Help!!!!
#285628 - 10/08/06 08:16 AM
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topps24
Reged: 10/08/06
Posts: 9
Loc: Georgia
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I have been reading posts on this website and I hate to say it , but i am glad that i am not alone! I am having so many problems that no one understands. I was dx as IBS-D earlier this year and am having such a hard time. My husband doesnt understand and i am beginning to wonder that he DOESNT want to understand. I have attacks every week and live on Immodium. My Gastro doctor has put me on Nortriptylene 25mg and said to take Immodium as needed. The only thing i think the Nortriptylene does for me is make me sleepy.
Does anyone have any suggestions on what helps for urgency. When i have an attack, i have usually 3-5 minutes to find a restroom or it will get ugly. I have had 3 accidents since i was in high school and have so much anxiety that it will happen again, which i know makes matters worse...but no one understands what it is like to go on yourself in public, therefore it is even hard for my loved ones to understand what i am going through. I have been really upset lately since i was in Vegas last week and had a terrible time because i was constantly worrying. If someone has advice...Please Help!!
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Re: Help!!!!
#285630 - 10/08/06 08:44 AM
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Jana S
Reged: 05/27/06
Posts: 1
Loc: Southeastern US
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Topps, I know how you feel. The best thing I ever did was start following this diet. Yep, it meant that I had to stop consuming all of my favorites, but the relief that I got was so worth it. I also lost 20 pounds in less than 2 months...which was not part of my plan. Also, I ordered the Acacia powder and started taking it, and slowly have worked up to my 4 tablespoons/day. I used to take the peppermint pills, but have no need to anymore. Oh, and the peppermint tea is the best whenever I have symptoms. I drink it every day. I can tell you that I am a totally different person and I no longer have to worry about where the bathrooms are every minute of every day...
I hope this helps. The support of the folks around here is really helpful, also. Good luck and go with the diet. It is worth the effort, trust me!!
-Jana
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IBS-D,CFIDS in recovery
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How is your diet? Have you been following Heather's recommendations?
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Re: Help!!!!
#285637 - 10/08/06 09:07 AM
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Sand
Reged: 12/13/04
Posts: 4490
Loc: West Orange, NJ (IBS-D)
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I've never found anything I can take once an attack starts that will shut it down immediately. For me, the trick is to follow the EFI Diet - that means attacks will be few and far between. If I'm having a bad tummy day and need to get out and about, I'll take Imodium and/or Donnatol (an anti-spasmodic). I found both those medications to be far more effective once I started watching what I ate.
Nortriptyline is a tricyclic anti-depressant, like Elavil (Amitriptyline). Some people have good luck with these in treating IBS-D. I tried Elavil and found it worked for a while, then the effects wore off and the dosage had to be increased. As the dosage got higher, I got spacier, so I stopped taking it.
I definitely recommend the EFI Diet. If you haven't read the information outside the Message Boards, do look through it - you can click on "Home" in the column to the left to get started.
While you're stabilizing on the Diet, you can try taking Imodium preventively, perhaps one a day or one in the morning and one at night. You can also take Donnatol (or any other anti-spasmodic) regularly for a while until you've been on the EFI Diet for long enough to calm things down.
The good news for an IBS-D is that you should get some relief really quickly. You can start with the Break The Cycle Diet, although when I first started I simply stopped eating trigger foods and irritants and started eating lots of Soluble Fiber. I also found an SFS (I take Acacia) did me a world of good.
As for your family, you can take a look at this brochure and see if you think it will help them understand what you're going through.
HTH. Welcome to the Boards.
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[Research tells us fourteen out of any ten individuals likes chocolate. - Sandra Boynton]
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Thank you so much! Everyone on here seems to be very helpful. I have bought the peppermint tabs but havent taken them regulary so maybe i should try that. I have also bought some of the metamucil powder, should i try and take the acacia powder instead? As for the peppermint tea, do you drink as is ? Ive never tried it before but i will give it a try. I pray and cannot wait for the day when i can too go anywhere without worrying where the bathroom is!
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I havent yet started the diet. I am guessing i should give it a try. I eat lots of salad and chicken. Would it be in my best interest to cut out all red meats?
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If you're a D, salads would be one of the worst things you could eat if you're not stable. Red meats are usually a trigger, but some people can handle an occasional piece of lean red meat. Chicken and fish are your best choices for protein. Have a look around the site (not the message board) to gather info on Heather's Diet. You can also get the book IBS: The First Year on here, amazon, a book stores, or a library if you can't afford to buy it.
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You've come to the right place! I take immodium regularly as well as 1 tablespoon of acacia twice a day. It is a good start.
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Courtney (IBS-D)
"Do your part to live in peace with everyone, as much as possible." Romans 12:18
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Metamucil is a combination of Soluble Fiber and Insoluble Fiber. For IBS-D you want an SFS that is pure Soluble Fiber. Most widely sold SFS are pure SF including Acacia. web page
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[Research tells us fourteen out of any ten individuals likes chocolate. - Sandra Boynton]
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I just purchased the book yesterday along with some of the peppermint tummy tea, just waiting on it to get here.
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Thanks, i wouldnt have known, that. Guess i better try the Acacia powder!! I know it says tasteless but is it really if you mix it with just plain water?
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Yes it really is tasteless!
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Dear Topps, your life will change. Because I am a vegetarian, I find the fennel tea from Heather and Citrucel (not the sugar free kind) and Fibercon WONDERFUL! I take Citrucel or Fibercon before evey meal, about four times a day. I read her wonderful book, but didn't regularly take the soluable fiber. I thought oatmeal was enough. In rereading about the soluable fiber, I went out and got the products and went from 7 to 8 bowel movements to 1 a day. It was so bad i was using diapers. I have my life back now.
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Thank you!! I sometimes have a feeling that it will never end!! I hate being the one who not only urinates every 5 minutes, but also has to have a BM about 5-8 times a day! I am hoping that starting the fiber everyday will help me out!! Thanks for the great advice!
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