Life with IBS-D....a poem for all.....
#68163 - 05/06/04 08:53 AM
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Nugget
Reged: 02/10/03
Posts: 2167
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I think I've posted in the past about how I enjoy writing poetry. Well, I have finally written a poem for us. I'm home sick today with a bad sore throat and a GI doc appt at 3:15 (bad case of nerves and trips to the bathroom) I don't know why I let myself get so nervous. Have taken two imodiums and will try to relax before the appt. This sore throat is getting a bit better. I'm trying to drink lots of fluids so that it doesn't get worse. We are going out of town for the weekend....that's got me a little nervous, too. Just keep throwing things down the well and stepping on the brake.
Here is the poem....hope you enjoy it:
We put on a brave face
and try to act happy
but if truth be known
most of the time we feel crappy.
Planning our lives around
where the bathrooms are.
Worry turns to panic
when we have to travel by car.
Some foods we can eat
and others we cannot.
If we "cheat" on our "safe foods"
we'll spend our day on the "pot".
We constantly explain symptoms
to doctors, family and friends.
Most of which think "IBS" is in our heads...
The frustration never ends.
So we go on with our lives
avoiding "triggers" as best we can.
Taking with us the things that help...
Imodium, Soluable fiber and Michael...he's "the man".
So thank you all.....
such understanding friends.
With each other's support
maybe someday IBS will end.
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OH Nugget!! That is so good! I really enjoyed that!
Hey I know how you feel about getting nervous....when I go to the DR...I just tell my self this is the one place that its OK to be sick. He'll understand if I have to run to the potty!!! So in that thinking my nervousness has gone away.
I'm a little nervous today to. I have to go get my hair touched up in an hour and my tummy is in knots! I hate IBS!!!! I know I'll be fine! I just need to not worry. So you do the same! Remember the Doc is our friend! He'll understand if you have a tummy ache and need to run to the potty!!!
Keep up your good work. I hope you throat feels better soon! Let me know how the Doc goes! I go on Monday!!! 
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Great poem!
#68171 - 05/06/04 09:06 AM
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Kree
Reged: 10/08/03
Posts: 3748
Loc: Northern NY
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Nugget, what a great poem! That really sums it up perfectly. I hope you start feeling better soon and good luck with the doc!
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"Anyone can exercise, but this kind of lethargy takes real discipline." -Garfield
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Nugget, I didn't know you were a poet! And I'll bet your feet don't show it -- right? Because you're not LONGFELLOW! 
Okay, sorry about that -- just couldn't resist.
I hope you feel better soon, Girlfriend. Just remember that brake! Also: There are no demands or insistence!
Got any Equalactin?
Let us know what happens after your GI appointment, okay?
Bev
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Nugget, I copied your poem and sent it to my friends in California, as well as a gal who used to be on the Boards here and who I still correspond with; I didn't want her to miss it. I also shared it with hubby and a gal friend in town here.
I hope you don't mind? Don't sue me.
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Bev....
#68199 - 05/06/04 09:34 AM
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Nugget
Reged: 02/10/03
Posts: 2167
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Thank you....glad you liked it. I have looked and looked, but can't find Equalactin here. Haven't tried Walgreens yet.
I'll post after I get back from the GI doc.....I'm hoping he doesn't have me schedule the scope down the throat, but I'm afraid he will. Brake, Well, no demands no insistance....brake, well, no demands no insistance....brake, well, no demands no insistance. Breath.....relax........
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glad you liked it. I'll post after I get home from the doc and let you all know what he had to say. Am so nervous....
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Ok...remember what I said?? The doc is our tummys friend! He won't mind if you have a tummy ache!!! I feel ya girl. My hair appt is in 20 min...my tummy is a mess!!! DAMN nervers...Damn IBS!!!!
WE can do it! I'll be thinking about you and you think about me...we'll send good vibes...I'll send more to you...after all your going to the Doc! Good news...he'll have good news...and hopefully no scope. I had one by the way...guess what?? NO big deal! Simple. And I'm a nervious reck when it comes to that stuff!!!
WE'RE going to be fine!!!!! {{{{{{HUGS TO YOU}}}}}}}
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I guess I'd never thought of it like that....he is the only one who will truly understand if I need to go to the potty. Thanks for pointing it out. I guess I fear embarrassment. Ya know? I can't stress enough how comforting it is to talk with people here who truly understand. I hope your doc appointment goes well Monday. I know what you mean about going to get your hair done and having your tummy in knots. It happens to me all the time....for me it's the fear of an attack away from my "comfort zone".
I'll post this afternoon when I get back from the doc. I go in about 4 1/2 hours.
