Nancy, your questions are very overwhelming. I suspect that's because YOU are overwhelmed by all that's going on. Truthfully, your doctor and pharmacist would be your best resources for having specific questions answered in a way that would be most meaningful and helpful for you. What I can offer are generalities, and some links to information that may or may not be helpful for you.

About cholestyramine (Prevalite) ... it can interfere with the absorption of other medications. It's recommended that you take any other meds 1 hr BEFORE, or 4 to 6 hrs AFTER you take the cholestyramine. Fat-soluble vitamin deficiency is seen with long-term use, in persons following low-fat diet, who do not take supplements. Most resources suggest to take a super-potency multiple vitamin & mineral supplement. For more information about cholestyramine and taking supplements, check this article from Healthwell.com. It includes cross-links for more info about each nutrient. Cholestyramine/ Prevalite is not fiber. It's a resin of various minerals which bind with bile salts in the far end of the small intestine. From what I've read, when cholestyramine is used to treat diarrhea, as it is for you ... then constipation isn't really a problem. The drug will restore regularity to your bowel function, so you can be more comfortable, and have a normal life away from the bathroom!

I have no idea how the drug will affect low-carbing, or how low-carbing will affect the drug. As I stated above, most problems seem to relate to persons following a low-fat diet, since the drug is usually prescribed to lower cholesterol.

Here's the Google search result for Questran and bile salt diarrhea. Have a read through some of the articles .. I'm sure there'll be something helpful for you.

Calcium tends to be constipating. However, it normally comes in a tablet combined with magnesium, which tends to be laxative, so they balance each other

Regarding your skin and itching ... there are several likely causes .. first, the excess bile salts can irritate from the inside. Plus, if you've been having frequent diarrhea, no doubt your bottom is sore from that too. It sounds like you have a good arsenal of tricks for relieving the discomfort. I suggest you do whatever is right at the time, which may be powder one day and lotion the next. You might even consider a baby cream or zinc oxide, which is very soothing.

I would avoid anything with sugar alcohols like a plague, at least for a couple of months until things have settled down. Sorbitol and maltitol can cause diarrhea and gas because they are only partially absorbed. Therefore, a percentage of the unabsorbed sugar alcohol arrives in the colon, where the bacteria (and possiby yeasts) go wild with it.

I found the company that makes Prevalite. Upsher-Smith Inc.. Not a lot of info .. they just have the package insert posted on the website. There's no place to email them ... the "contact us" link is for career information However, there's a 1-800 # at the bottom of the page, so you might be able to call and get some questions answered, especially about the absorption of dietary fat.

hth,

Doreen