COPD & IBS

[Jill777]

Hi all hope you are all coping ok with the warm weather. I am having trouble laughing as i end up coughing then cant breath with my COPD. Mine is moderate and i take Fostair and Incurse inhalers. Anyway the main reason i am posting tonight as about a month ago i was diagnosed with IBS ( irritable bowl syndrome ). To put it midly its not very nice and most days i am finding it quite stressful. I understand there are steriods in one of my inhalers i am not sure what one. The thing is i get very, very hungry. I am not sure if its the steroids or from giving up smoking ( i gave up November when i first found out about COPD ) or if from having an empty stomach from going to the loo so much with IBS.

I am curious with the steroids as i am sure they are to blame for my vivid dreams/nightmares. If it is one of the inhalers is it wise to ask to have it change or just put up with the dreams?

[stone-UK]

Hi

Fostair is the one with steroids, if you feel it’s causing a problem speak with your GP for a alternative.

[Jill777 in reply to stone-UK]

Thank you. I will try to sort it out as i feel i have enough to think about. It would be good to stop the dreams and a plus on top of that if its to blame for feeling hungry all the time. Thank you for your reply. Jill

[HungryHufflepuff]

Hi. I was changed onto Fostair earlier this year. I was told that the amount of steroids in it are so small that they don’t have any side effects but I beg to differ. I know the steroids in Fostair are measured in micrograms and when you have Pred or something it’s milligrams. But since I’ve been taking the Fostair I’ve gained weight, slept less, had worse than usual headaches and cramps, and I’ve been having worse than usual nightmares. I haven’t heard anyone say about nightmares until you said it. I don’t know if it’s a side effect of Fostair, in fact it hadn’t occurred to me that it could be, but I suppose some medications do have side effects that include altered mood which I guess in turn could affect dreams. Fostair isn’t really working for me but is it for you? Maybe if you’re doing okay on it, give it a go for a while longer. I just wonder in my totally non expert opinion, if you’re having nightmares because to have COPD and ibs diagnosed is a lot to deal with and it’s playing out in your dreams. I don’t know... Do steroids cause nightmares? I’m sure someone here will know. (I just bumble around guessing at things)

[Jill777 in reply to HungryHufflepuff]

I do think the dreams/nightmare are a steriod thing. I took steriods for a week once and my mood swings went from one extreme to the other. i was either as high as a kite or close to tears and the dreams were so vivid, full on and in strong colours. After the week all seemed ok. But now im on Forstair the dreams are back. i wouldnt say the mood swings are there. So im guessing the quantity is smaller in the inhaler. Thanks for replying . Jill

[Ergendl]

Both steroids and giving up smoking can cause the munchies. Try to keep less fattening nibbles available, I ate sunflower seeds singly.

[tomc]

My Fostair and spiriva and other inhaler meds have been replaced with Trimbow a thee in one inhaler.

I don`t know about the med as I don't feel any difference yet.. It is probably the steroid which is causing distress and probably weight gain for you also the hunger OHHHHHHH THE HUNGER!!.

Get youR IBS checked out properly.

My colon was removed and I thought good, it's gone, no more problems...wrong.. turns out my IBS was in fact IBD Crohn's in the small intestine.

But my colon was diseased so thanks, to Doctor Reddy, who done the operation by Keyhole surgery to reduce stress of my COPD and possible lung infection.

I now have a colostomy bag and still have IBD.

But I`m happy and positive you could be too, just insist on proper treatment.

[Jill777 in reply to tomc]

I am so sorry to read of your problems. My husband has chrones disease and now i have IBS we both now suffer in different but similar ways. I am guessing IBD is irritable bowl disease. I have not heard of that before. But sympathy to you.

[tomc in reply to Jill777]

IBD, is short for Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Two hospitals have a different diagnosis, one IBS Irritable Bowel disease and the other, IBS Irritable bowel disease.

Crohn's is IBD and IBS is the lesser of the two types (MORE COMMON) ... NOW, If that hasn`t confused you Nothing WILL...

I tend to take what is said to me with a large pinch of salt nowadays, as the difference from year to year are very rarely the same.

What I find hard to swallow is rude doctors and being spoken to as though I was a two year old (I wish).

Manners cost nothing in my book and when I am confronted with total disrespect, I get bloody minded (in a polite way). I am 66 but still alive and kicking in spite of whatever illness I am told I may....or may not have.

Just remember, we all can have a lot of happy life and memories and we are all our own people.

Have a great day.

[Jill777 in reply to tomc]

Nothing worse than bad manners. The word professional doesn't mean that manners should be forgotten and needed more so i would of said to someone who could do with some empathy. I wish you well and hope you are coping ok.

