2 days & wondering..
#317331 - 10/24/07 06:36 PM
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Hi all of you wonderful, positive, beautiful people! I'm trying not to get too excited, because of my past experience of disappointment over the last 10 years after trying new things to help myself without success. But it's difficult not to after spending time on this site. I'm thinking & praying that I finally came home!
Question:
Can someone tell me what to expect as far as how long it will take for me to feel better? I'm on end of day 2 and still in trouble. I've been eating only solubles specifically: oatmeal, bananas, rice/corn cereal, fresh white roll, potatoes, & chicken breasts and drinking chamomile & mint (wisotzky) tea & room temp. water.
Am I eating too much variety for a starter or do I need to be more patient?
Thank you for taking the time to answer.
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Hi Sarah and welcome aboard! Unfortunately, seeing better results is not something that you're going to see from one day to the next (man do I wish that were the case!) Instead, patience is seriously a virtue.
I'm sure you've read through the boards and know what the guidelines for eating are. If I were you, I would invest in Heather's Eating for IBS and the First Year of IBS. Speaking of which, have you had the necessary tests to rule out anything else and KNOW that IBS is what you have?
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Wendy IBS A thru Z 
Taking it one day at a time...
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Thank you Wendy for replying.
I'm familiarizing myself with the eating guidelines and I'm waiting (patiently) for my First Year of IBS book & cookbook & teas & the soluble fiber supplement to arrive.
I'm still being tested by my doctor, but after reviewing all the tests I've had over the last 10 years he is pretty convinced I have IBS. He will be doing hopefully (if my insurance covers it)a very newly advanced test (pill that one swallows that takes picture of entire intestines down to the bottom.) & probably a colonoscopy just to rule outanything that others might have missed. So based on his assessment I figure it won't hurt to start treating myself as an IBSer. 
So are you saying that sticking to only solubles at first will not necessariily make me feel miraculously better?
Sarah
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Hi Sara,
It's nice to have another very polite lady on the site. Welcome back. You won't feel better in 2 days. If I have a pretty big attack or ate something like dairy or alcohol, it might take me 2 weeks to get better. Be very patient and it will get better. By the way, are you IBS+D or C? You can make up a signature that states your problem so it will be easier for people to help you with your problem.
Get better.
Tatyana.
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IBS-C since 2006. No signs of IBS now, it's been 4 yrs. Only dairy allergy now.
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Welcome Sarah!
I didn't see this in your post but are you a C or a D? I think D people generally have success sooner with this diet. It's easier to stop a diarrhea then get things moving faster. Your diet seems fine, it's all SF so I don't think you're eating too many different foods. This diet should only last a few days (maybe another day or two) until you feel better - less pain and cramps (or ideally no pain and cramps), improvement in D. But if you suffer from constipation it's is essential that you start adding IF (slowly and carefully) so that you can have a BM.
Good luck!
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IBS-C, bloating, cramps
pregnant 
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Tatyana,
Thank you for your kind words. I am IBS-D. I am having trouble sitting at work these days (I barely go anywhere else other than work)and I'm on the verge of giving up my job. I'm a single mom and really CANNOT do that. So I was crying and praying to God that this will fix me up NOW. Do you think once I start taking the fiber supplement things will start improving quicker?
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Hi Zarah. Thanks for responding. I am more of a D than a C and I don't really have pain these days (since going off dairy, about half year ago because of food allergy test I took showing I'm allergic to Casein). I am just a relentless-non stop "goer" and I'm barely living. I can barely function anymore and fear I will do something stupid like quit my job (single mom here). I also have a skin condition (little very itchy pimples)which started 3 years ago and no dermotologist was able to diagnose it. Im wondering if this has some connection to IBS and if this'll go away as my IBS gets better. Do you have any knowledge of this?
Thank you much. 
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Hi Sarah, sorry, I don't know anything about the rash. It could be a reaction to food though. Have you been tested for gluten intolerance? I know some people with celiac disease have rash as one of their symptoms.
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IBS-C, bloating, cramps
pregnant
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I don't know if you'll see improvements right away--and by right away I mean a day or two--because we're all different as far as our reactions and time it takes to see results. For me what really started the path to a good thing was the Acacia powder. I'm IBS-C but sometimes get D if I screw up and eat something I shouldn't have, or if my anxiety gets the better of me. Also, the fact that I now know what to avoid, how to react to certain symptoms, etc., have been a big help. I don't know where I would've been if it weren't for this site and the great people on it.
So with no further ado, eat well, be patient, and I'm sure you'll start seeing results for the better. And don't worry about how much info a question may have--we're all in the same boat!
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Wendy IBS A thru Z
Taking it one day at a time...
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You sound like me for about six months before I got on the Heather diet and fiber. I have honestly not had but two "attacks" of D since I started although I have had trouble with gas and bloating that are related to specific foods that I am still determining by trial and error. I think the fiber is an absolute must. Even my Gastro guy said the fiber is necessary although he recommended Metamucil which gave me incredible gas. Try Heather's fiber. It is gentle and wonderful. Start with 1/2 tsp twice a day (I put mine in tea) and build up. I am very D and now use 1 and 1/2 tsp. twice a day. I stick with soluble fiber and when I go for insoluble I make sure it is pureed or cooked to mush. I absolutely do not eat raw--even bananas. Good luck to you and stick with it. I am self employed and have long meetings with clients as well as long days in court and I was beginning to think I would have to retire. Now I am much more comfortable. I ditto the advice to get checked out for other illnesses. It is a must to make sure it is IBS.
