Uh.....hello? I'm new - anyone there?
#72887 - 05/24/04 10:13 AM
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poop
Reged: 05/24/04
Posts: 6
Loc: Grosse Ile, MI
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I'm not a girl who likes to sit around and commiserate about issues. I don't see a therapist and I don't gather with my girlfriends and bitch about men...much. HOWEVER, IBS has thusfar kicked my ass. I went to various doc's last year trying to figure out what was going on with me only to receive greatly varying recommendations. I remember being so frustrated I began crying when the doctor told me he had no reason to believe my recent weight gain of 10 lbs. in just 4 months (I'd been stable over the past years) was in any way linked with IBS. This particular highly reputable internest also stated that there have been no links to the severity of IBS and diet. I had the blood tests, the barium enema's, the colonoscopy (by the way, they found a very large pre-cancerous polyp), the laxatives, the paxil, the zelnorm, etc.
I'm active - I run/walk about 15 miles/week. I eat much better than most by the average person's standards. I'm going to try the IBS diet TONIGHT. I seriously can't take this. Anyone throw on a pair of pants in the morning and by nighttime, you've blown up so much the pants effectivly segment you like a sausage? I am 5' 9" and with Zelnorm I lost the initial weight I'd gained, but I've had a terrible 2 weeks and have gained 6 lbs.though I've eaten less - nausia helps with that. I'm sorry for everyone out there with IBS, but I'm damn glad to know I'm not alone.
I hope to talk with many of you soon. Any immediate advice for someone just starting to look into the diet aspect of things?
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Hi.
I just started on the boards here a couple weeks ago. It's good to talk to people who understand - believe me. I do more loosing weight with IBS than I do gaining weight, but I do have problems with bloating and gass sometimes. Diet DOES make a difference - a massive one! I find that the foods to avoid are more important than the foods that you should eat more of - except ginger, that one's good for me, but something else may be the more essential for you. Everyone is different and we will all ask questions about to see what other people experience. Feel free to ask questions - we all learn from each other's answers.
Welcome to the boards and hope you get lots of useful advice and weather you're one for it or not...we all can deal with commiserating!  Hope you feel better soon.
Min
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Welcome to the boards! Isn't it nice to find others like you? This website is great and has helped me a great deal. I am IBS-D and only deal with bloating when I am in the throws of an attack. I drink peppermint and fennel teas right away and they help me alot. I also take a peppermint cap. I use Heather's products that you can find here. I know there are others like you and will soon introduce themselves and their helpful hints. Until then you can "search" under bloating and see what comes up. The one thing I have learned from the diet is read labels. Trigger foods and additives are everywhere so beware! Hope the diet helps as it has for me and many others. Keep us posted.
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IBS-D
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i'm here.
#72892 - 05/24/04 10:44 AM
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jenX
Reged: 08/11/03
Posts: 3252
Loc: Richmond, VA
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glad you found us. sorry your highly respected internist is a loser who has no clue about nutrition!
this is a great diet and should help you feel better soon. the biggest things to do are, in my opinion:
- give up the coffee and soda
- start a soluble fiber supplement that doesn't contain psyllium (just in case you have an adverse reaction to it as many do)
- get yourself some fennel tea. NOW.*
- read as much as you can as you navigate this site. the stuff Heather wrote, the stuff that's been posted. you'll learn tons. then later, read it again. and again!
*fennel tastes like licorice, and if you don't like that, i would suggest you try as you might to get used to it. it will help greatly with the sausage-pants problem you describe. it really cuts back on bloating (and gas, too). if you must, start making it weak and use some sugar or honey or my favorite- cardamom. to make the tea: take some fresh fennel seeds, mash them a bit or not, and put about a tablespoon or a tablespoon and a half into a tea strainer, then pour in a cup of hot hot water.
more tea tips: ginger works for nausea. peppermint can help with stabilizing the spasms in the colon. (these flavors in Altoids can help, too, in a pinch! as can the real thing: slices of ginger, some fresh peppermint.)
here's a little thing i wrote to help people get around: hope this helps.
welcome to the boards! (PS: i'm not a therapy type chick, either, nor was i a support group girl, but really, you can't beat a bunch of people who can help you kick the IBS to the curb!)
