New To Board-Questions About IBS
#11242 - 06/10/03 08:50 AM
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dlt647
Reged: 06/10/03
Posts: 12
Loc: West Chester, PA
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I recently found this web site and thought I would post my questions to see if anyone had any similar experiences. During the past several years went through a divorce. The stress of the divorce and helping my children through this rough time caused me to completely lose my appetite. I ended up losing 80 pounds over a 4 month period of time. I went on for about 8 months not eating much of anything. Finally, last fall things settled down a bit and my life became much happier. I started eating normally again, however, I developed digestive problems. My GI doctor (whom I had been seeing over the last 4 years for diverticulosis) said my symptoms more like IBS than anything else. I had a colonoscopy 2 years ago which was normal (except for the diverticulosis). My symptoms are intestinal gas, bloating, severe constipation and very loud stomach/bowel noises. There are quite a number of foods I now cannot eat because they cause my symptoms. I have been taking something called Colon Cleanse twice a day. If I don't take it every day, my constipation gets worse. If I have a change in schedule (during trips or otherwise) my constipation increases.
Do these symptoms sound like IBS or something different? Any recommendations for diet, etc. would be appreciated.
Thanks.
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Welcome to the board! You'll find lots of helpful suggestions and tons of support from people who are going through or who have gone through the same things.
I suffer mainly from IBS-D which is just the opposite of what you are describing. So, I'm sorry I can't offer any suggestions. But, I'm sure someone here can.
Good luck and visit often.
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Welcome! The first thing I would recommend is a trip to your Doc. It's extremely important to get a proper diagnosis. These symptoms can also mean other problems, which should be considered (ie. crohn's, colitis, etc.). If your Doc won't listen, go to another one. In the meantime, the dietary guidelines on this website may help ease your symptoms.
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Formerly HanSolo. IBS, OCD, Bipolar, PTSD times 3.
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Hi - I thought I was the only one with such a noisy stomach. My doctor says it is all part of IBS. I had a colonoscopy 3 yrs. ago and will have another one this year. It revealed diverticulosis and mild inflamation, but no colitis. Back to the noisy stomach - I find it very embarassing and don't know quite what to say in the presence of others. How do you handle that?
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Welcome! Your symptoms are almost the same as mine. The bloating and constipation are the worse. When it gets real bad I get very nauseas(sp?) and its hard to breath. Never heard of colon cleanse, I take Mira-Lax and fibercon. Lots of great info on this site, take time to cruise around.
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Taking it one day at a time.....
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Sounds to me like what you have is classic IBS, especially if they've done a colonoscopy and found nothing else like Crohns or colitis. I too have diver. Now, since I've gone thru H_ _ _ trying to get the system back in order from IBS-C (like you), I've learned a lot about fiber and laxatives. So, here is some advise. PLEASE get off the Colon Cleanse...it has senna in it......which is SO hard on the colon with long term affects. That and cassara sagrada (sp?) is a no-no. Yes, how well I know it works, and I thought I couldn't do without it, but you can. Ween yourself off slowly and go to one of the 3 recommended on this board, Fibercon, Citrucel, or Benefiber working up quickly to max dosages. I personally like the tablets over the powder because of the convenience. Then at night I add a finer grind of psyllium, called Konsyl, available in almost any drug store. Also some plumped prunes at night. The Konsyl and prunes I do at night only since they are bloating, the fiber pills I do throughout the day. It is sooo nice to be off the stool softeners, strong laxative herbs and the Metamucil (with additives that I didn't like). Hope this little recommendation helps you. Kandee
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Thank you everyone for your responses. I will take your advice and try to stop the colon cleanse. I am afraid, though, because I know I have forgotten to take it before and have had such trouble. The stomach noises are very embarrassing. My fiance and I make jokes about it when we are home, but if we are around other people I try to just say it is because I hadn't eaten and I'm hungry or make some other excuse. I am so tired of not being able to eat the things I used to. I can't eat chocolate (and if I do, it limit it to very, very small amounts), some fresh vegetables, bran muffins, etc. without suffering later in the day. I would love to know what caused this problem. Was it the stress from my divorce, my poor diet for so long or something else. Just before I started having these problems I had a problem with my diverticulosis and also a urinary tract infection in which I was on 3 different types of antibiotics within a one month period of time. Could that have caused it? I will definitely check out the information on this web site and possibly try the diet. At this point, I am ready for anything just to start feeling better.