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IBS-D, Gas & Bloating
Barbara50
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Wendy, thank you sooo much & I'll be patient (but can't help the constant crying...can't stop crying) Interestingly, I'm starting to feel new kinds of pains (related to bloating) and feeling more bloated-day 3-I'm wondering if all the potatoes and solubles are causing this, but again, I'll give it a chance. I'm hopeful about the Acacia powder and look for it every day after work.:)
Sarah T.
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Zara,
You are right and that's why I was convinced I had celiac, but I just had an upper endoscopy/biopsy this past friday and doc says it looks good-NO Celiac. I almost had myself committed when I heard the news, because i was so hopeful that I finally have a diagnosis for my itching and useless stomach.  And when doc told me I probably have IBS I thought my life is over, but then my wonderful friend sent me the link to this site and although I'm still depressed and cant stop cring, I know I'm going to heal and Im hopeful I'll get better. Maybe when my stomach stops contracting incessantly my skin will heal with it. I'm hoping.
thanks again
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Wow, Barbara, so you think I won't have to quit my job! I'll try to remember your encouraging words & I'll repeat them when I get home and crumble and start crying again.
My long distant bf is telling me to try starting one soluble at a time for a few days and keep adding more to find out which is good and which isn't. Any opinion on this?
Also, do you know if milled corn is same as corn meal? And do you use Almond milk? I can't stand soy milk, but love almond milk and Heather's warning about nuts scared me. What do you think? Should I stay away from either until I stabilize?
Sorry for bombarding you with my questions.
thank you.
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Oh, I understand, I cried when my doctor told me I didn't have celiacs. I was just so excited about the possibility of getting back to normal . Oh well. Don't cry, if you're depressed your IBS will only get worse. We have to be strong although it's very hard, especially at the beginning, when we have more bad days than good days and it seems that everyone around us can eat whatever they want . Hang in there, xxx!
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IBS-C, bloating, cramps
pregnant
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Zara,
You can't imagine how good it feels not to be alone anymore. I started doing my yoga/palates routine last night after months of neglecting it & I hope this will pick up my mood. Thank you for cheering me on.
Today-Day 3 is a better day than yesterday. I'm counting my blessings!
xoxoxox backatcha.
G-d Bless
Sarah
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Oh man I was crying all over the place. Especially when I would get to work because I would worry about how I was going to make it through the day and then worry how I was going to get home. Those days are still present and what was once an all day, everyday thing is now about 2 hours worth of worry about 2x a week. But the tears don't come. Thank goodness! My coworkers have seen me cry. Me! The tough girl with tattoos. Oy! Anyway, in August I wound up taking 3 weeks off to acclimate myself to the new diet etc., and I kept tabs with my coworkers (I love them). This is an excerpt that my boss had emailed me during that time and I hope it can inspire some others on here as well:
Hey it's great to hear from you! I've been thinking about you and wondering how you were doing. It sounds like you're making progress both physically and psychologically. As you point out, half the battle is dealing with this illness and I know that if anyone can do it, you can. You're a strong person, Wendy. During this past year you put all of your strength and energy into maintaining a happy front and making sure no one saw what was really going on with you. Now you can take that energy and redirect it into a positive, life-changing, force. Keep it going, girl.
I'm not one to be pitied and so I still smile and put up a happy front when I'm having crampy/bloated days or nausea. Like I said, I'm better than where I was back in August and I truly believe that this too shall pass.
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Wendy IBS A thru Z
Taking it one day at a time...
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Amazing. Listening to you is like hearing me tell my story. You did the right thing, taking time off and you must be very special to have gotten such consideration and support from you boss. Crying makes us feel weak, but we know now that it's not. Sometimes things are so difficult....we can't help but cry & get in touch with our inner sadness in order to overcome it.
I'm considering doing the same, taking time off, however I wanted to travel overseas shortly and am trying not to use too much time. Maybe I'll reconsider. I'll see how the weekend goes.
xoxox
Sarah
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Good luck with your travel. I still have to build up the cohones to travel but as soon as I do, I'm sooo going to take a vacation.
I'm very lucky to have the workers and bosses that I have. They've known me since I was 17 (I'm 33 now) and I've always been the party girl, setting up outings to go here and there, but now they know that I've got to build up again and it may take a while. I had sent them a tin full of Mrs. Field's cookies on my last week out with an included note, "To the most understanding and listening bunch of coworkers a girl can work with! I can no longer eat these but I'll eat vicariously through you guys so indulge!"
So again good luck and know that one day you're going to look back at this time and know that if you can beat this, everything else is a piece of cake!
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Wendy IBS A thru Z
Taking it one day at a time...
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Truly inspiring. Today-day 4-I'm feeling happier and I have to say being part of this family is really helping me. I actually initiated a (not work related) conversation with a co-worker, something I have not done in a very, very long time. And experienced a lot less anxiety.Today is giving me hope. You give me hope. Thank you. Thank you.
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Damn it all to hell this forum is becoming such a lovefest that I feel like initiating a Cumbaya! I love it! Everyone here inspires me! Sometimes when I'm having an off day while I'm at work, I'll log in to here and it makes me feel better.
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Wendy IBS A thru Z
Taking it one day at a time...
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BWendee, I'm addicted. If it feels good, it IS good.
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