Help for Symptoms
#366298 - 10/20/11 07:18 AM
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Hi,
My husband has been recently diagnosed with IBS. We bought the IBS kit from this website and have been eating recipes from the cookbook. He has been having a bowel movement four to eight times per day, for the last two months. We have been to several doctors and all the tests they've ran has indicated he has IBS and nothing else. I'm at a loss for what to do to stop his bowel movements, as they are preventing him from living his life. He has not been able to work or enjoy life at all. I would appreciate any advice or feedback you could give us! Thanks.
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Did your husband's medical work up include a full colonoscopy with biopsies? There is a form of colitis known as Microscopic Colitis in which the colon looks perfectly normal to the human eye on exam. Diagnosis of MC can only be made by biopsy of the colon lining, and there should be random biopsies taken from the full colon. These biopsies should also be subjected to a dye process which needs to be used in order to detect a rare form of MC called Mastocytic enterocolitis, which is related to histamine release.
Sitting in the bathroom all day does make it darn difficult to make a living.
Does Immodium give him any relief? What about Pepto Bismol?
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Hi,
Thanks for the response. Yes, he's taken Pepto Bismol and it has no affect on him at all. He's also taken an anti-diarrhea pill that was prescribed by his doctor. His symptoms are still the same and I think it's actually getting worse. We are going in to do a follow-up visit with his gastroenterologist next week, I will make sure to ask him about MC's and to request that we do a test for it. Thanks again for the advice!
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I encourage you to have this discussion with your husband's GI Physician. The diagnosis of Microscopic Colitis is really a Pathologists diagnosis which is only made under the microscope, but the GI does have to think to take biopsies during colonoscopy. MC used to be considered a disease seen mainly in females -- over the age of 50. So sometimes the the Doc's think about that sex/age profile -- and ignore the possibility with others outside of that proifile, like your husband. However this is seen in males, and even children. The youngest child I've know of that was diagnosed with a form of MC was only 18 months old.
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Does he avoid foods/drinks with artificial sweetener or processed sugar? I would suggest experimenting with avoiding all processed foods and eat only whole, natural foods (protein,veggies) you prepare yourself for a time; too many hidden chemicals/preservatives that could be a trigger. Has he been advised to take probiotics?
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Definitely follow the advice for additional testing. I would also recommend an extemely strict diet to assist in getting his ibs to calm down. Here is what I have done during bad episodes;
Breakfast: 1 sourdough english muffin, 1 tblspn of jelly, 4oz. applesauce w/ 2 tblspns of benefiber,4 oz of room temperture water, 1 Align probiotic
Snack: 2 fortune cookies
Lunch: 1 small soft french roll, 2 oz turkey breast
Snack: 1 cup carrots or dry chex cereal
Dinner: 4 oz white fish, 4oz applesauce w/ 2 tblspns benefiber
Before Bed: I take one peppermint oil capsule. Though these can be taken throughout the day if needed. I also take a fennel capsule if I am feeling gassy or bloated after eating.
Additionally, I drink nothing but room temperature water for the day. I begin during my snack which is usually two hours after breakfast. I find that more than 4 oz of water with breakfast can some times make me feel bad. I will eat this exact diet everyday for every meal for weeks to months at a time. It may seem boring or bland, but it always gets my stomach to calm down then I can add in more variety.
I hope your husband can get some control soon and feel better.
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Hello
I am a brand new newbie here and am not sure i fit into these categories but my symptoms sound all the same and i am in so much need of support and help so i will take my chances and dive in here. I have not been diagnosed with IBS but i had colorectal cancer and i have healed from this. I had to have a temporary illliostomy and then had it reversed. ever since the last 9 months i have little to NO quality of life as i MUST be right near a toilet most all of the time 24/7! I am on the toilet anywhere from 50-100 times a day NO exaggeration at all! I am on all kinds of anti D meds and even so i go from total liquid D with everyday accidents and bowel incontinence. I have not been able to sleep more than 1 1/2 hours at a time for over a year. If i take too many meds i go into C and that is incredibly painful to pass. My rectum was taken out along with 2 or more feet of my large intestine and a foot of small bowel. I have been to all kinds of specialists from GI docs to Colorectal specialists, I have been to LA to
Cedar Sinai, OSHU in Portland, Oregon, pelvic floor dysfunction therapist and no one has an answer for me. I stumbled upon this site and i had such a huge feeling i may get some help here. Please don't kick me out because i don't have IBS, reading a lot of the posts i experience very similar symptoms. I have always been a walking bill of health my whole life until this huge journey and i so so want my life back. I have been taking whole psyllium husk 2 times a day along with bentonite clay and carob powder. I am a vegetarian and eat no wheat and hardly any dairy no caffeine, o sugar, i do eat eggs for protein and drink protein smoothies, i have not been able to eat fruit or veggies for so long and i just feel this is not a healthy way to go yet the fiber will stir things up and i suffer. I must also take this Cholestyramine powder twice a day for the worst burning bile. if i don't i just cry for hours in pain. This powder helps to bind the bile. So here i am reaching out for any support, help, ideas. I am VERY convicted for my total recovery and getting my life back. I am 49 years young and never imagined my life would be like this at this point. I have been on other sites for colorectal cancer and all but have not received much help. I am going to order this fiber and IBS book and the peppermint caps.I am not sure if this fiber is any different from psyllium husk or chia seeds which also form a gel when mixed with water. and lastly when i start going to the toilet so many times this horrific anal nerve pain kicks in so bad i have to take pain pills. before all this i never even took an aspirin or any drugs or over the counter stuff. I have had 4 colonoscopies this year and 4 cat scans, I am all clear and the doctors have no answers for me. i have had the breath test for bacterial overgrowth and am negative, i have been stool tested many times..negative. I know my docs told me that the bowels are slow learners and it could take 8-12 months for the intestines to relearn how to absorb the water. I hope i have not exhausted all of you by now for describing all of this, i just felt it was important to give the details for a better chance for help. Thank you in advance for any guidance, i would be so grateful for any feedback. Bless all of us returning to vibrant health!
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Have you tried The Maker's Diet? I have read of those who were scheduled for colon surgery, went on the diet, and have been healed enough to forgo the surgery. I know you have already had the surgery, but wondering if something like this may help. Takes discipline and commitment, but may be worth a look..... I'm assuming there are no ingredients in the protein smoothies that may be causing you problems.....Are these effects you are having typical as a result of the surgeries/drugs you've had?
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