Thanks again,
Donna
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You sound like you have been thru a rough time.
To give you some perspective, I am a 41 yr old male who has been having a rough patch with his marriage in the last year. I never had ANYTHING to do with gut problems before. During the last year a colleague died of stomach cancer (after exhibiting symptoms I had which were subsequently diagnosed as Oesophagitis or gastro - reflux.)
Three weeks after that, another colleague committed suicide. (I was a police detective at that time).
I thought, enough is enough, I don't need the stress anymore and left the police. (I had symptoms of excessive stomach gurgling prior to that - which is very embarrassing and I also had nausea and bloating).
I had a battery of tests including endoscopy, colonoscopy, blood tests, urinalysiss, ultrasound and CAT scan. (If you had anything less then get a new doctor).
I now have low level pain most of the time that extends across an area which is in the area of the transverse and descending colon and particularly below the left side ribs. I also continue to have low level nausea.
I have read many of the letters on the forum and I have heartfelt sympathy for many of those who have written in.
I have particularly read those of ConcreteAngel and I hope she can hang in there.
I think you should keep off the Colon Cleanse as I think you can overdo it with the chemicals. Try and regulate your problems with natural products.
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to Crow
#11347 - 06/11/03 06:18 AM
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artist
Reged: 05/28/03
Posts: 132
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I read your post with great interest. You are one of the few people I have encountered who developed symptoms after age 40. I have been told this is highly unusual for IBS. I also developed symptoms of pain, abdominal distention, bloating suddenly at age 40. These symptoms followed a period of EXTREME stress. (I found a lump in my breast, had a kidney stone attack, and injured my back which caused constant pain) I had a total melt down. Prior to age 40, I had NOTHING wrong with me. They are not kidding when they say you start to fall apart. All of those things have resolved, however I am left with what my GI specialist says is IBS. I have had all the appropriate tests, the only thing I have left to do is the colonoscopy. I am just skeptical of the IBS diagnosis because of my age.
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Thank you for your response Crow. Sounds like you've been through a lot also. My fiance's step father just passed away a few months ago from stomach cancer. I was shocked at how quickly it advanced.
I really don't have a lot of pain. I occasionally have mild cramping feelings in my lower abdomen when I have my other symptoms. I am going to try and work off the colon cleanse, though. It may sound weird but I am so worried about stopping it. It has been the only thing so far that has helped the constipation and when that is better the other symptoms improve. I will give the peppermint a try and also the citrucel.
Thanks again for your help.
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Re: to Crow
#11349 - 06/11/03 06:23 AM
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dlt647
Reged: 06/10/03
Posts: 12
Loc: West Chester, PA
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Artist, I too didn't begin my symptoms until the age of 40 after a stressful period in my life. I was skeptical also because I have read the symptoms usually start when you are younger, but from everything I have read, my symptoms fit right in with the IBS diagnosis. I hate that the stress can come and then go, but the IBS stays with you!
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Hi, thank you for replying. I know that stress can do horrendous things to your body. I suffered anxiety when I was younger also, but I think your body can just handle it better then. Your body is like a credit card, when you are younger, you abuse it and overcharge, when you turn 40 the bill comes due. One suggestion I have for you is to definately try the soluble fiber. I started 6 days ago with Benefiber. I take 1TBS 3X a day. I can't believe how much it has helped. Make sure you drink a lot of water with it. I am regular and the bloating and pain have improved! Until now, nothing has worked. Heather has made me a believer. Let us know how you are doing!
