I need some help, please!!
#319980 - 12/03/07 10:48 PM
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Could some of you please give me some advice, I am at my wits end, I am now up to 40 pounds heavier, the doctor says it is because of IBS. She says to keep up my workouts and eat even less, my doctor suggest 1/2 papaya and a few almonds as a meal 1-2 times a day. I work out 4-5 times a week cardio and weight machines but like I said somehow I have gained 40 pounds, my feet and legs swell until my shoes won't come of when I get home. Please won't one of you give me some advice. I cannot live like this anymore,it's been six months now and I am sick of it.
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Hi Janet,
I'm sorry to hear you are going through this, I know you must be feeling really frustrated.  I was really suprised at a few things in your post. The first thing that struck me was that the doctor is suggesting you limit your food intake so much, did he give you a reason for this aside from just reducing caloric intake? On this matter, I would get a second opinion. If this is your GP, I would consider consulting with another GP or requesting to see a specialist. I would also try to seek out the advice of a dietician who is familiar with both IBS and weight-control issues.
Generally speaking, to maintain or reduce weight you want to be eating several small meals throughout the day. I don't know your weight, so I can't so what your caloric intake would be but anything under 1200 calories a day is starving yourself. 1/2 a papaya and some almonds 3 times a day is probably between 300-400 calories a day, being generous.  That isn't enough to fuel your body to get through a day, not to mention working out and burning even more calories. This is something I think you should definitely talk to a nutritionist about, because to me that seems to lack all common sense.
The second thing that really suprised me was that you are exercising so regularly and your weight is continuing to climb. My only really shot-in-the-dark guess would be that if you are restricting your food intake so much that your body is starving itself and storing everything rather than burning it off.
There are a lot of tests that I think your doctor should do, or re-do maybe, to make sure that there isn't another medical issue behind your weight fluctuation and the swelling in your lower body. I honestly don't think it can just be the IBS, because even if the IBS itself and your diet for it contributes, it can't be the only factor.. and it's certainly not one that can't be worked around.
I am reluctant to give you any other general weight loss advice until you see your doctor, but a site that I found really helpful for tracking food and stuff is www.sparkpeople.com. It is a free site to sign up and tracks your calories, as well as different vitamins and minerals, which my guess is that you are extremely low on right now.
I think your next steps have to be going back to your doctor, or seeing a new doctor, requesting that you get blood work done to check for other underlying problems and then see a specialist and/or a dietician/nutritionist that can get you back on track.
Good luck and let us know how it goes! 
Steph
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~~I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell-I know right now you can't tell~~Matchbox 20
IBS-D,pain.
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I totally agree with Steph. I would definately find a second opinion. My Dr. always tracks my weight because if there is a rapid weight gain it could be a sign of something different than IBS. I'm so sorry that you're miserable. I hope you find something that helps you, and a good Dr. as well! Good luck and let us know how it goes!
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Leah-----
IBS-C predominant, gas, cramps, bloating, uncomfortable... oh and some colitis to top it all off
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Would 12 pounds in a week and a half constitute rapid weight gain, if so this was my very first symptom, my gastroenterologist did a pregnancy test because I looked 6-8 months pregnant.
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I went to my family doctor and she told me to go to Weight Watchers, I saw a nutritionist for 3 weeks of a six week period until she saw the weight climb to almost 200 from 155 and she refused to work with me until I saw a gastroenterologist. So far the nutritionist and every one I talk to has disagreed with my GI doctor. The only problem is I live in Hawaii and I have no choice for a second opinion. Now that my pain is gone I am left with 40 extra pounds just sitting on my body.
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Hmm
#320317 - 12/10/07 01:08 AM
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Stephie
Reged: 03/10/04
Posts: 2696
Loc: Vancouver, Canada
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Hi again,
Well, it certainly sounds like you're in a frustrating and sort of strange situation.
If your nutritionist refused to work with you until you had seen a GI doctor, and you have in fact seen one, can you go back to her and tell her you have seen him/her already? You could get your GI doctor to send over all your file from their office to the nutritionist.
I know you said your family doctor was not helpful (Weight Watchers is not being a helpful doctor if your weight gain is so rapid and seemingly without cause), can you not seen another family doctor?
You said you have no other options because of your location, but there must be practicing specialists somewhere in your area.. Try having a search online.
To give me a better idea of what you are currently doing, you could post a few days worth of what you are eating and medications you are taking and so on and see if anything jumps out at anybody here. I will certainly have a look.
If you do this, it would also help if you could let us know how tall you are.
I'm so sorry that you are having such a difficult time with this, it sounds like you are really going to have to push to get the results you want from medical professionals and try to figure out some of it on your own if you can, unfortunately.
Good luck, let us know if you make any progress and I'll check in this week to see if you've updated any info.
Cheers,
Steph
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~~I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell-I know right now you can't tell~~Matchbox 20
IBS-D,pain.
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Re: Hmm
#320384 - 12/10/07 05:23 PM
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I normally start my day with Fiber One cereal(1 cup) which is a full 25 grams of fiber, I take 1 Align capsule with this, then as a snack almonds and 67 ounces of water with 4 teaspoon of soluble fiber(20 g fiber) throughout the day, my lunch has only been salad with papaya seed dressing. This is all I eat unless I snack on raw brocilli and celery in the evening.
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