Long time no see, hope all are well. Type 2 here since around 2012. Been on slow release metformin (the max I think) for years and years, and have added in recent years Dapagliflozin and Gliclazide. Numbers haven't been too bad thanks to a lot of walking on the golf course but unfortunately last HBA1c wasn't good after a bad knee injury scuppered much exercise over the winter. Hoping to get that back down now the knee is on the mend.
Pretty up and down medical history but my two main issues, bar the diabetes, has been Irritable Bowel and Irritable bladder lasting years, which brings me to the point of my question. In the last three years or so I have suffered terribly with a complaint called rectal tenesmus, which is basically the feeling of needing to go to the bathroom even though you have already been. Usually lasts most mornings into the afternoon but strangely by evening it clears up, it's most strange. However in the last few months it has been accompanied by severe stomach discomfort which again strangely goes in the evening. It's quite awful, especially when you are going out and it has really been affecting my life.
I have tried everything, medications, fodmap diets, you name it I have tried it. Finally a pro active GP sent me for some tests different to the usual. FIT test was thankfully normal but something called faecal calprotectin, which I had never ever heard of came back really high which apparently can be suggestive of Inflammatory Bowel Disease or some other inflammatory issue. Not keen on thinking about the worst case scenario. All a tad strange though as I had a clear sigmoidoscopy performed winter 2024, so just over a year ago again to check for the reasons for the tenesmus. As it was clear they just discharge you. My GP has referred me to Gastro but not looking forward to some of the tests they put you through!
Thing is since my results I tried something. Monday evening I decided to come off Metformin. I am seeing the diabetic nurse tomorrow anyway so assumed it was ok to try for a week. Strangely the stomach issues went the next day, totally settled, felt the best I have in ages. No tenesmus, no stomach discomfort, all suggestive that it was the metformin causing the issue. However, surely metformin wouldn't cause stomach inflammation so bad that it shows up in such fashion on a test? Plus I have been on it for years and years, can it suddenly just start giving stomach issues after being on it for so long?
The one downside is I am peeing a hell of a lot more. Which may be because my blood sugar is higher due to coming off the metformin. That along with the Forxiga which clears your kidneys out anyway, not a great med for someone with an irritable bladder! A bit of a rock and a hard place shall we say!
So (sorry for long winded post) are there any suggestions I could ask my diabetes nurse about other oral med combos that could replace metformin but without the GI issues as side effects, and meds to replace the Forxiga without the excessive peeing side effects? Or are my options limited and I am sliding towards insulin?!
Thank you.
Pretty up and down medical history but my two main issues, bar the diabetes, has been Irritable Bowel and Irritable bladder lasting years, which brings me to the point of my question. In the last three years or so I have suffered terribly with a complaint called rectal tenesmus, which is basically the feeling of needing to go to the bathroom even though you have already been. Usually lasts most mornings into the afternoon but strangely by evening it clears up, it's most strange. However in the last few months it has been accompanied by severe stomach discomfort which again strangely goes in the evening. It's quite awful, especially when you are going out and it has really been affecting my life.
I have tried everything, medications, fodmap diets, you name it I have tried it. Finally a pro active GP sent me for some tests different to the usual. FIT test was thankfully normal but something called faecal calprotectin, which I had never ever heard of came back really high which apparently can be suggestive of Inflammatory Bowel Disease or some other inflammatory issue. Not keen on thinking about the worst case scenario. All a tad strange though as I had a clear sigmoidoscopy performed winter 2024, so just over a year ago again to check for the reasons for the tenesmus. As it was clear they just discharge you. My GP has referred me to Gastro but not looking forward to some of the tests they put you through!
Thing is since my results I tried something. Monday evening I decided to come off Metformin. I am seeing the diabetic nurse tomorrow anyway so assumed it was ok to try for a week. Strangely the stomach issues went the next day, totally settled, felt the best I have in ages. No tenesmus, no stomach discomfort, all suggestive that it was the metformin causing the issue. However, surely metformin wouldn't cause stomach inflammation so bad that it shows up in such fashion on a test? Plus I have been on it for years and years, can it suddenly just start giving stomach issues after being on it for so long?
The one downside is I am peeing a hell of a lot more. Which may be because my blood sugar is higher due to coming off the metformin. That along with the Forxiga which clears your kidneys out anyway, not a great med for someone with an irritable bladder! A bit of a rock and a hard place shall we say!
So (sorry for long winded post) are there any suggestions I could ask my diabetes nurse about other oral med combos that could replace metformin but without the GI issues as side effects, and meds to replace the Forxiga without the excessive peeing side effects? Or are my options limited and I am sliding towards insulin?!
Thank you.
