Hi--
I have been suffering with terrible symptoms since September 2008 daily. It has been a tortuous year. Around May of 2009 is when I was diagnosed with IBS. I have not had a normal bowel movement since September 08 (I get extremely constipated, or even if I can have a bowel movement feels as though my intestines and colon are dead and I have to strain with my abdominal muscles to get any results). I also have a lot of gas or sometimes the feeling of "trapped gas" that I feel like I can't even pass--which leads to bloating. The bloating in turn makes me extremely nauseous and I almost feel as though the bubbles of gas are coming up through my throat. Also, I have developed a really bad case of acid reflux from all of this which has left me with burning pain in my throat at all times and a burning/tingling sensation on the roof of my mouth. I have been on a proton pump inhibiter for the reflux since March (but still have had extreme burning/chest pain which has sent me to the ER a couple of times) and I'm also on zoloft which seems to have helped a bit with the bloating/gas/constipation. I feel like no matter what I do, I can't figure this out. Like many of you, my doctors are of no help and can actually be very offensive. I feel that everytime I come into the doctor's office they look at me like "oh no, she's here again? these symptoms are all in her head" ... They've even said to me things like "sometimes these things just go away on their own" --- which has clearly not been the case as i have been suffering daily for a year. I don't even remember what it feels like to be a "normal" person anymore.
That being said--- as far as diet goes I do not recognize any patterns with eating and my symptoms! Before I had the diagnosis and before I knew better...I would eat a huge spicy meal filled with fat, dairy, and just about anything you might consider a trigger and I would sometimes feel better for weeks. Then... I would randomly get worsening symptoms and eat nothing but white bread for days and feel worse!
The only thing that I notice any kind of pattern in is that I get the bloating/gas in the afternoon. I generally feel pretty good in the morning (except sometimes I wake up with bad nausea and the feeling of gas in my throat/mouth). Also, I definitely see a pattern of feeling much worse during the 1-2 weeks before my menstrual period.
I am in the process of weaning myself off of Miralax and onto the fiber supplements (citrucel). I also ordered Eating for IBS, Fennel Tea, and the Acacia fiber. I am trying really hard to follow the diet but I am confused and also encounter difficulties!
I am especially confused about oatmeal and brown rice. I eat oatmeal all the time because I figure it is safe, but I have heard mixed things since it has a lot of insoluble fiber too. Same with brown rice. I don't want to be eating a ton of this if it isn't even good to do! Also, I was tested for celiac disease but it was negative... but I heard many things about having false negatives, etc. so I have been trying to eat gluten free. The thing with that is that many gluten free items, breads, etc that I find usually are based on brown rice. So... if brown rice is questionable, then even though I am eating gluten free foods I might still be causing issues with the brown rice. Furthermore, a lot of these gluten free products also contain a lot of concentrated fruit juices, raisins, etc. Then that brings me to the question of possible fructose intolerance!
So how can you eat the IBS safe diet, gluten free, fructose free, with limited brown rice and oatmeal.. and still eat!?
Sorry-- I just have so many questions and I am NOT getting help from any of the professionals I've seen all year!! I know there is no "cure" for IBS but that you can become "stable"... but what does "stable" really mean? Does it mean you don't have symptoms but you still have to strictly follow the diet, remain on supplements, etc? In that case, aren't you "curing" the IBS with diet, treatments, etc.? Or will this be the reality of my life forever? Was I destined to get this (like I would have gotten it no matter what-- it is just a physiological thing) or did I cause it by something--like taking BC... I am suspicious because I see a connection with my menstrual cycle I am concerned that caused this. Also, right before my symptoms began I had recently changed my diet from a pretty unhealthy one to one consisting mostly of whole wheat bread, yogurt, fruit, vegetables, salad, chicken... trying to be healthy but instead I feel like it just gave me IBS! So I am thinking-- if something like that triggered this, since I have since stopped taking BC pills and stopped eating that "healthy" way and switched to the IBS diet, can't I make it go away (if those in fact were contributing causes to the development of IBS)?
Thank you so much for reading my extremely long post! I would be so grateful to anyone who would be able to help me! I feel so alone in this (which makes it harder to try to combat the symptoms especially because I'm in college and having to watch what you eat, drink, and conduct your life everyday doesn't exactly help you fit in...) But knowing that you are out there and this actually isn't "all in my head" helps a lot.
Thanks!
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IBS-C, GERD, Lactose Intolerant, "Allergic" to Legumes (Soy!), Tree Nuts.
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No Rhyme or Reason-- Several Questions-- Doesn't seem like food is trigger!
