Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | re: I am afraid to eat

Hi Everyone:

I am hoping you can help me with my IBS problem. The last seven (7) years have been a long tough road and right now I am afraid to eat and I don't like food at all. I used to be a collegiate athlete and one who continued to workout and eat healthy well after that.

Like many of you, I am desperate for help. I have bought & read Heather's books on IBS, done countless hours of research, keep a food journal, etc. I have done counseling, bio-feedback, working out, seen a nutritionist, and take organic fiber and a fiber regulator daily. But I still don't know what my triggers are and I am so frustrated. My main issues are severe bloating, abdominal pain and constipation. If I don't take the regulator, I won't go to the bathroom for a week. (Fiber and increased water intake is not enough.) I have tried a water bottle enema but don't want to rely on something that my body should be doing naturally.

If I eat a trigger, within 15 minutes of eating I will increase from size 8 pants to over a size 14. I look very pregnant and the pain is extreme. I bring a second pair of pants to events, just in case I "outgrow" the first pair.

I think my GI problems stem from a bad car accident I had while on a business trip seven years ago. I lived in increasing daily pain for 5 1/2 years prior to getting a diagnosis due to the work comp system. On top of that, I was placed on pain meds for 3+ of those years whic are lovely for our GI tracts. (Ultram/Norco/Vicodin/Xtra Strength Vicodin/Darvocet)

Listed below, if this helps give insight to my problem, is a timeline of what happened. Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Best of luck to all of you also.

~ Sue

Sept. 1998: In car accident with shuttle bus while on a business trip.

October 1998: Submitted work comp claim (never do this)

October 1998 - August 2000: Pain continues to worsen - tried working out to mitigate pain - do not sleep a whole night through for over a year and a half due to pain - passed from one dr. to another with no diagnosis.

August 2000: Finally get on pain meds and sleep for first time throught the night.

April 2001: Notice G.I. symptoms. Major gas/bloating begins.

Ocotber 2001: Taken to emergency room by parents for extreme stomach distention and pain. Have had symptoms for several weeks by now. E.R. doctors do litany of tests, but do not know cause. They find stomach to be "strange" and "may have to operate." Recommend lower GI and colonscopy.

November 2001: Pulled off of work by doctors - suffering major depression and anxiety as well by now. Daily severe distention. Chronic neck and back pain continue.

December 2001: Lower GI - notes severe spastic colon. Colonscopy - overall normal.

March 2002: By now, am on too many meds with no one watching their interaction with one another: Vicodin, Klonopin, Buspar, Prozac, Neurontin, Wellbutrin, Librax & Levsin for colon; Nexium and Zantac 150 for acid reflux.

From 2000 - 2003: had variety of attempted (none worked) pain-reducing procedures...cervical steriod shots, facet joint blocks, medial branch blocks, occipital nerve blocks, rhizotomey (cut nerves down spine), etc.

August 2003: Diagnosed with ruptured and stretched neck ligaments @ Cedars Sinai Institute for Spinal disorders. Neurosurgeon states it will continue to get worse and recommends cervical fusion with titanium plating.

February 2004: Neck is fused @ 3 levels with titanium plate and screws inserted. Do surgery on own health insurance because work comp refuses to pay for treatment.

March 2004: Off pain meds (was on extra-strength Vicodin prior to surgery) within one month post-surgery - have stayed off of them since.

November 2004: Return to new career(had to change due to accident) for first time in 3 years. Work comp is still delaying reimbursement for surgery even today. My IBS symptoms continue though....

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