Bit disgusting but if your not squimish read on

The week before christmas I started to get Diarrhea.  I started to take Immodiam and thought nothing of it.  I was then in the cinema and felt really dizzy and felt I needed to get out was not sure if I was dizzy or just felt sick.  The next day I was in the post office in a big cue and again felt dizzy and sick and needed to get out side for fresh air.  I felt really sick and dizzy and my stomoach was hurting and my legs turned to jelly.

It went on for over two hours and my friend had to come and pick me up as I could not drive.  We had to stop about 12 times on the three mile journey home as I was so dizzy and felt sick and stomach discomfort.  The same day I phoned NHS direct who told me to phone dr or get to A&E urgently (Not being one for going to Drs or hosipital) I went to the Drs on an emergency appoinment.  Told him what had been happening and that I had stomache pains,Diarrhea and hot sweats.  He didnt examine me at all apart from taking my blood presure.  He said that it could be one or two things - anxiety or virtigo.  He give me some tablets called Prochlorperazine tablets and said that should sort it.  It says on the box take as and when needed.  No instructions in box so dont know if these are for the sickness, anxity or what so to be honest never took any.

Thing is its nearly three weeks since I went and have had Diarrhea since then and just been taking immodium to stop it.  I have had pains in the stomoache all day however went shopping and went up an escaltor today and got to the top and felt really dizzy and sick again and my heart was going double time.  I have never had this anxity problem before until I started having the Diarrhea.  Thing is now after he has told me this I do now worry in going into un know shops now incase it is anxety and know this sounds stupid but as though the dr has started me thinking this way.  I dont really want to go back to the Drs as every one I have spoke to seems to have had ibugs over christmas and dont want to waste the Drs time.  However the attack type thing I had today really scared me and my friend had to drive me home again.  The symptoms have subsided at the min but still have the stomache pains.  Its as though when I take the immodium it stops the Diarrhea but seems as though it just girggles round my stomache and seems as though its poising my body (sounds stupid but only way I can descibe it)  Has  anyone else had this or what would you do?

Thanks in advance

I never take Immodium unless I have to get through a journey or something.  Your body is trying to expel something and I think it is best to just let it do it, just make sure you are able to compensate with fluids if a minor attack but replacement salts etc. with something like Diorolyte if prolonged.  Prochlorperazine is Stemetil, an antiemetic that can make you whoozy and drowsy, if you stop taking the immodium I don't think you will need it.

I'd stop taking the immodium. My vet once told me to give this to Maddie, my dog, but when I read the side effects I never took them out the box Can't remember them all  offhand but I'm sure dizziness/sickness was one of them :(

You are treating the symptoms and not the cause.  The diarrhoea is being caused by something and you need to be checked over to find out what it is.  Sometimes bugs can go on for a while, however, it's no good carrying on the way you are because for one thing it is worrying you and if it is panic attacks you are in a catch 22.

Go back to the doctors, that's what they're paid for and that's what we pay our NI contributions for.  You have something going so you are not wasting the Dr's time.  You could phone up in advance and ask if they want a sample though as it's been going on for a while they might ask you to do that anyway.

Thompson,

The symptoms you describe are exactly those described on the Immodium leaflet   reactions are rare but obviously not impossible ;)

Please go to you doctor and get the dire rear sorted out.  There could be any number of causes, some of them really simple to sort out ;)

I wonder if the diarrhea is a symptom of another problem......  I had gall bladder problems some years ago, and one of the symptoms was diarrhea, as well as crippling stomach pains.  I'd see your Dr - it could be something as simple as an infection which could be treated with anti biotics.

I have had this. When i was depressed i got diaorrhea (sp?) quite frequently and i also had panic attacks and because of the diaorrhea i wouldnt go anywhere because when i did, if i felt my stomach hurting i would panic because i knew diaorrhea was coming and i couldnt find a toilet. I also went through a phase where i wouldnt drive as i became extremely scared to drive and ive always loved driving, i thought i was going nuts, i wouldnt go anywhere on my own because of the panic attacks. It goes a  lot deeper than this but im just letting you know that ive experienced some of your symptoms and if what youre going through is the same as what happened to me, then it should pass, whenever i get run down or depressed/stressed, i get diaorrhea! Good luck, hope you get it sorted. x

You are abusing Immodium, something that is very common.  Immodium is designed for EMERGENCY relief of acute diarrhoea say, if you are just about to board a plane etc etc etc.  It is NOT designed for prolonged use for chronic conditions which are undiagnosed.

It is potentially dangerous, if you understand how it works, and you should stop using the immodium with immediate effect and get a proper diagnosis or investigation of your symptoms to discover the underlying cause.

Immodium can have some alarming side effects and as tohme says is only designed to be taken in emergencies when you can't allow whatever is causing the diarrhoea to work its way through your system.

I'd stop taking the immodium immediately and give your innards a chance to rest and recover. I'd also be inclined not to take any other drugs that affect the normal workings of your digestive system and see how you are after 48 hours or so. If things haven't settled then go back to your GP. Your concern about the diarrhoea is quite reasonably causing you to worry - hence the feelings of panic - but I suspect the cocktail of medication you are taking is at the root of your problem.

Hi

I too suffer from depression and have done for a few years, I also get diarrhea with it, and the same symptoms as you have described, there is a chance that you are suffering from side effect from the immodiam, stop taking them and see is the other sysmtoms go away, if they do go away then you should go back to the docters to get the diarrhea sorted, but is you do stop taking them and the symptoms do not do away, then their is a possibality that you might have mild depression and anxiety.  Christmas is a stressful time of year, this might have brought brought on the anxeity, hopefully it will pass as life start to get back to "normal".  I would still visit the docter, he might be able to pescribe something to help you.

If not their are a lot of herbal tablets you can buy from you local health shop, St John wort is very good also 5 HTP's, also Kalms are good to I take them when I am having a bad day.

I hope you get yourself sorted and are feeling better soon.

Sheli

Hi Thompson1,
All diarrhea tablets work from the brain, it tells the brain not to open the bowels.
You can get very bad side affects from them, alone. One of my daughters was taken
very ill through taking diarrhea tablets. It could be a bad bug or virus, that has got into the
intestines, or food poisining. that can last weeks, and can make you very ill, weak and
dehidrated, that will cause weak and shacky legs, and pulpatations. Go back to the Doctors as soon as you can and have a sample sent away. That is the only way to get it sorted. Don't leave it.
Panik attacks, you can't breath, or get your breath.
Regards
Denese