Carbs - does it get better

Okay, I need some guidance please.

Before surgery I loved carbs, bread, pasta, rice, chocolate, sweets etc. All of them. I went into this surgery willingly knowing that I would likely have to give those things up. And for the most part I have. But sometimes I really want to chocolate - the darker the better (and lower sugar). And I have been in situations where I have had to eat pasta. For instance I met my boyfriends parents and they had spaghetti - there were no alternatives - I ate it but did have a very small 1/2 cup serving. Sometimes we can't avoid carbs, they are part of life. However, when I eat them I become a gas machine. That night I ate the pasta, I was bloated and had the worse diarrhea & gas shortly after. This has also happened when I have tried whole grains, or higher fiber carbs (for example brown rice). Carbs, especially simple carbs, are hurting me physically. Yes, I know, don't eat them. I work on doing that. BUT, I run into another problem, if I dont eat them and stick to my low carb diet, I loose weight. My Dr. is already threatening me creon because I have no fat reserves (yes my bmi is fine but that includes extra skin etc). Oh, and i've been diagnosed with hypoglycemia. I have a really hard time keeping my blood sugar level and at an appropriate level unless I eat carbs. So I spend each day in pain.

My question is, does this go away as I get further from my surgery? I'm already 1.5 years out but I understand that it may take up to 3 years for my intestines to adjust.

Another question - for those who have horrible bloating and gas after carbs - have you done anything that helps? I'm going to talk to my gastroenterologist today about a pro-biotic.

Thanks for the help guys.

Instead of getting carbs to maintain weight through pasta, rice, bread, have you tried drinking something like ensure or ensure plus? Ensure has 220 cals per 8oz bottle w/ 33grams of carbs. Ensure plus has 350 cals with more carbs. Just an idea, maybe that would be less likely to give you gas/diarrhea...? Sorry you're going through this and can get some relief soon!

I've tried to drink my calories, but it seems no matter the form the carbs are problematic. 

Probiotics, that we talked about, is the only thing that helps me. How did the doctor's appointment go?

--gina

She's hesitant for me to try a probiotic. She gave me a prescription that has been used for years in Europe and in the last ten years in the US for bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine. Fingers crossed it helps. 

Sounds like an antibiotic. Do you know what it is?  I'll Google it, what's it called? 

It's an antibiotic called xifaxan. 

I've heard of that. That should help and give you a clean slate. If it's used for a short term fix, then you could follow-up with the probiotics. If it's long term, and is proven, that's fine too. Some will even say you can take probiotics with the xifaxan but I don't see why you would. Seems the antibiotics would kill off the good bacteria from the probiotic.

Was going to pass this on to you. I found that my Costco carries the VSL3 DS packets and sells them in groups of 90 for $46.95 plus tax. This was way cheaper than the other prices I was finding for the non RX version. Just thought i'd pass it along and maybe it would be useful to you. 

So far no improvement from the antibiotics. Basically the last two days have been, well, the bathroom and I are great friends who meet every hour for a BM. Its been cleansing. I'm noticing it's starting to ease up a bit though now. Will keep you updated!

Best- Keila

That's excellent information!  Now I need to ether re-up at COSTCO or find a friend that has a membership. Thanks! : )

Antibiotics will take a few days. It's cleaning out your system the first week and then it seems like the remaining meds are too much for your system the 2nd week. I reduced the dose the 2nd week and that seemed to help some.