Hi, Cara.
#53184 - 03/23/04 05:31 AM
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jenX
Reged: 08/11/03
Posts: 3252
Loc: Richmond, VA
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Doctors can be so off the mark it's amazing. How are we supposed to have faith in a diagnosis like that? "yeah yeah that's what I think you have." OMG, I get soooo frustrated hearing stories like that.
As for the vomiting... I don't have that, but I've never been (as an old friend used to put it) "an easy puker." What I do have, though, is "episodes." That's what my doctor calls them! He and I are friends and he had been having a hard time grasping what was going on with me 'til last July when we were at a party together. I know now that I was too tired, got too hot, and had eaten too many fatty foods (didn't know about that stuff at the time!), and I got really dizzy, very disoriented, very nauseous, very cold-sweaty. He made me lie down (everyone thought I was trashed, but I hadn't had a lick!) and checked my blood pressure, heart rate, etc... Within a half an hour I was running to the bathroom with D. I was sick for a week. Now I know that when I get that woozy, disoriented, nauseous, cold-sweaty feeling, I need to take my meds and get to bed, ASAP!  (I also stay out of over-heated situations. That's a huge trigger for me. But that's neither here nor there, is it...? And we ramble on...  )
I also lost about 40 pounds last year from being sick, so maybe everyone with IBS doesn't lose weight, but I think it's not too too unusual, especially for those who aren't eating right. I lost that from being very ill and being afraid to eat more than toast. Once I started Heather's plan, I wasn't afraid anymore and branched out.
One last comment in regards to the vomiting: it's not a typical IBS thing, from what I've read. Yes, people can get nauseous and may vomit from pain and from severe attacks, but you may want to seek out a second opinion with another Doc. There are other things (celiac and gall bladder issues come to mind, but there are more) that could be going on that could cause vomiting. You need to rule them out definitively! You don't want to be going along assuming it's one thing when it could be another. Your doc isn't too confidence-inspiring. At least find one who can be more certain he's done all he can do....
Good luck.
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I do get panic attacks but, until I read you post and the posts of all the people who responded, I never connected the stomach problems to the panic attacks.
By panic attacks do you mean the feeling that you can't breath? Almost like your chest is constricted or your diaphram is frozen and won't move? This is very eye opening. Thanks for posting your original question.
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sugar
#53193 - 03/23/04 06:12 AM
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Dalia
Reged: 03/14/04
Posts: 79
Loc: London / Tel Aviv / New York
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Hey cara
sorry if I was confusing about the giving up sugar thing. I know it sounds like hell!
But listen, there are a whole lot of blood sugar issues associated with panic attacks. And blood sugar issues are also associated with some ibs symptoms.
For example, you shouldn't go too long without eating something when you have ibs. And when I mean something, it should be something of a complex carbohydrate (starchy) source, bread, soup, rice, etc. This is because your symptoms will get much worse if your tummy becomes totally empty. I carry around rice crackers whereever I go because I get low blood sugar so suddenly and quickly which can then lead to anxiety symptoms! If I eat regularly (and the right foods!!) I am totally calm.
Now the problem with sugar is that if you eat something really sugary, or have a cup of sugary tea, on an empty stomach, your blood sugar will shoot up quickly, you'll have a spurt of energy and then it will drop again, so your symptoms will be all over the place.
What I will suggest is that you try to reduce the sugar in your diet. The very fact that you crave it so much and need it, is an indication that you are, I hate to use this word, because sugar isn't en evil in moderation!!! addicted in a way to it, reliant upon it.
I cannot tell you how central the discovery of my 'addiction' to sugary things was to the healing of my ibs.
If you must have something sugary try to make sure it is after a good meal of something 'proper'.
I am sorry if I sound harsh, but I was helped so infinetly with my anxiety and my ibs by giving up sugar. I am not suggesting you do something that extreme as to give it up...but wow, it changed my life and my energy levels.
If you do want to give it up, cold turkey (I must say this just incase) prepare for a few days of headaches!!!
if you need anymore info please write to me. And I am sorry if I am bringing bad advice for you right now. I remember when my naturopath told me to give up sugar I was stunned, I loved it so much!!
