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

Imodium?

cdfiance

Recommended Posts

cdfiance Explorer
cdfiance
Posted

First of all, I'm sorry for asking so many questions but I feel you guys have the most Celiac knowlege out there. Anyway, my question is about meds for cramps and diarrhea. Alex (my fiance with Celiac) is so warn out from diarrhea every day. She's not getting glutenated but since her intestine is in the process of healing, food just rushes through her causing painful cramps and frequent trips to the bathroom. It's especially troubling at night because the pain can make it hard for her to fall asleep and then when she does fall asleep she gets awakened with the urgent need to use the bathroom. I was wondering about Imodium or something similar to help her sleep through the night.

The problem is, before her diagnosis she took Imodium and it had a horrible result. Her diarrhea stopped for a bit but it was like her body was still fighting to get everything out of her so she had excruciating cramps and was shaking and sweating and crying in pain until she was able to continue having diarrhea. So you can understand why we are reluctant to try it again. We were thinking that now that the diarrhea isn't due to her body trying to get gluten out but due to malabsorption it might not result in the same painful situation. If not Immodium is there something she could take to at least ease the pain of her cramps and make her comfortable enough to sleep. I don't know if Tylenol or other painkillers take care of that kind of pain.

Thank you for your patience with my lack of knowledge!

Ryan

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


jmengert Enthusiast
jmengert
Posted

I still get cramps and diarrhea fairly often, and I take Immodium for it when it's bad. It always helps my cramps immediately, and I've never had the side effect you've mentioned. However, I would imagine that taking Tylenol or something may also help, and perhaps she would want to try that if the Immodium has caused her problems in the past.

Also, Pepto Bismal is gluten-free (the liquid is last I heard), but it always made me nauseous, so I personally avoid it, but that's something else that she may want to consider, since other people swear by it.

I hope she begins feeling better soon!

jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted

Hi Ryan,

Please don't apologize for asking questions--that's what we're here for!

I think it's wonderful that you are wanting to take such good care of Alex.

I use Immodium when needed, and it helps greatly. I've never had a bad reaction to it. I'm not sure if it would affect her any differently now, but it might be worth another try.

My gastroenterologist prescribed Neulev for me when I was first diagnosed. It is a med he uses for patients who have cramping after certain procedures. It is disolved under the tongue, and eases cramping.

Honestly, I got better relief from Immodium, but different things work for different people.

Has she tried a heating pad on her stomach? I hope she gets some relief soon!

Jestgar Rising Star
Jestgar
Posted

Can she take a day off from food to give her intestine some quiet time?

Just drink ginger ale and 7-up and maybe green tea or herbal teas. Then start with bananas and maybe applesauce to see if it helps.

Avoid anything harsh for a while like citrus or acidic fruits/veggies and have her boil all her veggies to mush.

This isn't a permanent diet change, just a chance for her digestive tract to calm down a little.

happygirl Collaborator
happygirl
Posted

Make sure that the medicine you take is gluten free. The Imodium pills are, but I believe some of the liquid versions aren't.

Are you positive she is entirely gluten free? Is she eating out at all?

Best of luck, and I hope her symptoms improve quickly!!!!

cdfiance Explorer
cdfiance
Posted
  • Author
Are you positive she is entirely gluten free? Is she eating out at all?

Yup, she's definitely totally gluten free and not eating out. Rice, applesauce, bananas, bland veggies, and gluten-free crackers and toast are basically all she's eating. Sometimes all I can convince her to eat is some applesauce when her tummy is feeling particularly bad.

Can she take a day off from food to give her intestine some quiet time?

Just drink ginger ale and 7-up and maybe green tea or herbal teas. Then start with bananas and maybe applesauce to see if it helps.

