I think I found my solution - IBS-D

[PreIBS]

Hello together,

for about 15 years I had problems about having diarrhea and the need to poop in stressful situations. 

If there was a long line, in the supermarket, in a traffic jam, at immigration counters on airports, all my body got hot, I had to fart really often and ended very often in the urgent need, to use a toilet. I think most of you know those situations, when you suddenly need a toilet, because you get stressed from the situation "What if I need a toilet soon?" ; and then you really need it! 

I had two colonoscopys, everything was perfectly fine, nothing bad. The doctors tried all different medications with me: Duspatal, MCP, Imodium (which worked best of all the doctors tried on me), but nothing worked properly. Imodium was okay, but the next day I could not poop and then it was really painful, when it was possible again. So I was fighting for years with the IBS-D and nothing helped. On activities with friends, I always had a good excuse, to say either, that I will not go with them or if we don't better want to stay at home / in a restaurant, it is more cozy...Even if my thought was obviously: There you have a toilet and feel safe!

 

Now I was travelling one time to south america, where you can buy in the pharmacies almost everything you want, without prescription and I also bought Tramadol. Normally only wanted to have it as spare-medicine for really strong pain, but tried it one day just "for fun" and realized: It works amazing for my IBS-D. 
The Tramadol makes your head completely like: "I don't care! If I need to make a shit next to all the cars in the traffic jam, who cares? ; If the line in the supermarket is really long, I just leave the things, go to toilet and come back again". 

And I am super happy about it. 
Because now, in 95% of the days I am taking Tramadol (and I only take it on "special days", where I want to do activities), it works still perfect. Two hours before the activity taken just 50-100mg, and I am fine for about 12 hours. An absoloutely miracle drug for me. 
Now I am doing that already for about one year, didn't have to increase the dose and still love the effect of it. 
Before, flying on airplanes, was horror for me. I always took the flights in the afternoon, used the toilet all day several times, took Imodium, Buscopan and was still nervous about the need for a toilet. Now it is much less complicated and I don't have to care anymore. 

So, just as idea for the ones of you with IBS-D, give Tramadol a try. In Europe unfortunately almost only available by prescription (I never discussed that with my doctor yet, fortunately still have enough pills from holidays at home). In Southamerica and Asia, available OTC, for just a few bucks (2-5€ for 10 pills). They have several generics on the the market.

The only downsides: Low sex drive, I almost cannot finish, when I am having sex after taking tramadol and cannot sleep properly, when taking it "shortly" before sleep ; you feel all night like being "up" and doing daydreaming. But for me, it is worth those problems on special days, to enjoy time with friends.

Maybe it is also a miracle drug for one of you, that you don't have to suffer for so long, like me. I now really can enjoy life again, go for walks, without having in my head "What, if I need toilet on the walk?".

Cheers

Edited November 3, 2022 by PreIBS

[Jeffrey Roberts]

I cannot recommend Tramadol as a long term treatment. Not only is it a narcotic, but it is also habit forming. In the elderly, it has shown to shorten lifespan. Imodium is a safer medication to use.

As you have described, Tramadol is masking your symptoms. I believe there are many safer alternatives.

[PreIBS]

Depends on the country. In europe it is not under the "description" of a narcotic drug, in Australia and USA could be different. 

Obviously, Imodium would be also my favorite, but didn't have nearly the same effect, like Tramadol does. With Tramadol I just feel safe and confident going out, Imodium just blocks my colon and the next day, I am not able to do any outdoor activities. Because I know, that the next day I will have to fight with pooping and going several times a day to toilet. Like a fight between drinking much of coffee, to finally make the poop, to get away the uncomfortable feeling in my Colon. 

 

Do you have alternatives for safer ones as you guess? I until now have spent thousands of € for give a try to all availble OTC medications and visited about 10 doctors, to find a solution. But none of them had a solution for me, for that reason I gave up, about finding one with them.

[Jeffrey Roberts]

I completely understand that it's working for you and that you haven't found anything else that works as well for you; however, tramadol is clearly an addictive opioid narcotic even if it is not labeled as such.

I suggest talking to your physician about trying ondansetron to help control your IBS-D. You can start at 4mg daily and if that's not constipating you could use it 3 times daily or even 8 mg - 3 times daily.

There was a recent clinical study with it in the UK. The clinical write-up isn't published yet, but you can read about the study here, https://trialsjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13063-019-3562-6

There is also something that is over-the-counter that seems to be helping people with IBS-D. It's called Enterosgel. A recent study was published about it, https://gut.bmj.com/content/early/2022/06/27/gutjnl-2022-327293

[PreIBS]

20 hours ago, Jeffrey Roberts said:

I suggest talking to your physician about trying ondansetron to help control your IBS-D. You can start at 4mg daily and if that's not constipating you could use it 3 times daily or even 8 mg - 3 times daily.

Thanks, I will give this one also a try. Will have soon access to it, just OTC.

Enterosgel isn't yet so popular in Germany, but also available OTC. So, other options to give a try!

 

With the advice of the doctors I am quite fed up. Seems to me, like they don't get "updates" about those topics quite often. Always just the same advice: Avoid stress, take care of what you are eating, use Imodium.

[Jeffrey Roberts]

22 minutes ago, PreIBS said:

With the advice of the doctors I am quite fed up. Seems to me, like they don't get "updates" about those topics quite often. Always just the same advice: Avoid stress, take care of what you are eating, use Imodium.

I hear you. Lots of research is presented at medical conferences, but they don't always turn into something that a doctor can use in their clinical practice. It takes years for a new treatment to take hold in doctor's offices. Also, really hard for doctor's to find the time to read up on all of this. It's so important to advocate for yourself.

[PreIBS]

On 11/4/2022 at 9:59 AM, Jeffrey Roberts said:

I hear you. Lots of research is presented at medical conferences, but they don't always turn into something that a doctor can use in their clinical practice. It takes years for a new treatment to take hold in doctor's offices. Also, really hard for doctor's to find the time to read up on all of this. It's so important to advocate for yourself.

That is unfortunately true!

I just bought ondansetron and will give it a try the next days. The studies and reviews on drugs.com looked great!

 

Thanks for that idea.

[PreIBS]

On 11/3/2022 at 12:11 PM, Jeffrey Roberts said:

I suggest talking to your physician about trying ondansetron to help control your IBS-D. You can start at 4mg daily and if that's not constipating you could use it 3 times daily or even 8 mg - 3 times daily.

So, bought and tried Ondansetron for several days. 

Works properly for me, constipates quite much and reduces farting a lot. Another good medication, that works for me. Only downside, one time it constipated too much and then I had trouble, with having a bowel movement and much liquid / slime around the poop.
Now I have at least Loperamide, Ondensatron and Tramadol, will not take all together, but depending on my daily condition / the plan, take the proper one. 

It is so cheap in Colombia to buy, about 2US$ for 10 Pills / 8mg. 

[Jeffrey Roberts]

I can tell you that just 1 mg of ondansetron can constipate me. You really have to play with the dosage to get it right.

It's much more expensive in North America.