Re: Dirrahea and adult children
By: Emily H (1:08 PM 04/12/2010)Diane,
I'm sorry. I just noticed your post didn't get a reply right away a month ago.
Diarrhea and short gut syndrome go hand in hand. A lot of prevention is focused on diet. I wonder if, as he's getting older, his diet is changing which is causing the return of the diarrhea. Adult or baby, though, the same principles for diet apply. Eat foods that are digested easily or slowly and that optimize nutrition. Avoid foods that are high in sugar and other things that contribute to the diarrhea. If you're having to make trips to the ER, it might be time to involve a GI with experience in short gut and a dietician who can help to find the right diet. They can work with you, too, to keep track of fluid losses and find ways to keep your son hydrated. They might recommend changes to diet like smaller, more frequent meals, adding a nutrient rich drink like Ensure, etc.
As for the spleen, my son also has an enlarged spleen. We've been told that it's a symptom of the liver damage caused by his TPN. To my understanding, this shouldn't have any relationship to your son's diarrhea. The only problems we've had as a result are occasional instances where his blood counts get low because of the way his spleen behaves when he's fighting an infection. When he gets sick, I'll sometimes notice that his belly looks swollen and that he's paler than usual. This usually means that his spleen is reacting to the illness by "sequestering" platelet. There's not much to be done to help in this case, but it's something we keep an eye on so he doesn't become dangerously anemic. A good GI with experience in Short Gut Syndrome could also address this issue for you. GI's deal with liver problems and their side effects.