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I feel for you, too. I'll be thinking of you. Good luck. Will be awaiting your post this afternoon. {{{{{{hugs to you, too}}}}}
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Re: Nugget
#68208 - 05/06/04 09:49 AM
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michele
Reged: 06/02/03
Posts: 6886
Loc: southeastern michigan
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Great Peom! I'm mostly IBC C but latley have been IBS A so I can relate!!!
Hey, do you have a CVS pharmacy by you?? Thats where I found equalactin!
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Taking it one day at a time.....
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Hi Nugget,
I really liked the poem you created. It truly explains the life of a person with IBS. Its a great poem:-) I'm sorry you are not feeling well today and are nervous. I get nervous too (when I have to go to places taht I don't want to or are places that I don't go often) then I have to take immodium. I don't like taking Immodium all the time... but taht's what I have to do. I like to write poetry too, but mostly free verse. I hope you feel better. I take tablets for my sore throats or this medicine that dissolves in water. I don't remember the name. It helps though. Let us know how the GI appointment goes. Hopefully it'll turn out good. When I get nervous I remind myself "It's all temporary, and this too shall pass." Are you going on a trip this weekend? My friends invited me on a trip later this month & during the summer. But I jsut want to be well in order to have fun with them and not worry them or make things uncomfortable, ya know? Well, I hope you have a good time on your trip and Have a nice afternoon:)
*Lilybear
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I hate to sound stupid....but what is IBS-A? I've only heard of IBS-D and C.
I don't have one of those pharmacies you spoke of. Does the Equalactin really work....and fast? I hope to find some at Walgreens....maybe today after my doc appt.
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IBS-A
#68213 - 05/06/04 09:53 AM
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Kimm
Reged: 03/10/04
Posts: 1171
Loc: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Is Alternating between C and D....
I'm IBS-A....and it's lots of fun!!! (not) 
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I'll remember what you said..."this is temporary...this too shall pass."
{{{{hugs}}}}
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I guess at times, I'm IBS-A, too. {{{{hugs}}}}
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Re: IBS-A
#68225 - 05/06/04 10:01 AM
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Lilybear
Reged: 04/05/04
Posts: 172
Loc: east coast, usa
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Hey Kimm,
Nice of you to post what IBS-A, is. They don't describe the 3 different types in the books I have researched. I had to come to this website to find out exactly which one I had, even my doctor didn't know about the diff types. Thanks, and Have a Nice Day!
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you had asked about our upcoming weekend trip this weekend....we are going to a small town a couple hours away for and over night stay and a "mini" family reunion for Mother's Day. Should be fun....I hope what I have learned so far with the hypno CDs will help.
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Nugget,
Your poem describes what we go through perfectly. I feel so much better being able to talk with others who know exactly what I am going through.
I will be thinking about you today and your doc visit. Please let us know what he says. I hope your throat is feeling better. It is nice to have a day off work though isn't it?
Janey
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Janey
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Re: Hi Nugget
#68253 - 05/06/04 11:32 AM
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michele
Reged: 06/02/03
Posts: 6886
Loc: southeastern michigan
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A=Alternating!! Used to be all C but because of the miralax and STRESS I get some D too! Lucky me!
If you can't find the Equalactin try Fibercon, they have the same active ingredients!! I have never really used to to treat an immediate attack. I just use them when I'm out or can't mix my acacia!
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Taking it one day at a time.....
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Kandee
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How did it go? What did the doc say? Were you able to calm down? I was fine once I got to my hair appt. I knew I would be too!!!
I hope it went good for you today and I sure hope you feeling better now! Please let me know how your doing and how everything went!!!!
Take care sweetie!!!
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Edited by StephS (05/06/04 06:29 PM)
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Hey Nugget! I hope your appointment went alright! I'm sorry that I'm posting this too late, but I just thought I'd letcha know - I have Equalactin, but the only way that I was allowed to get it was through prescription from my GI doc. He prescribed me two boxes with additinal refills. I hope this helps!
Also, here's a relaxation technique that we do in theater class befoe going on stage to perform. It's specifically designed to help calm nerves!
1) Lay on your back in a dark or dimly light room with your eyes closed.
2) Take in 4 loooooong, slow breaths.
3)Focus on your foot, and on relaxing it completely. Relax it until it feels like it's about to sink through the bed or floor. Next focus on your right your leg, and relaxing it completely. Do this with every part of your body until you've gotten through your legs, torso, arms, fingers, shoulders, head, and especially your neck!! It's usually tensed up becuase of some weird little habit that humans have due to holding our head up all day. Weird!
4) Next, slowly move one finger up and down. Then move your arms, then your toes, and then your legs and head.
5) Then slowly rise up and take in 2 more deep breaths.
Now you should be fully relaxed and ready to go! I hope this helps, and good luck!!! **hugs**
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It comes down to the art of living on [color/red]
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I'm glad your hair appt. went well, Steph.
