Worried about a friend - any advise would be wonderful

[Tummytroubles]

Hello,
I have a friend who has recently been diagnosed with IBS. Her doctor has prescribed Librax and Buscopan (i've never herd of these meds before) - she stopped taking them because it made her stomach hurt even more. When she told her specialist he said something along the lines of 'that's never happened before and I don't have anything else to prescribe you'

She has an appointment with her Family Doctor on Friday but she is currently in a lot of pain and Advil and Tylenol does not help.

I told her to try drinking non caffeine tea with ginger in it or just warm water and to eat bland foods from the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, apple sauce and Toast)

Does anyone have any home remedies or suggestions that she could do until she is on medication that help to help sooth her stomach and the pain?

Thanks so much
S

 

[dreamintwilight]

I think that is some decent advice, so far. I am not as familiar with IBS and how diet and food may affect her as compared to someone with Crohn's. But sticking to a diet that is easily digestible is probably a pretty good idea.

A warm bath or heating pad could help with the pain in the meantime. If your friend isn't lactose intolerant or dairy sensitive, perhaps she should look into meal replacement drinks like Ensure or Boost to help supplement her. Liquids will also give her gut a break.

Peppermint and chamomile tea are also supposed to soothe the stomach. She could try those too.

Good luck. Hope the docs can figure something out on Friday.

 

[Jennifer]

Both are great suggestions. Another would be to find a new doctor. Who wants a doctor that just gives up on you? Terrible. Also, Advil upsets the stomach so maybe avoid taking that one at least.

 

[ameslouise]

New doctor - STAT!

And a brat or lo-res diet is always helpful. Ginger capsules do help a lot of people with nausea or sensitive stomach.

Good luck to your friend. - Amy

 

[Tummytroubles]

Thank you all for the great advice. I also mentioned getting a new doctor to her. But right now, she's in the 'why is this happening to me and i have not energy to do anything' phase, so it's really hard. I'm going to compile a list of questions and things she needs to tell her doctor on friday. Hopefully that will help her out a bit.
S

 

[Jennifer]

Sure, that's a great help! Other people can also make doctor appointments for another person. I do it all the time for some people. They don't really care who calls as long as you're knowledgeable about their situation and know their name (and spelling) and date of birth. Not saying that you have to do it but she could have someone else do it for her if she wants.

 

[Lydia]

I know some people find chiropractic care, probiotics (or a good probiotic yogurt), and psyllium fiber, helpful for IBS.

 

[Tummytroubles]

Thank you all for your great ideas.

Here is the list of talking points I put together. Does anyone have anything they think should be added?

-you were prescribed Librax and Buscopan for ____ days and it made you feel worse
-your specialist said that there is nothing else that can be done
-you want to get a second opinion – refer you to another doctor ASAP
-You cannot eat without feeling sick
-You go to the bathroom _______ times per day
-(if you have blood in your toilet after going – tell your doctor!)
-You have lost _____pounds since feeling sick without trying
-You are in pain 99% of the time and cannot take Advil as Advil is hard on stomach’s, you need something for the pain that is easy on the stomach until you are on a treatment that works
-you want a list of foods that will be easy on your stomach until you feel better
-are there any supplements you should take that could help in the mean time

 

[dreamintwilight]

That's a pretty good list so far, I think.

I would agree with others about getting a new doctor if this one continues to be unhelpful. Sounds like your friend is lucky to be getting support from a good friend

 

[Tummytroubles]

Thank you Marisa. I really feel for her because before I was diagnosed, i had the hardest time getting the attention necessary from doctors. We had no idea what was wrong and my first specialist appointment took over 6 months to get. I was in and out of the hospital and i would be given an IV for re-hydration and sent back home.

I feel her frustration and I want to be able to help in anyway that I can since I've gone through it before hopefully my experience will not happen to her too!

I may be going with her to the appointment Friday because she is extremly overwhelmed and scared. (i always go with someone to my appointments too because that way i wont forget what the doctor says to me)

Thank you all for your support with all this

 

[Jennifer]

Oh yes going with her would be a great idea! To add, mention that Tylenol does nothing for the pain as well so they get a clearer picture of what you're asking for.

