IBS-Irritable Bowel Syndrome

[Songbird1]

Hi!
I've been suffering from severe IBS since many years. Does anyone else have it and what medications are you taking?

 

[pumanator]

Ohhh yea...it can really be the pits. I also have acid reflux with it. I beleive in my case that it was brought about by stress...being that I sooo love stress. I have the flu right now it it make the nausau more pronounced as well as not being able to coup with the added bile that is produced..yuk.

Right now I'm taking an anti-nausau (spelling?) to help through the flu. There are meds for cramping which I don't use but once in a blue moon, mainly because they make me drowsie

There are 3 things that seem to work best for me. 1 I use Citricel which calms the bowel and balances the water content...used regularly this works wonders. 2 avoid foods, usually high fat, that exaserbate the prob. 3 is to chill, don't stress...this is maybe the most important because it means you release all your worries to the Lord

Each persons severity of symptoms are based on these and other factors such as genetic prediposition, etc.

Goodle this subject and you find loads of info.

 

[gvsuman]

I have Ulcerative Colitis, and a part of that is IBS. I've had it since 2002. First my doctor started me on Asacol but it didn't help at all (at least for me) and now I'm on a heavy dose of Imuran (30 mg) and Prednisone (5 mg). I haven't had a flare up in quite awhile now. Just keep the stress low and don't eat a whole lot of dairy or spicy foods and you should be fine.

 

[Hiskid4ever]

I dealt with this for many years and at one time took medicine to help control it. I was told that the leading cause of mine was stress and the foods I was eating.

Getting away from my parents helped the stress part, though when I get nervous I do have flare-ups.

I stopped eating the foods I was finding that caused me problems. Greasy, high fat foods would make me sick almost as soon as I would eat them. I do still eat these foods occasionally and I think that is the thing. I can eat them with no problems now cause it's not all built up in there or something.

I really hope that anyone with it is able to control it. It is horrible to have to live with. I am still obsessed with where the bathrooms are when I go someplace new, because I had more of the problems with the diahrea than the constipation part.

Have a good week!

 

[dianne050]

I also have it.I try not to take much in meds.I think mine is caused alot by sterss also.What I do is drink alot of gingerale and suck on peppermint.....I know it sounds strange but helps me.I get a attack about once a month lays me up and all I can do is take alot of hot baths to relieve the pain and lay flat.Mine is more of a constipation thing.

 

[eturner74]

I have crohns disease and the doctor has me on asacol and I have to watch what I eat

 

[LadyNRA]

I dealt with this for many years and at one time took medicine to help control it. I was told that the leading cause of mine was stress and the foods I was eating.

Getting away from my parents helped the stress part, though when I get nervous I do have flare-ups.

I stopped eating the foods I was finding that caused me problems. Greasy, high fat foods would make me sick almost as soon as I would eat them. I do still eat these foods occasionally and I think that is the thing. I can eat them with no problems now cause it's not all built up in there or something.

I really hope that anyone with it is able to control it. It is horrible to have to live with. I am still obsessed with where the bathrooms are when I go someplace new, because I had more of the problems with the diahrea than the constipation part.

Have a good week!

I'm with you. I always note where bathrooms are along the way or plan accordingly. And if I can't, my husband knows that if I say better find a bathroom, it had been be quickly (mostly due to the pain during the interim time before getting to the bathroom).

I've had it since I was 12 (well, diagnosed at 12 anyway). There are great bulletin board/lists for this subject too and they are totally helpful. I do not take drugs at all. Well, like someone here, I also have Acid Reflux and for that I NEED to take drugs. The more stress I'm under at work (and it's gotten worse and is unrelenting due to it being a production environment where I never seem to measure up), the GERD has gotten worse. So bad that the Prevacid I took for 10 years stopped working. Nexium is doing okay for me though now and then it feels like it's not exactly doing it's job.

Anyway, I just watch what I eat (I know that I'm lactose intolerant...at least to ice cream and milk, but yogurt and cheeses are fine for me), I try not to get too worked up though mostly fear of something is the worst culprit in the stress arena, and if I need to, I take metamucil type things or plain old prune juice. Coffee also gets me going. Even decaf. The site I belong to uses the terms C for constipation and D for the other . LOL! Works for me. I was mostly C/D for my youth so it was hard to plan on anything. Now I'm mostly D and while you may think that's even worse to plan things with, I know my body well enough from nearly 40 years of having it, that I rarely get 'surprised'. My body has set into a pretty reliable pattern. So while you may think prune juice isn't the answer, it guarantees that I'll go and helps me go at reliable times. This has made my life more manageable, as odd as it sounds.

HOWEVER if you D is really bad or really often then prune juice or anything like it is NOT the way to go. Metamucil type products would balance things for most people. My IBS isn't too terrible nor is the D part of it, not compared to many folks.

The IBS group is on Yahoo groups...

 

[hardcoreGL1229]

Hey! Yeah I just got IBS this past summer. I couldn't eat for a week, even water messed me up, but I went to the doctor and he gave me Hyoscyamine. It works wonders. As soon as the IBS kicks in I take it and it goes away.

