Dicyclomine (Read 118 times)

I assume you've already tried Imodium...? Bentyl has always struck me as a sort of last-resort solution when OTC efforts have failed. So you're dealing with some chronic GI disorder? Have you checked-out any disorder-specific groups to see if anyone else might have found a solution to a similar scenario?

Something people in the colorectal cancer world often find helpful is consistent use of Metamucil, but adjusting the amount of water/liquid mixed with it to help with evacuation issues at either end of the spectrum (more liquid to help loosen/speed things, less liquid to allow excess fluid in the large intestine to be absorbed...slowing things down).

It's definitely tricky finding solutions as a younger, more active person. GI docs largely are treating older, more sedentary people. I've had to do a lot of my own trial-of-1 sort of stuff, but have also learned a lot through bouncing things off of others in condition-specific message boards. Though it does help that my colorectal surgeon is a triathlete, so he at least understands that arena.

I have a mild form of ulcerative colitis, and I've had one GI doctor suggest I do "tap water enemas" before races. Another suggested that I fast for 24 hours before a marathon to avoid any explosive GI issues during....

 

As athletes, sometimes we have to figure it out ourselves.

Fasting is clearly a no-go, but don't discount the warm water enemas (they'll generally clear things out for ~24 hours). It's how a really large # of advanced stage rectal cancer survivors (particularly those who have had radiation and are left with long-term low anterior resection syndrome) are able travel, work outside the home, exercise, etc. Some surgeons don't want to recommend going to those measures (and some -- shockingly -- don't believe LARS even exists. Very much an abusive and ignorant stance, IMO), but others will openly recommend it to patients, especially as the syndrome is affecting increasingly younger and fitter patients at a really disturbing rate.

 

My concern is with the potential for electrolyte loss from the enema - not a good thing if one is intending to race a marathon all out.

I don't know that a single warm water one would be problematic. The ones that are bad news are the Fleet enemas...but those don't provide more than a few hours of "safety," anyhow.

Thanks for the replies. All this arose from my responses to the pre-colonoscopy questions about how often / how urgently I needed to go, and I'm getting the colonoscopy because I'm coming up on 50. The doc just went straight to "you need to take bentyl." I hadn't tried even Imodium, and I just considered myself on the high end of the normal distribution of frequency/urgency for a distance runner (judging unscientifically from porta potty usage in my training program).  I think I need to do some reading on my own before getting on that sort of treatment for what's been a manageable problem.

FYI the standard for first colonoscopy in a patient without family history and/or symptoms is now 45 (for anyone following this thread that is waiting until 50). I expect it will be dropped to 40 in the next decade or so, given how fast increasingly younger onset of polyps/cancer are occurring.

Kudos to you for getting on this. My dad never had a colonoscopy and was dead before 70. He also never shared family history (he lost a grandma to CRC), which led to my own diagnosis (stage 4), then my sister (stage 1). We received bad information re: when to start our scopes. We were told that since our dad likely didn't have cancer until he was 60ish that we didn't need to start early. Had I had a scope when our dad died, I would have been found to have stage 2 cancer, likely. It doesn't generally present any symptoms until stage 3 or 4. Our brother has had pre-cancerous polyps. My son and my niece and nephew must all start scopes by 30.

It's kind of surprising to me that they're jumping right to Bentyl. That's not even first line treatment for people who have documented colorectal issues.

I assume you, too, graduated HS in '91?

Well, kudos to you Zoom Zoom for fighting the disease and sharing info about it. I'm in that cohort that turned 45 when it was 50 and but didn't reach 50 before it went to 45. I think a lot of these age limits are not keeping pace with trends or technology so I try to get my work in on schedule. Sounds like a lousy disease...

Yeah, definitely not a good time. 5/5, do not recommend. It would be less lousy (and less deadly) if it carried no more stigma than any other cancer. I still see people make weird faces and avoid eye contact when I mention my diagnosis. It takes all my will to not tell them to grow up.

My dad was generally good about medical screenings, but was totally stupid about the one that ultimately killed him. I often wonder how he'd feel, were he still around to see 2/3 of his kids diagnosed, due to his carelessness. So, yeah, I pretty much won't STFU about it, because I don't want to live to see anyone else diagnosed with what is a largely avoidable, literally shitty disease.

I don't have nearly the experience Zoom-Zoom does on this, but it does seem a bit extreme given you haven't tried anything else yet. I have IBS and manage it with Metamucil and Imodium. I really need to get on actually tracking my food intake though to see any triggers I don't know about.

I appreciate you sharing your experience. Are you seeking for academic papers to use in your exam preparation? Furthermore, you haven't yet come across any publications or other resources that may help you with your study. Don't worry, though; I glanced at this article on https://studyclerk.com/research-paper-for-sale "Research Paper for Sale" page. referring to personalised research papers. With the help of the material on this website, you may hire a skilled academy instructor for yourself. Additionally, you may ask them for help with your academic research and writing. The lecturers here are all majors with years of experience.