[cofdrop-UK]

Hi Jill

OMG I have so much empathy with you struggling with IBS. After years of GI tests I was finally dx with IBS, SIBO and the brill registrar thought there might be an element of bile malabsorption as the symptoms, though not as severe as now coincided with removal of my gall bladder. They thought the main culprits were frequent abs over a lifetime and PPIs. Reduced the PPIs but now e coli shows up in my sputum. The usual culprits eg HI, moraxella, pseudo, strep p however, seem to have been taken over, but I need to speak to my cons as I’m not sure what lung damage the ecoli is doing.

It must be totally miserable and frustrating for you. It’s the most horrid unpredicable thing gong and I suspect it stops you from doing lots of stuff.

What are they suggesting to help.

I was down for a study but I had a 70 birthday, so there was a cock up in recruiting. However we do have a plan and they use hypnotherapy now on the NHS for IBS, depending if your con refers you and your commisioning group will pay for it. There have been some very promising audits and shows more success in women.

Good luck.

Cx

[Jill777 in reply to cofdrop-UK]

I never thought of hypnotherapy. Would it really be that simple to get rid off ? Sorry to read of your problems. A lot of what you say i am afraid was right over my head as i didn't know a lot of the terms you use. The help for COPD is inhalers and i am hoping to do a course of exercises next month with talks on help along side it. For IBS there doesnt seem to be tablets to help it but more to ease up symptoms. Its a lot to do with diet and avoiding things. I am not coping well with it at the moment but still early days. Best of luck to you.

[cofdrop-UK in reply to Jill777]

Sorry Jill I get a bit carried away. SIBO is smal intestinal bacterial overgrowth, which can often contribute to IBS and unintentional weight loss. PPIs are the medication given for reflux.

Personally I would never say the symptoms of IBS are as easy to erradicate as using hypnotherapy, but we are all different. What it does for me is help with the associated anxiety which goes with IBS and I expect it would depend on the individual. There is evidence that it helps. That’s why many GI consutants with a special interest in IBS will refer, usually for 8 sessions. I am lucky in that I now have ‘top-ups’ about every 5 weeks and find it helpful. The idea is that you use self hypnosis - nothing mysterious - it is very similar to meditation. .The therapists the NHS use are trained clinicians, either doctors, dentists or psychologists.

I wonder if you have seen a dietician to learn about the FODMAP diet, to check if it is caused by any of the food groups.

Sounds like you are going to pulmonary rehabilitation. I hope you enjoy the course and I am sure you will find it helpful with your copd.

Good luck with everything.

Love cx

[Jill777 in reply to cofdrop-UK]

Thanks for explaining better to me i am sure most others on here would of known what you were saying. What you are explaining reminded me of mindfulness but I am sure hypnotherapy is better out of the two. I have seen a dietitian and have read up on the FODMAP diet so far not done it. What i have done and it was my daughters idea was to type out lists of foods that are ok to have . In other words a positive list rather than a negative one. I was pretty bad yesterday and had to take Imodium tablets and for my first time took a Colpermin capsule. I must say i felt a lot better after. I then slept would you believe for 12 hour ! I need to get a better grip and be more on the ball with what i am eating rather than what i would like to eat that is at hand and quick. Thank you for your reply.

[cofdrop-UK in reply to Jill777]

I think it is a great idea your daughter has come up with. I do hope however, that you give the FODMAP a try. The idea is to eliminate many of the foods mentioned in the FODMAP. After a few weeks you will then introduce one food at a time to find out if there are any foods which make your symptoms worse. The first shop is a nightmare - it takes ages, but as you learn it gets easier. FODMAP is not meant to be a permanent way to eat, although if you have lots of symptoms then you can go back to it for a while (I must try this again myself as my symtoms are relentless - every day and it does make you feel unwell.

If you see a GI specialist and they think probiotics would help, -having a lung condition and having to take regular abs would be the reasoning) they could recommend VSL3 hashtag (can’t find hashtag on keyboard). The GP may say no as it is classed as a food supplement. You can get it privately but it is very expensive.

Cx

[jackdup]

I would also suggest trying a probiotic for your IBS, but confirm it with your doctor first. Even a yogurt like Activia with probiotics may help.

[Jill777 in reply to jackdup]

Hi and thanks for reply. I am now eating yogurt every day in my breakfast. My diet has changed so many times but i think i have the breakfast times sorted now. I have oat flakes yogurt and strawberries oh and a small amount of milk. Such a change from Frosties lol

[jackdup in reply to Jill777]

You should check to be sure it has probiotics as I don’t think all yogurt does, or at least in appreciable amounts. I know if sure helped me and I hope it helps you as well. It should sure reduce your frequency.