IBS? Help!!!
#98901 - 08/17/04 12:14 PM
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Nate
Reged: 08/17/04
Posts: 2
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This is my first post and I'm looking to see if the experience I'm having is anything like someone with IBS has had or if it sounds like something else.
While I was in college (97-00) I had stomach problems. I got D about 2-3 times a week. After a couple of years living with it, I finally went to the doctor. They diagnosed me with IBS. In the fall of 2000, I had a big improvement and only got sick about one time a month and could pretty much eat anything I wanted. About five weeks ago I got D worse than I've ever had in my life. I was sick 30-40 times a day for about 2-3 week. I missed some work time, lost about 20 pounds and was very fatigued. Over the past two weeks I'm down to about 10 times a day but I haven't had a normal bathroom experience in five weeks. They did blood tests and a colonoscopy and found some irriation in my intestine, but nothing big. The specialist told me that he thought I had a bacteria/virus and that I should get better in about a week. It's been a week and there's been no improvement. I'm having a very hard time dealing with this and my life is not easy to manage. I've got two little kids and a job that keeps me busy and I have got to get my system fixed. I don't care if I never eat anything good again, I just want to stop racing to the bathroom. Does this kind of length, intesity and episode sound like something anyone's had? I've tried the soluable fiber diet for extended periods and it slows me down some, but I still have D. I can also say that this has been nothing like what I had in college. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
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Welcome Nate. I am sorry to hear you are having such a bad spell! I suppose you have tried immodium, if not that can do a lot. I think it is possible your episode is some sort of bug or infection. My husband has had that twice when I didn't get it at all and both times were from bad water. I felt so bad for him. I would recommend you find the what to eat when you can't eat anything page on this site and eat that and see if it helps. Once again I hope you feel better and I really feel for you. 
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IBS-A for 20 years with terrible bloating and gas. On the diet since April 2004. Remember this from Heather's information pages:
"You absolutely must eat insoluble fiber foods, and as much as safely possible, but within the IBS dietary guidelines. Treat insoluble fiber foods with suitable caution, and you'll be able to enjoy a wide variety of them, in very healthy quantities, without problem." Please eat IF foods!
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First of all, I would check with my doctor again. Are you familiar with Heather's "what to eat when you can't eat anything diet? It is posted under IBS Diet.
I have had D for 4-5 days consistently, but I just take my SFS, drink my peppermint or Chamomil tea or if the peppermint tea is too much for you and gives you GERD, take Heather's peppermint capsules; they work wonders. I also balance what I eat with soluble and insouble fiber, i.e. white rice, oatmeal, toasted soudough muffins, etc.
Are you taking a SFS or any medications for your IBS? Are you drinking any peppermint, Fennel or chamomile tea to sooth your stomach? I know oatmeal slows down D from experience.
I wish I could be more helful, but I am still in the learning stages myself. I ordered Heather's IBS 1st Year and IBS Diet and Recipes. They are really helping me to become stable. I also try to avoid as much stress as possible.
You will get more responses from the board, people that are more experienced than I am. This is a warm, loving and compassionate board. Whatever you are expericing, somehas has experienced it before or can advise you on what to do. You might even get a post from Heather, she is great.
I am sorry you are feeling so crappy, but this too shall pass.
Good Luck and welcome to the board!
Lene
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God never promised life would be easy, but he did promise to provide a way out!
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Welcome, Nate! Sorry to hear you're having such a tough time right now. You need to call the specialist and let them know it's been a week and you're not better. You may have an intestinal parasite that will require a prescription medication to get rid of.
In the meantime, let me run through the time honored home treatments for severe diarrhea so you can make sure you're trying all of them.
1. Stay hydrated. You are losing a lot of fluid from the D and it's very easy to get so dehydrated you'll collapse and have to be taken to the emergency room. Drink as much water as you can. Flattened caffeine free sodas like gingerale are also good. And get some Pedialyte from the drugstore. It's like Gatorade for children. Here's a quote from their website: Pedialyte® Oral Electrolyte Maintenance Solution — the #1 pediatrician recommended solution to prevent dehydration due to diarrhea or vomiting. Pedialyte is specially formulated for infants and children to quickly replace lost fluid.
2. Follow the BRAT diet: bananas, rice, applesauce and toast (assuming you aren't allergic to any of them). Add other foods like potatoes or poached chicken with care.
3. Take something to slow down the D. Possible options are Imodium, Pepto Bismol, Kaopectate, stuff like that.
There have been a number of mentions of parasites here and in the Living Room recently. You can do a search and find them if you want.
Now, long term, this acute illness, whatever the cause, could very well make your IBS worse. Which means you're in the right place. So once you get the D slowed down and the bug killed off, Heather's diet and other suggestions, will be really helpful to you. There's lots of people here with busy lives and jobs and children who have been helped tremendously by following this approach.
Let us know what happens, okay? You'll be in our thoughts!
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Laura
Keep it simple!
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It could be that your system is so wiped out that it can't fight an infection. Did your doc give you an antibiotic or do a stool test? If not, ask. And if you take an antibiotic, take a probiotic as well.
In the meantime, Immodium is a lifesaver!
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Thanks for the advice. I hadn't been using Immodium, I thought that was for short-term episodes. I started last night and it's helped some. We'll see how the rest of the day goes. I spoke with the doctor and he told me to try and wait it out, because he thinks it's something that will pass through my system.
Once again, thanks for your feedback, it was very helpful.
