Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards

This is graphic so warning, but I thought if I posted it here where we all suffer I might get some constructive feedback. Each time I tell my doctor I get a blank stare, out comes the script pad and off he goes writing all sorts of medications, anti spasm meds, stool softeners, laxatives etc.

Here is what happened and it freaked me out. If anyone else has this I'd love to hear your experience as well.

I had taken an antib called Xifaxan. I know there is a generic brand of it, but forget the name. It was given to me because my doctor thought (without tests) that I had a bacteria infection in my gut. It was a hot week at 119 degrees and I left my Brita Pitcher out. On the bottom was black thick layer of soot. He assumed it was full of mold and bacteria and I was drinking it. I did not have any runny stools, just my normal IBS-C with bloat and cramps. Took the meds for a week. Still in pain he said go another week. After that (2006) I have never been the same. I couldn't poop after I took it so he said take Milk of Mag. GRAPHIC WARNING... the stool remained halway out. I had to manually pull it out. I grossed myself out and realized something was wrong. Back to the doctor who explained this antib stays only in the gut and is used for those with travelers D. Well I never had D. HELLO? So I've spend the rest of the year trying to fix this and I've tried everything, had tests. Saw a dietican too. No one has an answer, but eat this, eat that. I did and no improvement. I also drink tons of water.

So these past weeks I've tried suggestions on here plus adding more food that I know would make me use the bathroom without the hard stools, I thought. All I have had for this past yr are hard small balls and they are so dry.

I took Milk of Mag and this is where I need to ask any of you if this happens to you. The last few times I used Milk of Mag it all came out loose. This time it was so beyond gross and scary I have no words. GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION AHEAD
It was hard to even get it out and when it did it was formed into I'd say the size of a fist of hard dry balls all stuck together, again almost didn't come out and painful to release, then after that a normal rather big size stool that quickly dissolved into loose mush followed again at the end of it some dry balls. What is going on? Does anyone know? I take Probotics - Jarro Dolphis. Have been since 1989 so do I need a different kind? Seems if I have fiber, fruit, follow the Heather suggestions this is what I end up with. It all just stays inside until I use Milk of Mag or glyercin liquid Fleets which barely gets anything out.

I'm scared and frustrated and all the doctors say IBS. Suggestions? Thanks so much!

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