New here..would love some help
#328566 - 04/21/08 06:27 AM
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Hi everyone. I have been having stomach issues for a few months now and I am trying to figure out if it's ibs or not. From everything I am reading it seems to fit. Starting back in January I was driving to a doctor's appt. and I had to stop at least twice during a 30 minute drive to go to the bathroom..had awful stomach cramps and felt like I wasn't going to make it to a restroom both times. When I got to the appointment I went again in their bathroom. Awful! Since then every time I drive somewhere I have to stop and go to the bathroom. It's getting to the point where my family and I can't go to a park that is 20 minutes from home without stopping for me to go several times. So I am thinking it could be that it's in my head and all stems from the January trip to the doctor..However even on days when I am home or at work(which is only minutes from my house) I am going to the bathroom 3-4 times in the morning sometimes. I often feel nauseous too when this is all happening. It's such an awful way to live..afraid to go anywhere for fear you won't make it to a bathroom. And the worst part is my husband doesn't understand and it's hard to talk to friends about all this.
I just want to add that I was really constipated last year most of the time as I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Now that my tsh level is back to normal this is what i am dealing with.
Sorry if I am rambling here but I just really need some help and advice.
Any suggestions??
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What diagnostics has your doctor done to rule out more serious problems than IBS??
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IBS-D, Gas & Bloating
Barbara50
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I have a doctor's appointment on April 30th to discuss all of this. Anything specific I should be asking?? I have just been hoping it would go away but seems to be getting worse. Today I have had at least 5 bm and have been very crampy all day. Tomorrow I may be fine. I just never know.
Thanks.
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OK, you are where I was 18 mos. ago. My internist ordered an abdominal ultrasound, blood work and checked my stool for parasites, bacteria, etc. All were negative. Then it was off to the Gastro guy. I was losing weight at about 4 or 5 pounds a week so he scheduled a colonoscopy very quickly. I had two polyps (which he removed) and a very spastic descending colon (I even have pictures). He then ordered an abdominal and pelvic CT scan because of the rapid weight loss. Those showed some cysts in my liver and one in a kidney but I was told that was no problem. Ultimate diagnosis was spastic colon or IBS. The GI guy suggested fiber twice a day (he said Metamucil but it gives my waaaay too much gas) and a good probiotic (he suggested Align GI and I agree it is a good choice and still use it). Mainly though he told me "not the think about my bowels" so much. That isn't easy when you are in a constant bathroom search. I found this website shortly thereafter, ordered Heather's books, Acacia, Peppermint Tea and Fennel Tea. I found whole foods stores and organic markets close to me. I threw out about 3/4 of my pantry and freezer and began a new way of living. I haven't gained any weight back but I am so much better. I have an occasional attack but I no longer have to plan what I do around bathroom availability. If I feel an attack coming on I have developed methods for shortening the attack or even stopping it all together (Imodium is wonderful). I am D and never have been C, but with the diet and fiber I have become stable with one BM per day that is normal consistency. Good luck to you and keep us posted.
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IBS-D, Gas & Bloating
Barbara50
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Thanks for all the info Barbara! I will keep you posted. I am really having big anxiety issues along with this and I know that is not helping. It's just so hard when you constantly think you have to be near a bathroom. Hopefully my doctor will be able to help too! One thing I know I need to stay away from is ice cream...have to practically live in the bathroom the next day if I eat it at night. Again, thanks and I am so glad to have found you guys! 
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I just wanted to say.....I know exactly what you mean about being afraid to leave the house for fear of not making it to the bathroom. My doctor just recently put me on Lexapro for the anxiety. I'm posting a daily diary about whether it helps or not. Check it out if you are interested. Today is day three and so far so good.
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thanks. It sometimes feels good to know I am not alone. I have tried antidepressants years ago and most of them aggravated my stomach. I am definitely thinking of trying again because the anxiety of all this is so bad right now. Maybe try xanax first.
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I know how you feel. I've been on antidepressants/antianxiety drugs in the past, too. I was so happy when I successfully stayed off them for almost 2 years. Then everything just became too much and I couldn't enjoy my life any longer...that's when I decided enough was enough and I needed something....even just temporarily.....so my doctor tried me on Buspar, but it didn't seem to help...so Friday, I started Lexapro. So far I'm not experiencing any horrible side effects. Just a little nausea and dizziness the first night...but nothing unbearable. You might check into it. Plus....if you are IBS-D like me...one of the side effects is constipation! Ha!
