Embarrassing Problem, any advice?

[Formaleins]

I wanted to post this wearing a mask and from behind a hedge but.... here goes.

 

I suffer from chronic pancreatitis, it has been a painful experience for over three years. Myown fault, numerous bouts of the acute pancreatitis but I was still a bit of a beer drinker.

Now though, things seem to have moved up a notch. The pain isn't that bad anymore (been off beer for over a year) but stomach and digestion just seem to be worsening.

The past few months have been getting me down a bit as virtually anything that I eat causes bloating and gas - I can take Ulpracid or Omeprazole if things get too painful, along with a handful of Tramadol. But lately I am woken every morning around 2 am with an extreme urge to defecate.

This continues throughout the night over and over for hours, usually subsides at about 10 am until I eat again.

 

The weird thing is, there seems more going out than what I took in! Stools are often bloated, and 2 foot long ( and I can move about 5 or 6 of these per day...or more) But now it has progressed to pools of dark orange oil left in the toilet bowl, and this is really obnoxious.

 

I mentioned this to the doctor at my local government hospital, they did an ultrasound, diagnosed some gall bladder stones, which I had checked at another private hospital and they said were false and just shadows.

 

The doctor that keeps butting in at my government hospital is a bit of a butcher and wants to do anything he can to get at me with a scalpel! - My gall bladder would have been history a few months ago if I had not had it checked elsewhere. There is a really nice helpful young doctor there that wanted to do tests and take stool samples and more tests, but the butcher over ruled her (he is quite senior and she could not argue with him)

 

It looks to me like I am am suffering from what the internet describes as "Malabsorption" - nothing of any benefit getting into my system, and only passing loads of waste but now enhanced by a stinking toilet bowl of oil!

 

Is there any self medication that may help? I have heard Magnesium could be a benefit?

 

What are the chances of this turning to Pancreatic Cancer?....as obviously I need to plan for my kids.

 

Cheers!

Edited May 16, 2019 by Formaleins

[faraday]

Charcoal Tablets; get them at the Pharmacy. Helps with many digestion & pooping issues. Inexpensive.

[samuttodd]

Laying 2 feet of cable is hardly malabsorbtion.   The oily orange stuff sounds like a possible problem.   If it persists more than 4 or 5 days,  I'd get some labs done, cause something ain't right.

 

 eat a really plain diet for 3 or 4 days,  you might straighten out. 

 

You might find out that your gut flora got thrown for a loop when you stopped the booze.   

 

I found a lot of relief from belly issues post cessation of EtOH by really laying on the probiotics and stopping all refined sugars for a month or so.   

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steatorrhea

 

I do not know if the version of tramadol you take has acetominaphen or paracetamol in it,  but if it does,  you may be giving your liver more to deal with than it can handle and that could kill you.

 

Watch that tylenol type stuff,  it kills your liver cells.

 

Good luck

 

Chok Dee

 

 

Edited May 16, 2019 by samuttodd

[Bang Bang]

Do you feel weak/ill otherwise? If not don't worry.

 

Charcoal tabs like the guy above said. If that doesn't work try fasting. It will give the innards a breather while they clean house. Of course, drink copious amounts of water to help with flushing.

Edited May 16, 2019 by Bang Bang

[uhuh]

The nice helpful young doctor suggested the right things. Do you lose weight? Check serum amylase, lipase,  blood sugar (to assess pancreas), check INR, Vit D (malabsorption), check elastase in stool (pancreatic exocrine insufficiency?)

Treatment of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency is Creon. Easy to buy (not very cheap, though) and easy to administer. But you will need someone to teach you about dosage (many doctors prescribe too low a dose) and usage (many people use it the wrong way).

Edited May 20, 2019 by uhuh

[SteveK]

Foul-smelling and fatty/oily stools can be caused by several things, many of which are serious, so make sure you see the best doctors that you can and don't waste time. It's likely to be pancreas, liver, gall bladder or any combination of the above - you certainly should not be drinking alcohol right now (sorry I just saw that you have given up - well done).

 

I'm not sure how old you are, but certainly if you are over 60 then it's a worrying prognosis. If a period of healthy living, plenty of water, exercise, and healthy food (no fried stuff) doesn't do anything at all, it could be because of long term damage to one of the digestive organs.

 

As has been mentioned, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency can be treated with oral pancreatic enzyme supplements, so I hope it's just that and you can get back to living your life. 

Edited May 20, 2019 by SteveK

[neeray]

On ‎5‎/‎16‎/‎2019 at 10:06 AM, samuttodd said:

really laying on the probiotics

I see that poster #3 (samutodd) is familiar with the merits of probiotics. He's right!

 

I sent you a PM about this.

[Sheryl]

Do  not try to self treat this.  (And for heaven's sake stop drinking at least until your pancreatitis has fully resolved. Pancreatitis is nothing to mess around with).

 

Some of your problems may be due to the tramadol, which in some people causes diarrhea. You may also have some enzymatic insufficiency due to the chronic pancreatitis.

 

See a good GI specialist. Where in Thailand do you live?

[BritManToo]

On 5/16/2019 at 9:06 PM, samuttodd said:

I found a lot of relief from belly issues post cessation of EtOH by really laying on the probiotics and stopping all refined sugars for a month or so.   

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steatorrhea

Me too,

yogurt I make myself + honey (just top up a large tub of Yolida with milk when it gets low and leave out ovenight)

ginger tea with honey and a squeeze of lime (just boil thinly sliced ginger root)

Porridge and honey (45gm rolled oats with 90gm milk in a microwave for 90 seconds)

 

Costs almost nothing.

Leave off the tramadol it's bad for your tummy.

Also avoid all manufactured soft drinks (Pepsi, Coke, Fanta, etc.)

Edited May 21, 2019 by BritManToo

[steeltownguy]

23 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Do  not try to self treat this.  (And for heaven's sake stop drinking at least until your pancreatitis has fully resolved. Pancreatitis is nothing to mess around with).

 

Some of your problems may be due to the tramadol, which in some people causes diarrhea. You may also have some enzymatic insufficiency due to the chronic pancreatitis.

 

See a good GI specialist. Where in Thailand do you live?

Sheryl,

  Not trying to hijack this submission but I see no response from the OP.  I have some issues that make me think I had better get a top notch GI specialist to diagnose the issue (80 years old, too fat etc).  I am in Khon Kaen and would like any recommendation you might have for such a specialist at either

KK Ram or Rajaphruek hospitals.  I have good insurance, thank goodness.

[Sheryl]

1 hour ago, steeltownguy said:

Sheryl,

  Not trying to hijack this submission but I see no response from the OP.  I have some issues that make me think I had better get a top notch GI specialist to diagnose the issue (80 years old, too fat etc).  I am in Khon Kaen and would like any recommendation you might have for such a specialist at either

KK Ram or Rajaphruek hospitals.  I have good insurance, thank goodness.

 

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kitti Chanlertrit at Ratchaphruek appears to be the only senior GI specialist at the two places you specify.

 

[thaibeachlovers]

On ‎5‎/‎17‎/‎2019 at 9:29 AM, Bang Bang said:

Do you feel weak/ill otherwise? If not don't worry.

 

Charcoal tabs like the guy above said. If that doesn't work try fasting. It will give the innards a breather while they clean house. Of course, drink copious amounts of water to help with flushing.

Agree with water fasting.

If the good Dr gets over ruled by the senior, go to another hospital. 

I had my gout diagnosed by a consultant at the big hospital in Chiang Mai after no western Dr in two different countries knew what was causing my problems.

[manchega]

go for an apple fast or some other mild type of vege and/or fruit fast