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What Causes Diarrhea And Constipation While Suffering From Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Hello Dr. Andrew. My mother is 89 years old and is in fairly good health for her age, however she does have RA and takes hydroxychloroquine. She has been complaining of recurring symptoms of diarrhea followed by constipation. She has an urgency to have a bowel movement as well. I know that she has recently been drinking milk on a daily basis and she never did that in the past. I think there may be a connection
Mon, 14 Nov 2016
Hi!
I appreciate your concern for your beloved mother and sorry to know about her problem.
Based on the history given, you mother seems to have developed lactose intolerance which resulting in symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
People with lactose intolerance are unable to fully digest lactose (the sugar present in milk). As a result, they have diarrhea, gas and bloating after eating or drinking dairy products. A deficiency of lactase the enzyme produced in the small intestine is usually responsible for lactose intolerance.
She needs certain lifestyle modifications to prevent the symptoms like:
1. Choosing smaller servings of of milk up to 4 ounces (118 milliliters) at a time. The smaller the serving, the less likely it is to cause gastrointestinal problems.
2. Drinking milk with other foods. This slows the digestive process and may lessen symptoms of lactose intolerance.
3. She may be given cultured milk products, such as yogurt, because the bacteria used in the culturing process naturally produce the enzyme that breaks down lactose.
4. Consuming lactose-free products if the symptoms do not subside with above measures.
5. Calcium supplementation like Calcium-fortified products, such as breads and juices, canned salmon, milk substitutes, such as soy milk and rice milk, spinach, rhubarb may given.
6. Vitamin D rich foods such as eggs, liver, yogurt and adequate exposure to sunlight is also recommended.
Hope the advice given above would be beneficial to her.
I appreciate your concern for your beloved mother and sorry to know about her problem.
Based on the history given, you mother seems to have developed lactose intolerance which resulting in symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
People with lactose intolerance are unable to fully digest lactose (the sugar present in milk). As a result, they have diarrhea, gas and bloating after eating or drinking dairy products. A deficiency of lactase the enzyme produced in the small intestine is usually responsible for lactose intolerance.
She needs certain lifestyle modifications to prevent the symptoms like:
1. Choosing smaller servings of of milk up to 4 ounces (118 milliliters) at a time. The smaller the serving, the less likely it is to cause gastrointestinal problems.
2. Drinking milk with other foods. This slows the digestive process and may lessen symptoms of lactose intolerance.
3. She may be given cultured milk products, such as yogurt, because the bacteria used in the culturing process naturally produce the enzyme that breaks down lactose.
4. Consuming lactose-free products if the symptoms do not subside with above measures.
5. Calcium supplementation like Calcium-fortified products, such as breads and juices, canned salmon, milk substitutes, such as soy milk and rice milk, spinach, rhubarb may given.
6. Vitamin D rich foods such as eggs, liver, yogurt and adequate exposure to sunlight is also recommended.
Hope the advice given above would be beneficial to her.
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