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Re: IBS? Help!!!
#99076 - 08/18/04 08:27 AM
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Nelly
Reged: 08/06/04
Posts: 4381
Loc: Within stray mortar fire of DC
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Hi Nate,
I've been using imodium as a preventative for 5 years now, and it works very well. I used to just go and go, no matter what I tried, or how long I fasted between bouts to "give my system a rest."
Imodium's been a lifesaver for me!! I hope it works as well for you. Best of luck to you,
~nel~
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I've always denied that I had IBS since I haven't actually been diagnosed with it, it was just suggested. BUT, I was having D all the time, missing a lot of work and feeling very depressed because I couldn't eat anything without it happening. I started taking "Swiss Herbal" "Full Spectrum" Digestive Enzymes. I take one with supper every night. I stopped having D after a week or so. My BMs became pretty normal. I still have a tad here and a bit of C there, but nothing to worry about. Thismorning however I had D. I don't know if I'm lactose intolerent, I had KD yesterday and I've been completely avoiding dairy lately. Also I didn't take my Enzyme with dinner the other day. Usually when I stop taking them it happens again. You could give it a try.
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You're welcome! Glad to hear the Imodium is helping a bit. Let us know what happens, okay?
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Laura
Keep it simple!
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Hello,
I had almost the same exact thing happen to me recently. My first year in college I used to get D pretty regularly, then it kind of "went away." Now it's been a couple of years and I've been more sick in the last few months then my whole freshman year!
Now my problem is that all my friends that I've made in the last couple of years have no idea about my condition, and I'm too embarassed to tell them.
I feel really bad because I have to refuse their invitations and I can't say its the "stomac flu" all the time. Does anyone else have a good way of handling this?
Also, has anyone ever experienced really bad "agoraphobia" or social phobia because of IBS? I have started to find that I never want to leave the safety of my home and when I do leave, I'm convinced that I'm going to get sick and everyone will know. Have other people developed ways of handling this?
Thanks!
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About your friends - I would consider telling them. Yes, it's a little embarrassing, but at least you're being honest and won't have to come up with lame excuses all the time. Otherwise, they're likely to assume you're refusing for another reason.
Most people I've talked to (and I mean everyone - not just these boards) know of IBS and someone who has it. They're usually very sympathetic. Just tell them that you have IBS and that you have a lot of trouble digesting food. You can leave it at that, or you can explain that you get bloating, nausea, dirrarhea, or whatever you get.
I would urge you to tell them. You might lose them otherwise - they might get tired of excuses. If they're relaly your friends, they'll understand.
And yes, lots of people on this board get afraid to leave the house. I swear the second I go to a mall I have an attack and abandon all dignity running for a bathroom. Once you get your symptoms better under control, you'll likely be more confident and will feel better about leaving the house.
So hang in there,
Han.
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Formerly HanSolo. IBS, OCD, Bipolar, PTSD times 3.
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I also had IBS for many years but about 2 years ago it started to control my life. I did my errands only at stores where I new they had restrooms. I turned down invitations if it meant a long ride in a car. Nothing seemed to control the D. A virtualcolonoscopy showed nothing. Then I got a gallbladder attack and had emergency surgery. I was told that is was the gallbladder that caused the IBS to act up and become constant D. Now it is back to the usual IBS I've had for years. But with imodium and librax most of the days I function. I am still trying to regulate the imodium to avoid C. Hope you fell better.
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Hi,
Sorry you are having a rough time. I don't usually tell people I have IBS. You say that and then they say what's IBS and then you have to explain. Most of the time I just say I have stomach problems or food allergies.
Anyway, I feel like staying home a lot, too. I love the comfort of my home.
I do venture out to places I'm familiar with like Walmart, Walgreens, my mom & sisters, out to eat, etc.
Since my IBS is triggered by stress, it's just the places I've never been or like museums where you can't find a bathroom forever that worry me. Once we went to a museum and I was a nervous wreck because the bathroom was on the ground floor and we were going to the third floor. I took Imodium before I left and I was fine.
I would suggest eating safe foods before going out and maybe taking a preventative Imodium before you leave. Also, take any other meds you think you might need along with you. BUT, try to get out even if it is places like Walmart where the bathroom is close and you feel safe. I think you will feel better.
Barbie
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I had IBS for at least 25-30 yrs. But then I had the IBS act up terribly for about 8 months. I had the virtual colonoscopy and was given Librax but I did not know that I had gallbladder stones until I got a terrible attack and was rushed to the ER. There they did a simple sonogram that showed I was full of stones. After emergency surgery the IBS calmed down. I still get bouts of IRB but it no longer controls my life. I would ask your doctors to check out Gallbladder stones. Hope you feel better.
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With my closest of friends, I've been honest....With that otehr outer circle of friends and colleagues, I tell them I've developed major food allergies or sensitivites. And hten I rattle it off: no daory, no meat (I'm veg. anyhow), no chocolate, tomatoes, caffiene, eggs, etc.
I prefer to eat at home- and when somebody does invite me over, I make sure I've taken SFS and have taken meds before. BTW- hypntherapy and yoga have helped alot.
good luck...
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I love my space and any quiet time that will come my way. I have also found that if I go to place like Barbie just mentioned, either by myself or someone that is close to me and understands my problems, it seems to take my mind off of my IBS and I can relax a little and most of the time I do just fine.
I do remember the days though, that I would have to run to the br when shopping, and it could happen again at any time.  
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