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Welcome to the best place on earth to help your IBS! I am also IBS-C, and the Acacia Fiber and peppermint caps have made me a faily normal and much more comfortable person! I know I'll not go back to Zelnorm! Anyway, know that your symptoms are totally understood here! IBS is a life-changing type of problem, but with a few adjustments and the help from the wonderful folks here, you should be feeling much better soon! Welcome!
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God is Faithful!
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Hey Poop! (Love the name)
I hear ya! I have gained 10 pounds in the past year, and was diagnosed with IBS last summer. My GI doc was kind of an arse, so I don't know for sure if it's IBS. I'm 5'6", 144, 26yo, also active (I'm currently doing Beach Body's Power 90 In Home Bootcamp) and getting married in July. I am stressing a bit over how I'm going to feel on the Big Day and pissed as hell that I'm 10 pounds heavier (and way more uncomfortable) that I want to be.
I've heard many different suggestions about diet, meds, OTC meds, etc. but this site has offered the best info by far.
My first piece of advise for you is to get yourself a soluable fiber supplement. Citrucel works for me. Start with the lowest dosage and work your way up per Heather's instructions. Fennel tea is great for bloating. Steep it for at least 10 mins and make it STRONG! Then start working on your diet. Do you have the book? Go get it and start eliminating suggested trigger foods from your diet and incorporate the good ones in. It works. This way of eating has helped ease symptoms for many folks on this board.
I have an entire wardrobe of pants/jeans that I cannot wear because of the pressure they exert on my tummy. I get home from work and put on a pair of pajama pants because they are the most comfy. I can't stand anything that puts pressure on my waist. I look five months pregnant at the end of the day on a good day; pregnant with twins and three weeks late on a bad one. UGH! I feel your pain!
I'm going to my doc again tomorrow morning. The stress of having to worry about this in addition to wedding plans is getting to be too much for me. I'm not bridezilla or anything - plans are mostly done and I'm really laid back - but this is just ridiculous!!
I hope you feel better soon! This sucks, but we're all here with ya!
EDITED TO ADD: Just noticed you're from Michigan too! I'm from the west side of the state, Grand Rapids area. What was your doc's name?
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~jules
Edited by jules (05/24/04 10:49 AM)
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Hi Jules. I used to work in GR on East Paris. Very cool town. I go to Zac Lewis for all my colonoscopy needs - as I have to have one every year till I croak now. He was great but still downplayed how incapacitating the symptoms I was having were. My lovely Mother spent quite a bit of time grilling her malpractice lawyer buddies about a good doc. and they came up with Dr. Larry Stayewick out of Providence Hsp. He prescribed a low dose of Zelnorm for me which worked (you should try). I think my body has gotten used to the dose as it seems to be having very little effect lately. Though he felt there was no coorelation between diet, weight gain, and IBS, I saw an allergist out of desperation. I paid a hundred bucks to spit in a cup and have him tell me that wheat would be the death of us all and told me to read this book called Evil Wheat. Can you believe it?
I did order Heather's book. Have you had a hard time following the diet? Has it helped? I too have a closet full of clothes I can't wear. I don't even want to go out with my boyfriend anymore - I darn near have to wear running suits or what I call floppies that I wear when I'm just lumping around. Unfortunately, I have to wear a suit every day to work and none of them fit! I feel like a total cow. I know I'm kind of rambling - it's been a long day.
Let me know if you're able to get zelnorm. I think that would offer some rather immediate relief. I want to see if I can get a diet that works so I can get off the meds. longterm.
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Hey there!
I tried Zelnorm last year and it sent me to the potty with serious D about six times a day for the week that I was on the meds. My doc gave me a sample and I think that the dosage was too high. She didn't know much about IBS but was very open to new ideas and to try what she could to help me out.
The last GI doc I went to was a total jerk and I didn't feel that he was very empathetic to the seriousness or debilitating nature of this stupid syndrome. He gave me his "IBS Diet" that was filled with whole grain products and told me to try that for three months. He didn't even to a test for celiac or food allergies. So I fired him, found this board and swore off doctors until now. I'm miserable and want to be able to feel like going out again with my fiance. Thank God he's fairly understanding of all this.
