Questions about tummy troubles....

[Fluffysmom]

I haven't been eating much for almost a week now.  First was the colonoscopy prep, clear liquid diet, then soft food that was very irritating, so  I went back on clear liquids for the weekend, on my gastro's advice.  Yesterday I started soft food again, and did OK.  The cream of chicken soup was too rich, and I had reflux, despite my 30 mg. of Prevacid daily.  The mashed yams were yummy and settled fine.

Today, I had a small cup of grits for breakfast on the way to the airport (driving my roommate), which had some cheese in it. The menu didn't say they were cheesy grits!  I had to rush into the bathroom at the airport for an urgent bowel movement.  It was awful, loose, burning bile, lots of cramps.  Oh, and now my period is starting early!

To top it off, feeling so lousy, I'm not looking forward to my Avonex injection this evening without the benefit of Advil, to minimize risk of bleeding.  

So, my questions are:

Can eating rich things like cream soup or cheese (on a very empty stomach) cause excess bile production?

Can trauma such as polyp removal and burning of the colon wall cause a person's period to start early?

Can I do anything besides take Tylenol to reduce my Avonex side effects?

Can I have a hug or two?

Kathy

[Fluffysmom]

One of the four polyps I had removed was fairly large, and was the kind that, especially when found where it was, has been shown in studies to become cancerous.  My gastro made sure it was all gone, plus took four biopsies around it.  Apparently, I was burned a little more than usual by the thingy catches the polyp and cauterizes the tissue.

I was having more pain than I should, so my gastro sent me for x-rays and bloodwork, to rule out a perforation, and had me come in to see her the same day.  She advised me how to eat, until things feel better.

I was on the BRAT diet for a couple weeks in February.  I got creative; sliced banana sandwiches on toast taste really good if you heat them up in the microwave.  

I love oatmeal, but it's fairly high in fiber, so I bought some Cream of Wheat to try for breakfast.  I'm allergic to eggs, too, so that's out.  I could scramble the tofu I have in the fridge.  :o)  I'm sort of allergic to milk, so I avoid it, except my favorite organic low fat frozen yogurt.  I use unsweetened almond milk in cereal and cooking, baking when I get around to it!

After consuming broth, juice, jello, and tea, veggies taste like heaven!  I had plain baked butternut squash for dinner.  Bananas sound good; I'll pick some up when I go get some probiotics.  I feel like I need some protein; may pick up some rice protein powder if I can't tolerate some chicken breast or ground turkey breast soon.

[summerluvr]

I have IBS pretty badly.   I've done several scopes, and have had several bad flairs.  I might actually have IBD but the scope didn't find it.  Personally after each scope I felt quite well and tolerated foods I normally can't eat for a few weeks.  

Have you heard of BRAT diet?  Bananas rice applesauce and toast?  try stuff like that at first.   If you are handling that well, then move on to richer foods like dairy.  You could also try bland foods, like a bit of poached chicken, or well cooked veggies.  Avoid highfibre foods or raw foods.  

What about oatmeal?  I can usually take that when I'm not feeling  well and it has protein in it to make you feel full. Scrambled eggs? I'm allergic to eggs so I don't eat them, but they seem pretty benign.

I had a really bad experience from eating coconut milk once

I take magnesium for menstrual cramps.  It works ok, but you have to take a pill everyday or it won't really work.

[Fluffysmom]

Thanks for the hugs and suggestions.  I haven't tried heat or ice yet; I was just about to watch a DVD that the Avonex people sent me.  It's an Injection Guide, so maybe it will show if ice or heat is helpful.

Thank heavens I wasn't flying: I'd hate to have to poo like that in that little airplane bathroom!  I was just driving a friend to the airport.

My MS neuro suggested Magnesium for the cramps, but I've put of taking most of my supplements until things settle down in my gut.  I normally take calcium, and I do have zinc.

OK, I'd better watch this DVD before I put on the meditation music.  Thanks again.

