Hello! New and curious
#40580 - 01/25/04 08:00 AM
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JosephC
Reged: 01/25/04
Posts: 125
Loc: Kansas City
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Hello,
First, I want to say thank you for making a decent message board for people like me who are new to IBS suffering and not a little depressed to the lack of help out there. But I have read over some of the stuff on here, and I am feeling a little more upbeat.
I'm 26, and I was diagonsed with IBS a little over a year ago. I was having some cramps in my side that the doc thought might be diverticulitus or something else. Since my insurance wouldnt cover a colonoscopy, I got a flexible sigmoidoscopy and they found nothing. So the GI doc said it was likely IBS-eat more fiber and lose some weight. I didnt really have any symptoms until last summer, when I started having bad b.m.s-the burning and cramping and all of it were not fun. I also got hemorroids off and on. And while its been on and off, for the past month or so, I've had at least a minor cramp in my stomach and usually some kind of discomfort in the bathroom. I've actually used to handtowel as a chew toy a few times from the pain. I hate it and I had no idea what to do to fix it.
So when I came across here, I was overjoyed. There are ways to stop this, even if it means a rather large lifestyle change.
But now I have a few questions that I didnt see in the Faqs and stuff, so if I missed it, please forgive me.
1. I've been using the Celestial Seasonings chamomille and peppermint. Are they too weak to help, because while they do some good, its very minimal and rarely helps curb an attack.
2.Besides fiber, what OTC stuff can help if I get a bad attack, but can't really slow down to focus on it(like at work)? I kinda live off Maalox because it seems to help in the immediate, but I am leery of things like GasX, Immodium AD, or Beano.
3.I've also seen stuff about peppermint capsules, and I am curious to know how well they work. What about Altoids-someone said those help as well, but I'm not too sure.
4.Can soy cause IBS symptoms. I see it's part of a good IBS diet, but I used to drink soy chocolate milk, and it seemed to upset my stomach more.
5.For the quick fix to stopping IBS, do you boil the potatoes or are they raw? And is it okay to have chicken broth(low or fat free)with the diet?
I know, I asked a lot of questions, but I'm just so lost as to what to do, and I'd really like some help. As of now, I dont have insurance-I do have a health clinic by still being a college student, but that isnt a whole lot of help. Even so, IBS seems to be misunderstood by too many docs, and it looks like only the sufferers are the ones doing anything to help. I just dont know if I'm too young to be having this-I didnt when I was a kid, or even 5 years ago, and its seems that the more I do to improve my lifestyle(no smoking, a very very little amount of drinking when the occasion fits-not a casual drinker, losing weight, lowering my BP) the worse I get. I hope to be able to check out some of the products offered here, but I have to baby step this or it'll be too much.
Oh, and I would like to know if this can get worse? Is IBS something that can get worse as I get older?
I hope I didnt ramble too much, or asked any stupid questions. I'm just happy to have somewhere to talk with people who understand this, even if I dont so much. I have a mother to talk to, but while she is understanding, she doesn't understand. Until I found here, the only positie I had about IBS was as painful as it can get, it can't kill me and I will get through it. I hope my outlook can change being here.
Thank you for this opportunity to talk.
Joe
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Welcome, Joe!
#40591 - 01/25/04 08:43 AM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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Howdy!
First of all, you're not alone. A lot of us developed IBS at a very young age. (Thankfully, I was not one of them.) And secondly, you are SO right when you said, "Even so, IBS seems to be misunderstood by too many docs, and it looks like only the sufferers are the ones doing anything to help." This place is incredible for all kinds of support, not to mention the information and education you'll glean here. I learned a LOT in a very short time!
As for the IBS getting worse as you get older, well I can say that I'm 59, certainly a LOT older than you, and my symptoms are no worse than most of us here who, by the way, are a lot younger than I. Did I say that right? See what age does? It's not so much IBS you need to fear -- but the mind leaving you.
Lets see if I can help with some of your questions.
1. "I've been using the Celestial Seasonings chamomille and peppermint. Are they too weak to help, because while they do some good, its very minimal and rarely helps curb an attack." I would have to say yes. I drank an "over-the-counter" Tummy Mint (containing fennel), but it was too mild to do any good. I ordered Heather's tummy teas (peppermint and fennel), and they really kicked in! I strongly recommend her teas!