I've been worried she's not getting enough nutrients since she feels so weak a lot of the time but maybe she should just try Pedialyte and tea for a short time to see if things calm down. If her intestine isn't absorbing much anyway what does it matter :(

She's just getting so frustrated with how slow her recovery is going and how bad she feels most of the time. All of this is understandably starting to make her feel pretty blue. :(

Ryan

Jestgar Rising Star
Jestgar
Posted

Ibuprofen and aspirin are both anti-inflammatories (Tylenol is not). If she is going to take something for pain you might consider one of those. You could try the enteric coated aspirin (but I don't know what's in the coating) or maybe baby aspirin mashed into applesauce.

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

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


larry mac Enthusiast
larry mac
Posted
Make sure that the medicine you take is gluten free. The Imodium pills are, but I believe some of the liquid versions aren't.

HappyGirl has an excellent point. The liquid used to make me ill at my stomach the couple times I tried taking it (this was before I ever heard of celiac), but the tablets never did. I can't find the box and the ingredients aren't listed on the bottle of Equate brand liquid I have. But I'm pretty sure we've covered this topic before and it has gluten.

best regards, lm

kabowman Explorer
kabowman
Posted

I find that if I have an accidental glutening, which is very very rare, I have to let the worst of it pass on its own before I take the imodium. After the first round or two, that is when I take my pills. I don't have to do that with my other food sensitivities reactions, just the gluten because of the cramping, sweating, etc. If I take it too soon, I still don't feel well.

Archived

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

Go to topic listing

  • 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. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to Charlie1946's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      45

      Severe severe mouth pain

      @Charlie1946, Sorry I sidetracked your thread a bit. Apologies. Proton pump inhibitors, like Omeprazole, change the pH in our gastrointestinal systems which allows opportunistic microbes to move in and take over. Have you been checked for SIBO? There's a significant link between length of Omeprazole use and SIBO. I had SIBO, thrush (Candida...
    2. Lkg5
      - Lkg5 replied to Charlie1946's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      45

      Severe severe mouth pain

      My sebaceous hyperplasia and thrush disappeared when I stopped all dairy.
    3. Lkg5
      - Lkg5 commented on Scott Adams's article in Diagnosis, Testing & Treatment
      1

      Rapid Diagnosis of Celiac Disease Using Blood-Based Infrared Spectroscopy and Deep Learning

      Wow!!! 😂
    4. Charlie1946
      - Charlie1946 replied to Charlie1946's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      45

      Severe severe mouth pain

      @knitty kitty Thank you so much for all that information! I will be sure to check it out and ask my doctor. I am just at a loss, I am on my 2nd round of miracle mouthwash and I brush and scrape my tongue and (sorry this is gross) it's still coated in the middle
    5. Aretaeus Cappadocia
      - Aretaeus Cappadocia posted a topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      0

      Brown Rice Vinegar (organic) from Eden Foods is likely gluten free

      Traditional brown rice vinegars are made by fermenting brown rice and water with koji (Kōji 麹). The gluten risk comes from the method of preparing the koji: rice, wheat or barley may be used. Regardless of the starting grain, "koji" typically will be listed as an ingredient, and that term alone does not indicate gluten status. I called Eden Foods re...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,098
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    BothySmithy
    Newest Member
    BothySmithy
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Who's Online (See full list)

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      Severe severe mouth pain

