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#35709 - 01/07/04 12:18 PM
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j doe
Reged: 01/07/04
Posts: 16
Loc: Ohio
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Hi! I have not been officially diagnosed, but am 99.9% sure that I have IBS. I also have PCOS, and am supposed to be on a diabetic-type diet, complete with lots of vegetables and protein, few carbs, and 6 servings of fat per day! No way I can do that much fat, plus I'm a vegetarian, which makes getting protein difficult. If I can't have dairy, I'm not sure what I'll do. My main triggers seem to be raw vegetables such as lettuce, popcorn, stress and fats. I've looked around and am trying to implement some of Heather's suggestions, but have yet to order her books. I'm on Glucophage for the PCOS, which can cause GI upset, but I've been on that for 2+ yrs and the IBS symptoms have just started to really become a pattern in the past 9 months. I have a LOT of stress with work, and at home, which I know doesn't help. I'm a pretty laid back person, but take other people's negativity personally.
What else can I tell you? Been married for 10yrs, no human children, but 4 indoor and 4 outdoor cats. No internet access at home, but do have time to visit while working, due to the nature of my job.
Have you all been diagnosed by testing, or just by symptoms? Do your doctors want to shove a bunch of pills at you so that you go away? I really want to be healthy and do it naturally. Looking forward to "meeting" you all.
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Welcome!
#35716 - 01/07/04 12:41 PM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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Hi idoe, and Welcome!
Yes, I believe all of us -- or most of us certainly -- have had our colonoscopy to confirm the great news. I don't think there's any other definite means for a GI to confirm an IBS diagnosis. Most of us have had other tests as well, all lots of fun.
First off, you need to learn how to use the "search" button above. It's all a little overpowering when you peruse all the posts -- but if you do a search for whatever you have a question on, only those posts pertaining to your question will appear, and that makes it all a little less foreboding.
You'll get a lot of help and support here -- and, in my case, I got better.
So many doctors do that -- they just give you the diagnosis and show you the door. We just need to keep looking for doctors who won't do that. And you do need to get that colonoscopy; you don't want to "self-diagnose."
The good thing is that you found this website, because there are so many people here who know so much from personal experience -- it really blew me away.
Don't hesitate to order Heather's books; they're INVALUABLE. All of us have read them at least twice. So many of the questions posed in here are answered in those books.
A lot of us are vegetarians; I think this is a good eating program for us. Are you a total vegetarian? Do you eat fish? Fish is SOOOO good for us. Protein powder works well also, I mix it with fruit and soy milk. Yum. I have a REAL hard time with those raw vegetables though!
Anyway, welcome to the boards, idoe!
Bev.
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Thank you for the welcome, Bev! I'm reluctant to even talk to my doctor about this, as he's my boss, too. I thought a colonoscopy would just rule out other problems such as Crohn's disease. Did your doctor use it to actually diagnose your IBS or is IBS one of those things that they diagnose when they can't find any other reason for the symptoms? I will be ordering Heather's books soon, as I am having some really miserable times!
I am a Lacto-Ovo vegetarian, so I do dairy and eggs, but no meat, chicken or fish. I eat quit a bit of the soy-based meat substitutes. In fact, I was raised on this diet. I will look in to the protein powder, though.
I was so excited to come across this bb, as I know that the input from others who suffer from this is invaluable! Thanks again for the warm welcome.
j
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Re: Welcome!
#35727 - 01/07/04 01:35 PM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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Oh! It's "j" not "i" -- I'm sorry.
Well, lets see -- in answer to your questions -- I had IBS symptoms for a long time and was diagnosed with it by several doctors. I was in total denial -- I refused to believe it -- and ultimately suffered needlessly. Finally I had to have a confirmed diagnosis, so my doctor sent me to a GI specialist south of here, who scheduled me for the colonoscopy. It ruled out polyps, which ironically they found in my GI when he had HIS colonoscopy. He wasn't worried about having IBS, but he had a history of polyps, so he had the colonoscopy "just to check."
My colonoscopy confirmed his diagnosis of my IBS. (I think when they find nothing on their examination, it's a matter of ruling everything else out, then coming to the ultimate conclusion that it has to be IBS.)
Unfortunately, I also had a bad attack that sent me to the hospital, and they did a catscan and discovered I had diverticulitis as well. My GI wanted to operate, yet admitted that my condition was minor -- so when I opted instead to treat it with antibiotics and diet, he showed me the door and refused to give me any meds.
Dairy is really REALLY bad for us here; I got so much better when I gave it up. At first I was in denial -- AGAIN -- and when my doctor told me to give it up, I wouldn't do it. I can be such a rebel! But then I discovered soy milk, soy cheese, soy "ice cream," soy EVERYTHING -- and I was back in business.
