I was just wondering how much Imodium you need to take typically. I started out taking 2 pills a day (i.e. total of 4 mg) and that worked fine for a while but then I had to increase the dose. I have been on 4 pills a day (have actually had to decrease to 2 a day for a couple of periods during this time) since the beginning of March and have been stable apart from one day in August when I had only slept a couple of hours and felt nervous. The last week it's been a bit worse but not bad, but I've still done the BTC diet for 2 days and it's a lot better it seems. I just feel like I don't want to have to increase the dose more since a) that makes me scared my IBS keeps getting worse and that the loperamide will eventually not help and b) we want to have kids some time soon and then I want to keep the loperamide dose as low as possible since it seems I will have to take it even during pregnancy.
Does it happen that the IBS just keeps getting worse? I had it for years with one attack every few months or so. It only got really bad last summer. But most of the time (without medication) I haven't had the worst kind of D, more like loose to really loose stool. The problem with me though is that I have a nerve damaged sphincter from a paralysis disease I had as a kid so it's harder for me to hold back a BM than for a person with normal sphincter. So I really need the stools to be rather firm and dry to feel confident.
How much problems do you have with your IBS? I think it's so cool that you're able to study and have a career as a lawyer. Hurray for Amanda! Isn't stress a trigger for you? I am a MSc in Engineering Physics and a PhD student in numerical analysis and I feel like I will probably never be able to work within the field that I've studied after I get my PhD. That kind of job is just typically so stressful and I just feel like I can't handle that kind of stress any more. I'm still trying to get back to full time as a PhD student.
Some people don't seem to ever get nervous or stressed out. I sure wish I was like that but I'm pretty much the opposite.
Any inspiration and hope you can send my way will be much appreciated. Studying and being good at what I do has always been important to me and a part of who I am. It just seems weird to not have any of that anymore. (Though I'd choose good health over a fancy job any time nowadays. )
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Question for Amanda
So I really need the stools to be rather firm and dry to feel confident.
Isn't stress a trigger for you? I am a MSc in Engineering Physics and a PhD student in numerical analysis and I feel like I will probably never be able to work within the field that I've studied after I get my PhD. That kind of job is just typically so stressful and I just feel like I can't handle that kind of stress any more. I'm still trying to get back to full time as a PhD student. 