~L~

 

[Sweeterthanhoney]

heavy on the "C" these days too, due to meds for alot of my other problems. I can hardly even go with a laxative! But my doctor said "Fiber, LOTS of fiber!!" so I bought some no-named brand Metimucil capsules and am starting to take that, to build up more bulk.
If you have the C problem, magnesium is good to take. I haven't found any particular food that sets off a bathroom episode, but more of a build up problem and eventually, well, its gotta go some where:o
My 16 yr old daughter was recently diagnosed with Crohn's Disease, which has been a difficult thing for her and us, and she also has gastritis, which only started showing symptoms when we started treatment, go figure. That seems to be her main struggle right now, the pain of that and fatigue. Fortunately no D for her.
Since finding this out, I've decided that I should get myself checked out, as I never have been so I will be getting a colonoscopy soon , too.

 

[non-religious]

Hi....

I have Crohns Disease and have been dealing with it for just over 6 years. It's been incredibly difficult at times and I have had many operations and examinations that have really taken their toll on my body. However, it's not all bad and aside from seeing your doctor and getting the appropriate professional advice, I would just echo what others have said. Try to avoid spicy foods and drink plenty of water. There is a substantial amount of literature out there regarding IBS and your doctor will be able to prescribe you with certain drugs like Loperamide etc... All the best

 

[bornagain-053184]

i have had IBS since i was 14 (now 21) they have never given me anything it was like it only acted up under stress and id become constipated.. now its changed im hoping for something to help.

 

[pumanator]

Born, if you haven't already done so, read carefully through all the posts here. There is some good advise...of course talking to your doc is the best.

 

[jazzcat7]

Hey All!

I'm new around here it's good to find a bunch of christians talking about this stuff. It isn't easy sometimes and hard to make others understand what you are going through who don't have it. I've had a few tough weeks and surfing the net looking for someone who understands. It gets depressing. Yet at least as christians there is hope in Christ and in the hope that our God is a God that heals. I can say I've endured alot at times yet some of it at least gives me alot of compassion and mercy with people.

Anyways I wanted to say Hi and yeah... So Hi! Better go now! Hope you have a good week. Blessings from Jazzcat7!

 

[BattleAxe]

I suffer with IBS with constipation along with an ulcer... NOTHING worked for me and my doctor is now saying she thinks I may have Chron's also. Anyhooo...

My doctor put me on Zelnorm a few months back and it didn't help and in fact made it worst. I was taking it 3 times a day with no movement and lots of trapped gas. So on my own I quit the Zelnorm and did nothing until my belly hurt so bad I couldn't take it. Out of desperation, I took one and went to the bathroom just fine. So I started taking it like once a week. Then the other day, I tested high (false reading...thank you Jesus) on my blood glucose monitor. I don't have diabetes, just check myself every week. Anyway while I was researching that, I came across a recommendation for GARLIC tablets. So I went to Wal-Mart and got me a cheap bottle.

To make this long story short...I have taken one or two garlic tablets daily and one Zelnorm once a week and I go (still not daily) and the god aweful gas pains and stomach pains is gone. I seldom have ulcer pains either. I think I found the right combination.

Of course if I take aspirin, I still feel that ulcer but if I stay clear, it all seems to be working.

 

[Songbird1]

Hi!
Thanks for the tip with the Garlic pills.Now i need to try that out.I know how awful all of this is.I got it real bad and i got the diarrhea along with those horrible stomach cramps.They are so painful.

 

[jazzcat7]

Garlic for some people would make them worse I reckon it does for me. Just like spicy stuff does as well as the odd different food. Zelnorm didn't work.... I'm now on this stupid diet the Natropath has given me. Just started with her because she is my last option. I can eat nothing right now other than rice, fruit and veg, herbs, chicken or fish and nuts. No sauces no bread no nothing else at all. Oh and I can have a cup of tea with soy milk. Plus I got to drink this stuff. It's an elimination diet I think. Driving me up the wall. Coz I know I'm not allergic to wheat products. It's meant to calm my system down but so far not working really.

 

[BattleAxe]

I agree with you that garlic may not work for everyone and it was not posted as a all purpose-cure all-for everyone. In fact, I DO NOT go to the bathroom at all. Nothing seems to stimulate my bowels. NOTHING...not even the Zelnorm if I take it daily. Garlic has seem to help, not in making me run (nothing can do that) but it does help me get the gas off of my belly. Thus eliminating the bloated, gas induced cramps.

I would strongly suggest some online research before anyone gets into a garlic routine and by all means consult with your doctor.

At this point, my doctor is as baffled as I am and so for the most part she lets me experiment so long as I don't come with anything too wild.

 

[Songbird1]

Thanks everyone for posting here.I really appreciate it

 

[seanmc]

I've had it, and it's stress thing for me too. Eating foods high in fibre help the best. If that doesn't work, take Metameucil dailyn along with plenty of water; it works and you'll start feeling fine again in about 2-4 days.

 

[pumanator]

There is one over the counter item that I've tried several times and it has been recommended by a couple of my doctors is "Citricel". It balances water and fiber in the tract and if I use it regularly it works rather well.