Kathy

[Fluffysmom]

Ah, another story of success with tylenol, thanks, Quix!

Probiotics sounds like an excellent idea.  

I was told to be on a clear liquid diet through the weekend, then start eating a light diet.  I asked for clarification, and she suggested mashed potatoes, cream soup, chicken noodle soup with small pieces of meat and veggies, and to hold off on fiber until I'm better able to tolerate it.  I'm to add foods as tolerated.  I haven't been tolerating very well.

I did use unsweetened almond milk in the cream of mushroom soup, but I should have used water.  Better yet, I should have had something else.  The gastro said a creamy soup with only small pieces of meat or vegetables in it, but my stomach couldn't handle it.

I did start the day with chicken broth, then had the mashed yams, and decided to try the cream soup for dinner.

It was such a small cup of grits, I didn't think the cheese would bother me; I learned better!

For lunch I had chicken noodle soup and a potato roll.  Mashed yams for a snack later.

I have some flax seed oil capsules, I'll try taking one of those a day.

I'm still avoiding supplements (except Vitamin D), as I don't know how they'll settle.  I wasn't supposed to take them before the colonoscopy.  

Thanks for the info and great advice.

Kathy

[Deb61]

((((((very gently hugs))))))

I wish I had answers for you.  It sounds like the soothing music is a good idea.  Keeping your mind off of it is best.  Perhaps a tepid bath with some bubbles, and a good comedy would help?  

I do have cramps and muscle cramps sometimes, even with Copaxone sometimes if I shoot in the muscle (which you're supposed to do with Avonex).  Do you heat the area or ice the area before injecting?  I do better with the heat, but I don't know what the protocol is for Avonex.  

Traveling makes me feel bad on it's own.  I always feel weak and tired, and down-right awful.  I'm glad you made it to a toilet in time!  With all the stress, it's no wonder that you've started early. My daughters (I no longer have periods) take Zinc and Calcium which they say help.  Can you take these vitamins?  

[Quixotic1]

Acetaminophen is all I can take with Avonex, being allergic to the NSAIDS.  they worked fine.

The gall bladder is stimulated to empty bile into the intestine upon eating fats and oils.

Your first two foods, cream of whatever and cheesy stuff were bad choices.  Back off the rich stuff and have something with you that you can eat.  With all of this you are likely a little lactose intoleranct.  Before eating dairy you might take some Lactaid.  I also would be taking some probiotics, because the procedure prep wiped out the majority of your gut flora.  Take some good stuff before you are populated with bad stuff.

The gut is one of the fastest healing tissues in the body.  Just how long do they want you to be careful?  However, it can't heal without some nutrients to rebuild the lining.  Whatever was settling fine you need to be eating.  Toast, crackers, hot soup made with water, you know the drill.

The period is subject to stress.  An early one can easily follow a procedure.

Yes!  Meditate, eat small amount frequently, avoid dairy fats, but you need a little essential fat to heal, maybe one fish oil cap.

Quix

[tonyad]

So, So sorry for the problems you continue to have.

Here comes a big (yet gentle) hug for you! :)
I hope tomorrow will be better for you Kathy.
Get plenty of rest and make sure and drink enough.

Good Night,
~Tonya

[Fluffysmom]

Thank you, Linda.  It helps to know that you are doing OK with tylenol.  I don't tolerate NSAIDS very well, but my MS nurse told me that Advil would help the most with the side effects, and I do ache for a few days after my injections.  Tonight will only be my fourth injection.  I'm looking forward to getting used to it and having fewer side effects!

This lack of eating business has left me feeling weak and cold anyway, and my right foot has been cramping.  It and my calf cramped really bad after my 2nd injection, and my they hurt a lot for several days.  

Time to put on the meditation music!


Kathy

[truelove47]

If it is any help to you ,  I take tylenol every four hours with avonex

It helps me and I guess it's better than nothing

Good luck,  

Linda