Bile Salt Malabsorption

[SARAH B]

I have recently been diagonised as having bile salt malabsorption! I am taking cholestragel tablets and for the first time in nearly 10 years i 'seem' to be diarrhea free - after only 2 weeks of taking the tablets!
Does anyone else taking them find they worked and do you suffer from relapses!
Also - i saw something about having vitamin and iron tests, none of my dr's have suggested this - do you think i should bring it up with them as for the last 4/5 years i have been so tiered finding it hard to get through the day and certainly have to have knaps during my days off to help me get through a week!

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

Hi SARAH B, I've moved your post to its own thread. You should get more replies in here than in the other thread. Thanks and welcome to the forum!

 

[SARAH B]

Oh thanks i had no idea 'how to put a post on!!!'
not very good with technology!!!!

 

[scottsma]

I just wanted to say Hi and welcome you to the forum. I can't help with your query but wanted to tell you you're not the only one who's not good with technology.I just about muddle through.Just out of interest,do you still have your Gall bladder ? I had mine out 3wks ago and I'm looking for "signs" of things not being as they should.It's good that your D.is under control at last.

 

[SARAH B]

Thanks! Yes i still have my gall bladder! I have suffered with acid reflux for 24 years and been on omeprazole for 15+ years - i have read things that maybe the omeprazole could have been a big player in causing the bild salt problem!

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

Sarah, here's a link to a tour of the forum - this should help you get acquainted with things here.
http://www.crohnsforum.com/tours.php?do=tour&tour=4

 

[fuzzy butterfly]

hi sarah, iv just had an seh ct scan to check my bile salts, just awaiting results now.. i also am on omeprazole so i hope that is not doing us any harm as it were ... my D is not to bad at the mo but im on loperamide , so i guess depending on the results things may change. i may end up on the same as you yet. hope things stay good for you ..
Ps.. im also taking b12 injections n iron tablets , so ye maybe ask docs to check for any deficency just in case..

 

[SARAH B]

Do you know when they told me i had bile salt malabsorption it was a relief in away as I thought I'd just get fobbed off.i have suffered so badly with d. For the last 18 months, its was getting me down, some days i didnt dare leave the house and if i ate out or just before I went out, i had to know where the loos were, as there was no waiting! Let me know how you get on!so how long have you been having b12 injections and iron supplements, do find they are helping?

 

[fuzzy butterfly]

Do you know when they told me i had bile salt malabsorption it was a relieve in aawy as i have suffered so badly with d. For the last 18 months its was getting me down, some days i didnt dare leave the house and if i ate out or just before i had to know where the loos were, as there was no waiting! Let me know how you get on!so how long have you been having b12 injections and iron supplements, do find they are helping?

hi, i know the feeling well chic, iv been on iron for about 18mths, and b12 for maybe 2 yrs ish , i cant remember exactly, i think that they do help even tho i still feel tired i'd dread to think how i would feel without them :yfrown:
i had a tempory ileostomy 18/19 mths ago, reversed this feb , so i can still need to know where loo's are as sometimes i still have to go NOW!!oo:
il keep you posted on the results n let you know what they decide to do with me re meds etc ..
take care , its nice to see another brit joining us :welcome:

 

[SARAH B]

I think you will see more brits joining! Up until fairly recently people have been fobbed off with 'ibs' now i think they are thinking hang on how ling have i just got to put up with this and the sehcat scan is confirming bsm! So now we are finally getting recognised and getting medication to help!!!!

 

[fuzzy butterfly]

ye i think your right there , the trouble is so many bowel problems have the same symptoms n can take a while to diagnose, so we all get lumped under ibs till we are nearly at deaths door b4 they look at things like crohn's, i even said my aunt had it , n it can be hereditory, but no still had to suffer for 3/4 yrs b4 they started to look that, i was being booked for a ct scan, but b4 the appointment came i took really poorly, had got e-coli n rushed to hospital, they did scan while i was there n found the crohn's, so ye it can be an awful long time to get sorted, even our US friends have the same problems...
i have learned tho , i'll not put up with time wasting now, i go in n demand ( fairly nicely mind ) that they sort me out now!.. it works most of the time :thumright:

 

[fuzzy butterfly]

Hi I'm now on colestyramine powder a generic form of questran for my bile salts malabsorbtion. Been on it a few weeks, not sure yet if its helping... The D the is OK as it was on the loperimide, so...
Will see what doc says tomz!!! ☺

 

[ronroush7]

I have recently been diagonised as having bile salt malabsorption! I am taking cholestragel tablets and for the first time in nearly 10 years i 'seem' to be diarrhea free - after only 2 weeks of taking the tablets!
Does anyone else taking them find they worked and do you suffer from relapses!
Also - i saw something about having vitamin and iron tests, none of my dr's have suggested this - do you think i should bring it up with them as for the last 4/5 years i have been so tiered finding it hard to get through the day and certainly have to have knaps during my days off to help me get through a week!

I am glad you are diarrhea free. As far as your question, go ahead and ask the doctor.