Hospital admissions

[GKT1969]

hello everyone,

I was recently admitted into hospital again due to the severe weight loss due to my IBS symptoms. Usual round of blood, urine, stool tests all of which came back negative for disease. I must be the healthiest person there apart from the fact I have dropped from 12 stone to 6 stone because of the constant diarrhea, constipation and stomach pain. This is a continuous cycle of loose greasy stools throughout the day (10 or more) but no relief and constipation the rest of the day. I did have an enteroscopy during my hospital stay and the results were negative pending biopsy results. All I want now is a Diagnosis so I can focus on specific treatment. The hospital wanted to put me on intravenous feeding but I thought this might be for a couple of weeks but they suggested for months. Not sure I can cope or manage that as I live alone and have no support structure in Cass I run into difficulties. It’s all so overwhelming. I finally started on the amitropyline to see if they help but I’m at a complete loss on what to eat or drink. I mainly consume protein shakes, Farley risk, baby food crackers but I still have an unending supply of loose stool on such a basic diet. I had some rice the other day and I was pooping rice for the next 48 hours. Seems I cannot tolerate any food or liquid, if anyone has similar symptoms and have some diet or treatment suggestions please let me know. I cannot keep dropping weight but the pain and constant bowel issues prevent me from consuming food and liquid. Appreciate any help I’m at the end of my tether.

Thank you

[b1b1b1]

I think you need to follow the advice of your doctors and hospital. If what you say is accurate, your situation sounds serious and should not be taken lightly. Continuing on as you are will end with severe malnutrition, anorexia and possibly worse.

[Harley1020]

Hello, so sorry to hear about your horrendous episodes. After I had my gall bladder out, I suffered from similar symptoms and it’s take 12 years to have finally got a diagnosis of Bile Acid Malabsorption for which I receive a medication called Colesevelam - x6 tablets a day. Also take 10mgs of Amitriptyline a day. There’s information on this condition if you goggle it. Take care.

[xjrs]

So sorry to hear about your situation. As  Harley1020 says, it might be an idea to ask for a test for BAM if this hasn't been carried out already. I am not sure that IBS would cause such extremes like not even being able to digest rice. Though I am not a doctor.

As  b1b1b1 says, the doctors need to help you to gain weight as a priority. If you need help, you could contact social services and ask them if you are eligible for a care plan - just say that you are very ill and you can't cope on your own (which is totally understandable). Sometimes this is more easily set up whilst you are in hospital, since they will organise this for you.

Amitriptyline can be constipating, so this may help.

If BAM is ruled out, there is no harm in trying a good probiotic like Alflorex (which worked best for me) or Symprove. If probiotics make your symptoms far far worse over time (needs a 3 month trial), you can discuss the possibility of SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth) with your GP or gastro (and not anyone else - there are people making an industry out of this).

Once your symptoms are more under control, after you've received the proper diagnosis and treatment, you can gradually wean yourself onto a normal diet. This should include fibre to help bulk out stools.

Take care and good luck.

[GKT1969]

thanks everyone for your replies. I’m in the process of being tested for BAM although my prior fecal fat tests have been negative, Not sure if BAM contributes to undigested food. I simply cannot digest any food no matter the fiber content. I’m taking enzymes but they have not resolved or reduced the problem. Let’s see what the BAM test comes back with. A diagnosis would be most welcome.

[Sarah090174]

Hiya, I am sorry to hear everything that you have been through. I have had a similar experience over the last 15 months. I have had every test you can imagine through my GP and gastroenterologist. I have finally been diagnosed as bile acid malabsorption and microscopic colitis. I have been in hospital for weight loss, I am still on a very limited and bland diet everyday. My dietitian has prescribed build up drink to supplement my calories. I have gone from 10 stone down to 7 and a half stone. I am massively underweight for my height. I have gained a small amount of weight but not much. The hospital considered intravenous feeding but I can actually eat reasonably well, it is just my body rejects food and I don’t always absorb nutrients. I am now on questran for bile acid malabsorption and 3 months of steroids. I try to stick to some gluten free foods and follow the lows FODMAP diet too. All my tests have showed inflammation since May last year but no one addressed this. I have had a rollercoaster with it all and I had a massive flare in April which I am still recovering from. I had a lot of baby food in my diet at first and gradually built up. My main meal of the day is on an evening. I have oven cooked chicken breast, with sliced carrots and toast potatoes, then a jelly or mandarins for after. I also have gluten free cakes too just small ones. Although I am improving I simply can digest some vegetables, I quite frequently pass undigested carrots. Your symptoms definately fit with bile acid malabsorption and microscopic colitis. You should Google on the internet that is how I gained my information and although my tests only showed inflammation I knew my gastroenterologist was missing something as I was so ill. Have you had your stools checked for pancreatic elastase as that can give similar symptoms too luckily mine came back negative. I also cut dairy out of my diet too for a year, i am now slowly introducing lactose free milk and limited my cups of decaffeinated tea a day too. Think it all helps. Hope that some of this advice helps and do hope you start to feel better or see an improvement soon. Take care of your self and persevere with the doctors you certainly don’t sound an IBS case. Good luck

[GKT1969]

thank you for your reply Sarah. I hope the treatment is helping with your symptoms and you can have as close a normal life as possible. I’m far from that sadly. I simply seem unable to tolerate any food and depend on protein shakes. However, I still have constant loose stool and constipation even on a limited diet, I did take colestopol for a few weeks but that didn’t help but I’m willing to try other BAM treatments as a lot of people on this forum have suggested my symptoms are bile acid malabsorption. I also fear I have developed a fear of food which I’m Sure only worsens my condition. I panic if I think I ate something with gluten or is difficult to digest. I have Zoloft that I might start taking but I had a bad reaction to anti depressants before that took me to a very dark and frightening place. I live in on my own now so I worry there would be no one to help me if I had a bad reaction. That said, I feel so sick and weak im willing to try anything. I do not get any relief from this pain at all not even for 5 minutes. It’s very hard to go on

I appreciate you taking the time to respond

Best wishes