Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | I need help with IBS-C input

Hi Lainey,

Sorry to hear you're having so much trouble managing your IBS symptoms, I honestly empathize with you. I doubt the position you find yourself in is a rare one. Personally, I find that dealing with my IBS seems to come in stages, and they don't always flow smoothly through one into another; sometimes I find myself moving backwards more often than forward. First of all, I want to point out that I've been rather slacking off; I try to commit to following certain steps/guidelines/rules whatever, and end up not following most. Also, forgive me if I get super detailed, but I think it's important to be candid and honest about this kind of thing as it benefits everyone. Basically, your first weapon is knowledge. I have IBS-C also, but it didn't start out that way. Over 7 years ago when I started having severe cramps, bloating, twisting abdominal pain, nausea, and urgency problems, I would spend weeks in a C misery, only to end up with D for a straight night. The pain was so bad once that my work called an ambulance for me. I haven't had much time (or maybe I haven't made time because I'm so scatter-brained w/the rest of my life) to log onto Heather's site and keep up with everything. I am still overwhelmed and frustrated by all of it, that I find it difficult to do what needs to be done. I have a very limited income, so can't afford the substitutions and other things that would probably help me. Probably a year ago, a wonderful lady sent me her IBS books that she no longer needed and those were a great help.

I have noticed, though, that in the past six months or more, my BMs have been a bit more frequent (1-3 times a week versus maybe once a month) and are either small and soft or larger size, but still fairly soft. Now that I really think about it (your post made me think about it), I haven't been constipated for more than 3-4 days at a time, and when I do have a BM, they are more comfortable than I used to have to deal with. I used to suffer from C for weeks or months at a time before my body literally forced a BM that was hard, large, and extremely painful. I still have infrequent cramping, but not as much of the twisting pain, and the bloating has been minimal when I have it (I look a few months' pregnant versus 9 months'), and the spasms are milder. No, I'm honestly not symptom-free, but seem to be suffering from them less often. I still haven't gotten over being angry over dealing with IBS-C though, nor do I truly feel completely comfortable w/telling ppl about it, b/c some ppl refuse to or just can't understand, or they pity me. My mom and one of my best friend's do their best to try to keep my IBS-C in their conscious mind when they are thinking up menus or places to eat out at. I think what you should try to do, Lainey, is to keep a food diary. Also, I have found that you don't have to eat bland food at all, just do your best to understand your tolerances - you'll find out better w/a food diary. For example, I have eaten a variety of recipes w/veggies and ground turkey, chicken breasts, fruit, etc. I've also been able to try snack and dessert foods that are safe for me and were quite good. There are several here in the IBS Recipe Exchange that I have made or make often that are tasty and safe, and that others in my family have enjoyed. Because of the money issue, I have not been able to fully commit myself to a completely revamped diet, but when I can, I am usually pleased by the results. When I don't follow the diet in some way, I consciously make that decision, but I try not to stress over it. For example, if I end up having to eat something w/dairy or whole eggs, I minimize the effect it might have in any way possible, but I don't stress about it. Stress is, as far as I can tell, the #1 most common trigger for IBS symptoms. So are anxiety and depression. I suffer from all of those. :/ A depressed, stressed, and anxious GI tract works poorly even if you don't have IBS. Let me see if I can clarify my ideas and tell you what *I* as an IBS-C sufferer have been doing/trying/using. Please keep in mind that my efforts are sometimes inconsistent (dumb money problems), but I can tell they are working for me.

Food Diary - Write down the time you wake up and how you feel before you do anything, if applicable note your BM too, then note what you eat (or if you didn't eat) for breakfast, try to note your eating and activities, mood, and actions, and the times thorughout the day, and how your body feels physically in accord with all of these, and be brutally honest w/yourself. Do this for the whole day, up until you go to bed. The longer you keep the diary, the more you can find patterns or things that help or hurt. This will help you pay attention to what and how you are eating, how you prepare it, what the food makes you feel like, and also how your mind and body react to all the daily things you do. Maybe you'll find that you need more sleep, or to drink more water, etc.

Find support (like Heather's site). Also, if your friends, family, and co-workers understand (and honestly it's on a need-to-know basis); you'll probably know who should know about your IBS. Sometimes, to help ppl understand better, I might compare my IBS dietary requirements to a food allergy, b/c more ppl understand food allergies and that has seemed to really help ppl take me seriously.

Once you know your tolerances a bit better, you can start taste-testing so to speak different substitutions or alternative foods and various recipes. My 2nd favorite site for recipes is Recipezaar (I have a few IBS recipes on there, too, as well as successfully subbed in other recipes. The site address is recipezaar.com. Lots of ppl from Heather's site post there, too.) I've found that unsweetened soy milk is the most economical for me to buy b/c I found a brand I like, it's not overly expensive, readily available in most regular supermarkets (not just HFS or natural food stores), and is the most versatile in most recipes both cooked or non-cooked. I can also add non-dairy chocolate syrup or vanilla extract to it to change it to my tastes or for the recipe. Eggbeaters is also another favorite of mine, and again for several of the same reasons as for the soy milk I buy. I can handle turkey bacon well (some can't). Soy yogurt is quite good, I've tried margarine/butter subs with good results, a mayo sub, soy cheese, rice cheese, and almond cheese all with good results. Ground turkey and boneless, skinless chicken breasts are my friends, I can tolerate oatmeal and also some whole grains, white rice... there's more, it's a long list!

Dang, I just realized how long this message got, so I'll cut it short for now, although there is much more detail I'm sure I could add. Well, first, let me tell you a few things I try to use (when I can afford them). Btw, I have no medical insurance, so OTC's are it for me; although I used to take Zelnorm, which was working, but apparently there's a new study out about it... I think my BF found a Zelnorm story several months ago on CNN.com.

Digestive Advantage for IBS - chewable tablets in a 30-day supply taken once daily, but I sometimes have to skip days to make them last, though taking them daily helps the most for me. This really does help (sometimes) prevent and even moderate my symptoms better.

Generic Gas-X - I take the softgels, maximum strength. Sometimes I take 2, sometimes I need to follow the directions and take a higher dose. They work very decently though, for me.

Drinking warm water or using a heat pad.

Generic extra-strength Lactaid - although ppl with IBS normally don't have the typical lactose-intolerance that Lactaid is made for, sometimes taking one before a meal I know I can't avoid that might have any amount of dairy in it seems to sometimes head off problems.

Again, I try to not stress and know that if I do eat something that might not agree with my GI tract, to not dwell on it too much, but just recognize what I'm doing (or not doing). I know it's hard and frustrating. Tons of luck to you, Lainey, and again so very sorry this got so long! Lol! IBS in whatever forms it takes seems very individualized with a handful of stuff that most have in common and the rest is just all over the place, so I know how tough it can be to find what works for you. Patience is difficult when you're in pain. *HUGS*

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XOXO from lil' ol' me.

(IBS-C, mood disorders, etc., etc.)

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