New IBS Member
#227877 - 11/28/05 11:59 PM
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After more than a year, I was recently diagnosed with IBS in between C-D, mostly D and was hoping to find some answers on this site. Especially this past holiday, I learned that I can not eat just anything. I have so much info on this site to read. I'm new to this, so I apologize if any questions seem redundant or just make no sense. For now, I would appreciate any answers for the following questions:
What type of tea or drink can one have that will soothe the stomach or help regulate BMs or not make them so harsh? And when it best time to have it?
How about vitamins? I take a multi w/iron, saw palmetto and echinecea (boost immune). They are all gel tabs and make digestion easier.
What type of fruits or veggies can one eat?
What OTC meds are there? I presently have prescription Lomotil, but it causes constipation for couple of days.
How does one cope with the urgency feeling of needing a bathroom nearby or the fear of leaving home? It really gets to me sometimes. I'm at that point, where I can't even take my wife out on the town, because I feel uncomfortable. I'm thinking of giving her a divorce, so she can be happy.
For the past 2 days, I have eaten only twice a day, mostly white bread and slices of roasted turkey. Somehow as long as I'm not full, my stomach will not bother me as much.
Also keep in mine, my gall bladder and appendix were removed a few years back. So I'm sure that is a disadvantage on my digestive system.
Any advice is appreciated.
Mad As Hell
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My best advice is that you buy "IBS: The First Year" - it's a fantastic, helpful book. In the meantime, read the diet guidelines on this website.
A soluble fibre supplement will help with the urgency. As you're A I highly recommend Acacia (buy it from thi site) - it seems to work best on A's!  I love it and it's helped me sooo much.
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It was only this last May that I felt exactly as you are saying you do. I felt so hopeless. Then I found this website and within days the pain was GONE. Within a couple weeks the urgency had calmed down. Please take Linz's advice and order the book/books but while your waiting read EVERYTHING on this website to get you started. It works, it works, it works. Did I mention that IT WORKS!
To try to answer some of your questions:
What type of tea or drink can one have that will soothe the stomach or help regulate BMs or not make them so harsh? And when it best time to have it?...I drink peppermint tea sometimes I add fennel seeds (in the spice section) or just fennel tea to help with the tummy stuff.
How about vitamins? I take a multi w/iro
n, saw palmetto and echinecea (boost immune). They are all gel tabs and make digestion easier....I use a One A Day type vitamin..
What type of fruits or veggies can one eat?...Do read Heather's cheat sheet for a good list of safe foods. There are plenty to choose from.
What OTC meds are there? I presently have prescription Lomotil, but it causes constipation for couple of days....I take Hyoscamine (Levbid generic)twice a day and 1 1/2 Immodium every morning. At the top of my list everyday is ACACIA...I've worked up to 1TBL a.m. and 1TBL p.m.
Good luck and keep taking in all the info you can until you find what works for you. 
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Franny
IBS/D
Celiac
Edited by franny (11/29/05 09:14 PM)
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I'm IBS-D, and I've been the most stable when I used the IBS self-hypnosis tapes (order on this site). I don't have frequent movements daily anymore, although I'm still trying to get more formed stools.
Peppermint tea is very soothing to the tummy and highly recommended (as long as you don't have GERD).
Levsin is an antispasmodic that helps if Immodium doesn't.
Many folks take Immodium as a preventative daily.
Bannanas, applesauce, potatoes, cooked or pureed veges are good.
Don't divorce your wife. You'll get a handle on it if you try some of these suggestions and find what works for you. Good luck!
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WELCOME, MAH!
#228144 - 11/29/05 10:29 PM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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Hi!
I'm a "D" and have been to Hell and back -- but I'm stable now and doin' real well.
I'm 61 and also have diverticulosis. I've had 2 diverticulitis attacks so far but none in the past 3 years. Yaay.
MAH, you'll learn a LOT in these Boards. I learned absolutely everything from here, while I learned nothing whatsoever from my doctors. If it wasn't for these Boards, I'd be a mess. Well, I WAS a mess!
Okay, lets get to your questions:
What type of tea to soothe the stomach? Well, when I have an attack, hubby always brings me Tummy Mint tea with honey up to my bed. However, lately I've really gotten fond of Stash's Lemon Ginger tea. Ginger is very good for the tummy.
Vitamins? Watch out. I used to take 1,000 mg. Calcium with D every day for 20 years, but now I can tolerate only 600 mg. If your multi-vitamins don't bother you, then you're good to go.
What type of fruits or veggies? Well, I can NOW tolerate almost any except broccoli and cabbage. Yes, I can even have a green salad, maybe even two helpings! But before I got stable, I wouldn't go near the stuff and opted instead for home made vegetable soup. The veggies are cooked to death, so they're easier to digest.
Fruit can be a problem, but smoothies are a good solution because the fruit is pulverized, so again, they're easier to digest.
If you are EXTREMELY sensitive to fruit and veggies, you might consider (don't cringe) baby food. Lots of us here find that it's real easy on the tummy and a good way to get our fruit and veggies. Remember, it's only until you get stable.
What OTC meds are there? My stand-by is Equalactin. If you do a search in this Board, you'll find a million posts about the stuff. It's a Godsend! If you're feeling anxious or your tummy feels like it's starting to cramp up on you, just chew one down, and in seconds the rumbling goes away. The box says it's for "C"s, but it works just as well for us "D"s, trust me. Now, for a full-fledged attack, the only answer for me is prescription Donnatal. It works EVERY time.
Lomotil is good, but if it causes constipation for couple of days, then you might consider Imodium, which is OTC.
How does one cope with the urgency feeling of needing a bathroom nearby or the fear of leaving home? It's a problem initially for all of us "D" folks. You might consider the hypnosis which a lot of us have gone through. I have, and it totally "cured" me of all my anxiety. Truly, it was what got me to the point where I actually was able to finally leave the confines of my home. Even today, when I sit in that same recliner where I listened to all those CDs of Michael's, I always fall asleep.
The CDs cost $100, and they're well worth it. I HIGHLY recommend them. Go to the Hypnosis Board and check out the posts there.
I hope you're kidding about the divorce, because, believe me, you will get better. It's gonna take work, but it can happen -- I'm proof of that. I do know how you feel, though, because I've often felt that I hold my hubby back, but he's a wonderful man who loves me -- IBS and all! I try to make up for it when I'm stable. We both go kayaking, which he loves to do, but only with me, so I make sure I'm ready in the mornings and don't have to scout out bathrooms before we get on the water. It was difficult at first, but not so much any more.
You made a very wise discovery when you said, "Somehow as long as I'm not full, my stomach will not bother me as much." My biggest triggers are from a full tummy. I NEVER eat to fullness, 'cause then I'm just asking for it. I think that's true with most of us. But you should eat more often than only twice a day, little tiny meals, every 2 hours or so. A rice cake is a meal, and can really be a Godsend for traveling or at the office. Bagels or Luna Bars work well too. Just every 2-3 hours. No big meals!
I also had my appendix removed, but I know nothing about gall bladders. I think, however, that because we eat so little fat, this program should work well for you in that department.
Welcome to Heather's awesome support Boards. You've come to the right place. You'll get LOTS of support and help here. However, don't forget to get Heather's books; they're our bible, you need them!
Bev
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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