Thinking..it happens sometimes!

Lesley · Post by **Lesley** » Wed Feb 01, 2012 8:49 pm

My MC seems to run a different course. C, C, C! and more C!
And the heartburn. And pain when the food goes down.

So, because I don't have D, I added more fibrous foods. I even tested myself with "forbidden" foods, that previously would have sent me to the potty within 1/2 an hour. No D after an egg, a piece of cheese, even a piece of bagel.

I take so much in the way of stool softeners and laxatives that anyone else would be on the potty all the time.
When I manage to move things along I get BMs that are formed. In fact if I didn't know what to look for I might think they are Normans!

Also, if I didn't feel so lousy (tired, in pain, headachey, bloated, gassy) all the time I might think I was in remission.

When I eat only meat, fish and potatoes I have concrete bowels. I HAVE to add fiber. And I added each component singly and waited to see if D would erupt, but it never did.
It's hard to figure this one out, because the way you manage it doesn't seem to work for me.

Martha · Post by **Martha** » Thu Feb 02, 2012 8:23 am

Okay, you've probably tried everything, but...have you tried that colonic massage that Kari posted a link to a while back?

It's weird that the stool softeners and laxatives are not working for you. I'm sorry that you continue to be in so much pain. We're all rooting for you.

Love,
Martha

humbird753 · Post by **humbird753** » Thu Feb 02, 2012 4:42 pm

Hi Lesley -

I am sorry you haven't been able to find anything yet to get rid of the C. Always thinking of you, and hope something someone has offered as advice helps you out soon.

Love,
Paula

Lesley · Post by **Lesley** » Thu Feb 02, 2012 5:23 pm

Paula,
I do respond to all the laxatives. It only happens every few days and with a lot of pain, but I can go 3-4 times in a day, and although formed, my bm is weird colors, mucous-y and with sort of streamers, like seaweed hanging off. Gross, but that's the way it is.
So, formed or not, I can see it's not Norman. And it doesn't feel right.

Nothing is causing D, but OTOH I am not healing. If I eat only meat and potatoes I really have to fight the concrete (WORSE, WAY WORSE, with entocort!). With a bit more fiber the laxatives are more effective.

Martha,
I haven't tried internal colonic massage. I have been doing the external massage shown in the video. My insides feel bruised when I try to pull my bloated tummy in, or when I press on it, but I do it. I always have, usually by pressing my legs onto my abdomen and massaging. It's part of yoga and I did that for 15 years.

Thanks for your concern you guys. I really want one of these methods to help.

brandy · Post by **brandy** » Thu Feb 02, 2012 6:07 pm

Hi Lesley,

Have you tried aloe? Just a thought Brandy

Lesley · Post by **Lesley** » Thu Feb 02, 2012 8:07 pm

Nope, not yet. I will get to it though. Thanks Brandy.

brandy · Post by **brandy** » Thu Feb 02, 2012 8:23 pm

Hi Lesley,

OK, let me tell you my story about aloe. Last summer I visited a non GI doc about a non MC situation a week after my diagnosis and mentioned my MC diagnosis. The doc said I should drink 2 ounce of aloe vera juice per day and that it was recommended for digestive issues like UC and Crohns. Googled it when I got home and seems it is supposed to help with constipation. I had chronic D so really questioned that I should take. During my brief googling found references that skinning the actual plant and filleting the gel was better than juice. So I never tried the aloe vera juice but bought a leaf at grocery store, "filleted" the leaf scraped off about 1" of gel and drank it with something. I did this about 3 days and had no effect.
There was a nagging feeling that I shouldn't be taking this for D so I stopped.

As much as you've suffered it might be something to look into as the aloe vera is supposed to have a laxative effect. You might want to google and I think there have been discussions on this forum. The leaf is sold in my regular grocery store produce department and is probably cheaper than the juice from health food store. I think a 36" leaf cost me around $5.00.

Just a thought, Brandy

brandy · Post by **brandy** » Thu Feb 02, 2012 8:25 pm

Hi Lesley,

PS, if you decide to experiment with the leaf you may just have to try different amounts. I tried 1" just to be conservative. Brandy

Robin · Post by **Robin** » Thu Feb 02, 2012 8:34 pm

Hi Lesley....Have you ever tried Flax seeds. My husband as always had bad C ( he would kill if he knew I was talking about his bathroom habits), sometimes not being able to go for a week. I now give him flax seed, its tasteless (so he doesn't know he is getting it, haha). I sprinkle it on everything he eats and I put a little in his coffee every night! He hasn't had a problem in over 6 months.

The other thing that I have been wondering after reading some of your other post....have you ever had your gallbladder checked? Anyway these are just my thoughts.

Good Luck
Robin

Lesley · Post by **Lesley** » Thu Feb 02, 2012 11:14 pm

Hey guys, thanks! I have been thinking of Aloe and will get some as soon as I find it to try. I'd prefer to use it than all the laxatives I am using.

Robin - I don't have a gall bladder. It was removed years ago.
I couldn't do flax seed last time I tried it. I don't know if I can do it now. I don't want to get the gurgles. Oh, who am I kidding. It's better than the C. It just never goes to NORMAN.

nancyl · Post by **nancyl** » Fri Feb 03, 2012 10:55 am

Leslie,
Make sure you get a good aloe juice from a reputable health food store. I use George's and it is tasteless. I was using it when I was really flaring and the pharmacologist at the health food store told me to stop because it had laxative effects, so it may help you.

Nancy

Lesley · Post by **Lesley** » Fri Feb 03, 2012 4:14 pm

Just as soon as I can get to the store.