Honestly, I have a hard time following the diet. I'm stubborn in my way of thinking. I want to be able to eat what others do, so I kind of forget about the whole diet thing. I can't do weight loss diets, either because of that same mentality. Stupid me. I gained weight because I used the excuse that Honey Comb was safe, so why shouldn't I be able to go through a box in two days...
I was debating whether or not to go to a food allergist. I have a TON of questions that I've written down for my doc, and that is one of them. I also want to make sure I'm not lactose or gluten intolerant.
What a lovely pain in the ass this is, eh?
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~jules
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Thank you! Did you eat less and gain weight too? Were you EXHAUSTED? I'm going grocery shopping tonight. Where can I get all these strange things..Ginger? Peppermint caps? Fennel seed?
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I thought I was the only one who knew about Power 90! Haha. That thing killed me. I did really good in the beginning (very motivated)...and then I just got SO bored of it! How are you doing with it? My husband did it with me for awhile and he mainly just laughed at the guy, so that didn't help. I did lose weight on it though, for sure. And my arms got a lot more toned.
I should go dig that up again, it probably has a layer of dust on it
Congrats with the wedding and good luck!
~Cara
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~Cara~
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Welcome, Poop!
#72931 - 05/24/04 12:58 PM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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Welcome to the Boards, Poop!
How old are you? Don't answer that. But consider this. I'm gonna be 60 in November. My weight gain began WAAAAY before I got IBS, and increased in proportion to my age. The older we get, the less our metabolisms work. I've been very active too -- I'm an avid rower and used to compete. I don't compete anymore because of my IBS. (There's no way I'm gonna be trapped in a rowing shell with 8 other people and suddenly get a D attack!) Still, I row with my hubby; it's something we both really love to do.
Okay, I'm rambling. I hate it when that happens.
You lost the weight you had gained? CONGRATULATIONS! I wish I could lose just a pound -- just a lousy pound -- but it's not happening. But that's another issue.
I assume you got Heather's book, "The First Year," since you said you were going to try the diet tonight. Yes? Truly it will help you if you follow it to the letter. No cheating! (I cheated; I refused to give up my beloved coffee. When I finally did, I instantly got better. Coffee has to be the WORST trigger of all! If you're drinking it, even decaf, STOP! You'll be amazed at how much better you get, and how fast!)
Ah yes, the bloating. Well, let me just say this about that: I haven't been able to get into a pair of jeans in 2 years. If it doesn't have an elastic waist, I can't wear it. Now, I'm not telling you that to discourage you, but rather to let you know you're not alone. And that doesn't mean to say I've given up -- because I'll NEVER give up. I'm still trying BIG time to lose the weight. When I had my big operation 21 years ago, the nurses told me, as they were wheeling me into the operating room, that from then on I'd have a struggle with my weight the rest of my life -- and they were right.
Just don't give up, Poop, whatever you do. However, right now you need to get yourself stable again. Worry about the weight later.
Again, welcome to the Boards -- and don't hesitate to ask any and all questions you may have. Everyone here is very knowledgeable and extremely helpful.
Bev
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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I think I'm eating more now, but I'm more active and it's better foods.
Last year and certainly many times this year, I get SO tired in the evenings. Especially when my tummy is hurting. I'm just exhausted. It's uncomfortable to find a good position to sleep. When I'm on my back it feels as though my stomach weighs 75 pounds, on my side or stomach, I feel as though I'm putting too much pressure on it.
I think I gained weight because I'd have these spells when my stomach would feel pretty darn good, so I'd eat a ton all at once. Then it would catch up to me and I'd feel like crap. This cycle has been going on for quite some time. Other times, when I feel full or backed up, for some dumb reason, I think that if I put more in, then the stuff currently in there wreaking all the havoc just HAS to come out. Plus, I'm now engaged in a fairly new relationship (we've been together for a year and a half total -- got engaged after nine months) so I feel as though part of my weight gain are "love pounds".
I need to get my eating and diet under control. I'm doing great with the exercise and water part. Hopefully my doc appt. tomorrow will help fuel my motivation.
