Hermit looks for relief from ulcerative colitis

September 7, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I am 55 and have had the dreaded disease ulcerative colitis since 1983. I realize there are a lot worse things that can happen to a person, but it has really screwed up my life. I would simply like to know if any progress has been made in recent years in finding an effective treatment or if a cure is anywhere in sight.

DEAR READER: Ulcerative colitis is a type of inflammatory bowel disease that affects the lining of the large intestine and rectum. Inflammation destroys the cells that ordinarily line the colon, ultimately leading to ulcers that bleed and produce pus. It also causes the colon to empty frequently in the form of diarrhea. This disorder can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms resemble those of other intestinal disorders.
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Urgency after eating

September 6, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I read your column daily but don’t recall seeing my question before. My wife will eat a meal and then shortly after have a running bowel movement. She will declare that something she just ate must have made it happen. I’ve repeatedly explained to her that it’s not possible to eat something and have it pass through a person that fast, that it takes many hours and possibly overnight. She insists she can eat something tainted now and within the hour it makes her run to the bathroom.

Please clarify this for me and especially for my wife. I’ve tried to tell her if she has a runny bowel movement soon after eating, it’s most likely from something she ate earlier or the day before.
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Talk to physician for information

May 3, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I was told that I have lymphocytic colitis. I have been on Entocort for three months and am now on Lialda. I am seeing a gastroenterologist. I am told that this is an immune problem. Is this a long-lasting problem, and am I seeing the right doctor? I have had several UTIs, which I think are related, but the antibiotics have an adverse effect on me. I can’t walk and have pain in my arthritic joints. (I have severe osteoarthritis and see a rheumatologist.) Please help explain what I can expect long term.

DEAR READER: Based on your brief note, I can’t provide specific information. Are you on any other medications, such as an anti-inflammatory or other pain medication for your arthritis? Do you have any other health conditions? What antibiotics have you taken that appeared to adversely affect you? [Read more...]

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Blackberries for diarrhea?

January 28, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I am a 98-year-old man. I have been reading your column and am getting tired of hearing about people having trouble with diarrhea. So I am writing to tell you and all these people the best remedy I learned about more than 70 years ago. Eat half of a 15-ounce can of blackberries when you get the first signs of diarrhea. That will cure it. This is not a scam, and I am not a blackberry salesman. I have used it many times in my life, and it has always worked.

DEAR READER: And who could argue with a 98-year-old’s tried-and-true cure? I must admit I have neither purchased nor seen a can of blackberries. If they aren’t in season in my neck of the woods, they aren’t generally available unless from the freezer case at my local grocery. [Read more...]

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Celiac disease may cause abdominal pain

December 14, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: This is in regard to your article about the 15-year-old with chronic abdominal pain. Why didn’t you think of celiac disease? My granddaughter was diagnosed at age 6 after developing severe abdominal pain. She managed her celiac and is doing very well on a gluten-free diet.

DEAR READER: Your letter is just one of many I have received about this young girl’s problem.

Celiac disease (also known as celiac sprue, nontropical sprue and gluten-sensitive enteropathy) is a digestive disorder. These people cannot tolerate the protein gluten, which is found in wheat, rye and barley. These grains are present in many foods, even some nonfood items, such as vitamins and medications.
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Surgery may be best for teen with Crohn’s

December 12, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: My 19-year-old grandson was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease two years ago. At that time, he was a 234-pound linebacker entering his senior year of high school. Now he is a 174-pound 19-year-old struggling with life in general and would easily pass for 40. He has practically missed two years of his life due to extreme pain, which resulted in hospital trips and everything else associated with this condition.

He has taken every medication I can imagine, including Humira injections into his stomach. At present, he is taking hyoscyamine and Apriso plus pain medication when it gets too severe. He has a colonoscopy every year. When he has one of these “attacks,” the pain is so severe that he gets in a fetal position and can barely walk. He has been to the hospital at least 15 times in the past two years. He recently went twice in one week and before that, in just a three-month span, he went seven times.
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Medication causes diarrhea

September 7, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I’m an elderly lady with heart trouble. I developed H. pylori about six years ago and have been hospitalized twice for it, as I became weak from not being able to eat much. I still have diarrhea every morning. Please let me know any information on this sickness.

Also, my heart medications are potassium and torsemide. Lately, my feet and ankles are swelling more than usual, and my physician’s assistant wants me to double the torsemide. Would this injure my kidneys? How long is it safe to take? I usually take half a tab, but I would then be taking one whole pill. Is there a way to swallow my larger pills more easily?
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Gas pains lead to diarrhea

August 19, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I have had gas pains under my rib cage for the past year. The pain leads to sediment-type diarrhea within 15 minutes of eating anything, occurring at least three times before it stops.
I’ve been unemployed and without health insurance for three years, so I am unable to see a doctor about this. I have determined I am allergic to wheat. I take no medicines other than over-the-counter naproxen for knee arthritis. Can you figure this out?

DEAR READER: Gas pains can occur for a number of reasons. Perhaps you have acid reflux, indigestion, hiatal hernia, gallbladder disease, peptic ulcer, are lactose intolerant or have an undiagnosed abnormality of the digestive tract. You also don’t appear to be digesting your food properly, as evidenced by the diarrhea. Naproxen and other OTC NSAIDs can also lead to nausea, gas and diarrhea.
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Cholesterol med helps IBS sufferer

August 3, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I was diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome. I had no pain but knew where every bathroom was located everywhere I went. This went on for many years, and I became fearful of traveling. Finally, my gastroenterologist put me on WelChol, developed for lowering cholesterol. Voila! My cardiologist said I almost can’t overdose on it. I am presently taking two pills in the morning and another two in the evening. Now I am comfortable traveling around the world (pyramids, India, etc.) with no problems. This has been a life-changer for me.

I hope you can share this with your readers and perhaps improve the quality of life of someone out there. It has been wonderful for me.
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Routine treatment for constipation may be unnecessary

June 25, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: Is there any health risk, other than the taste, in drinking five ounces of magnesium citrate a week to clean out my digestive system? Thanks for your opinion.

DEAR READER: Magnesium citrate is an over-the-counter substance used to treat constipation. It is taken by mouth in liquid form that can be mixed with water or juice. The dose depends on the reason a person is taking it. Magnesium citrate works by pulling water from tissues into the small intestines, thereby stimulating a bowel movement within 30 minutes to three hours. When smaller doses are taken, especially when taken with food, the process slows. Following each use, a person should drink two additional glasses of water to replace the fluids that will be lost during evacuation.
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