POLL: How did you IBS start?
#12357 - 06/24/03 05:32 AM
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Hello again 
Well my IBS started when I was going thru a hard time last year. First, I started noticing that coffee will make my stools lose everyday... but It wasn't big deal. Also the Soy TVP was making me go a few times a day. I also noticed that my stools were loser on those days close to my period. After a few months after that I was a total mess. I had D almost everyday. But now, following heather's diet and taking Lexapro my IBS is kind of under control... I still have bad episodes though.
So for me, my IBS was due to stress... what about you?
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Hi Carlaveg; this sounds wierd but my IBS started 10 yrs ago.I believe it was a combination of things for me. I was working at the time, i quit smoking, decided 2 weeks before I got married to get married.The night of our wedding I awoke at 2 am with Diarehha!For the rest of the weekend I slept in between running to the bathroom. Call into work to say I have the flu. Finally got back towork but still having D.I worked in a meat dept.of the local grocery store,so it was not really good to be there. So for a while I would get to work,when I did make it, then have to leave . I ended up having to give up that job. I had a barium enema done,nothing, barium drink,nothing. Lactose Intolerance test,yes! Still having lots of D. plus all I did was sleep. WEnt to a specialist he did a scope down my throat,checked for Celiac;nothing. So this is when the Dr. decided it was IBS! Put on asacol. Continued this for a few years.About 5 yrs. ago I started bleeding. Scope done to check for polyps (found some but nothing major). Diagnosed with Proctitis Ulcerative Colitis. Now on dipentum (2 capsules 3 X a day. plus pentasa emema. On my last colonoscopy ( which is a real pain in the a..,excuse the pun)the ulcers were 2 inches up my colon. The bleeding is heavier at times when I have a flare up, considering of the ususal cramping, low fevers, diarehha (big time). Now in the process of control!! So I'm not sure what caused or actually started my IBS..I am still trying to figure it out.
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Mine started when I was about 15. I would have terrible stomach aches and constipation. My mom has IBS so she said that was what I had too. Even though I would miss school and cry all the time she never took me to the DR. We didn't have insurance. When I was about 18 and got my own insurance I went to the DR. They told me to eat more fiber and sent me home! I was at work one day about a year later and actually passed out from all the toxins built up in my system because I hadn't had a bm in about 2 1/2 weeks! Someone from my work drove me to the hospital and I was admitted. They did a pelvic (thought maybe pelvic inflammatory diease) nothing. Did an ultra sound, nothing. Did a D & C and laproscope through my belly button, just to "look around", nothing. Finally did a colonoscopy and nothing. So they decided I had IBS and sent me home with stool softners and Librax! I have tried all the IBS drugs, none seemed to worked for more than a couple weeks. I found Heathers book and this web site about 6 weeks ago. The diet is helping, I'm still working on finding my personal tolerances. I still have good and bad days but I am hoping to get stable and stay stable with the support of this board and Heathers diet!
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Taking it one day at a time.....
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I'd have to say that, looking back, I've probably had IBS most of my life. I remember having lots of "tummy" aches and "nerves" even as far back as elementary school. Tummy attacks all through school...even in college. My pediatrician called it "a nervous stomach".
I wasn't diagnosed with IBS until about four years ago. About eight years ago I had a colonoscopy, after having some minor bleeding and D. The colonoscopy only showed mild diverticulosis and the Dr. said the bleeding and D was due to infectious D. Now I never use a public restroom without putting either toilet paper or one of those toilet seat tissues down before I sit on the seat. I wash my hands and then use the papertowel to turn off the water and open the door before tossing the paper towel in the trash on my way out. Even here at work. Any way...back to the IBS....
My IBS intensified about four years ago after my grandmother passed away. I was very close to her and watched her deteriorate in the hospital the last three weeks of her life. I went through a horrible time afterwards. Depression, IBS-D practicall every day, sleeplessness, no appetite, etc., etc. My regular doctor wanted me to have another colonoscopy and my Gastro. Doc said I didn't need one and got me on my way to treating the IBS with diet, etc. My regular Doc eventually got me on Zoloft, but he wasn't much help otherwise and didn't seem to be listening to my concerns. So that's when I found a new doc whom I am very comfortable with. He suggested counceling/therapy and I was eventually able to get off Zoloft completely for depression.
Now I basically just watch what I eat...portion control, fat and fiber content, etc. I don't really follow a "diet". I just get suggestions, recipes from the this web site and Heather's book and other research. A lot of it is just "trial and error", too. I try to control my stress (although not very well at times.) I try to get exercise through walking, yard work, etc. and yoga when possible.
I basically have it under control as long as I follow what I know works for me. I'm no longer on any medication and only take Imodium on occassion.
Best of luck to everyone. I love this board.
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My life is total chaos so it probably started when my body couldn't handle the abuse anymore. My life is even more stressful now since I have IBS. My life gets worse and worse and I havn't got the faintest idea why life is hell for me.
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I used to have really bad sleeping problems. That led to worrying and stress. That sparked my tummy aches
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-Angela
Healed in Jesus' Name 
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Hello: I started with food allergies which I was controlling with domotol for a while and it gradually became that I had so msny food allergies that my two drs. figured it must be ibs. I did have a scope done to rule out anything else, especially when I got to feeling like I might have an ulcer again. I felt like I had a hole in my stomach it felt so bad. My doc. put me on paxil and I started feeling betterafter a few weeks.
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Hi Angel - I know you were looking into the IBS hypnotherapy tapes and checking out the board for that. Have you considered trying them? I really do think they'd help you.
Best,
Heather
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Heather is the Administrator of the IBS Message Boards. She is the author of Eating for IBS and The First Year: IBS, and the CEO of Heather's Tummy Care. Join her IBS Newsletter. Meet Heather on Facebook!
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In January, I was having bad diarrhea, and then I would be constipated and it wasn't going away, so I went to my doctor at that time and he only spent 10 minutes with me and he gave me Zelnorm and told me to take 1 a day and if i'm still having problems in a couple weeks, start taking 2. Also I start taking Metamucil, which really helped and I eventually switched to Citracel. I decided to go to another doctor and she was really cool and told me that I had a spastic colon and increased my Zelnorm to 2 a day. The Zelnorm took a while to kick in but once it did, it worked. I don't take it anymore, but I still take a fiber supplement every day.
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Mine started in January 2001. My daughter had just turned 6 months, I was toilet training my 2 year old and was preparing for my sisters wedding that summer. I had also decided to be a stay home Mom and was faced with only child conversation. All that stress pilled together lead to IBS-D and a phobia of driving as I once had a really bad attack driving and still panic if there is no washroom near. I am going through with Hypnosis now and hopefully I will be able to go on with life like the 30 years before all this IBS stuff
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