Re: Heather, what would you do in my shoes?
02/15/04 02:42 PM
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Heather
Reged: 12/09/02
Posts: 7799
Loc: Seattle, WA
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Hi Chris - I am just so sorry you're feeling awful and not seeing improvements. I really wish I had a magic way to make you all better. 
I would pursue some of the anti-depressant / anti-anxiety meds option. These can really work wonders for some people. I'd also try the hypnotherapy tapes - especially since anxiety seems to be playing a big role for you, and the tapes are truly unsurpassed for addressing this angle.
I'm not sure increasing exercise would help, unless you really notice a lot of stress-reduction from this. If you're not doing something like a daily yoga practice, tai chi, meditation, etc. you might try to add this in.
I have heard from a doctor that someone with diarrhea-predominant IBS who still has chronic diarrhea after working their way up to 12-15 grams a day of a soluble fiber supplement does not have IBS, but some other underlying problem. I don't know if this is true, but it was an interesting statement, and I thought I'd share it for what it's worth.
I think it's really noteworthy that you do notice an improvement when you're just eating rice. That would surely point to some type of food problem triggering your symptoms.
The other thing you might want to try is the York food allergy tests - see this site http://www.yorkallergyusa.com/
I'm not totally comfortable recommending this test, but I have seen a preliminary clinical trial on its use for IBS patients, conducted by PJ Whorwell, who is one of the UK's leading researchers into IBS. The study has been submitted to Lancet and may be accepted for publication later this year. When/if that happens, I'll publish it in the IBS Newsletter. But the study was controlled, and the results were really impressive, so you might want to look into this testing.
I'm so sorry I just don't know what else to say. I really do hope you're feeling better soon. Please let me know if there's anything I can do to help.
Hugs,
Heather
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Heather is the Administrator of the IBS Message Boards. She is the author of Eating for IBS and The First Year: IBS, and the CEO of Heather's Tummy Care. Join her IBS Newsletter. Meet Heather on Facebook!
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