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Re: to Crow
#11355 - 06/11/03 06:42 AM
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dlt647
Reged: 06/10/03
Posts: 12
Loc: West Chester, PA
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Thank you, I will try to benefiber. I like your analogy. It is so accurate. I used to eat junk (or nothing at all), lots of coffee and other bad things, yet now I am eating healthy organic foods and having problems. People have told me life begins after age 40 (which is proving true for me), but we are also falling apart.
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I am glad your life is looking up after 40. We are still young, I don't care what my colon tells me! Be careful with the bran and raw veggies. I know they are healthy but they cause me pain. Cook the veggies really well, it makes them easier to digest. This board has been very helpful to me, lots of support and a great source of information. Hope you feel better soon!
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Re: to Crow
#11362 - 06/11/03 07:17 AM
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Crow
Reged: 05/31/03
Posts: 20
Loc: Adelaide, South Australia
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Thanks for your reply Artist. I feel a lot better (strangely) knowing others in my age group are experiencing the same symptoms as me. I also have IBS-C. I had no knowledge of any of this until the Gastro fellow told me what he thought I had. I have read many of the letters posted here and also wondered that no-one else has fallen in the same age group as me (and you). You can imagine that I had thoughts of the big C but so far none of the symptoms have worsened. I also had the symptoms of bloating that you describe and had a back injury plaguing me since I was 22 years old. Perhaps this has some bearing - who knows. I have read some of the material published by Heather and I have gone off caffeine, red meat and alcohol (although I still like a good red occasionally).
It sounds as though the EXTREME stress is the key in our cases. It is not easy to lose someone close to you and, as you point out, your body seems to start to collapse to some degree at this age. Having a breast lump is something I imagine that no woman can deal with easily. It is a time of great stress and all of us are so much reliant on the diagnosis of specialists and we lose total control of what is happening to us. I really feel for those who developed IBS at a very early age, it must be terribly debilitating.
I have ordered Heather's books an look forward to reading them when they arrive.
Thankyou for the other replies and I will keep those with an interest posted with regard to my future. 
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What? IBS usually doesn't begin after age 40? That's news to me. I developed symptoms about 18 months ago at age 42. I never had any problems with my gut before this. It came on suddenly and it won't go away.
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Colon Cleanse
#11388 - 06/11/03 10:23 AM
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Karin
Reged: 02/11/03
Posts: 483
Loc: Southern California
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I'm confused about the Colon Cleanse you're all speaking of. My container of Colon Cleanse states that it's 100% pure psyllium. No other ingredients or additives and it's all natural. Are we speaking of the same thing?
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Karin, the Colon Cleanse that I use does have senna in it. I buy it at Trader Joe's Grocery Store (not sure if it is their own brand, though). I have stopped taking it today after a few people responded that senna is not good for you. I am trying Benefiber. Hopefully that will work just as good.
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Heather, I just want to make sure my info is correct. I have read that it is unusual for IBS to begin after age 40. What do you think about this? My symptoms began suddenly 11 months ago at age 40 and never went away. I had no previous gut problems. We are obviously proof that, while it may be unusual, it does happen. I think the point is, that if you are over 40, don't assume stomach problems are IBS. Make sure your rule out all other possibilities with appropriate tests.
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Hi - It's unusual for people to develop IBS as they get older (and I've never seen any specific age cut-off for "older") but it's definitely not unheard of. Most current research indicates that the average age of IBS onset is late teens to early twenties. Lots of people fall out of that age range, though.
The big concerns with the sudden onset of GI symptoms at an adult age in the thirties, forties, or later is that the risks of serious disorders like colon cancer and diverticultis are much higher. This is why it's important that you have a complete diagnostic workup to rule out everything but IBS - you need to rule out inflammatory bowel diseases, celiac, colon cancer, diverticulitis, and women should be checked for endometriosis and ovarian cancer.