Cara -- I LOVE Power 90. My fiance actually had these tapes before we met. We have seen the infomercials many times over the past year and we keep saying "we should do that", so we ordered the DVD's (one of fiance's tapes pooped out on him). We're on our fifth week. We started III/IV last Monday and I'm glad we did. I'm already seeing results in my arms, legs and abs (under all the flab and bloat, of course!). I feel as though I have more energy and it defnitely encourages me to eat better because I don't want to ruin all the hard work I'm doing. I think Tony is a dork and can't stand to listen to him, but the program DOES work if you work the program. Dust 'em off and get yer butt in motion! I do find that it gets tedious but this is the only program that I've done so far that I've wanted to stick with because of the results I'm already seeing. I can't wait for Day 90. Partly because I'll be lookin' all hot and buff and partly because by the time we reach Day 90 the stress of the wedding will be over and I'll be hiking all around Colorado on my honeymoon!!!!
We're going to do Slim in 6 next and then maybe try Power 90X (toughest program to date!! this one's a maybe) or Power Half Hour.
www.beachbody.com
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~jules
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I'm telling you sister I had every test known to woman. I had allergy tests, blood tests, my behind was probed by everyone but aliens - hey, maybe I should have THEM check me out!
I keep complaining about being huge to Jim and I think he secretly believes I eat a dozen doughnuts on my way to work every day. Do you find that since gaining weight, you're over-aware of what other's perceptions of you and what you are eating are? I'm super-stubborn too. If I want something then damn it I'm going to have it. I'm sporatically dedicated to diets. When did you say you were getting married? The beach-body stuff is sooo hard. I like it, but I think I like Winsor Pilates better....
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More For Poop
#72934 - 05/24/04 01:01 PM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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You get peppermint caps and fennel from Heather. Check the link to your left. I believe she offers the caps, organic fennel and peppermint as a package deal that's very reasonable. Ginger Altoids are available at Trader Joe's, but you can find Ginger Aid tea almost anywhere.
Bev
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Why do we waste our time worrying about what others perceive us to be? Why should we care that strangers think we're overweight? Are we nothing more than what they perceive us to be? ARGGGHHHH!!!
Okay, I'll calm myself.
What matters is what WE think of ourselves. I went through the hypnotherapy program -- the 100 days -- and ended up SOOOOO much better, mentally and physically. Michael's a genius! He taught me the importance of positive thinking. If you want positive results, you gotta think positive thoughts. Beware of what you tell your subconscious mind -- because it controls your entire body. If you tell it you're fat, well guess what. My New Year's resolution was to think positively, and that's what I'm still trying to do. Instead of looking in the mirror and saying, "damn you're fat!" I look in that mirror and say, "you're sure working hard at losing, and it's working!" My subconscious is getting the message.
I don't care what idiots perceive me to be. They don't know me.
Bev
P.S.: Winsor Pilates ROCKS!
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Acacia, Peppermint and Fennel here on the site! Do a google search if you want to compare prices, but for quality and price, this site is the best!
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God is Faithful!
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Hello and Welcome! I too, am IBS C and have a hard time with bloating! A lot of days my pants are unbuttoned by noon, can't wait to get in the car to go home so I can unzip them. first thing I do when I get home is put on a night shirt! I can't even stand elastic waist things, somedays my panties feel too tight! To me, thats one of the hardest things to deal with. I do need to lose a few more pounds, I'm 5'8" and weigh 147, but I don't consider myself "FAT" but this bloating makes me feel like an elephant sometimes! You are not alone!
All the others gave great advice. Exercise and lots of water helps me the most with the bloating. Have you tried any probiotics? I used them for about 6 months and didn't notice a difference, but they do help a lot of people.
I take Heathers Acacia and peppermint capsules. I also take Miralax once a day. I have some Zelnorm that I "save" for really severe attacks. I find that my body builds up a tolerance very quickly to Zelnorm, like after a week or two it stops working.
It is very frustrating when our doctors are not much help. I have had IBS for 18 years and have seen MANY gi specialist and haven't been overjoyed with any of them and down right pissed off at a few! I too, have had all the probes, x-rays and scans-all the docs tell me I'm perfectly healthy! I'd like to see them live with my body for just one day! Then tell me there isn't anything wrong with me!  So, once again, you are not alone in this maddening and very frustrating syndrome!
