Discouraged
#33836 - 12/27/03 08:18 AM
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sugar
Reged: 02/08/03
Posts: 223
Loc: Calistoga, CA
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I'm really discouraged. I've have IBS-D. I've tried everything and I'm getting worse. The acacia is giving
me stomach cramps about 20 to 30 minutes after I drink
it. The pepperment,fennel,ginger tea is upsetting my
acid reflux. I cut back on all the bad stuff. I found
out I can't have soy so I'm avoiding that. I went away
for Christmas and everytime I ate I got stomach cramps
and had to go have a baby (well, I swear thats what it
feels like). I'm at the point where I don't want to
eat anything at all. I'm fine until I eat. I've got
tickets to a concert in a couple weeks and a play in
February and I don't think I'm going to be able to
go which will cost me a fortune in unused tickets and motels. I'm at the end of my rope. I don't know what
to do next. If I'm home I can eat and then know that
I'll be sick shortly after, but I can't leave the house
or go anywhere if I eat. I've got the books, the acacia,
etc. and nothing is helping. What am I doing wrong? Should
I eat more? If I eat more then I'll be sick more won't I?
Very unhappy 
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A Safe Place
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Okay...
Stick with the acacia, but maybe lower your doage until you've got used to it. It takes a while for your body to use it properly without flipping out, I think.
I'd stop the ginger, fennel and peppermint tea. I've just done another post saying this, but I can't handle ginger OR peppermint with my reflux. Drink Chamomile instead. If you can stand the taste, use Fennel, or mix it to get a better taste.
Are you on an Anit-Spasmodic? It sounds like you need one! I have Spasmonal (Alverine Citrate) and when I was first diagnosed I took this 3 times a day, but now I don't need this much. Ask your doctor. It could help you stabilise.
In the meantime, eat TINY meals of IBS safe foods. I get cramps and bloating whenever I eat too much. Ideally, have no more at one time than you can fit into yuor cupped hand.
Have you been checked for a wheat intolerance? If not, then this could be why the diet isn't working for you. The easiest test is to cut it out, but this can be hard. You have to cut it out for a month ideally to clean your system. See what happens when you don't eat it and then when you reintroduce it.
Don't cancel your trips. You need some fun in your day. On the day of the concert/play, take an Immodium tablet and this should stop you needing to rush for the loo. Take some herbal tea with you and have some beforehand. In the interval, ask the staff for a cup of hot water to make your own. Also, take some IBS safe snacks with you so you can keep your tummy slightly full.
Hope this helps. Keep us updated!
Linz
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Re: Discouraged
#33841 - 12/27/03 08:37 AM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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Hi Sugar,
Don't get discouraged. Well, that's easy for me to say, isn't it? All the help Linz has given you is good stuff. Except for the "loo" thing -- I think she means "toilet."
Are you sure you're doing everything right? Are you drinking coffee? You're in wine country -- are you partaking, perhaps? I just recently discovered I can't cheat, even a little bit, or I'd pay the price. I'm also a "D" like you, and when I cheat I end up living in the bathroom. (Okay, Linz -- "washroom"!)
What worked for me was cutting out all insoluble fibers -- for AWHILE. I ate nothing but insoluble fiber. It worked wonders for me. I'm now adding back the insoluble stuff very slowly and by cooking it to death first.
See if Linz's suggestions and this don't help -- and keep us posted. Good luck,
Bev.
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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I agree with Linz-i take Librax because I have primarily D during an attack-it helps slow things down. Plus, try only really safe foods-I like chamomile tea because it doesn't bother my acid reflux. Don't give up!!!! maryh
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Whatever doesn't kill me will make me stronger!
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Good advice from everyone here. Chamomile may be the answser for tea. I'm puzzled that you are cramping after the acacia. Maybe Heather can give you an answer there.