My doctor appt. went well, too. I was able to calm down somewhat and got really calm once I got in the exam room. Strange.
The doc seems to think that I have an irritable esophagus(sp?) to go along with my irritable bowel. He said he sees this a lot in IBS patients. And sees it alot where it is worse (like mine) around the menstral cycle because of those darn hormones. He said that where the Nexium and Protonix didn't really help...it probably isn't the acid, but the soft lining in the esophagus that is going spastic like my colon. He is doing some bloodwork to rule out some things like H-pilori (ulcers) and something else that had a long name. I asked him about Equalactin and told him I wasn't able to find it....so he gave me seven boxes of it as samples!!! He also said that Pepcid AC and Zantac 75 are different medications than Nexium and he is going to try me on that, too. He also wants me to be more regular (no pun intended) with taking my fiber on a daily basis because when I had my colonoscopy done a few years ago it showed diverticulitus. So he his going to start this way and see me in two weeks to see how I am doing and if it's not better then he will do the scope down the throat. So there we have it.....I'm so glad my stressful week is about over. I feel better knowing that I won't have to do the scope next week or maybe not at all. Thank you friends for all your support!
Now I must go feed my dogs and play with them before Survivor comes on. Hubby is working late tonight so I'll get to watch it twice.
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Nugget
#68461 - 05/07/04 06:13 AM
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jenX
Reged: 08/11/03
Posts: 3252
Loc: Richmond, VA
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glad it went well. sounds like he's really on top of things.
hope you have a nice weekend. you've earned it!
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Hey there, pretty lady!
I like your doctor. I like him A LOT. Free samples of Equalactin? How can I get an appointment with this guy?
You are so lucky that he found the diverticuli for you. So many, MANY people have diverticulosis that are never diagnosed until they get a full-fledge diverticulitis attack. (Like me.) Being forewarned is being forearmed. Don't let those little pockets get infected. You should give up all nuts and especially SEEDS. Clean out your spice cabinet of all seeds -- poppy seeds, celery seed, cumin seed -- and make sure to only eat the outside portion of tomatoes, never the seeds! They're just evil.
I had a real bad reaction to Zantac 75, but Pepcid AC rocks! Aren't you or weren't you already taking your fiber on a regular basis?
Oh yeah, I like this doc. So glad you went yesterday. You done good, Girlfriend.
Your friend,
Bev
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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I'm so thankful that I have great doctors. But, I still get really nervous about going. He said the hypno CDs are a good thing, too.
Yes, I was a bad girl and had gotten away from taking my fiber on a regular basis. Bad Nugget! Bad, Bad! But I will do better at it now. I have to go back to see the doc on the 27th of this month to see how I am doing. Hopefully this new medication, etc. does the trick so that he doesn't have to take a look inside my esophogus. He said it's not a bad procedure, though.
What kind of reaction did you have to Zantac? Did the Pepcid AC work better?
My sore throat is a bit better today...just coughing alot of stuff up (yuk) now. Am drinking lots of fluids. (water, Bev....not Jack...  I don't drink)
A question about equalactin.....can I take imodium if I need to when I am taking the equalactin?
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He's a great doc.....He took all the time in the world yesterday to answer my questions and ask me questions. Didn't feel rushed. I've been to him before, but it's been a few years.
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Believe it or not, the Zantac actually gave me even WORSE indigestion! (???) It was awhile ago, and back then, it was by prescription only. No, I didn't like it at all.
As for the Pepcid AC, it works. That's why I like it. Hubby takes it too. But, truth be known, when my indigestion is REALLY, REALLY bad and the Pepcid AC doesn't help, I pull out the Maalox liquid. It's gross, it's thick and chalky and I almost gag on it. I have to just swallow it while thinking of happy things, trying to relax while holding my nose. Not a pretty picture. But it works every time.
Your question about the Equalactin -- how are you planning on taking it? I only take it "as needed," not as my daily soluble fiber supplement. It's WAAAAY too expensive to take that way! You have to chew up a bazillion tablets to equal the amount of fiber in the powder, which adds up $$$ big time; it's like 5 times the cost. And do you want to spend all day chewing these things?
If you take the Equalactin only as needed, then you'll be "free" to take other stuff, like the Immodium. But you know, I wouldn't think there'd be a problem taking them together since one is a fiber, the other a med, and those you can take together, as far as I know.
Hope you get rid of that sore throat soon. Coughing up "stuff" is a good thing. Your body's getting rid of it.
Curl up with a good book. I'm reading "To See You Again," a true story of Betty Schimmel, a woman who survived the holocaust. Excellent reading; fascinating story. So I'll go back to it.....
Later,
Bev
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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