found a great doctor, making great progress
#365549 - 07/16/11 08:22 AM
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I've gone to Dr. Gerson only twice and I can't recommend him enough. - http://www.mindbodydigestive.com/ (nyc)
He understands everything we talk about on this forum. I was afraid that i'd look like a lunatic talking about the FODMAP diet but he not only understood it but thinks it makes sense. The first time he recommend citrucel tablets and a probiotic (i forget which one exactly). The Citrucel was a definite positive step forward. This was after i had already tried fiber supplements and they failed to work. I hadn't tried a methylcellulose based supplement. The probiotic had no effect.
This past week i updated him with my results - things are better, but its still urgent when i need to go and it tends to be very soft but formed. He put me on a very mild antidepressant. I remember reading that it was an option but that I probably didn't want to go down that path. Well, he recommended trying it and cited few side effects so i went for it. This isn't the last step in the process but i'm current symptom free. First time in years!
I had cut out wheat and spicy food from my diet. I'll try reincorporating them in the near future.
I wish I would have found him earlier.
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I'm glad you found something that works for you and a doctor who listens. I was very glad that my GP didn't knock the diet. Not everyone is as fortunate finding good docs like you & I!
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So glad you found a doctor who will listen to your issues. I had a doctor who did help me with some issues I was having. I did have to have my gall bladder removed which helped some other symptoms I had (side catch) but before and after I had other underlying issues like "C" and sometimes "D". Also still had issues when I ate certain foods (I am also lactose intolerent). My stomach bothered me so much I would have anxiety attacks. I never knew about IBS and my doc put it together for me after testing me for other possibilities. It was good that he acknowledged what I had. Unfortunately I don't think he knew a lot about how to approach IBS. I was prescribed something to relieve stomach cramping which didn't seem to help much and I did discontinue it. I was also prescribed an anti anxiety medication (lexapro). I know people had differing opinions on this. It was a lifesaver for me. Before it I would not even leave the house for fear of my stomach bothering me and the inevitable anxiety attack. I went for a year and a half not having an issue. I truly wanted to be able to come off the medication. At the end of March my husband and I separated and I filed for divorce. This was also the time I decided to come off the lexapro. There was a lot of stress involved with divorce, no job and bills. I went three months without having the lexapro and was hopeful, but recently my stomach began to bother me again and the anxiety attacks returned. I know they are related, one playing off the other. I had to start the lexapro again. I know there are different paths for each person and they have to find what works for them. I have no apologies for taking lexapro. It has enabled me to have a life and live it almost normally. I do use other options as well. I do a yoga program, have begun exercising again on a regular basis which I had stopped doing for a while (probably because I was feeling so bad about the marriage/divorce) and changed my eating again. I also want to try the hypnosis program but I cannot afford it right now. I will finally be starting a new job in the next week and hope my life will get back on track. I have also begun dating a new man who seems to be very understanding about my IBS. He does live about an hour and a half from me and I want to get back to some normalcy so that I can feel comfortable driving to see him and not worry about my tummy or an anxiety attack. Keep good communication with your doctor about your progress. And while I come and go on the boards here, I always know if I have a problem or am having a bad day with IBS, I can come here for support and advice. I find that it is important to not "dwell" on the IBS. When I began to feel "normal" again I only thought about the IBS occasionally and tried to continue a regular life. Obviously there are things you must continue but it just becomes a normal part of life after a while. So glad you are symptom free and let us know how you are doing.
Kim
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When all else fails.....have tea.
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