of time, the drug may be broken down at a faster rate than normal. If this happens, then potentially less doxycycline would be available for the body to use and blood levels could become too low. This could make doxycycline less effective at treating an infection. On the other hand, alcohol may increase the absorption of doxycycline from the stomach. This is more likely to happen when alcohol has not been consumed on a regular basis. Although this may cause blood levels of doxycycline to be increased, it is not likely to increase the beneficial effects of the drug. You may want to ask your healthcare provider about this potential interaction if you think you are having problems.

This interaction is poorly documented and is considered minor in severity.

GRAPEFRUIT JUICE may interact with ESTRADIOL (in Activella)

Grapefruit juice may block the breakdown of estradiol by the liver. If this happens, blood levels of estradiol could be increased and this could cause an increase in side effects. Side effects that can potentially occur with the use of estradiol include headache, weight gain, and stomach irritation. More severe side effects may include an increase in blood pressure and the formation of blood clots. Because information about this potential interaction is limited, the safety of taking estradiol with grapefruit juice or nutritional supplements that contain grapefruit juice is not known. You may want to ask your healthcare provider about this potential interaction if you think you are having problems.

This interaction is poorly documented and is considered minor in severity.

That's a incredibly large amount of drugs to be taken at one time.  Perhaps you need to consult with all your physicians, with the total list, and eliminate whatever possible.

I hope this information is helpful.
Nanny

[mattk]

I believe, I am not a doctor though, that the list of meds clearly shows how the mood and wieght gain would be an issue.  Is the same doctors prescribing all the meds?  If you have several doctors, please let all of them know the meds you are taking.
There are several that cause pain, blotting and mood changes.  I also take several meds, but both doctors know exactly what I take.  You are taking a lot of different meds, which may have adverse effects??!!
Good luck!
Matt

[nanci]

How old are you?  I ask because your fatique and mood swings
may be pre menopausal symptoms that can start as young as 35.

[whoopi]

In reference to my earlier plea, I've listed my medications below.  I appreciate any suggestions.


Coumadin 5 MG per day
My medications are as follows:

Prevacid 30 MG per day
Pentasa 250 MG

[Nanny]

It would be helpful if you would post the medications that you are taking.  Perhaps then someone who has experience with these medications could give you an answer.