But, if your symptoms match the Rome Criteria (do a board search for this info if you need it) and you've had the diagnostic tests necessary to rule out everything else, then you could certainly be diagnosed with IBS at any age.
- 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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Hi,
I was diagnosed with IBS 3 years ago...when I was 50! The doctor decided I developed IBS because I am a female and under stress. Don't you just hate when they use those reasons as a fall-back because they can't figure out any other reason?
Then I read Heather's books and it became very clear to me why at the age of 50 I had IBS. I had 7 abdominal surgeries in 5 years...the last surgery was about 2 years ago. Heather writes in her books that IBS can be brought on by physical trauma, and duh...what could be more traumatizing to my body than SEVEN abdominal surgeries?!
Once again, Heather helped me to figure it out when the doctor couldn't!
Barb
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I'm not quite 40, I'm 35. I was recently diagnosed with IBS-D. I had an abnormally large amount of stress in my life last summer, which in turn led to a nervous break down in the fall. That is when my problem started. After months and months of testing, several doctors, and ruling out all other possibilities, including ovarian cancer which runs in my family, this was the diagnosis I was given. I have found in the last couple of months since being diagnosed that stress is my biggest trigger. I have a high stress job, single mom with 4 teens, it's not something I can avoid. But I have found over the years that walking really reduces my stress level. I think, at least for me, my body finally said it couldn't take any more. I've always had a high level of stress in my life and never thought twice about. My body is now rebelling. 
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Mine hit like a ton of bricks the night of Thanksgiving 2002. After a battery of tests (all the important ones) and 4 different doc, 2 of which were gastros I was diagnosed early April 2003. I have a number of things that could have triggered it, stress being just one (although I've always handled stress well) and like you, multiple abdominal surgeries. So, instead of trying to find out the exact trigger I just focus on, "well, I have, it's not curable but it is controllable, so DEAL with it". With every set back in life there is a gift, if you just look for it. I was given a number of gifts throughout this ordeal. Some were: to eat better, weight loss (a positive thing for me especially in the self esteem department), beef up the exercise routine by adding yoga to the aerobics I was already doing, rest more, and well, just generally stop and smell the roses more often.
Kandee
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Wow! What a great attitude! You're an inspiration!
I, too, have looked for the reasons that I went through 7 surgeries, and now IBS, and tried to find the positives behind all the yucky stuff. I agree with you, IBS has forced me to eat right (not because I know I should, but because if I don't I'll get sick), exercise (I enrolled in Boot Camp every M-F at 5:30 AM!), and lose and keep my weight off.
We can all learn from you, though, by looking for the gifts in our lives.
Barb
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Thank you
#11632 - 06/13/03 03:39 PM
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Kandee
Reged: 05/22/03
Posts: 3206
Loc: USA, Southern California
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Aren't you nice. Thanks for the compliment.
Every New Years Day I make the same resolution. (It sure beats the weight loss one or the I'm going to stop this vise or that.) It is to "be more positive" period.
It's amazing what negativity goes through our heads, then spits out of our mouths daily. Never got the "positivity" just right--(who does?)--it takes A LOT of work, so guess it will be my standing resolution!!!
Kandee
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Hi,
Wow! Someone else that seemed to have gotten IBS after going through UTI and multiple prescriptions to treat it! I don't know of there's a direct link, but let me know what prescriptions you had and I'll look into it. I also went through all that shortly before I was diagnosed with all this, but I do suspect I had the IBS condition all my life, but never really had it bad until this last year. I tend to think it's more stress related and I was under a lot of stress this last year so for now I'm looking at that at the main cause.
Please email me what you took for antibiotics- it might turn out to be another possibility.
Thanks,
Marlies
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You might check the research library under general IBS - there are articles in there about possible triggers for the onset of developing IBS. "Insults to the gut" are one, and antibiotics as well as severe stress can both qualify.
- H
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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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