Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Thoughts and suggestions

Except for the fact that you're on some kind of clockwork 2-hour schedule, nothing else you've talked about seems out of line for IBS. I kind of looked back through your old posts and here's what I think.

It sounds like you're still not entirely convinced that IBS is what you have. This may be just standard IBS-denial: I spent a fair amount of time insisting that I must have something else, something "fixable". On the other hand, without getting too woo-woo mystical, I do believe people often know what's going on in their own bodies, so if you truly believe there's something else wrong, keep looking. Here's what I suggest:

First, find a GI guy you're more comfortable with. Sometimes believing your diagnosis really means believing your GI has actually paid attention to you. You don't say where you are, but you can check the good doctors thread and see if it lists anyone near you. If not, post and ask if anyone knows of someone where you are. You shouldn't have to repeat the tests you've already had, but it should be reassuring to have them looked at by a doctor you feel more comfortable with. (If nothing else, I'd want a fuller explanation of "some kind of agitation in my small intestines".)

Second, more tests/possibilities. There are some old possibilities left hanging in your previous posts: hernia; cecliac and/or gluten intolerance; prostate problems. I also don't see anything about looking at your thyroid. I know you're young and male, but if we're going to look everywhere, then we have to look there. It's possible your doctors checked it, but the fact you're young and male may mean they didn't. As for parasites, Quest Labs say you need three separate specimens to rule them out completely, although ShawnEric's comments about them usually causing D would cause them to slip down the possibility list.

If you want to wander further off the beaten path, you can do a Board Search for "Great Smokies" (don't use the quotes); also Search for "Great Smoky" (again, don't use the quotes). They will do all kinds of testing for all kinds of things. I've never used them, but if I hadn't gotten relief from Heather's diet, they were one of the "next up" approaches for me. Read all the posts, though, to get a feel for how useful people have found them. I would use the Great Smokies approach after finding a better doctor and seeing what he has to say.

Third - and do this now, don't wait until you find a better doctor or get more tests - use Heather's approach fully for an extended period of time. Go back through your old posts and you'll find one where I posted about this and so did LittleMinnie. I think the advice there is still valid. And definitely take an SFS - since you already have Acacia, give that a serious try. Start at a very low dose - I started at 1/4 teaspoon per day - and work your way up slowly - I went up by 1/4 teaspoon per day every 3 days. Make sure you're getting lots of fluid.

If you haven't already, get a copy of Heather's book "The First Year - IBS". Your library may have it or you can buy it from this Website or from Barnes and Noble or Amazon. If you have questions about how to do the diet, ask. Also, read Heather's newsletters from Summer 2005 about constipation - there were two issues devoted to the frustrations of constipation.

You'll need to commit to Heather's approach for a reasonable amount of time - I think 3 months is minimum, 6 months is better. Yes, that seems like a long time, but look at it this way: if you'd started doing this when you first started posting, you'd be past the 6 month mark already. It will go by quickly. I have no idea why anyone would tell you that a week on any type of diet would be enough of a try, especially for constipation.

Fourth, think about adding a probiotic and/or digestive enzyme. Dig back through the Boards and look for posts by bamagirl and AstroChick. I don't remember exactly what they're doing, but I'm pretty sure at least one of them is taking either a probiotic or enzyme or both. Or just do a couple of Searches for probiotics and digestive enzymes and see what people have to say.

I hope some of this helps. Take care.

--------------------
[Research tells us fourteen out of any ten individuals likes chocolate. - Sandra Boynton]

Print Remind Me Notify Moderator