Question about attacks
#63185 - 04/20/04 07:10 PM
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Vicam
Reged: 02/24/04
Posts: 1955
Loc: Ontario, Canada
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I'm just looking for people's advice on how they handle their attacks. I'm an IBS-Aer, and I find that Lomotil works really well for controlling my D when I get an attack. However, I have this mental block where I think that if I'm having an attack is must be because I need to have D, so I won't take the Lomotil unless I need to go to work or do something really important and won't be able to be near a bathroom. If I'm at home, I won't take anything and just deal with being in the bathroom all day long.
I'm wondering, is this stupid of me? I keep thinking that the Lomotil works really well, and I usually only have to take it once, so why not? But I just seem to have this impression that if you have D, you must have to "get it out" but I think that maybe isn't the case with IBS. Obviously if you have food poisoning or something like that you wouldn't necessarily want to plug yourself up, but if it's just IBS, does it really matter?
Any advice would be great, especially since I'm having a D day today and have been chained to the loo 
Kelly
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Personally, I'm a better safe than sorry kind of person, so I take Bentyl and/or Pepto Bismol as soon as I realize an attack is coming. That way I can sometimes head it off so it's not as bad and painful. The only bad thing about that it that I'm very C prone and it binds me up sometimes. But I like to avoid D whenever possible, so for me it's worth it. I think it's just a personal preference and what seems to work best for your body! If you're able to get it out and then feel better, maybe that's a smart thing to do. But if it's making you miserable, I'd just take the drugs!! 
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"Anyone can exercise, but this kind of lethargy takes real discipline." -Garfield
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what i do...
#63247 - 04/21/04 06:03 AM
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jenX
Reged: 08/11/03
Posts: 3252
Loc: Richmond, VA
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i kinda see your point about letting the body do what it needs to do. before IBS i never took things like immodium 'cause i figgered there was a reason my body was trying to expell this stuff...
however, you have to remember that IBS is an illness in and of itself. it's not about bacteria or germs or an adverse reaction to old meat...
since it's an illness in and of itself, you need to treat the symptoms of that illness. if lomotil works for you (especially in just one dose!) then i would use it, if i were you.
now, before i stabilized i was having upwards of 15 mad dashes to the bathroom a day. that's meds-worthy, me thinks! but now that i'm stable, i don't really have "attacks" like that anymore. i don't get the sweats and run to the potty only to stay there in tears while my body tries to kill me. but i do every now and again get a little bit of a feeling like--- ya may want to wander towards the bathroom.... and when i'm there things just ain't "normal." it's not liquid, cramping, awful diarrhea, but it's not solid, either. then, i don't bother with taking my meds. i know after one, maybe two trips in i'll be done. in those cases, i'm back to the "let the body do what it needs to" thinking. however, i carry my Levsin with me at all times 'cause if i get that old kind of attack, you betcha--- i'm taking the dang pills immediately !!!!
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I totally agree with you Jen. I too was going to the bathroom up to 15 times a day and that was DEFINITELY meds-worthy, though it took me a while to work out that if I was THAT bad, then any bad effects (ie. C) from the Immodim would be a relief!
Now I don't take meds regularly, but I do carry emergency supplies around just in case!
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