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @Charlie1946,  Sorry I sidetracked your thread a bit.  Apologies. Proton pump inhibitors, like Omeprazole, change the pH in our gastrointestinal systems which allows opportunistic microbes to move in and take over.  Have you been checked for SIBO?  There's a significant link between length of Omeprazole use and SIBO.  I had SIBO, thrush (Candida) and lichen planus and other problems while I was on Omeprazole.  I had to stop taking it.  It was a horrible time, so I understand how painful and frustrating it is.   You change your microbiome (the bacteria and microbes living inside you) by changing what you eat.  They eat what you eat.  Change the menu and you get different customers.   I changed my diet.  I cut out dairy because I was reacting to the casein and lactose.  I cut out all processed foods and most carbohydrates. I ate meat and veggies mostly, some fruit like apples and mandarin oranges.  By cutting out all the excess carbohydrates, lactose, and empty carbs in processed gluten-free foods, the opportunistic microbes get starved out.  SIBO bacteria send chemical messages to our brains demanding more carbs, so be prepared for carb cravings, but don't let the microbiome control you!   The skin and digestive system is continuous.  The health of our outside skin reflects the health of our gastrointestinal system.  Essential B vitamins, like Thiamine B 1 and especially Niacin B 3, are needed to repair intestinal damage and keep bad bacteria in check.  Niacin helps improve not only the intestinal tract, but also the skin.  Sebaceous Hyperplasia is linked to being low in Niacin B 3.  Lichen Planus is treated with Niacinamide, a form of Niacin B 3.   Vitamins are chemical compounds that our bodies cannot make.  We must get them from our food.  If our food isn't digested well (low stomach acid from Omeprazole causes poor digestion), then vitamins aren't released well.  Plus there's a layer of SIBO bacteria absorbing our vitamins first between the food we've eaten and our inflamed and damaged villi that may have difficulty absorbing the vitamins.  So, taking vitamin supplements is a way to boost absorption of essential nutrients that will allow the body to fight off the microbes, repair and heal.   Doctors are taught in medical learning institutions funded by pharmaceutical companies.  The importance of nutrition is downplayed and called old fashioned.  Doctors are taught we have plenty to eat, so no one gets nutritional deficiency diseases anymore.  But we do, as people with Celiac disease, with impaired absorption.  Nutritional needs need to be addressed first with us.  Vitamins cannot be patented because they are natural substances.  But pharmaceutical drugs can be.  There's more money to be made selling pharmaceutical drugs than vitamins.   Makes me wonder how much illness could be prevented if people were screened for Celiac disease much earlier in life, instead of after they've been ill and medicated for years.   Talk to your doctor and dietician about supplementing essential vitamins and minerals.   Interesting Reading: The Duration of Proton Pump Inhibitor Therapy and the Risk of Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12250812/#:~:text=The long-term use of,overgrowth dynamics is less clear. Lichenoid drug eruption with proton pump inhibitors https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC27275/ Nicotinamide: A Multifaceted Molecule in Skin Health and Beyond https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11857428/
    • Lkg5
      Severe severe mouth pain

      By Lkg5 · Posted

      My sebaceous hyperplasia and thrush disappeared when I stopped all dairy.
    • Charlie1946
      Severe severe mouth pain

      By Charlie1946 · Posted

      @knitty kitty Thank you so much for all that information! I will be sure to check it out and ask my doctor.  I am just at a loss, I am on my 2nd round of miracle mouthwash and I brush and scrape my tongue and (sorry this is gross) it's still coated in the middle 
    • Aretaeus Cappadocia
      Brown Rice Vinegar (organic) from Eden Foods is likely gluten free

      By Aretaeus Cappadocia · Posted

      Traditional brown rice vinegars are made by fermenting brown rice and water with koji (Kōji 麹). The gluten risk comes from the method of preparing the koji: rice, wheat or barley may be used. Regardless of the starting grain, "koji" typically will be listed as an ingredient, and that term alone does not indicate gluten status. I called Eden Foods regarding their product "Organic Brown Rice Vinegar" (product of Japan) to ask how their product is made. They gave me a clear answer that they >do< use rice and they >do not< use wheat or barley in preparing their koji. FWIW, the product itself does not contain any labeling about gluten, gluten risk, or gluten safety. Based on Eden's statement, I am going to trust that this product is gluten safe and use it.
    • Scott Adams
      heaps of hope!

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Your post nails the practical reality of living well with a celiac diagnosis. The shift from feeling restricted to discovering a new world of cooking—whether through a supportive partner making gluten-free spanakopita and gravy, or learning to cook for yourself—is exactly how many people find their footing. It turns a medical necessity into a chance to build kitchen skills, eat more whole foods, and actually enjoy the process. Your point that the basics—knife skills, food safety, and experimenting with spices—are all you really need is solid, helpful advice. It’s a good reminder that the diagnosis, while a pain, doesn’t have to stop you from eating well or having fun with food.
×
×
  • 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.