Help For IBS Suffers (original) (raw)

Wednesday, January 25th, 2017

2:35 pm
[pddiary]

A cyber lifeline gone haywire Originally posted by pddiary at A cyber lifeline gone haywire

About: There are a lot of first generation immigrant stories, quite a few personality disorder stories, many stories documenting IBS struggles but this one combines all three. Technology and social media are front and center in this saga. My interest in playing detective took me through a roller coaster ride for over an year. The story will be posted on this account through a series of blog entries.

Saturday, April 13th, 2013

10:23 am
[shakespearechic]

IBS & Food Allergies Hi! I wanted to share my IBS experience to see if it might help anyone else. I have suffered from IBS for about 16 years (it hit me around high school).In the past 10 years, as an adult, I have seen at least 2 GIs and had a colonoscopy, endoscopy and the fun test where you drink the barium. I was always told they found nothing, thus IBS. I was given Bentyl (Dicyclomine) as well as amitriptyline - neither of which did much.

I was told to try to mitigate my triggers (such as stress) and ID trigger foods (greasy things, creamy things, etc.) I did as best I could but still had several attacks a month not to mention the general blahness, gas, nausea etc. throughout other days. Finally, at the end of September 2012 I went to a chiropractor who also did applied kinesiology and neuro-emotional techniques. I was going mostly for my migraines due to recommendations my mom had received about how good he was, but it was mentioned he could help with my IBS.

I was skeptical, to say the least. But here's the thing: they were right. He did something so simple, so basic, that I was pissed off none of the other GI doctors had either done this or suggest I do this - food allergy testing. I was annoyed I didn't think of it either on my own but...I was blindly assuming the GIs would be doing everything to help me out.

Back when I had all my tests they ruled out Celiac's Disease. I therefore never gave gluten/wheat another thought. I mean, I didn't have Celiac's so...not an issue, right? Wrong. The new doc tested me on corn, soy, dairy and wheat/gluten. The first three were fine - but that last one showed my body could not tolerate it all. Suddenly it all clicked: all the times I had attacks and thought, All I ate were saltine crackers! All I had was fruit and a roll!! Why am I still getting sick??!!

I started cutting out wheat/gluten from by diet and the results were almost instant. Within a week I felt so much better. A month went by and I hadn't had a cramping-hours-in-the-bathroom attack. I am now 6 months in and I have never felt better. My stomach is still extra sensitive, so sometimes other factors trigger it to feel yucky - but never the constant cramping IBS attacks of the past. I have (on purpose and on accident) eaten a bit of wheat in the 6 months and it confirmed for me it was the culprit all along because I had an attack each time.

At a GF baking class I encountered a woman who had an experience similar to mine - always having attacks, GIs no help, but on her own she started cutting everything out and adding it back in to see what triggered everything. It was wheat/gluten for her too.

TL;DR: If you haven't already, have some food allergy testing done. You might find some trigger foods for your IBS symptoms that way and save yourself a lot of pain and frustration. I know GF diets seem all trendy right now, which is annoying, but it turns out there is a level of gluten sensitivity that is not Celiac's. I hope this helps.

Tuesday, November 6th, 2012

11:10 pm
[miss_october]

papaya Has anyone ever used papaya enzyme pills for IBS/general digestion health?

Monday, July 30th, 2012

3:50 am
[astridetal]

Colnoscopy Update Hi,
As I said in my previous post, I had a colonoscopy on Friday to rule out or diagnose IBD. Well, it came back completely normal, so the most likely cause of my tummy trouble is constipation/IBS. I am due to see the gastroenterologist on Aug 16, but am hesitant to go as I don't think he can do anything for me that my GP can't. What are your experiences with GI docs vs. GPs? Is it at all helpful to see a GI doc if you have IBS? Since I may have food intolerances such as for gluten, I'm considering going anyway to request testing for that, but the GI doc I saw in May (the one who ordered the colonoscopy) didn't think I had this, or at least it wasn't the first thing coming to her mind. I feel like a giant hypochondriac, so I'm not really eager to waste the gastro doc's time.

