Help!
#207526 - 08/22/05 02:41 PM
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Roland
Reged: 08/22/05
Posts: 13
Loc: Norman, Oklahoma
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I'm a male 24 years of age. I go to a major university and have been haveing trouble with IBS for about 2 years now.I visited my doctor and he ruled out other possible problems.
My current probelm is this,
When I'm in class I usually get gas and most of the time I can not let it out and it finally forces its way out in the gut of my stomach making very weird noises, that is extremely loud and embarassing.
I have been on the eating for IBS diet for over 2 months and follow it strictly, and it has not helped me very much. The only thing I might be doing wrong is I only drink between60-80oz. of water a day. If I drink too much water then my stomach growls in class, so I'm not sure if drinking the 120oz. of water a day that is recommended will really help me.
I have oatmeal for breakfast. Italian bread and or Tostitos for lunch. For dinner I have rice with stir-fry veggies, or boneless skinless chicken breast inside flour tortias.
I'm too the point where I hate going to class, and this probelm bothers me every day and is now controlling my life. I work out three times a week to reduce stress, and the only real stress I have is worrying about the noises my body will make when I go to class.
I'm looking for any suggestions on a way to maybe help reduce my symptoms or sugg estions on anything. Thank you 
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Re: Help!
#207533 - 08/22/05 03:22 PM
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HeidnOut
Reged: 02/15/05
Posts: 148
Loc: CA, USA
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One great way to rid yourself of the gas part of your problem is Simethicone found in Gas-Ex or Phazyme. It's a tremendous help. If you take Beano with it before a meal it can make a huge difference. At least it did for me.
Good luck!
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Do you mean loud intestinal noises WITHOUT actually passing gas? This has happened to me too--once during a final exam! (In fact, it just happened yesterday at a friend's house as well.) This happens when I go too long without eating.
From what you posted, it doesn't sound like you're eating enough. Also, you should be eating every couple of hours. If you're still on the BTC diet, try having a piece of toast or some Crispix and some tea before class. The contractions of my intestines seem to be a lot louder when they're empty.
HTH! 
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I used to have really loud stomach noises in class as well, and it sucks! What I used to do was suck on Peppermint candies-altoids for example. I found that this used to help...
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I noticed that you mention that you eat oatmeal in the morning. I ate oatmeal every-morning since starting this diet and noticed that I have lots of gas early in the day. Just last week I switched to having safe cereal and rice milk for breakfast and it did help with the gas. I love oatmeal and I still eat it, just not in the mornings.
I am really sorry you are having such a hard time. I also take Acacia in applesauce first thing in the morning and at bedtime. This past weekend I started taking over the counter Zantac (generic brands) and that also seems to help with the gas. Hope things get better for you because I know how this thing can make your daily life at the least a challenge at the worst pure hell. Good luck...
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Franny
IBS/D
Celiac
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Re: Help!
#207564 - 08/22/05 05:07 PM
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dmdentre
Reged: 06/09/04
Posts: 47
Loc: New England
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Hi - I am so sorry that you are having this experience. I have the same problem in my classes. I actually find that the altoids do work to ease some of the pain. In addition I find that if I drink too much water, especially in the morning, my stomach will make really great noises...this is great in class when the prof is talking about digestive disorders...it is like I was suppose to be there Also - if holding the gas in during class makes it worse, you should just excuse yourself...if possible. That will prevent it from getting worse. FInally, sometimes we think other people can hear us, but really they can't! Maybe that is the case. Good luck in your classes and with your stomach!
Danielle
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Every 2-3 hours ideally. Take crackers, pretzels, rolls, something like that into classes and nibble. If a lecturer objects, have a word with them after class and let them know that you're only doing it to keep your IBS under control so you can concentrate on their class! And I'd also recommend carrying a flask of fennel tea around with you and sipping on that throughout the day.
And I also agree that if you really need to pass gas, just excuse yourself and go to the toilets - it'll get worse if you hold it in! 
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Re: Help!
#207766 - 08/23/05 10:13 AM
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Johnny T. Reb
Reged: 07/09/05
Posts: 987
Loc: Lake Linden, Mich in the U.P. IBS-C
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Hi Roland, Welcome to the boards. Are you eating snacks between meals, because you didn't mention it? If not, start.
Stomach growls generally occur when your stomach is empty.
The snacks will help prevent that. Also, if you don't have
any bowel problems, you probably don't have IBS. It's probably
some sort of stomach disorder. -Bob
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<img src="http://www.math.mtu.edu/~rwkolkka/BritPicA.jpg">
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Re: Help!
#207828 - 08/23/05 12:56 PM
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Kree
Reged: 10/08/03
Posts: 3748
Loc: Northern NY
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I agree that the oatmeal could be causing some of your gas. Oatmeal is a whole grain and is not tolerated very well by some people. It bothers me sometimes when I eat it first thing in the morning.
Also, you said you're eating Tostitos. Did you know they're fried?? They make a baked variety, but if you're eating the regular ones that may also cause you problems.
Good luck!
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"Anyone can exercise, but this kind of lethargy takes real discipline." -Garfield
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Re: Help!
#207941 - 08/23/05 05:54 PM
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Roland
Reged: 08/22/05
Posts: 13
Loc: Norman, Oklahoma
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Thank you for all the great advice.
I have tried some of those ideas to no success 
However I do eat the regular Tostitos, I was under the impression they were baked, so I'll look for the baked kind.
