I'm new and a little overwhelmed...
#56934 - 04/01/04 03:06 PM
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jjr
Reged: 04/01/04
Posts: 40
Loc: Roanoke, TX
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hi everyone, i'm jenni. i just found this website yesterday and went and got the book last night. i wanted to share my "story" to see if anyone else is like me. i'll try to make it short...
my whole life i've pretty much suffered from constipation (i'm now 28). when i was a little girl there were many nights my mom or dad would sit up with me for hours while i cried and tried to go to the bathroom. my mom made me drink prune juice (YUCK) and used sopositories (don't know how to spell it?) on me a lot. i never saw the doctor because i don't think my parents or i realized it was a problem.
well, about 7 years ago i realized something was wrong with me...i was bloated all the time, gassy, constipated, dry mouth and got nauseated a lot...especially in the car?! so i went to a gastroenterologist and he did an endoscopy and didn't find anything wrong with me. well...since then i've had another endoscopy, a reflux test, a hyda-scan (gall bladder test), sonograms, been sent to a rhemitoid arthritis doctor and most recently had a colonoscopy. i've had numerous doctors because i kept switching cause none of them were telling me what i wanted to hear...that there was something specific wrong with me, something they could surgically remove and i'd be fine. so anyway, this last doctor told me i have ibs and put me on zelnorm. it helps some, but not enough and i am just so tired of feeling like crap! so, yesterday i stumbled upon this website and have been stuck to it ever since...i'm at work so i guess i should be working, but i want to obsorb as much info as i can. i'm overwhelmed though because i feel there's so much info i have to know. and like someone else mentioned, all the white flour seems to be going against what all the other diets are all about. i don't care though, i'm going to try it. i just hope it works for me cause i'm just so sick of this.
the stuff i read about ibs mentions some of the symptoms i have, but not all of them. does anyone else get dry mouth or headaches? when i feel constipated and bloated i have those symptoms too. i also feel nauseated at times.
i'm just still so skeptical to say "i have ibs" and feel comfortable that that's really it. are any of you like that?
anyway, i'll quit rambling now. i'm really thankful that this is here so i can ask these questions.
thanks for your time 
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Hi there and welcome. Your story sounds familiar and sounds like many I've heard about on this website. I have had problems with Diarrhea since I was about 18 (I'm 30 now). I have found so much help in this website and have learned so much it's hard to describe. All I can tell you right now is to educate yourself as much as you can with Heather's books and this website and maybe you can start trying a few different things that will make a difference in your life. Since most of my symptoms are IBS-D I can't help you much with the "C" but I do know the fiber Heather sells has helped many people with both C and D. Just try to re-evaluate the things you are doing and maybe something new you learn here will make you feel a bit better. Hopefully others with IBS-C can offer you some more support.
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I also went from doctor to doctor, had every test, repeated them over and over, even had surgeries just to try to get rid of this problem. I wouln't believe it was "only" (hah!) IBS. Something that hurt this much had to be something else, and they were just missing it so maybe another doctor could find it. I didn't want to believe I had something that was "invisible" or "incurable" and couldn't be fixed with a pill or surgery. It wasn't until I found this site, read the book and heard all the other people's stories that I finally accepted that this is what I had but finally there was a place to find some hope, cause I sure wasn't getting any hope from doctors or non-IBS friends. You'll find lots of helpful suggestions here !  And lots of us deal with headaches. I sometimes feel nauseated right after eating breakfast for a short while & sometimes it lasts longer and then is gone for months. I read somewhere a whole list of other non digestive symptoms that a large majority of IBS people get as well, now if I can only remember where I saw it, and nausea, headaches & anxiety were in there.
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Welcome Jenni!!
Don't worry, I know there's alot of info, but you don't need to learn it all at once! Take it one day at a time, try the next right thing, and before you know it, you'll be feeling better.
BTW, some of us here have something called fibromyalgia. Many people with it also have IBS and vice versa. Dry mouth and headaches can be associated with it. If you do a google search you'll learn more, but why not hold off on that and just work on your IBS first.
Just a thought.
Welcome to this caring and supportive community!!
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Laura
Keep it simple!
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WELCOME!