2. "Besides fiber, what OTC stuff can help if I get a bad attack, but can't really slow down to focus on it (like at work)? I kinda live off Maalox because it seems to help in the immediate, but I am leery of things like GasX, Immodium AD, or Beano." Well, Gas-X, Immodium (what's "AD"?) and Beano are terrific stuff -- we all use them, especially Beano. Beano's my lifesaver!  Over-the-counter stuff you can ORDER (they didn't have it in stock; I had to ask them to order it for me) is Equalactin. Actually, Heather introduced me to it. When I ordered the teas from her, she sent me an introductory package of Equalactin. It became my fave! I keep that introductory package in my purse for emergencies, now that I have a large box of the stuff for the medicine cabinet.
3. "I've also seen stuff about peppermint capsules, and I am curious to know how well they work. What about Altoids-someone said those help as well, but I'm not too sure." Do a search -- you'll find a lot in here about both. And I understand now Altoids has a Ginger, which, as you probably know, is REAL good for the tummy. As for the peppermint caps, I ordered them from Heather, and I take one every day. Yes, I think they're helping a lot.
4. "Can soy cause IBS symptoms. I see it's part of a good IBS diet, but I used to drink soy chocolate milk, and it seemed to upset my stomach more." If it bothers you, then don't take it. Read Mags' response dated just this morning to a post in here about soy products, she answers your question a lot better than I can.
5. "For the quick fix to stopping IBS, do you boil the potatoes or are they raw? And is it okay to have chicken broth(low or fat free)with the diet?" Never eat vegetables raw -- those days are over for us IBS-ers. Cook, pulverize, mash, and boil the hell out of 'em so your tummy can digest them. And yes, fat-free chicken broth is a staple for us.
Last, don't hesitate to ask about anything -- and NO question is "stupid" if it concerns you. We are very sympathetic and understanding in these boards, and certainly not shy about any topic you wish to discuss. Sometimes we can get a little crazy, but that's another subject.
I didn't quite understand your question, "Until I found here, the only positie I had about IBS was as painful as it can get, it can't kill me and I will get through it." But your next comment, "I hope my outlook can change being here" can be answered with an astounding YES!
Again, Welcome to the Boards, Joe!
P.S.: Don't forget to get Heather's book, "The First Year." It's our bible.
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Welcome welcome welcome! I was overjoyed too when I found this website. I have learned more in the last few months about IBS than I did in the 13 years I have had it.
The tea you are drinking now should be fine and helpful to your stomach. I started buying Heather's Peppermint Tea because it's so much cheaper if I'm going to be drinking it all the time.
I take Altoids a lot especially after dinner. The mint seems to make my stomach feel pretty good especially if I've eaten too much. I also take the Peppermint Caps about 1-2 times a day and the only problem I have had is I sometimes have a bit of a minty burp even though these pills are not supposed to dissolve in your stomach. Also if you have any heartburn the Altoids would probably make it worse.
The Maalox I would stay away from because of the magnesium in there would make my stomach upset. I usually use GasX for any gas and bloating I have but that doesn't always help either. I occasionaly take Immodium if I have real bad diarrhea but then I have to be careful that I don't get myself constipated! Ugh! The Acacia fiber has been a huge help in this area and my C and D are a bit more under control by having increased my fiber.
I think the soy can take a while to get used to and if you switch to soy start off slowly so your body can get used to adding that in.
I wouldn't recommend eating raw potatoes because they don't sound like they would be very tasty! Eating them cooked sounds much better! Well I hope this helps you, keep reading this website and other posts and I'm sure you will learn a lot about what to do and what not to do and you'll start feeling better ASAP!
Debby
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Thank you both for the warm welcome!
I did see that soy post after I put up mine, and kinda went "oops". It did help my thoughts on that. Maybe I'll start with a half cup or so, and work from there.
I did purchase Heather's book shortly after I posted my message. I hope it helps. I hear so many different things about IBS, Im not sure where to turn sometimes, and if I'm gonna try, why not try what seems to be the best? I've been trying to do what I can myself, but after this morning, I decided I've had enough and seek help to get this under control. I dont like living my life at the mercy of my bowels.
I use BeneFiber current;y, because I can drop it in my morning chamomille tea, but after some research, I heard a lot of fiber can be bad. But after looking through a LOT of comments here, I dont see that to be a very common problem. Its why I shyed away from oatmeal and all that stuff. But is wheat bread still ok to eat? White bread is ok, but I always though wheat was better. With IBS, you never know.