You said you've cut back on the bad stuff - you need to eliminate it. It sounds like you need to give your stomach a break. Stick to soluble fiber foods (the What to Eat When You Can't EAt Anything part of this website) for a day or two. Bowls of rice, tea, lots of water, etc. Then slowly incorporate some insoluble fiber. I suggest starting with cooked (to death) things like sweet potatoes, squash, carrots, etc. that can be well mashed as well. Make sure you keep up with lots of soluble fiber for a while. Stay away from the triggers like the plague.
Finally, I'm wondering if a trip to the Doc isn't in order to make sure there's nothing else wrong. The cramping EVERY time you eat - ? Is that even with a small bowl of rice or with a full meal?
For the concert, we'll give you suggestions on what to eat so you can go, but let's first see if you can get stabilized. If you're working - take a couple days off.
Take care.
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Formerly HanSolo. IBS, OCD, Bipolar, PTSD times 3.
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Thanks for the help!
I'm drinking lots of tea. Chamomile, ginger, occasionally peppermint with ginger and fennel.
When I said "cut back on the bad stuff", what I meant is I don't eat any insoluble fiber.
I'm eating rice, potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams, carrotts, plain pasta, sourdough
bread, fat free saltine crackers, lots of water. Since I found out the nonfat butter
had soy oil in it I stopped using that and I'm using a low fat butter in VERY small
amounts.
Cramping every time I eat is correct and also after I drink acacia. Today I took my prilosec
for Acid Reflux and then I ate one plain piece of toasted sourdough. Then when I
took my acacia I drank it slower than usual in three gulps instead of all at once
and then I ate immediatly and then I sat in my chair and didn't move a muscle,
then I fell asleep and I haven't had any cramps. I don't work but obviously I
can't become a chair monkey. I really want to walk and exercise but this has
stopped me in my tracks. I've already been through the just safe foods and
now expanded to this but this isn't living. I can't trust anyfood. Soon as I
eat I get slammed. I can handle it if I'm at home but I don't want to always
be at home, and the pain wears me out.
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I'm taking klonopin and prozac for Panic Dissorder
so I don't think I can add librax to that. I used
to take librax many years ago and it did help. I
don't want to mess with the meds I'm on now as they
really keep the panic attacks away. If it's not
one thing its another. 
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A Safe Place
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I recently went to see a play in the city and it was a very nerve racking experience but so worth it because it's something I love to do. It was hard not to be panicky about my stomach but I was fine. I just kept telling myself that if I really really needed to I could leave. I ate very light before the play and snuck in some f-free crackers and bought a water. Then when I was in a safe place (close to the bathroom) I ate a regular meal and I was fine. I'm so glad I didn't let my worry about my stomach make me miss out on seeing a great play. (It was Thoroughly Modern Millie).
I hope you start to feel better soon and maybe a trip to the doctor just to have him check things out would be good to make sure nothing else is wrong. I have gone through long periods of time of not feeling well and it seems like it will never end but it does eventually. Hang in there!
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Thank you Debbie for your encouragement!
Happy New Years From Val
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try breaking the cycle very strictly for several days, and stick to chamomile or fennel tea to avoid upsetting your reflux. Unfortunately, peppermint is the best for cramps, but it's not an option for you because of the reflux. You could try brewing oregano - it's an antispasmodic and shouldn't trigger your reflux.
The acacia should NOT cause cramps - the only exception I can think of here is if you're at the point where literally anything entering your stomach is triggering your gastrocolic reflex to spiral out of control. Folks with IBS are very prone to this, and if your gut is in a constant cycle of attacks at this point, even drinking plain water could cause cramps. I'd try a low dose (1/2 teaspoon) of the acacia several times a day, plus the breaking the cycle diet. You want to calm your gut down, get it filled with soluble fiber, and get those gut muscle contractions back to normal. Add in the herbal teas to help with this. If you have to be perfectly still after you eat for the next few days, that's okay. Try to get out and walk a bit in between meals and snacks.
The good news is that once you break this cycle, your gut should calm down a lot and you'll be able to eat safe foods without triggering those cramps.
Please let me know how things go...
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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