Jump to content
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

What Are Your Thoughts On Anti-Diarrhea Meds?


carecare

Recommended Posts

carecare Enthusiast

Are they safe to use? I have been miserable lately...and have to wait until Dec. 12 for my endoscopy before I can go gluten free again. This past week has been particularly bad. I was telling my husband I feel like my intestines are dry heaving...well, not dry but you know when you have that involuntary stomach movement when dry heaving or vomiting...but it's my intestines. It's so uncomfortable. I am guessing my intestines are spasming pretty severely when this is happening. I used to take anti diarrhea meds when traveling if I had any stomach issues and they helped a ton. I'm wondering if it's safe to take them on a regular basis to relieve the cramping. My visits to the bathroom this week have been horrible...and I don't feel like moving or having anyone near me or touch me for hours after. Gosh, I can't wait until I can eat healthy again...and never have gluten again.


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



ravenwoodglass Mentor

Have you called the doctor and told them how severe your reaction is? If not do so. Ask to speak to a nurse if your doctor doesn't do call backs. This is especially the case if your D is waking you up at night as that is a typical Celiac symptoms and not a symptom of IBS. Some will call off the challenge or they may put you on a cancelation list to get you in sooner. They may also be able to prescribe an antispasmodic or anticholeragenic to help you get through it. Your body is telling you what you needed to know and I am sorry you are having to go through this.

As to taking Immodium, well I lived off multiple doses a day for about 15 years. If you have to leave your home then go ahead and take it. If you can be at home then I would let the offending substance leave your body as much as possible.

Do keep in mind that you can still have negative biopsy results even after going through the challenge so do go back to the diet if it helped as soon as the biopsy is done.

kendon0015 Rookie

If you have any chance of having a bacterial overgrowth causing the diarrhea, DO NOT take anti-D meds. It keeps the bacteria in your intestines, which is counter productive.

mushroom Proficient

Sometimes necessary, but a long-term no-no. I have a neice who travels often around the Pacific islands and one of her suitcase staples is "starters" and "stoppers" :D Plus I think she is probably also one of the great undiagnosed (her mother is an unbeliever).

Skylark Collaborator

I agree that you need to talk to your Dr. There are prescription anti-spasmodics that can relieve cramping and your Dr. can probably find you something safe to use daily until your scope.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):





    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):




  • Recent Activity

    1. - Scatterbrain replied to Scatterbrain's topic in Sports and Fitness
      3

      Feel like I’m starting over

    2. - Kirita replied to Kirita's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      2

      Recovery from gluten challenge

    3. - Scott Adams replied to Kirita's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      2

      Recovery from gluten challenge

    4. - Scott Adams replied to Colleen H's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      1

      Brain fog

    5. - trents replied to Scatterbrain's topic in Sports and Fitness
      3

      Feel like I’m starting over


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,285
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    Kenny Waites
    Newest Member
    Kenny Waites
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scatterbrain
      Thanks to those who have replied.  To Cristina, my symptoms are as follows: Dizziness, lightheaded, headaches (mostly sinus), jaw/neck pain, severe tinnitus, joint stiffness, fatigue, irregular heart rate, post exercise muscle fatigue and soreness, brain fog, insomnia.  Generally feeling unwell. To Trents, We didn’t do any of the construction but did visit the job site quite often.  While getting the old house ready we stirred up a lot of dust and I’m sure mold but haven’t been back there for over a month.
    • Kirita
      Thank you so much for your response! I have a follow-up appointment with her pediatrician next week, and also an appointment with her pediatric GI Dr. Your message gives me some ideas for questions to ask the doctors. My daughter went strictly gluten-free in January following her first endoscopy so I’m guessing her diet is pretty solid. She is compliant but also reliant on others to make her food (at school and home) but she didn’t have this problem prior to the gluten challenge when she went strictly gluten-free. It really makes sense to me that the gluten challenge inflammation hasn’t healed and I will be asking her doctors about nutritional issues. I ask for anecdotal stories because the research surrounding the gluten challenge seems to be inconsistent and inconclusive (at least what I’ve been able to find!). Thank you so much for your response!
    • Scott Adams
      While the positive endoscopy confirms the diagnosis, it's important to be skeptical of the idea that your daughter will simply "bounce back" to a pre-challenge state. The gluten challenge was essentially a controlled, prolonged exposure that likely caused significant inflammation and damage to her system; it's not surprising that recovery is slow and that a subsequent exposure hit her so hard. The persistent fatigue is a major red flag that her body is still struggling, potentially indicating that the initial damage hasn't fully healed or that her system is now in a heightened state of reactivity. Rather than seeking anecdotal timelines from others, her experience underscores the critical need for close follow-up with her gastroenterologist to rule out other nutrient deficiencies commonly caused by celiac flare-ups, like iron or B12, and to consult with a dietitian to scrutinize her diet for any hidden sources of cross-contamination that could be perpetuating her symptoms. The most common nutrient deficiencies associated with celiac disease that may lead to testing for the condition include iron, vitamin D, folate (vitamin B9), vitamin B12, calcium, zinc, and magnesium.  Unfortunately many doctors, including my own doctor at the time, don't do extensive follow up testing for a broad range of nutrient deficiencies, nor recommend that those just diagnosed with celiac disease take a broad spectrum vitamin/mineral supplement, which would greatly benefit most, if not all, newly diagnosed celiacs.      
    • Scott Adams
      The most common nutrient deficiencies associated with celiac disease that may lead to testing for the condition include iron, vitamin D, folate (vitamin B9), vitamin B12, calcium, zinc, and magnesium.  Unfortunately many doctors, including my own doctor at the time, don't do extensive follow up testing for a broad range of nutrient deficiencies, nor recommend that those just diagnosed with celiac disease take a broad spectrum vitamin/mineral supplement, which would greatly benefit most, if not all, newly diagnosed celiacs. Brain fog, like other celiac disease symptoms, does improve after you to 100% gluten-free, and supplementation will also help.      
    • trents
      Were you doing any of the new home construction yourself? Drywall compounds and adhesives used in construction have been known to cause problems for some celiacs.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.