 

[ameslouise]

You are a good friend!

 

[Tummytroubles]

I just wanted to give an update on my friends appointment with her GP today.

We mentioned what her specialist said and what her prescripted. Her GP thought it was weird because one is basically and anti anxiety and the other is an anti-spasmatic? and they are not the first line of treatment for IBS.

As I am not well briefed just yet on IBS - from what I herd in the doctors office today, it is VERY different than my diagnosis. He suggested she take a multi vitamin and drink some Ensure or Boost. Also, he said she should have a high fiber diet. (for me eating fibre puts be in the bathroom in pain!)

He prescribed Dicetel and wants to see her in 2 weeks for a follow up.

Now, i'm not sure about this. Do IBS patients usually get followed by a specialist or do they usually go back to their GP? The reason I ask is because the only thing my GP was ever able to prescribe me were steroid. He couldn't actually prescribe me anything for Crohn's (eg, Humira, Imura etc.)

I'm a little bit worried because my friend did not seem happy when she left the office. I think she really wanted to have pain medication or just be magicall fixed,she doesn't really seem to be dealing with the illness very well, and doesn't seem willing to help herself.

I'm really trying to stay possitve for her, but its hard right now as i'm currently going through a flare of Crohn's myself and I don't want to complain and make her feel worse then she already is.

Hopefully, she gives the meds a try, and listens to the doctor about what kind of diet to stick by and then she will feel like herself again.

Again, thank you all for the wonderful advice you have given me this week. The GP pretty much said the same things all of you had already said.

(as for a new referal, he didn't say he would to that just yet as all the tests she went through were done correctly and they found nothing wrong- hense the IBS on not IBD)

 

[ameslouise]

Do you know the name of the drugs that were prescribed? There are some anti-depressants in the trycyclic class that have the added benefit of being anti-spasmodics. They work great for both symptoms. Since IBS can be affected by stress, I think it makes sense to be on an anti-anxiety drug.

And I have known other IBS patients that have been told to add fiber to their diet with either metamucil or benefiber, etc.

I hope she starts to feel better soon!

- Amy

 

[Tummytroubles]

The first two she was prescribed are called Librax and Buscopan but those are the meds she said put her in even more pain than she was before.

The new med her GP prescribed is called Dicetel.

Thanks for your kind words Amy - I'll keep you all posted on this is a couple of weeks, once she's given the new treatment/diet plan a good go.

 

[Keona]

Buscopan is commonly prescribed for IBS. They also inject it into you when you have MRI's to slow your bowels down. Maybe the anti-anxiety will help with the process and not the pain... the majority of people on here have had to wait a very long time for a diagnosis - sounds like she wants answers and wants them now (which is understandable) but I think that is what makes this disease so frustrating... it is difficult to diagnose, and treat...
If things are overwhelming for you, have you thought about getting her to join an on-line forum for herself?

 

[dreamintwilight]

I agree with Wendy.

Any time you are faced with a diagnosis that changes your life it is difficult. She may just need some extra time to let things sink in. I think it's great that you are being so supportive, but I know sometimes it takes people a while to really take their health seriously. There's a time of denial sometimes. It can be difficult to watch as someone who cares, but sometimes no matter how supportive we are, people are going to waver and struggle until they come to grips on their own time.

I don't know much about IBS, but sounds like the medications she's been described thus far should help her in the meantime.

I think an online forum is a great idea for your friend when you feel overwhelmed yourself. Can't forget about your ow health too!

Hang in there. It's a lot for your friend to take in, I'm sure. But you are doing a good job so far!

 

[Tummytroubles]

You've all been so supportive through this.
I suggested forums to her a couple of weeks ago, butlike you said, she's currently going through the denial phase.
All I can do is be there and she knows I am.
It's just hard seeing her go through the same thing I went through a few years ago. Hopefully, things will get better for her soon.

As for me, my flare up feels like its starting to ease up a bit thank goodness. My specialist also prescribed me pain killers for the first time and I can finally SLEEP YAY!

 

[margie]

I am glad that you are starting to feel better now Tummytroubles. Enjoy your sleep.

All you can do for your friend, is like you said, be there to support her.