Thursday, July 26th, 2012

3:37 am
[astridetal]

New here - colonoscopy tomorrow Hi,
I am new to this community. I am not diagnosed with IBS, and in fact am getting a colonoscopy tomorrow (Friday) to check for Crohn's/colitis, but I don't think I should join an LJ comm for that without a diagnosis. I've been suffering from abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhea as well as fatigue for five years, but was only referred to a GI doc a few months ago. Please all keep me in your thoughts tomorrow.

Thursday, May 10th, 2012

4:50 pm
[firerosearien]

Have any of you had any luck going gluten-free or with the specific carbohydrate diet? People keep recommending it to me and I don't know if I believe them.

Sunday, April 8th, 2012

4:10 pm
[twilight_melody]

A new member with a question :) Good afternoon everyone! I just joined and am so happy to find this community. Just a little background i'm a 28 year old female who was diagnosed with IBS three years ago when my GI doctor couldn't find anything better to diagnose me with. I've been managing things with diet (been on 4 different drugs that haven't helped) and need a bit of help.

I was wondering if any of you have ever had an attack on an empty stomach. I know that might sound odd but lately i've been having terrible terrible pains without eating any food. Is that a normal sort of thing? The pains sent me into the ER on thursday and it's been going on every day or so for a week. The doctors are clueless and ran loads of tests, everything came back fine.

I have a ton of fun reproductive issues as well so sometimes tummy issues have me stumped. I thought before I called in to my OB/GYN I would see if any fellow IBS people have had similar issues with foodless pain attacks.

Thanks so much in advance! I'm very excited to be part of the community and hopefully learn something new :)

Current Mood: hungry

Sunday, February 5th, 2012

6:48 pm
[lifein_therain]

Curry Well I guess that'll teach me to eat curry.

I haven't had a reaction that bad since my doctor told me I had IBS and I started being careful. I guess I got complacent - and assumed that my last bad reaction to curry was because I was travelling at the time and that sends everything to hell anyway.

Unless it was just the saag paneer that really did me in - I was thinking paneer would be okay because it looks more like feta and halloumi than other cheeses, and I can eat those fine. Has anyone else had experiences with paneer cheese that made you avoid it?

Friday, December 16th, 2011

1:22 pm
[rebecky_mo]

Mylar-Naproxen + Crohn's = ? Today I was diagnosed with having plantar fasciitis (aka inflammation of the thick tissue on the bottom of the foot), Unfortunately, it was a walk-in clinic doctor who didn't know about me having Crohn's, and it totally slipped my mind.

I now have a prescription of 375mg Mylar-Naproxen (an NSAID) to take 2 times a day for the next 2 weeks, and upon checking the internet, it mentions that those with IBD's shouldn't use it.

Rats.

I'd like to get second opinions. I'm wondering if anyone here has used this particular drug, and what their own experiences/effects were. I'm currently in a 'remission' of sorts, no flare-ups or anything, and as I've had no issues since my resection/diagnosis last year, I'm not on any medications.

Current Mood: curious

Thursday, December 15th, 2011

4:23 pm
[jan3_do3]

Specific Carbohydrate Diet I have been reading a bit about the Specific Carbohydrate Diet and I am interested in trying it. I purchased an SCD cookbook a long time ago, but never got around to giving this diet a try. I wanted to know if anyone else has tried this diet. If so, did it bring any relief or improve any symptoms?

Tuesday, December 13th, 2011

5:14 pm
[luminousmotion]

Query How long does it take for your insides to revolt when you've eaten something they didn't like? Such as being allergic to chocolate? Or some food that was a bit old or what have you. Do you think if it takes 4 hours for something to happen that it probably wasn't the food? Do you usually have a reaction within 30 minutes to an hour later?

Monday, December 12th, 2011

11:45 am
[oreoxxmiho]

Relapse! O noes! Hey guys. I haven't been on LJ in a long time, because I really had my IBS under control. I could eat the things I wanted to (in moderation, extreme moderation) and have COFFEE and SODA even. It was glorious. I wasn't stressed in life, so that had a lot to do with it. I was exercising, not worrying where a bathroom was.