Diet does help me some but I think my biggest trigger is STRESS. It doesn't even have to be "bad" stress, even excitment over something good can set me off. Any emotion in the extreme is just bad news for me. I find SSRIs (anti-depressants) to help with this. Be sure to check out the library portion of this board for all the SSRI info and other news! Oh yeah, if you don't own a heating pad you may want to consider buying one, it does provide some comfort to my tummy!
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Taking it one day at a time.....
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Hi, Welcome!!
I had major problems with gas and bloating!!! I made major changes and it worked!!! I feel better!
Here's what I do:
- I eat slowly (at least I try)
- I drink herbal tea all day long (fennel, anise, chamomille)
- I use beano (1-2 caps) everytime I eat legumes or vegetables.
- I also take a multienzyme with my 3 meals and sometimes with a snack.
- I take probiotics everyday in the morning. The one I use is called Megatil. It has 8 billion of probiotics per capsules. It also contains Prebiotics (FOS) and soya fibers.
- I always wait 1-2 hours (after a meal or a snack) to drink liquids.
- I never finish a meal or a snack with something that contains sugar (even a fruit). I feel better when I have my fruits at least 20-30 minutes before a meal or a snack. It helps to reduce the fermentation caused by the fruit.
- I never have dessert!! and I never eat foods that contains added sugar (for ex: I eat plain yogourt)It was not easy at first, but now I'm used to it and I see a big difference. Sugar is the main trigger for me to cause gas and bloating
- I don't eat dairy products and I follow a gluten-free diet.
- If I do have gas or bloating, I take ovol (or gas-x or something like that!!)
I know it's a lot of suggestions but it helped me a lot. I always follow these recommandations. I never cheat on my diet!
Good luck! byebye!
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Welcome to the BEST place for IBSers. I gained 22 pounds after developing IBS - it definitely doesn't help. Trying to lose that now, but it's slow.
I think all the others have covered most stuff, so just welcome and see you around again soon!
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Fennel
#72969 - 05/24/04 03:47 PM
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Linz
Reged: 09/01/03
Posts: 8242
Loc: England
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If you don't like the taste of fennel, brew it with dried lavender. It makes it taste and smell a lot nicer and helps relax you too!
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Welcome Poop. I haven't been on this board very long but you have certainly come to the right place!
Thanks to everyone else! I read about the pants and it was SO nice to know that I am not alone. I can NOT stand tight clothes or clothes in general touching my stomach. I just figured it was me! I usually buy my pants one size too large and always with some elastic. I have also had the lovely cycle of eating less and gaining weight. Very frustrating. I would think when nothing stays in your system too long that it would cause weight loss! Oh well I am getting off on a tangent. Just wanted to say thanks to everyone for all the info and help.
Valerie
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Some of the names chosen here just crack me up. We all have so much "poop" to put up with in our lives with this miserable illness, it's nice to have a few laughs with our "screen names".
Welcome and my advise is that there are a great bunch of people here and you will find you get more help here than probably from any IBS doc you are ever going to meet, sad as that is to say about the medical profession. Stick with the diet and the book, maybe try the hypno tape, and I'm sure you will see some improvement.
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I have had so many of those mirror days when I wanted to get rid of it totally. I was always telling myself how fat I was, so I became that fat. Now, I tell myslf how good I look, by the time I leave the house I am prissing around all over the place. I was a size20 now I'm a size 14, want to be smaller, but hey, a 14 is alot smaller than 20. So yeah, I look d@@@good. whatcha think of that?
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Yaay Gigi!
#73112 - 05/25/04 01:58 AM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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Hey, Girlfriend, you ROCK! From a 20 to a 14?! Yeah! You GO, Girl!
"What do [I] think of that," you ask? I think it's damn GREAT. Now tell me how you did it.
Bevvy
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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My doctor started me slowly on Zelnorm. I've been on it for over a year and take 2 a day, plus one Protonax. I never reacted negatively to it when I began taking it. I wonder, though, if it's still helping, or if I'm better due to the IBS diet. My doctor's pretty awesome, though!
Glad to have you here, poop! And I mean that literally, also, since I'm IBS-C!
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What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail
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