XXXX
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Feel the fear, and do it anyway
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Wow!
#53207 - 03/23/04 06:42 AM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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Dalia, this is GREAT info! THANK YOU! I'm not Cara, but this helps me IMMENSELY. You might as well have been directing that post to me. I'm afraid I'm a sugar addict. I've been trying to go "cold-turkey" ever since Monday, but I'm not having too much luck. I started out okay, but yesterday I really blew it on my fave mocha fudge. GRRRRRR. Luckily we're almost out of the stuff, so we just won't replace it when it's gone. I've been appeasing myself with a little cocoa when I was having my "withdrawals," and then I discovered the box of baby arrowroot biscuits and went crazy.
Ruchie was so proud of me at first, and I'm hanging my head now. Don't tell her; I don't want her to know I'm such a failure.
I'll do better, I promise. Your post was VERY informative, very helpful (and not at ALL harsh). Thank you SOOO much!
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Omigod, Bevrs..I am a TOTAL SUGAR ADDICT as well!! I don't think I could ever get sick of desserts. I could live off them! I LOVE chocolate, but I haven't eaten any for the last week or so and as long as I don't have any in the house I should be fine. I'm eventually going to snap and HAVE to eat some, though. I mean, how can you survive without it???? Not me!!
What I am trying to do to help myself eat less sugar is to focus more on pasta and pancakes and other "non-sugary things". also, I'm not putting as much sugar in my desserts. Maybe you should try this too (we'll try it together). Everytime you make a dessert, keep adding less and less so you GRADUALLY get used to the taste of less sugar. Maybe this will help us "wean" ourselves of our need for sugar.
I mean, of course we will still crave it and have to have it every once in awhile, but for the most part we can learn to eat lower-sugar foods. Also, have you ever tried using Splenda?? This is not like Nutra-sweet or Equal. It has no aspartame or anything artificial. It tastes just like sugar, and I'm wondering if anyone uses this???
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Splenda
#53219 - 03/23/04 07:05 AM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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Hi Melissa,
Congrats on doing so well, by the way! I'm real happy for you.
I believe Splenda is a no-no. I don't use the stuff. All imitation sugar is a trigger.
I'm gonna do okay without sugar (having a little trouble lately, but I'll do better). Okay, I'm having a little honey in my tea this morning, but just a little. Hubby put the RKTs and the ADBs down the garbage disposal (boy, did that hurt!), as well as my marshmallow fluff for my cocoa. (I hid the cocoa, so he couldn't put that down there.)
I guess I'm not doing it cold turkey, rather weaning myself away gradually. I gotta tell ya, Girlfriend, I'm sleeping SOOOO much better, and on the days when I'm good I don't get nearly as hungry; my appetite level is so much more in control.
Thanks for your post. By the way, you love chocolate? (I used to also.) You need to chat with our own Miss JenX. She's a chocolatier! Yep, actually makes the stuff and sells it. Can you believe it? She's amazing. Have you met her own Colin, the Happy Colon?
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Yeah, I remember reading somewhere that JenX makes chocolates!! There is no way I could do that! I would be eating them left and right. That would be way too tempting for me!
Bevrs, I am slowly weaning myself off sugar, too. Hopefully we can both make it without a breakdown! 
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Yay, Colin!
Bev, I wanted to say how glad I am that weaning off of the chocolate is helping your apetite and your sleep. That's amazingly good news. How are your AM headaches????
And don't worry about Ruchie. She's not going to be mad. She's got so much love in her that she may come give you bigs hugs, but she's not going to be mad!
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When you do splurge on chocolate, try to make it a quality dark chocolate. They have less milk and less sugar than other chocolates.
(FYI: "Quality chocolates" are not sold in the grocery store or the gas station on the little wire racks! You've got to go to Godiva or a nice coffee shop or boutique that sells chocolate. Try Belgian chocolates or anything not made by Hershey's or Mars to start out with!  You want it to be 80%+ cocoa solids. Now THAT'S GOOD CHOCOLATE! )
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Jen,
Are you ever tempted to just eat a bunch of your chocolates? That sounds so good right now!! Do you actually sell the chocolates you make or give them away for presents or what?
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