That Way Madness Lies...

This looks like an artistic display doesn't it? Well, except for the outlet on the right. I haven't written a post in awhile and one of the reasons has to do with the above photo. To say that I have been preoccupied with all things bathroom related would be a real understatement. If you are squeamish about this sort of thing (poop talk), well, too bad. The post is really about my experience with OTC (over the counter) drugs and not entirely about poop.

Just to give a little background, I was newly diagnosed with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) earlier this year.  (For those not familiar, IBS is a disruptive condition, causing diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal pain. It makes it nearly impossible to be regular in your toilet habits in any meaningful way. The condition is chronic and takes a real emotional and physical toll.) My problems have been ongoing, however, and came to a head about two years ago. (Although in retrospect, I have likely had problems like this for much of my adult life.) Things came to a complete standstill in the bathroom, so to speak, and I was quite desperate for relief. I did what any normal person would do (after consulting not my physician but Dr. Google instead) and sped on down to CVS for some OTC action. Once home and with the problem remedied, (Thank God), I thought that was it. As can be imagined, I was quite wrong. Very wrong. My problems were only just beginning.

Fast forward to now. I have had a colonoscopy (clean bill of health), have been assigned a GI doctor, and have been prescribed various medications. None of those medications have helped normalize my routine. I have been on and off a special elimination/reintroduction diet, I have increased and decreased my fiber, I have exercised and increased my fluid intake. And, oh yes, I have tried every OTC remedy known to man (and Amazon.com). It's been a lot of fun. And I have gone from being the person that can be depended upon to a completely unreliable person that I don't recognize. 

But back to that photo above. What is all of that stuff? The majority of the items are all medications that can be purchased over the counter without a prescription. (To be fair there are also five items there prescribed by my doctor.) Some of the medication is "natural" such as the peppermint capsules and is meant to relax the muscles of your digestive tract. People with IBS can experience painful muscles spasms throughout their GI system. On the flip side, a lot of what is pictured there is not so natural and is meant to speed up and stimulate peristalsis, the natural waves that your GI tract creates to move things along. Some of the medication is oral and some is well, not so oral. It works via insertion into the tail end of the body. Isn't that fun?

The upshot of all of my experiences thus far has caused me to do a lot of thinking. Some of those thoughts are personal but some are a little more prosaic. They are based on my own delay in getting to the GI doctor. Why do we seek the drugstore first and not our doctors? It can only prolong the inevitable and while you are trying something out, your condition may get worse. What is the lure of the OTC solution that causes us to postpone? 

Something to consider is that OTCs really can help and it has been my experience that the doctor will suggest those things as a first line of defense. They mostly have a proven track record. Aspirin, band aids, cold medicine, topical analgesics, lip balm, and the list goes on. Many of the items shown above, such as the milk of magnesia and magnesium capsules, actually do work. And many people do get relief from fiber supplements or an osmotic like Miralax. Lots of times though, the remedies don't help. I don't mean that they don't work in the short term (many of them do) but they are not a long term fix for IBS. Nothing is and that is my point I guess. It's a chronic condition. Treatment is fluid, flexible, individual and ongoing.

In case anyone is wondering, I did eventually get to the GI doctor (it was a long process and not entirely my fault that I didn't get there right away). But why the delay on my part? Because I am like nearly everyone else. I believe in the power of medicine, even OTC stuff. Much of what is available can actually work. And, I think I can fix things myself. I am also just as susceptible to the Power of Dr. Google as the next guy. It's very easy to search on the Internet for solutions that can be readily purchased at the drugstore or online. It's much less embarrassing than having to tell someone, even if that someone is your doctor who has the prescription  pad ready! Ultimately though, can you really diagnose yourself and make things better with an OTC? Maybe yes, maybe no.  

I said earlier that I had done some thinking. One of the salient questions that I came up with is this: Why do we try OTC medicines (and waste time in some cases) when we should really just go to the correct health care practitioner? See if any of these reasons resonate with you.

1. To avoid going to the doctor because of fear, cultural norms, etc.

2. The need for a quick and proven solution, particularly in the absence of an appointment. 

3. An OTC makes sense (to the person using it anyway).

4. Misinformation.

5. Suggestion from a friend or relative.

6. Self diagnosis.

7. Belief in "alternative" or "complimentary" medicines. (No knock here, I use them too.)

8. Frustration

9. Lack of health care, funds, transportation, etc.

10. Distrust of doctors, medicine in general, and horror stories heard on the news.

11. Our fervent and undying belief that NOTHING IS WRONG! And an OTC is an acceptable level of medicine, one we can deal with emotionally, unlike an antibiotic or cancer drug that carries some serious mental baggage.

Being sick sucks. Having a chronic condition sucks. Thank God there are still drugstores and online pharmacies. But being really sick, having a bad disease that might kill you?  That is a job for the Professional and a whole other level of treatment, certainly not one that can be had at CVS or Walgreens. 

Is my problem with IBS over? No. Have I become my own GI doctor? Yes, in a way I have. I feel like each day I get a little closer to a better overall understanding of the condition. I have given up trying to find the perfect OTC remedy. (OTCs can help but can also in fact exacerbate the situation and leave you feeling worse than when you started.) I will be writing another post about what I am doing that is sort of working. But for now, I leave you with this question and challenge. Can you guess which medicine shown above actually works the best? There may be a special prize for you if you guess correctly.

Thank you for reading and as always, if you have a question or comment let me know.

libbyfife@ymail.com