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marla
i've read everyone's posts and want to add my 2 cents in. you are definitely NOT ALONE, though i do understand that feeling. Please know that we are all one post on the bb away and here to support you.
i have had many days exactly how you described your current ones. the pain was much worse than the d itself and recently i have started throwing up constantly. i'm a full time graduate student which does add a lot of stress but it's nothing compared to the thought of having a full time job, as managing ibs is a full time gig unto itself. somedays it's hard to wake up t hinking "another day of this, why is this life worth living???" the summers are always bad for me as it's hot and humid in texas which makes things a million times worse.
but i do try to find a silver lining in everything. i have a niece and nephew that i adore and my mom is my best friend and just one door away. she's there for constant support and she has a very mild case of ibs, so she can relate. i also haev other family members with it, though they don't take it seriously despite the fact i've talked to them a million times on making it better. i'm the proactive person. i figure if ibs is going to make life a challenge i'm going at it fighting. afterall, this is my life! i think graduate school is somewhat theraputic. of my body is screwed up (i have other problems than just ibs) at least i can have a healthy mind that i will fill with as much education as i can take. most days i try to think of myself as a mind rather than a body. i know it sounds weird, but the escape my mind gives me from ibs is what works. try reading a book and wrapping yourself in it. it will take your mind off things.
i also take many medications such as lotronex (miracle for ibs d), nexium, zofran, and my gi has just put me on elavil to help with nausea and stress. i have also taken reglan, carafate, phenergan, every antispamodic (which never helped me) and many other meds to help control the pain such as vicodin. please go to your dr and look into meds to help with the pain they do help and codiene does cause constipation so it should help with the d.
i'm going to shut my trap and try to sleep now. just remember we are all here for you, and if you need us please say something. you do not have to suffer in silence. i've been on the boards for a while and can vouch that the people here are wonderful, nonjudgemental, and ready to offer advice or just listen.
take care and please update us! 
amy
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Re: I agree..
#18114 - 08/22/03 12:49 AM
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KinOz
Reged: 02/02/03
Posts: 909
Loc: Brisbane, Australia
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.. with pretty much everything that has been said here and I'm not sure if I can add much more but thought it might help you to learn that I have been where you are too and whilst I thought things would never get better they have. I'm not saying I'm 100% - I don't think I ever will be but I certainly feel like living again.
I think what has helped me the most is probably the SF supps, IBS diet, exercise, yoga and stress management, Hypno tapes. Also, I initally went on an anti-depressant and I think that really helped because it put me in a frame of mind to help myself. If you decide to do this make sure the doctor gives you one which is helpful to your kind of IBS.
As I said I still have days which are full of pain but they are much less frequent and when they occur I'm much better at dealing with them. Please don't give up on things improving. Sometimes it takes a while.
with you,
Kerrie
--------------------
What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.
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Be careful. I took Zoloft several years ago and it gave me diarrhea the first week or two. Also, my sister tried it recently and had to stop it because it gave her terrible diarrhea. Certain anti-depressants help with diarrhea, others are best for constipation. Be sure to discuss this with your doctor so you don't make your D worse.
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Marla,
Have you talked to your doctor about trying a low dose of an antidepressant? They have helped many with the pain of IBS. I would take a low dose of one in a minute if I could! (I have bipolar disorder and am unable to take an antidepressant.)
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Wow! You have really been through a lot! No wonder you are in pain and feeling depressed. It's so hard to get on with life when all this stuff is going on. I have gone through a lot of grieving because of health challenges that seem neverending at times.
I have found that I was isolating myself in many ways. I was embarrassed about my health issues, and so even when I was around people, I would never tell them what was going on with me. And, because this was hard, I would isolate myself even more. I am trying to make sure that I spend time with family and friends, despite how I feel, and I'm trying to talk more (without being self-absorbed and annoying about it) with others about my challenges--they are a lot more understanding than I thought they would be. In fact, I started finding lots of other people with similar issues.
Try to look for the joy in the moment. Even on a day when I feel lousy, there can be moments of pleasure--joking with my husband or even just drinking a good cup of tea!
Best wishes to you and hope you feel better soon.
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