Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards

I was treated nine months ago for sudden onset pain in the lower left side that a CT scan suggested "might be" diverticulitis. After two consecutive two week liquid diet and antibiotic regimens a colonoscopy showed the 'infection' was gone, but the pain and spasms didn't go away. My physician has suggested 'post infectious IBS with visceral hypersensitivity' and suggested I research and try IBS remedies.

I've found the peppermint oil caps help more than the prescription antispasmodics for pain and spasms, but I'm not sure what to think about fiber. After my infection 'healed' and I returned to a normal diet I began taking fiber at my doctor's suggestion. I couldn't handle Metamucil (I blew up like a balloon)so I switched to Citrucel (and have tried Acacia). A teaspoon of Citrucel or Acacia before breakfast and supper keep me regular (on waking, once a day just like clockwork)but I still have a considerable amount of pain later in the day.

I have experimented with cutting out the supper time dose of fiber and much to my relief I wake each morning without pain and manage to be pain free each day until around 4 O'clock in the afternoon when the pain in the lower left side returns. By late evening it is unbearable.

I've tried lowering the single breakfast dose of fiber to 1/2 teaspoon, and my late afternoon and increasing evening pain seems diminished, but this approach leaves my bathroom visit the next morning only half complete.

So I'm at wits end trying to figure out the fiber - pain connection. It does seem that consuming fiber causes me pain later that same day, and decreasing my fiber relieves the pain, but I'm not sure at this point I can afford to stop the fiber and suffer constipation that could lead to another diverticulitis attack (if that is even what it was).

When I try to discuss any of this with my physician he just looks at me like I have two heads and says I have to learn to live with this. Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

Craig

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