Question:
Surgery and IBS? What about Paxil CR?
I am currently looking into having surgery but suffer from IBS. Is there anyone out there who also has IBS and has surgery? Also has anyone been on the fairly new Paxil CR and had surgery as opposed to the regular paxil? — Amy S. (posted on January 2, 2003)
January 2, 2003
Hi....I'm 8 months post-op RNY, and have IBS. Have to say that the IBS is
much WORSE since surgery, unfortunately. The doc bypassed 4 feet of
intestine with my surgery and this somehow has made things worse.
Currently seeking ways to minimize this. I know eating sugar really flares
things up for me, so I try to keep that to a minimum (like we're supposed
to anyway). Also carbs, especially potatoes, cause diarrhea.
— [Deactivated Member]
January 2, 2003
I had the lap BPD/DS (the most distal of all WLS surgeries) and my IBS has
markedly *improved*. Now, I did not have diahhrea as a pre-op. My IBS was
more of the 'constipated kind'. Now, as a post-op DSer (I'm almost 2 years
post-op), I have quite regular bowels -- usually go once or twice in the
a.m. before leaving and that's it. Sometimes I go once more in the
afternoon or evening but it's usually in the a.m. then I'm done for the
day! :) I have not had loose or uncontrollable bowels (but my bms were
loose/liquidy in the first 1-2 weeks post-op). I think post-op IBS life
really depends on your pre-op IBS symptoms. If you have diahhrea now, your
bowels *may be* more irritated afterwards. With the RNY, the food is not
processed as fully and it hits the intestines pretty much as it is chewed
(give or take some interaction with the acids, etc. in the stomach pouch).
This is why proper chewing is so important. With the DS, one has a
normally functioning stomach (it is just smaller - the fundus, or storage
area is removed in a partial gastrectomy). This means that food is
processed as it was pre-op with stomach acids, etc. It hits the intestines
in a more digested form. This may actually be good for those with IBS.
HoWEVER, since the DS is very distal (moreso even than the distal RNY),
this *could* irritate some people's tummies, especially the colon if the
common channel (the last area where digestion occurs before the colon) is
on the shorter side... So, I would really look into what your IBS symptoms
are now. I hope you get some more answers from post-ops here on the boards
about their experiences because I think it can vary a lot. :) All the
best, Teresa Noverr-Chin (preop: 307 lbs/bmi 45 (5'10") now: 138
lbs/bmi 20)
— Teresa N.
January 2, 2003
I had my surgery on 6/17/02 and I have IBS. I think my IBS has improved
greatly since the surgery. I used to have 1-3 days of painful constipation
and then 1-3 days of horrible diarrhea. Now my bowels are pretty much
normal, except that all of my stool is fairly soft. I only get bad
diarrhea if I eat too much sugar (which we're not supposed to do anyway).
I never have constipation.
Good Luck!
— Heidi W.
January 2, 2003
I had IBS before surgery. The surgeon said the the surgery would probably
not help it. I am happy to say that it did. I no longer take any
medication for it and feel great. The only problem I have now is some
constipation every once and awhile. When I had IBS I only had diarhea. All
the time. I never knew what it was like to be constipated and went to the
doctor the first time thinking something was wrong. Good luck
— tulagirl
January 2, 2003
I had IBS and was also taking paxil (for an anxiety disorder). Both are
gone since surgery. Bowels are soft but not runny (sorry if TMI) and
anxiety disappeared with the ridding of starchy carbs from my diet. I knew
in advance this would likely happen as it had when I was on the atkin's
diet :>) Don't know why you take Paxil CR but try going starchy-carb
free for a while and see if your condition vanishes. Good luck!
— [Deactivated Member]
January 2, 2003
I had IBS for approximately 15 years before my proximal RNY, and it
disappeared completely the day of the surgery. I always had to stay away
from salads in the past because it would always set off an episode of
dynamic proportions. Now, I am 33 months post-op and salads are a daily
and most favorite food item. I have 2-3 bowel movements a week of normal
consistency, and that is nothing short of miraculous for me! I would wish
for you the same great experience.
— Diana T.
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