#56948 - 04/01/04 03:53 PM
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jenX
Reged: 08/11/03
Posts: 3252
Loc: Richmond, VA
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I'm glad you found the site.
I'll tell ya, I get headaches, too, Jenni. I have other medical things going on, so I'm not sure what's a symptom of what.... Nevertheless, I do get them. Dry mouth is something I don't get often-- only on sinus meds at allergy season! 
I know that this diet seems to say thing that the other ones don't, but you'll see... This one actually works! What do we all have to lose? The way we were eating wasn't working, right!?
Best of luck. Don't hesitate to ask questions. That's why we're here! Hope you find as much relief as many of us have...
*jen
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Hi Jenni!
I'm IBS-C most of the time and I suffer with dry mouth frequently and have for years. I think it's related to the IBS and it doesn't matter how much water I drink. I'm still in denial about the IBS, but that's because I've never been tested to rule anything out.
I felt overwhelmed at first, too, but with a little time and practice it really does get easier. Welcome to the boards,
Terri
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Welcome Jenni!
#56990 - 04/01/04 06:37 PM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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Welcome to the boards!
Yes, your symptoms all sound familiar, Girlfriend. It does indeed sound like you have IBS.
I am a D, so I can't help you too much with your C. But I can help you with other things.
For instance, you need to relax. You're now in good hands. This is an excellent place to find answers to all your questions. Everyone here is VERY helpful and surprisingly knowledgeable. It must come from all the experience and pain and suffering!
White flour has worked fine for me for a very long time. I'm lucky, though, because I use whole wheat flour -- it's not a trigger for me, unlike most people. Everyone is different, and some people can tolerate things that others cannot. It's pretty much a matter of trial-and-error. However, there are a lot of triggers that are common to most, such as fats, red meat, dairy, and coffee (decaf as well). You'll find all this in Heather's book.
You should get yourself on a soluble fiber supplement, if you have not already. I'm sure your doc already told you that, right? Heather's acacia is the best stuff (although not everyone is on it). Check the links in here for info on fiber. Start low on the dosage and work your way up.
Get lots of exercise and drink plenty of water. And keep coming in the boards for great info. Check the recipe board for fabulous AND FUN new recipes to try. And it IS fun!
And of course come to the Living Room board to just "natter" and "schmooze" with us about NON-IBS matters. Just fun and silly stuff.
Don't hesitate to ask any questions -- we've heard EVERYTHING by now. If it's a question that bothers you, it's not trivial; it's important, and we want to help if we can.
There's nothing wrong with telling anyone "I have IBS." The sooner I got real about it myself, the sooner I got better. You will too.
Again, welcome! You did the right thing coming here.
Bev
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Jeni,
welcoem to the site this is a great place to get support,advice,ask questions, vent,cry u name it, we are here and we help each other out.
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if God brought you to it. He will bring you through it.
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I too am new to this site and the realization that I have
IBS. Have suffered on & off for over 30 years. Just chalked it up to stress, life & lactose intollerance. This site is a life saver. My stress level has gone down now that I know what and HOW to eat. Have tried several of the recipes and my husband enjoys them too. I don't miss the red meat, coffee still entices me but I avoid it. Since I found soy cheese I am a happy camper. When you find out help is here I too find myself addicted to this site. Reading all I can about it. Thanks to all who have contributed recipes and words of encouragement to those suffering. I thought I was in bad shape, but fortunately for me I can work, go out without too much trouble and the information I have gained from here even makes it easier.
Sorry I rambled. Have to get back to work!
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hi - i was really overwhelmes too at first - and must confess i am still overwhelmed on this site!  there is tons of information here and there never seems to be enough time in the day to read it all! i had a very similar experience as you growing up and have been c since i can remember. i just happened on this site a couple of weeks ago and was so happy to see so may others like me! 
i was afraid of all the white flour and bananas and rice - everything i had been avoiding for years...i've been on the diet and taking acacia for a couple of weeks now and things have gotten better but not great yet...i think i'm doing the diet wrong 
welcome! i'm just trying to log on when i can and read what i can and post when i can! i do find though that i can spend hours here and well, i do have to work so...
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