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1) When I begin the cleanse, the first half, six days, I felt some benefit. Then, from the sixth day forward, I felt worse each day. Is this sequence normal for a cleanse. I would have thought if the cleanse were not to work, I would have felt worse to begin, not better. Is this a common sequence of events? I simply want to be certain this is to blame.

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Well, I think you can be pretty certain. And yes, this sequence is, I would imagine, pretty normal for a cleanse. It's all about understanding the nature of IBS.

Here's why: Basically, spasms in the colon cause IBS-C just as much ast they cause IBS-D. For IBS-D the spasms cause D, while for IBS-C the spasms cause the colon to sieze up and cause C (whether it's C or D really just depends on the individual person). Make sense? Well, basically with a cleanse, you might be getting rid of all the stuff that's inside you, making it look like it's helping your C, but you're really just CAUSING SPASMS. Which is probably why you quickly ended up with even worse C again - your gut is reacting to the spasms and seizing up. So it seemed like it was working for the first few days because you were having BMs, but really your gut was spasming, and once it slowed down a little a few days in, your colon seized up - not surprisingly, worse than it was before - causing C.

The IBS GI-system is like a hyperactive child. Everything you do to help your IBS should have the aim of calming it down. Cleanses do just the opposite - they get it all riled up and excited... which might make your bowels move initially, but they're only moving because your gut is spasming, not because your IBS is stabilizing, and you end up with even worse C after.

CLEANSES ARE BAD FOR IBS. Period.
Calling it "a cleanse gone bad" is redundant because there's no such thing as a "cleanse gone WELL" for IBS...!

I wouldn't say you've done permanent harm, but you've probably set yourself back a little (or a lot), which is a shame since you were doing so well

Now you just have to work at re-stabilizing yourself - and you know how to do it since you started along the process of doing it once before. Now you just have to do it again after this (major) setback. Keep up with the probiotic and the Benefiber and eat as SAFELY as possible - if there ever was a time when you didn't cheat at all, this should be it. Give your gut a chance to recover!! Basically, go easy on yourself. (And I mean, really easy, ok? )

Hope you feel better soon.


Edited by retrograde (02/17/06 03:43 PM)

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