When I found Heather, I followed all her advice except for one little thing: I refused to give up coffee. I figured if I did eveything else right, then why couldn't I have a little coffee? Makes sense, doesn't it? No no no. Doesn't work like that, unfortunately. SOOOO . . . after a 42-year addiction to the stuff, Heather, with one post in here, got me off my addiction permanently! (Damn, she's good!) That was almost a month ago. And, although I hate to admit it, she was right -- I feel SOOOO much better -- AND I dropped my blood pressure drastically. My doctor was just about to put me on blood pressure medication, and then on my last exam I fooled him by having cut out coffee, and my results were 125/35 -- WOW! JUST from cutting out coffee!
Now, recipes! Just for the fun of it, you might check out the recipes in here; there are some great ones -- Mags just updated our index for us. I'm having a lot of fun experimenting with new dishes.
Your doctor is your boss as well? Interesting. Well, that must mean he's a good guy. That's terrific -- but is he a GI?
You'll get a lot of responses from others who have lots of great advice. I think you'll be surprised at how much better you're gonna get just from what you learn here.
Bev 
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Thank you for your response, Bev! It does sound like you got better the hard way, but I appreciate you sharing your journey in hopes of making mine shorter. I'm so glad your blood pressure is down after cutting out coffee! I just recently gave it up. I'm fairly content with fennel and peppermint tea when I want something hot. But they don't serve them at the drive-thru at McD's! I gave McD's up, too, as they don't have much of anything I can handle.
I probably do need to try cutting out dairy. I wonder if it bothers all IBS sufferers the same? I'll be sure to check out the recipe section, as I love to cook and bake when I get time.
Yeah, my boss is a pretty good doc, but I still have to be pro-active for my own health. I had to teach him about proper treatment for PCOS and still have to watch that women with this get treated properly, instead of just symptom management. And, no, he's no GI- we do general family practice.
Thank you again for rolling out the welcome wagon! I'll be back often!
j
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Hi! Welcome! I just joined the boards myself a few days ago. I am 29 and have had IBS for at least 8 years. You need to do the colonoscopy to rule out anything else. IBS is still much of a mystery to the medical community and is diagnosed by ruling other illnesses/allergies/intolerances. I had the colonoscopy (negative), lactose test (vey positive), sucrose/fructose (negative) and celiac (negative but have acid reflux). The docs could conclude I have IBS. I know the food adjustments are hard but hang in there and read the website, the boards and the book. You will adjust and you will be happier because you will be feeling much better soon. Cheers!
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Hello, hello, hello and welcome.
I haven't had any of the invasive tests (should I insist on this). I'm 30 and have had IBS C&D from about 17 and IBS loooong before that!! I've had a load of blood tests - allergies, celiac, so on and a stool test which showed up nothing at all. My doctor was so convinced I have IBS he diagnosed this before these tests, but went ahead just to check. He's convinced it's IBS and says it's not worth the discomfort of any more tests based on my symptoms (I assume he thinks this as my D just relates to anticipatory anxiety and immediately follows C, rather than being horrifically bad all the time, no acid reflux, no blood passed or anything else to indicate a more serious condition, and any severe pain is only occasional with more continuous mild discomfort).
My doctor told me that soluble fibre and stress relief are the key to managing IBS. Good advice!!
On a much more sad note, I had a friend who was recently referred to a GI consultant for bowel problems (which were related to a period of severe stress and have now completely resolved). At that time, she mentioned IBS and he said that 'I don't believe in IBS - some people just have more active or more sensitive guts than others'. WHAT KIND OF AN ATTITUDE IS THAT??? What he was saying is basically correct in that IBS is an EXTREMELY sensitive gut, but surely that is a condition which should and could be managed, with the right care and advice?! It seems that some doctors still live in the dark ages where they are only interested in organic diseases which cause physical damage or are life-threatening. Imagine telling a woman in total agony that there's no such thing as period pain, some people are just more sensitive than others; or there's no such thing as sensitive skin, so it doesn't matter what you slap on yours!! What a disgrace...
OK, rant over
Welcome to the boards, I'm sure you'll find lots of help and support.
Shellsbells 
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Welcome to the boards. First, I know it's unpleasant but you MUST get a proper diagnosis. Especially with PCOS, as the IBS can mimic other problems like uterine cancer, etc. With that said, IBS and PCOS have been discussed extensively on this board. So a search (button at top) and you will find tons of helpful information on how to manage the two. You really need to cook, puree etc. your fruits and veggies. Also, look into a fiber supplement - and whether that's OK to do - I would check with your Doc about that. The supplement will help if you have to avoid the soluble fiber foods that we consider a staple. If you have any further questions, please ask.
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Formerly HanSolo. IBS, OCD, Bipolar, PTSD times 3.
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Thank you to everyone who responded to my first post. I know that this board will be very helpful in trying to get straightened out, and I appreciate everyone sharing their helpful hints and suggestions. I guess I should discuss my problem with my doctor and have some tests of some sort run. (((HUGS))) to all and God bless you!
j
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