This has been an ongoing probelm for me for over 2 years. It is intestinal gas that is really bothering me. It seems like I have gas pressure all the time in my lower stomach. I get a little releif for awhile after I go number 2 but it does not last long.
Thanks again for the help it is very nice of you all
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Did you feel any difference in your gas without the oatmeal? As Kree said, some people can only tolerate the instant or not at all.
I'm experimenting with this food myslef. I'm not sure if it is helping or hurting me, though. 
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...if you can't eat oatmeal? I'm looking for a different "safe" breakfast for IBS-C. Can you offer any suggestions?
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I think oatmeal was the culprit for my last attack. How strange!
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Have a blessed day!...Rachel
stable and sooooooo thankful!
I have IBS but it doesn't have me!
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Cyndy
#208030 - 08/24/05 07:33 AM
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Kree
Reged: 10/08/03
Posts: 3748
Loc: Northern NY
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Cyndy, I usually just eat toast or a homemade muffin... nothing too spectacular. My stomach doesn't tolerate too much food early in the morning well, so I don't eat a large amount. I do sometimes make my muffins with some WW flour, so I get some whole grains that way instead of the oatmeal. For some reason I tolerate that better.
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"Anyone can exercise, but this kind of lethargy takes real discipline." -Garfield
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Do you just eat white bread toast? Or do you do WW toast as well? I know your a C, right? So, was wondering if the WW toast is okay with you?
Are your muffin recipes listed on the website, by any chance? I'll have to do a search fot them!
Thank you. I want to try stopping the oatmeal to see if I feel better.
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I usually just eat white toast, although a couple of local bakeries do make wheat breads that have some white and some WW flour, so I like to get those sometimes.
Yep, my muffins are on the recipe index! It might be easier just to look here, though, since they're all together. I also posted an awesome recipe for Fresh Strawberry Muffins recently that I haven't had a chance to add to that page yet. They're made with some WW flour and are soooo good.
I hope that helps!
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"Anyone can exercise, but this kind of lethargy takes real discipline." -Garfield
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hey there newbie
i first got IBS/C when i was in highschool and during my senior year i had gas problems just like you--during my classes too!! i remember having this studyhall right after lunch [and keep in mind this was WAAAAAY before i knew about heathers site and her diet--im 20 now and have been dealing/suffering for 4 years] and it was always SO quiet! it was always my luck that i would develop the kind of gas that shouldnt be held in convenientally at the time when i couldnt let it out IE: during the quiet studyhall where everyone would hear it. [sorry if that destroys your image of girls and bathroom stuff!--i know its a big joke that girls dont ever have problems like that when guys usually joke about it] but seriously if you hold it in, it makes a kind-of barrier that usually causes worse constipation, if you already had it to begin with. the oatmeal sounds good--do you have it every morning?? maybe edit your dinner veggies..i know broccoli and others of that group cause gas--and sometimes sauces too. i think maybe the reason youre having so much gas is b/c youre worrying about it too much but i know what its like to worry about that. i hate it too. i used to take laxatives just to get out of going to school. try to just deal with one gas-attack at a time. if its easy for you, duck into a bathroom or an empty hallway whenever you feel the urge coming on. really its much better to let it out, despite what the cool kids might think you could just explain that its all apart of a natural human function??? also you might like to try some tea in the morning. peppermint is really good. mint magic by celestial seasonings is really good too. so whichever you try, good luck! the boards are here for you to vent your IBS frustrations. take care!
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VEGAN ASHLEY~IBS/C
www.myspace.com/dutchflowers
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thanks so much. You're website is fantastic!!
I have a bakery near me that mixes some white and WW flour in some of their loaves too, so maybe I will try some since I am IBS-C and could always use some additional fiber.
When you eat white toast, doesn't that leave you more constipated and low on the fiber and IF? When you eat the mixed flour bread, can you also eat that for breakfast toast without any additional SF food beforehand?
Thanks again! I really am excited about testing out my oatmeal to see if it may be a problem...but when you get in a food rut, it's hard to see alternatives.
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Yes, I eat the mixed bread toast without any SF beforehand. There must be enough SF in it that it doesn't bother me. As for the white bread leaving me more C, who knows. I'm usually C no matter what! 
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"Anyone can exercise, but this kind of lethargy takes real discipline." -Garfield
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Me too, C no matter what! Thanks again Kree. I don't know which recipe to make first! I'll have to work my way through them all!
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--------------------
"Anyone can exercise, but this kind of lethargy takes real discipline." -Garfield
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oatmeal muffins on the site. Do you find the muffins easier to tolerate than the cooked bowl of oatmeal? Or don't you eat them very often or first thing in the morning?
Does oatmeal bother you even later in the day?
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Hiya,
I think everyone else has given you really good ideas, I also thought right away that you need to be eating more so taking snacks and stuff would be a first move for me.
Anyway, my one other suggestion is about exercise. Are you very active? I know that some other people with similar symptoms have been able to go for a run or something in the morning, and get everything moving and get a lot of that gas out before they have to do anything.
Just a thought!
Good luck!
--Steph
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~~I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell-I know right now you can't tell~~Matchbox 20
IBS-D,pain.
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The oatmeal in the muffins doesn't bother me at all, strangely enough. I have no clue why! Maybe because of all the other SF from the flour.
And yes, I actually do tolerate a bowl of oatmeal better later in the day, although it's still not my safest food.
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"Anyone can exercise, but this kind of lethargy takes real discipline." -Garfield
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