Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Dr. Bellyfixer Scores 100%

Better Buy Stock In Miralax

Back at home after driving to St. Louis and back (five hours going and five hours coming back) to see Dr. Bellyfixer.  Experiencing lots and lots and lots of pain this evening.  So glad I took both Tuesday and Wednesday off because I have taken my breakthrough pain medication (dilaudid) and it doesn't seem to be doing anything.  I probably could take more of it, but I think I will make a supreme effort not to, and see if I can just suck it up and bear with it.

I didn't take my neurontin Monday night or Tuesday morning because it makes me sleepy.  I also took some OTC anti inflammatory but they didn't help much. Tried to stay alert, but had to pull over numerous times for 15 minute naps.  I hate to drive long distances anymore because of this.

Dr. Bellyfixer and his fellow specialist in training Dr. Bowels were very helpful.  I have so many things wrong with me they let me pick what problem I wanted to tackle first so I chose abdominal pain caused by bacterial overgrowth of the small bowel for priority #1.  They were able to come up with a new strategy without adding any additional medications so I was thrilled.

Because I am now having electrolyte depletion and leg and foot cramping Dr. Bellyfixer wants me to start using Gatorade each day.  I am to add a couple of capfuls of Miralax to the Gatorade.  Dr. Bellyfixer hopes this will control the fecal incontinence a little better.  Once every three to four weeks I am to purge my system top to bottom using Miralax - something like half a bottle with 32 oz. of Gatorade.  Dr. Bowels said that I cannot overdose on Miralax and Dr. Bellyfixer agreed with her.  He said Miralax is a large molecule preparation that causes the bowel to excrete fluids.   Dr. Bellyfixer's nurse said don't go far from the bathroom on the days scheduled for purging.  They said they have one patient that has to take 12x the recommended dose. Not tasty.

I will be consuming mass quantities of Miralax and Gatorade, neither of which are covered by my insurance.  If buying these sends me to the poorhouse, I'll have to make sure it has a poop-house attached! 

Dr. Bellyfixer asked if I would participate in a study on persons with bowel motility issues, like irritable bowel syndrome or Crohn's disease.  I was happy to!  They took some blood for DNA testing and some other blood tests and I have two or three information booklets to fill out and mail back. Not a big deal and I don't have to write a diary or anything like I had to for the occipital stimulator study, and it's a one time effort.  Hoping it helps other people, as my issues are more bio-mechanical than genetic.

I have a March appointment to go back to Dr. Bellyfixer.  I will have made progress on getting my bowels straightened out by then (a bowel joke as my bowels are kinda kinky = HA!) and maybe will be able to pick another issue to tackle. 

I hope that this post makes sense - the dilaudid and the phenergan are making me "drift" so I keep snapping back to the post and then zoning again.  Wish they did a bit more for the pain.

8 comments:

  1. At least it sounds like a start, WinnyNinny PooPoo. Hopefully it will make you feel better, and then you can go out and boggy down with your bad self. It is a start...Melissa

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  2. Sounds like you got some answers, or at least so help...hopefully it will work. Glad your back okay, miss you at work...hurry back Melissa

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  3. I don't know if any of my comment went thru so you may get a few...

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  4. MoMoB (Melissa): When comment moderation on a blog is turned ON, then you have to wait until I sign on and OK the comment before it appears. Had some problems with people from China spaminating the comments a few years ago, so I moderate. Some people don't. Looking forward to reading your blog when you get it started!!! Slept most of the afternoon today, not so good - driving really takes it out of me!

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  5. Miralax is a Godsend for sure. I have gastroparesis, so at times Miralax is my best friend, as I can go days and days with no movement. I hope Dr. Bellyfixer can tackle a nother problem in March!! I am now on a insulin pump, wasn't sure if you had read that on my blog. Started it the end of Sept and love it!!

    God Bless~
    Debbie

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  6. Debbie: Haven't gotten to the part about the insulin pump yet, still fixated on your New Year's toast!!! Glad SOMEBODY had a celebration on New Years!!!

    Wow, I have read about insulin pumps but didn't know anybody who had one. Super Cool!!! Hoping it helps stablize everything too. I love technology when it actually helps!!!

    Gastroparesis is very sucky. Who would think that stopping your digestion could make you feel so sick?? Glad to know that Miralax really is a Miracle, I was happy to know I could take LOTS of it without any problem since at 2 to 4 times the regular amount I was getting so so results.

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  7. I'm glad you got some good answers; do you buy Miralax OTC or get it from a prescription? I'm sure you're all over this, I just wanted to make sure you weren't paying for the OTC prices. If you have a prescription, you can get generic Miralax for 1/4 the price.

    But like I said, you probably know this. I just want to make sure you do, with as much as you have to take. Hope you are feeling better today!

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  8. Thanks Emily - no I didn't know that - I have a script but my insurance company doesn't pay for it. I do have generic Miralax but it is still expensive. I may have to take my script to a bigger pharmacy!!! Thanks so much for the tip!

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