I'll pick up some bean-o as well, since it seems to have a good reputation from many people. I worry about too much Maalox sometimes, and would love to find something else to use. And I'll likely order the tea/peppermint capsules soon, as well. I suppose you can't have enough tea to help your tummy, anyway. And I feel better knowing my chicken broth can stay around. But I wonder if canned soups are ok, or if the fat is too high.
Thanks for all the tips. It really helps to focus on where I need to look until I can read Heather's book and hopefully get the upper hand on this stuff, at least until medical science finds a way to knock this out. Especially for men, since most of the current mediactions seem to be for women(I''ve read they are more likely than men to have it, but that stats changing). I know its a lot of trial and error, but its good to know there's support out there.
Joe
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Hey Joe, Welcome to the boards...
You are definitely not too young to have IBS, I've was diagnosed with it when I was 13, and I think our Chief Heather started having it much earlier.
You should probably stay away from the wheat bread. Whole grains are a lot harder to digest than the white/sour dough contingent and you can buy those at bakeries without dairy in them.
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Thanks!
Like I said, I'm still trying to find stuff to do while I wait to read up on it. That means a lot of my fridge is now "dead to me', although I have some good steaks that as much as it might pain me, I can't waste. 
It's just that a lot of things that are healthy for most are hideously wrong for IBS sufferers. Like wheat bread. Or apples (which I love). And with what seems to be a high intolerance for high fructose corn syrup, its hard finding things to snack on that are gonna be safe(though some of the recipes I've read look pretty good).
I suppose it'll be hard for a while, and I doubt I'll be able to steer clear of all the hazards at first, but if I can even just make it so the symptoms are less common, I'll take what I get.
BTW-is baking or steaming of vegatables ok? like baked potatoes or steamed carrots. Or is boiling the only way?
Sorry Im asking so many questions, but I've read a lot of stuff for the past few weeks, and while there's clinical advice, nothing's been clear enough to give good YES or NO to foods so while I know avoiding high fats and lots of sugar(I hardly ever drink soda anymore-maybe one every few weeks. but I do drink hawaiian punch because it seems mild), the rest is all new to me.
Again, thanks for your kindness and all your help. I have a much better understanding of what I can do already.
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Joe,
Welcome! I just found this board last week, isn't it great? I've had IBS quite awhile and I second everything Bev says! Keep coming back!
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Laura
Keep it simple!
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Hi, One of the reasons you're not going to find any definite yes or nos is because everyone's triggers and tolerances are slightly different. So some people can get away with having a glass of wine after a good meal, and some people (myself included) cannot ever.
So for baked potatos and carrots, I personally eat steamed vegetables all of the time, so I'm pretty sure they're ok. But maybe there are people out there who really need their food broken down more.
It might help you to keep a food journal for awhile so you can figure out which foods cause your problems and which don't. There's also a time component... I can eat a lot of things in the early afternoon that I wouldn't go near in the mornings or evenings.
As for soda... don't drink it! The caffine, the carbonation, the sugar, they're all horrible!
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Quote:
It's just that a lot of things that are healthy for most are hideously wrong for IBS sufferers.
Thanks for putting into words so clearly what I've been trying to explain to friends and family for years!!! Anyone remember that old saying "One man's meat is another man's poison?" (Or woman...)
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Laura
Keep it simple!
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Hi Joe and welcome! You got lots of great advice. Don't worry about it being overwhelming. The more you learn, the more it will be second nature. And, I've read The First Year a few times, and each time more sinks in.
The only things I wanted to add are:
Hawaiin Punch - artifical colors & probably HFCS. Triggers. Try to avoid. The more water you drink, the better. And herbal teas.
From reading your post, I'm confused. Are you C, D, or both? I thought you'd be using the Maalox for C, but you questioned Imodium. Just checking. 
The Tummy Mint by Celestial Seasonings works great! But, I tried Heather's tea, and I just can't go back. I had to use some up I still had around, and I needed to use 2 bags at a time - still way too weak. Once you go with Heather's, you can never go back.
Apples - you don't have to give up apples. Maybe add them back in as you're getting adjusted, and once you're feeling stable. If you eat a safe meal - say a sandwich for example - you can have a small, peeled apple after that.
No need to just boil veggies. Nuke, steam, roast, etc. As long as they're well cooked, they'll be easier to digest.
I think that's everything. Feel free to ask more questions. That's what we're here for.
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