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I am definitely heading towards enough is enough here too. Wow sounds like what I need if constipation is a side effect..haven't experienced that since my thyroid was out of whack. Glad Lexapro is working for you! Had to change my doc appt. until Friday. Crossing my fingers she will listen and not rush me out of there like docs tend to do sometimes!
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Good luck with your Doc appointment. If you feel like she doesn't listen and is in a rush...don't be afraid to go elsewhere until you find a good one.
I think the Lexapro is helping some. I don't want to get my hopes up too soon, though...it's only been a few days. Today I am home sick with a horrible cold, though.
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Hi, just wanted to say that i know exactly what you are going through. I have ibs D too and travelling is a nightmare!
And i'm not talking about long trips here, just taking the kids to school, shopping and going to work etc!
One thing that has helped me though is the peppermint caps, i know they are not advertisted as beibg for ibs D but they seem to lessen the urgency. I am currently trying to work out my 'trigger foods' too which looks like is going to take forever!
Also, i know where all the toilets are every where i go and keep imodium instants in my bag always.
I have tried the hypnosis cds too which seemed to help at first but then i reverted back. maybe i need to listen to them again lol
Anyway, hope this helps a bit.
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Thanks mk123 for your reply! Again, it really helps knowing that I am not alone in this. And yes, just taking my kids to daycare that is 10-15 minutes from my house is tough for me. Mornings are usually my worst time so picking them up after work isn't as bad of a ride. I went to the doctor today and she was very helpful. She basically told me a lot of the things that I have already read on this site. She wants me on fiber that I take daily, activia yogurt and she said to use immodium or at least carry it with me and that might help the anxiety some. She wants to see me back in a week or so...offered me Levicin(sp?) but said to wait and see if dietary changes help first. Oh and she gave me a script for xanax...another crutch I think will really help on occasion. Worried about reflux with the peppermint caps. Have you had any problems with that?
Sorry for rambling! Thanks again!
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Been looking up Levicin and seems it is used for babies with reflux and or colic?? How strange! Did your Doc say how it would help?
I don't get the fibre thing either, if you have D then surely more fibre will make it worse? I know if i eat fruit and fibre cereal, it certainly makes me worse.
As for the peppermint caps, if you make sure that they are coated then you shouldn't get a problem with reflux. I use Heather's Tummy Tamers which work well for me.
The thing is when you are changing so many things at once, how can you tell which one has had an affect? lol
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I think she said Levicin would help with the spasms and calm my tummy. We went over so much information..pretty sure that was it though. And I was definitely thinking the same thing about the fiber.. and read on this site that yogurt is no good either??? It's all so confusing. Hopefully I will figure out what works for me and will be feeling a bit better soon. Thanks for the info about the pepp. caps. I am going to order some.
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I think yoghurt is only bad if dairy is a 'trigger food' for you. But those pro-biotics are supposed to speed up your natural digestive transit (according to the advert!) 
I have been reading up on the fibre thingy too and apparently there are 2 types of fibre, soluble an insoluble. Soluble is the one which helps slow things down and we should have every day (benefibre etc)and insoluble is stuff like wheat bran which is not good for those of us with IBS D!
Let me know how you get on with the peppermint caps and the xanax too!
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Hey beachgirl!
Welcome - I have IBS-c.
I really believe that dairy is a trigger for MOST IBS sufferers. If you are looking for a good probiotic, I really suggest you getting it from a supplement rather than yogurt. Even if it doesn't seem to bother you now, if your eating it every day, it just may start.
You can get your full probiotic supplement at the healthfood store (we have Wholefoods here), and it's great. Should be in the refridgerated section. It really should help slow things down in your gut.
Good luck!
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FancyMom
IBS-A,Constipation predominant, GERD
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Thanks for the tip on the probiotics! My mom has been trying to get me to take them for years now. She can't live without it. She also has IBS-D but hasn't had symptoms very much since taking them. I have a phobia about taking new things but I am slowly getting better about it.
Thanks again!
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Ya know, it's weird because most dairy seems to be a trigger for me but not yogurt..not sure why that is. Haven't had a chance to order the pepp caps. Took half a xanax the other day when work stress was getting to my stomach and worked like a charm. Had a really bad IBS-D day yesterday. It was my first day off in about 2 weeks and I was just home relaxing. Probably went to the bathroom 3-4 times before lunch. Guess my body wasn't used to being that relaxed. So strange! Hoping today is better..gotta go to work soon. Thanks again for all your responses.
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