BAM? IBS? OR Food Intolerances?

Posted by dlb123 @dlb123, 1 day ago

Had my gallbladder removed about 2 yrs ago. Previously for many years I've had issues with diarrhea on occasion enough that my kids would say, maybe you have IBS? Never looked into it, I was functioning very well up until my gallbladder decided to fill up with stones and I had to have it removed. Now I deal with diarrhea daily. Went to a PA who also does functional medicine and we did GI mapping and found a great deal of dysbiosis so went through several protocols of supplements to help with that. Also did lots of food elimination. But nothing after two years really seemed to bring the diarrhea down. (did pelvic floor therapy to control urgencies and IBS meditation for stress).

Every morning I have a normal bm, then I will have the rest of the morning with #5 and #6 on the bristol scale. Most times by noonish I am done pooping (although not always but that's the norm-- so I make appointments and errands for the afternoons to be safest) I NEVER have upset stomach or any pain ever, very rarely feel bloated. Can't pinpoint any foods that trigger anything ever. Most days I will have a bm 3-5 times, and run about 50% as diarrhea.

I then inquired to my PA about getting the C4 blood test and/or the 48hr stool test for BAM and she was unfamiliar with them so sent me to the gastro.

I requested with the gastro on getting those test done, rather than doing the typical let's try the Colestipol see if it works route. BUT, gastro doc wouldn't do them, says she never does those but wouldn't state why (I also didn't ask why not and didn't get insistent with it as her response was a pretty sure she's just not going to do them no matter what).

So here I sit with Colesitol beside me. Undecided if I want to take it or not as I have disliked taking meds most of my life and would rather do something naturally if I can and all too often find I to be allergic to so many drugs...hate to add another one to the list. If the doc needs to give me an antibiotic the first response is "sh$% what can I give you?).

Gastro doc didn't have much to say about taking extra fiber or any diet protocol to help. Sure she said, try extra fiber or stay away from FODMAPs, but never any further guidance other than that.

Before I could even get my full details out, the gastro doc said since i had no gallbladder and I was having diarrhea that I had classic signs of BAM. I feel like she didn't listen to me at all. She just knew that's what it was with no testing. She also said stay away from fried greasy foods or they will go right through you.....I responded why is it then I can eat KFC (fried chicken) and nothing happens?.....she responded with that's odd?

Since I have no pain, IBS seems like it's not that. Could be BAM? OR is it some food intolerances that I haven't found yet?

I'm feeling very left out on my own with this and now see I have to be my own best advocate with this.

Anyone out there who has done, with success, a more natural route for BAM/IBS/or whatever it might be?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.

pml | @pml | 1 day ago

Hi dlb123,
What an awful time you are having with BM's! I'm so sorry for you. I don't know anything about this but when I have quite a few BM's it's something that I'm consuming that causes it such as nuts or fruit. In fact, I try and not eat those items the night before I have to go somewhere because I may be late by having several BM's in the morning. However, sometimes side effects of medications and supplements could be causing your problems. I would suggest going to the Mayo Clinic website and looking up the side effects of all of your medications and supplements. Also you may want to stay away from prepared foods like frozen dinners and see if that helps. They often put a whole bunch of junk in them that could affect you. You mentioned that you eat Kentucky Fried Chicken. They are putting more junk in that than they used to. It's too bad. It was so good!

Prayer also works! Just ask God to fix your situation. He made you and he can fix you! I'll say a prayer for you too!
PML

donnabe | @donnabe | 15 hours ago

Hi dlb123@dlb123,
You just described my life to a “T”. Did the pelvic floor exercises help with bowel control? Psyllium husk has helped also for me the jury is still out on Charcoal. It is assumed that BAM/BAD is the cause. I am currently on Cholestyramine which helped at first - 2 packs daily after 6 months not working as well increasing up to to 4 packs daily tends to cause constipation and impact so have to be careful going from one extreme to the other. I am now waiting on results of biopsy from colonoscopy to rule out microscopic colitis. I have researched Liraglutide off label for BAM puts it in remission not many studies on this more need to be done and GI is not ready to prescribe. I too would rather take the natural route diet exercise since most of my health issues at 65 are from side effects of prescription meds that we are told the benefits out way the side effects. Also I always heard that you didn’t need your gallbladder. I am interested in seeing others responses to your post as to what has worked for them. I have no control and nerve damage due to pervious surgeries and wonder if the pelvic floor exercise work for bowels. I am praying for a cure instead of simply treating the symptoms.