stepheee

Thanks for even opening this!

I've been on lithium for almost two years, and soon after starting it I started having diarrhea. At some points, I've had it as many as four times a day, sometimes w/ extreme abdominal pain right before (and the pain will go away as soon as I have a movement).

I've had testing twice, and there are no parasites or anything to be worried about. I've had my lithium level checked many times, and even though I'm on a very high dose (1800 mg/day), my level is right where it should be (around 1). It's almost not worth mentioning that my mood is still really bad, so I feel like I need more lithium.

I've tried Imodium a few times. I start at a low dose, and it works right away, but after a few days it no longer works. I move the dose up (never more than recommended), and it'll work for a few more days then quit.

A month ago, I was prescribed diphenolylate HCl and atropine sulfate, to take up to four times a day, and it worked at first, but then I found myself needing a little more, then more. I probably take about 6 a day now, and today it just stopped working and I've had diarrhea twice so far. I haven't had the painful abdominal cramping yet, thankfully.

I'm just not sure why the medication I've tried so far hasn't worked longer than two weeks. Is there anything that I can try for this?

Every doctor I talk w/ tells me that it's just the lithium, and they're usually very dismissive. One specialist told me that I needed to have a sigmoidoscopy, but the procedure would require going w/out water all morning, which I just can't do because it makes me dizzy. Then I'd have to drive 50 minutes to the clinic.

I have really bad coverage, so seeing a different doctor is not an option.

I was wondering if anyone had any advice or insight, or if anyone out there had this happen.

Thanks!