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I haven't seen the diagnostic criteria for STC (medscape probably has them) so I'm really not sure if it can include pain and other symptoms. I also don't know if STC and IBS can overlap, as IBD and IBS can.
If I were you I'd have a whole list of questions written out to take to your GI specialist! 
- H
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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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The key for me was getting rid of the insoluble fiber. Just adding soluble fiber is not enough. Wheat fiber and too many raw vegtables will actually make me constipated! I had to learn to substitute the soluble fiber (including daily Citrucel) for the insoluble, not just add it. Now that I've gotten that concept, I'm doing much better with both the D and the C.
Also, eliminating anything that irritates my bowel is a must. Caffeine, chocolate (sob!), alcohol, cigarette smoke...it doesn't matter what else I eat when those are in my system. I actually experience D and C at the same time, when my GI tract is inflamed with these things, and no amount of soluble fiber helps.
Judy
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Would you like the name of the doctor who helped me recover from intractable C? He's something of an expert on the relationship between nutrition, bowel health and C in particular. He's on the west coast of the U.S.
What are you eating currently? I know that you are following Heather's guidelines, but what do you actually eat on a typical day for breakfast, lunch and dinner?
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Gem
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Yes, I'm definitely interested in the doctor you mentioned. Would you mind telling me a bit more about his perspective and methodology, so I know whether I've "been there, done that" or not?
Typical day might be smoothie in the morning, a piece of sourdough toast with thin spread of pumpkin seed butter snack, grilled chicken and pressure cooked carrots and squash and a small salad for lunch, and maybe rice and veggies and soup for dinner.
But I've tried many other diets and approaches as well, so it's hard to say what's "typical".
I've temporarily made my email address visible on my profile here. It would probably be better to continue the discussion that way.
Thanks,
Chris
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How could antibiotics affect motility?
I would like to know the answer to that question. My first experience with IBS was after being on steriods and antibiotics for three months straight. It took me three months after finding Heather's website to get stable. Along with taking Zelnorm and Miralax. Now, I just stick with Heather diet and take SFS to stay stable.
I did have attack a few weeks ago when the weather hit 110*.
I had to take Miralax for a couple days after that attack to get things moving again. But, now I'm back to just taking the SFS and the diet.
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That does seem to be the million dollar question, as many here seem to have had their first experiences with IBS after taking antibiotics. As Heather commented, there is clearly a relationship between the intestinal flora and motility but it is not well understood. Dr. Mark Pimentel at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in LA has published research demonstrating a positive correlation between bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine and IBS. Interestingly enough, he uses antibiotics to treat this problem and has had results that are more effective and any other published IBS treatment (until Heather's diet is properly researched, of course  )
So, ironically, in some cases antibiotics can cause IBS and in some cases they seem to "cure" it. However, many health care practitioners, indluding an increasingly large number of doctors, argue that the "cure" is temporary and that the bacterial organisms that aren't killed by the drugs will actually strengthen and proliferate. Also, the imbalance of flora caused by antibiotics can lead to yeast overgrowth in the gut, the symptoms of which closely resemble "IBS" and Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
Unfortunately there's no clear cut answer. I believe my IBS was caused by the initial infection of parasites and amoebic dysentary, and then probably worsened by the several courses of antibiotics I've had to take in order to clear those infections. Based on my most recent experience with antibiotics and they're effect on me, I won't be taking them again unless I'm on my deathbed... and even then I'd be looking for other alternatives.
Chris
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Antibiotics can cause severe GI side effects, like cramping and diarrhea. Any severe "insult to the gut" can cause permanent damage to the nervous system of the gut and the way that nervous system interacts with the brain. This results in IBS, and the ongoing motility problems.
So, it's *possible* that it's not technically the antibiotics themselves (though killing off all the good biotics in the gut surely doesn't help). Maybe it's the side effects, and their lasting damage to the gut's nervous system?
- H
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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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Heather,
Isn't IBS constipation predominant slow motility? I think that's the problem with me. What you're saying then is that soluble fiber can make my constipation worse?
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STC
#189534 - 06/27/05 11:41 AM
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Linz
Reged: 09/01/03
Posts: 8242
Loc: England
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Slow Transit Colon (STC) is a different problem to IBS, but one that I believe is often misdiagnosed. If you have STC not IBS then a SFS is not the way to go. IF you have IBS-C, not STC, then a SFS is a good plan.
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Re: STC
#189579 - 06/27/05 01:36 PM
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_Willow
Reged: 04/06/05
Posts: 2090
Loc: Canada.
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STC,SFS,IBS-C,LOL!!
too many acronyms! 
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Keep on keepin' on...
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