Questran anyone? Trying to decide on further treatment.

[sf925415]

So, one year post-resection, i've been managing with entocort for the past few months after having worsening symptoms. I have kind of continued to suffer with recurrent D, seems like its bile, burns, urgently etc... gross. I guess you can understand on this site though. It comes and goes. I'm kind of sick of it happening though, i can manage it privately during my normal work/home routine, but on a recent vacation, it was limiting.

I think my GI earlier offered an RX of Questran, which I refused. now I'm thinking about it. Anyone have experience with it? Are there other options? I read that it tastes disguisting, can cause bloating other problems, etc... uugh. this disease sucks.

I also refused to go back on humira (following the surgery), but maybe i should do that instead of Questran. Just confusing.

Any advice would be appreciated - i am mainly curious abuot this questran and whether there are similar options that are in pill form.

 

[DustyKat]

The diarrhoea would be a direct result of the surgery. It may continue to take up over time but I think the degree to which oit will do that will depend on how much ileum you had removed.

My daughter had ongoing issues following her surgery and did try Questran but found it too unpalatable, she was young at the time though (14). Others here have found it to be very successful and find mixing with something like apple juice to be the best solution to overcome the taste/texture. If you put Questran into the search function you will find other threads about it. It is also available in tablet form, Welchol, which will eliminate the taste/texture issue. Members on here that are using it say it is effective.

Sarah now uses natural psyllium husks to treat her chronic diarrhoea and it works a treat for her. She is now 5 1/2 years post op and is down to going once a day when she uses the psyllium. Psyllium is also available as a capsule but I don't know how effective it is for use with diarrhoea.

Please note: If you do go this track then both Questran, Welchol and psyllium can affect the absorption of medication/supplements. Please have a look at this thread...

http://www.crohnsforum.com/showthread.php?t=30515

Good luck!

Dusty. xxx

 

[pjmel]

I have been taking Questran for some time now, could not cope day to day without it. It does take some time to get used to, but I prefer a few seconds of unpleasantness than a day spent on the loo! I couldn't say about the bloating, for me I only tend to get bloated if I eat the wrong things so it could be an individual thing. The only downside for me is you have to time it well with your other medications - an hour before and six hours after you have the questran.
When I had my first flare I tried psyllium husks - it had a negative effect on me, however a few months ago I had an MRI in which I had to drink a heap of the solluble type - it certainly made things quite firmer! Quite a different experience thats for sure!
I guess all you can do is try a few things and decide on which works best for you.
Cheers
Paula

 

[tiloah]

I need to attempt Welchol again... After it gave me severe heartburn (probably from not taking it with food) and a $75 copay, I kind of wrote it off.

 

[sf925415]

Thanks, spoke to GI who suggests Welchol. i think I'm going to give it a try. I am concerned about the timing though, I take oral meds for this and another another condition I have (why have just one I say?).

hope it works, I'm going on a cruise in a month and would like to have better control, at least for the sake of my cabinmate!

 

[tiloah]

Did you have your TI removed with your resection? I think the reasoning behind using Welchol usually is that the TI is where bile is re-absorbed. If your TI isn't doing its job (or is absent), the bile makes its way to the colon. Because of the environment located there, bile tends to act as a "powerful" laxative. I believe if this is the underlying cause, drugs like Questran and Welchol tend to work quite well. I hope it works for you. Good luck!

 

[sf925415]

Just adding to this, I've been on the questran for a few days now. I do notice an improvement, but only somewhat. I'm on 2 pills, twice a day (don't know the dosage). Should I ask for more? How much of these horsepills can one take? Oh, and I would add - its seriously challenging to incorporate this pill into my medicine regime, since I'm told I can't take my other pills within 2 hours of the questran. Should I ask to take it only once a day, at lunch, and take the full dosage then?

 

[Sailorluna]

I take 4 Welchol Every morning. On its own it is not enough but combined with lomotil it works great. I take the lomotil with my other pills and am careful about times for pills so Welchol cant hurt the absorption.