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It's so great to hear success stories! I hope that I too will be free of this monster soon.
I'm IBS-D and I've been on a liquid diet for two days, followed by starting to eat solids (I'm sticking to Heather's suggestion of planning meals around insoluble fiber). I started taking Guar Gum, an insoluble fiber. Like you, I've been taking Imodium a lot and will have the same pattern of C followed by D. Today it was just sludge. So disheartening. How soon until this stuff works?
I also exercise frequently; swim and hike. I need to spend more time with relaxation exercises however.
Your tips were great; I'll incorporate them. Thanks for sharing!
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Frustrated is how I feel. I have had IBS since I was 18. I am now 28. I just finally got diagnosed with it 8 months ago. My DR. perscribed me NuLev for my episodes till my diet got better and I could handle more. I never really got on a strick diet and took fiber only a few times a month really. I just took those pills 3-4 times a day everyday. She said that was fine for now, but I had to work on my diet to help my body fight it. So, I went off the pills in early May. Too my surprise I could eat anything still without the pills. I was shocked. However 3 weeks later, I became very ill. I have been ill for 2 months now and thye don't think it is related to my IBS. Now that I am feel a little better on a daily basis. I can tell you that I feel lighted (like I am going to pass out) and get a tingling feeling in my abdomin about 5 minutes before I have to go #2. I always have aheadache too. Does anyone know if headaches and lightheadness is part of any IBS symptom. I have found much help in this website for eating, but I am still a very picky eater and will find it difficult to eat like this. Strick Soluble fiber for 3 days sounds like it would not be very nutritious, which is what my DR is concerned with. Any help or suggestions on food items that are easy to eat and still healthy for the rest of my body, but will help determine if my head problems are related to my IBS.
Thank you all so much for listening, it's been a long 10 years and a longer 2 months. I have 3 small boys (5,3,1) and can't do much with them feeling like this. Starting to feel like a bad mom. Thanks again for this website. I'll definately be around!!
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You give me continued hope!! I too have just started to see good results with the diet, acacia etc... your info is now added to my bank of knowledge--every bit helps, thanks and continue to feel well!!
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Amy,
Look at it this way: three days on a very safe "non-nutritious" diet that leads to stability is better than diarrhea for the next sixty years, isn't it? The bland diet is just to give the tummy a chance to calm down so it doesn't feel like it's constantly under attack.
If you're wondering why you were fine for three weeks after the Nulev, it's probably because the effects of IBS are often cumulative. In other words, you can maybe eat a little bit of a trigger one day and be fine, but if you eat that same thing a few days in a row, you'll get D. I would guess that it took your body a few weeks to remember how it disliked the things you were eating.
As for what you can eat that is nutritious, Heather's book and the recipe section of this site are filled with recipes that are very nutritious and IBS-safe. I have eaten such exotic and rich dishes, sometimes it's hard to believe they're actually good for me!
I can't speak to the lightheadedness, but I do often experience nausea before an attack. Have you had your blood sugar checked? That's the only idea I have in that regard.
Good luck. I understand your frustration, but you will feel less so when you commit yourself to habits that will help make you well.
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Christine
Those who can do; those who want it done better teach.
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I'm so glad everyone found my post useful, inspirational even. Really I couldn't be happier (obviously) with my results and seriously, I know all about the frustration, fear of eating, pain and disheartenment. Just stick to it - tough advice I know, especially when it may mean only eating bananas, rice, skinless potatoes and applesauce for a few days here and there when you need to, and taking time out of your life to deal with your IBS. Heather's guidelines really work. OK, I may sound like an informercial lackey - but it's 100% true.
These boards are absolutely wonderful; they give me so much encouragement and hope and clearly give others a chance to spread hope around - something everyone struggling with this syndrome definitely needs.
So, here's going for 2 months! Thanks guys!! 
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Hi Amy
Sorry you're feeling so frustrated now. I definitely agree with Christine about the Nulev and the cumulitive effects of IBS. Sometimes it just takes your stomach a few days of "iffy" meals to build up into an attack rather than one big shock of a trigger.
Headaches and lightheadedness are not typically IBS symptoms I don't believe. However, I have experienced that sinking slightly nauseous feeling right before a bad attack of D.
As for the nutrition of the only-soluble-fiber-diet for a few days, think of it this way: our stomachs are particularly sensitive and don't necessarily get along well with the rest of our bodies, and sometimes they need extra considerations. What's 'healthy' for the rest of our bodies is not necessarily healthy for our stomachs. For example, whole wheat bread. Definitely a health food, but if it's going to be making you sick, how healthy is that? 3 or 4 days is not that long (and like Christine said, better than 60 years of D). Think of it as pampering your stomach and giving it a much deserved vacation from dealing with the stresses of everyday life. And it's not like rice and bananas and potatoes are junk food! What's more, it really works. If you just stick strictly to only solubles for a few days, your stomach will honestly calm down and be more prepared to handle what you throw at it. Give it some recuperation time. After that, the rest of the IBS diet on this site and in Heather's books is extremely healthy - certainly much healthier than a lot of other diets out there.
I used to be a very picky eater too, but I've discovered many new and wonderful foods through this diet that I never thought of eating before, like lots of Indian and Chinese foods.
Anyway, hope things start looking up for you soon. Hang in there!
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Thank you SO much for sharing your story. It makes me so happy to hear how much better you're doing. I remember how horrible I felt before going on this diet so I completely understand how doing a month with no D can be a very exciting occassion. I hope you keep on doing just as well, and thanks again for sharing your successes! 
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"Anyone can exercise, but this kind of lethargy takes real discipline." -Garfield
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Hi Laurel  Talk about opening your heart! I LOVED reading about how you have taken the steps along the path of recovery. Congratulations for being so strong and smart for yourself!!!  I think by telling us about your achievements, you've not only helped yourself but so many others here, some who are responding and some who also may be reading but not responding. Keep up the healing life, hon! I hope you have feeling good days more often than not.
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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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LasVegasAmy! Welcome! I just noticed your post here. Are you still around. Hope so -- the more the merrier!
And ps, you're a good mom for wanting to get better. My mom would never admit she had IBS, although they didn't know much about it back then, but it sure would have been better if she admitted she was sick and tried to get better rather than just denying everything and trying to pretend she was fine, normal, healthy, when even us kids could see she wasn't. It just confused us and made us doubt our own ability to understand things. So I applaud you for taking care of yourself so you can take care of those boys even better!!
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Laura
Keep it simple!
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