Severe GI issues following opiate discontinuation

[ryand123]

I got off of opiates back in early Feburary, following a 4 year heroin/ bupe addiction. It is now practically July and I am still having diarrhea about 4-7 times every day. I was reading up on this and most people with these long term issues said that their diarrhea subsided after about three months. Why is this still continuing for me? I have never had GI problems before so I know it not an underlying issue that the narcotics were covering up. Anybody have experience or insight into this and what I can do to make it go away?

 

[Rehabicable]

I would say go to the doctor, just because you never experienced before doesn't mean it's not a condition unrelated or maybe just exacerbated by the opiate use. I have never had GI issues for more than a couple weeks after cleaning up. Opiates can do weird things to your intestinal tract so it is possible that it's something that was just triggered or exacerbated by the down. If it's really bad i would go to a doctor maybe get a referral to a specialist.

 

[ryand123]

I am thinking about going to a specialist. I just don't want to have to take some medication every day in order to make it stop. In the short term I am more than happy to get something, but I feel like this isn't going away any time soon. The weird thing is every now and then I will have a normal BM, but it only happens like twice a week at tops (which is not much when you're shitting 30+ times a week).

 

[《Plasticity》]

4-7 times a day sounds very excessive, especially if you've been clean for around 4-5 months. Are you still experiencing any withdrawal symptoms besides these GI issues? Any cramps or stomach pain? Best course of action would be to get a refferal to a gastroenterologist for screening, you may have had something like IBS which was either brought on by withdrawal or masked during your opioid use.

You say you've never had any issues prior but you wouldn't know for sure if your drug use was covering up any symptoms, don't be so quick to rule this out. Although I understand your aversion to being on medications sometimes people have conditions that need to be treated in order to maintain a good quality of life.

 

[wezface]

Definitely sounds like IBS as I have nearly exactly the same issue and IBS is a symptom of my fibromyalgia. It's something that can seriously compromise your life and could be caused by many things like diet, PAWS, anxiety, gut flora disruption, etc. I would definitely go see a specialist if you can manage it to see what's causing your issues, and that will get you on the right track to treating it. Not being able to leave the house some days really, really blows. ha.

 

[scichemist]

I have come off opiates many times. The best advice I can give you. Is try using Imodium available over the counter and Benadryl 50mg

 

[ryand123]

So I've took about 4.5g of kratom leaf last night and it lasted almost all day today. I've only gone twice, which is a godsend for me. Is the kratom something that my gut would develop a tolerance for? There is not too much info on mitragynine anywhere, especially relating to opioid receptors in the gut. Any kratom users also use it for ibs? Any good results in the long term?

 

[FURI]

The fact that kratom work for you seems to imply it's opiate related... in some form im not exactly how but it's like popping a vicoden and having the same short term effect.

In short kratom is a mu-opioid receptor agonist. I have used it for withdrawals it helps. You do run a risk of addiction taking it daily for sure and it's intended for moderate use... i.e. in between prescriptions or when you are jonesin... anyway read up on it I will list a couple sources below. However, as I deal with the same problem you do, it might not be a bad idea to take kratom or loperamide (immodium) is another route.. to get out of the house and able to function to go to the doctor etc...

http://www.testcountry.com/wiki/kratom.html
www.kratomfacts.Com

Check out kratom association. There's alot of info on it out there and many reputable vendors. Don't think I'm breaking the rules as this is a legal substance but I'm not too sure where you got it but would prefer a vendor over a "headshop"

 

[FURI]

Also forgot to add... perhaps probiotics (the pills not yogurts crap) may help. They sell boxes to take exactly for this purpose.. they are short term.not long term pills.. designed to balance the gut bacteria out

 

[Rehabicable]

Opiates are great at hiding problematic digestive issues, so like buddy said it could be IBS or something that the opiates like Kratom would just cover up. Definitely go to the doc if it's affecting your life that much. Meds may be in your future but also diet is one of the biggest factors in treating alot of these GI conditions.