Now...I visit my family next week, and haven't in a long time. I'm really looking forward to it. All this anticipation has given me an utter relapse. It's making it hard to exercise when most of me is evacuating itself every few hours. I don't have the energy. I also have trouble sleeping, not due to bathroom trips but what I'm assuming is anxiety. I can't tell. I just wake up every few hours. I'm trying to eat well, or even less, and that doesn't seem to be working. I still have IBS (D) consistently. Mostly in the morning hours. I'm just not sure what to do. I'd like to have a normal vacation. *sigh* Anybody have experience with relapses and it's a long shot, but quick fixes?

Tuesday, November 29th, 2011

8:46 pm
[dawnjuan]

Ugh omg. My tummy is seriously not happy with me today. I don't know what is going on down there. 2 liquishits tonight. Which is nothing unsual. But this time, I have cramping on the left side. I thought it might just be gas at first but it's lasting a few hours now.

Ow.

Sunday, November 13th, 2011

10:48 am
[lifein_therain]

Friday, November 11th, 2011

4:09 pm
[starcrossed]

Antibiotics and IBS I've been suffering with the very severest form of tonsillitis ans couldn't eat for 5-6 days. I was prescribed extremely high dose antiobiotics (625mg of augmention 3 times a day) which gave me diarrhea (a small, liquid amount every 1/2 - 1 hour.) Imodium wouldn't control it and that has never happened to be before. My stomach was literally crazed my entire abdomen, even right up into my ribcage was gurgling so loud people could hear it two rooms away :/

My doctor since switched me to 250mg of Penicillin VK 4 days a time. This is supposed to be gentler on your stomach but I'm still getting random bouts.

Has anyone experienced anything like this with IBS? When can I expect to get better? Everytime I eat or drink anything my stomach just gurgles and gurgles. Any tips? I need to eat but I'm afraid to. I've lost 8 pounds in six days through this illness.

Current Mood: worried

Saturday, October 22nd, 2011

4:54 pm
[lifein_therain]

Antianxiety medication Has anyone had any luck taking antidepressants or antianxiety medication to help with IBS? My doctor's recommended it, but as I finally got myself to a point where I could come off antidepressants just over a year ago, I'm not really very eager to go back on them :(

Thursday, September 22nd, 2011

12:06 pm
[lifein_therain]

IBS-D and BC Hi everyone, just joined the community as I've just been told my GI symptoms are IBS - I've had them for a year now but thought they were related to other medical problems.

Anyway, I've just been switched from the NuvaRing for birth control - which doesn't use your digestive system to distribute hormones - to the Pill, and although we talked about IBS-D and the pill in the same appointment, and the doctor didn't say anything about it, I'm not worried that my IBS will make the pill less effective, especially as it's been quite active recently.

Has anyone ever had problems with the pill with IBS-D? I'd guess IBS-C wouldn't cause the same problems, but if I'm wrong please let me know!

I'm really worried because I was switched to the pill because it has stronger hormones, but if it's not going to stay in my system long enough to get absorbed then it's going to make it worse!

Tuesday, September 20th, 2011

5:39 pm
[miss_october]

enzymes Can anyone recommend a food enzyme? What do you use? I noticed the drugstore had quite a few choices. Both in the 'disgestion' aisle, and also with the vitamins/supplements.

Also, do you take them every time before eating?

Sunday, September 18th, 2011

11:05 am
[dawnjuan]

I feel a blowout coming on. It's nice to actually have warning signs. A little gurgling going on down there and the sensation that I better not fart or else it will be shart. No pain or cramps. And it's not so bad because I'm in the comfort of my own home with the bathroom just down the hall. If it was in public or while driving or something, I would be panicking a little....

Anyone else relate?

Sunday, September 11th, 2011

7:53 pm
[miss_october]

daily pills I take probiotics (recently switched from Sustenex to Phillips Colon Health). I take peppermint oil capsules. I also sometimes take Lactaid if I think I need it. I take ginger pills whenever I have nausea (not too often).

I was thinking of trying an enzyme, as well. But, I'm afraid of taking TOO much stuff.

So I'm curious, what do you take regularly? I don't mean the occasional, but daily (or fairly regularly)?