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1345006 tn?1276887850

Gastro troubles

Due to an addiction to opiate painkillers and benzos, I have no appetite. I have NOT eaten anything since 12/20/10. I drink alot of coke and Pepsi though. My question is this...can this be the cause of my gastro troubles. Not to be gross but in order to get a valid answer, I guess I have to be. I am now suffering from not actual explosive diahrea but very dark brown, wet and loose feces. Is this because I have nothing in my stomach but soda plus the effects of the pills or is it something else? I have no insurance plus I'm afraid to leave in this condition. Oh also, I have been nauseus[sp] which I am assuming is due to an empty stomach. So, what is the general consensus?
Best Answer
Avatar universal
Dear Harleys,
I take those medicines for health issues, and yet I do not have your gastric problems.  But to stay that way, I have to drink a lot of extra water and eat fiber foods daily and exercise regular.  I also limit salt, so you can switch your sodas to Diet Rite drinks, you WILL get used to them, they do not have salt like almost all sodas do... salt dries out a person.  

Probably you got constipated, which those drugs can indeed cause becuz they also dry a person out, so if your gut is full of waste, it ruins the appetite.  Sounds like what is coming out of you is constipated waste finally making its way out.  So, I might suggest a couple things to get past this and onto normal eating and digestion.

I hate to advise this, but try some laxatives, also a few enemas, drink lots of water, and see what happens over the next few days.  If stuff comes out, stop that routine and switch to food.  Slowly begin to eat a "soft" diet, which includes things like mashed potatoes and gravy, apple sauce, creme of wheat (add milk and sugar), small glass of orange juice, V-8 juice (non-salt), pudding, milk.  But more importantly, scramble up some eggs with a little cheese, or get an omelet at a restaurant, becuz protein stimulates the appetite.  Even if the only thing you can stomach is one or two of the items on that list that you particularly like, or a diff soft food, then eat it.  You will then be more willing to add other soft foods as your appetite improves and digestion improves.

Exercise is something else you will need to begin as your strength returns after eating soft food for a few days.  Walking is the easiest and best exercise, around the neighborhood is fine, or you can start to do some stretching routine of your own device, do either of those at least three times a week.  Exercise helps the bowels move better.    

By the way, nearly every town has a county health department "free clinic," in which you can go as a walk-in and see a doc the same day, and they only charge according to what you make, which is a very small sum, like $10.  This is in case what I advise does not work for you, or in case you'd rather just go straight to a doc.  I use the one in our town, I am on Medicare, but since I am disabled and rely on social security money, I have to go to the clinic becuz it's so much cheaper than anywhere else.  Of course, if they decide to send you to a specialist, then that will cost, but you can arrange a payment plan stretched out over a long period of time.  

The main thing is to get your digestion working normally, forever more avoid salt and drink extra water to counteract how the opiates and benzos dry you out, and eventually exercise to where you break a sweat regular, move from soft foods to real food, get your protein and fiber foods going (salads daily, oat cereal like Cheerios, whole wheat bread or shredded wheat, a big juicy steak...smile).

Let us know how you get along with all this.  I would go out of my mind if I hadn't eaten in so long, so I know this cannot be easy for you, so try something of what I say, including seeing a clinic doc, and get it together.  The pills are drying you out, and now you're totally stopped up, and the things I've given you are tools to prevent that from happening ever again.  I'm living proof you can take the medicines you need and yet eat and digest normally.
GG
4 Responses
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1134902 tn?1296066144
Have you ever dealt with a child who drank too much sugary beverages... My son gets awful diarhea from ingesting to much sugar.  Having no nutrition or solid food in your body, it will throw off your digestion.  Drinking only sugary pop can cause the craps on it's own, but your pop of choice contains alot of caffeine which coffee drinkers know all to well can cause diarrhea as well.
Helpful - 0
1448936 tn?1363206346
I dealt with something similar. I was addicted to benzos and didn't eat much while I was on them. I've since been weened off of them and have had horrible gastro issues since. I am constantly nauseous, I have no appetite and I barely eat. I also deal with constipation and then diarrhea. Its not pleasant. I just got insurance this month so if I find any answers to my ailments I will keep in touch and let you know what they find.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Welcome to the gastroenterology community!  Yes your problems could be caused by the soda or the pills.  You need to get some food in your body.  I would recommend forcing yourself to drink something like ensure instead of the coke and pepsi which is caffeine and carbonation which are not good for you.
Helpful - 0
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