hi Emily,
I have IBS and depending on the severity of the flare sets my IBS if I am in severe pain usually I have diahria, but I am constipated at other times. I take my med's and try to follow the diet I was given. I hope this helps you isabee

I would fit in the group that alternates. First con then dia. I am eating extra fiber and taking probiodics and am finding a little bit of difference.

I get both constipation and diarrhea with my IBS

I had diarrhea before I found a good pharmaceutical grade probiotic.

Never had constipation.

As long as I don't run out of probiotic I have neither.

I have constipation, but I attributed it to the pain meds I'm taking. When I was teaching and under lots of stress, I had more of the diarrhea.

When it is acting up I would say alternate, but since I take probiotics and drink green smoothies I am okay. Also, I try to stay away sugar too much sugar brings symptoms on fast.

I guess I am trying to decide if constipation causes flares. Because if it does,then maybe taking something to prevent constipation will decrease flares?

Just trying to sort things out in my mind. Figure that the better I understand the relationship between symptoms,the better I will be at managing them. Maybe it's denial. I keep trying to exert some influence over things. Some days or hours are so good and then it can quickly turn.

I did a meditation and a yoga workshop today. In between I spent a lot of time lying flat on my back listening to music. Feel so good this evening. Maybe lying down after exercise will prevent the post exercise flare? See what I mean about trying to figure things out?

I am in the constipated category. Have had this since I was 17.

IBS-CONSTIPATION............. And yes, My fibro pain increases when I'm consipated. Of couse, consipation causes pain too, so it just adds to the pain.

I thought IBS meant a person goes from one extreme to the other....constipation to diarrhea all the time. How would I know if my constipation is part of IBS or a result of taking pain meds? Maybe the fact that I used to be bothered by the other extreme means it is IBS? I'm just wondering "out loud."

I usually have IBS C.... but if I am anxious (eg: going to fly , travel, etc) I will have diarrhea.
Also, if I eat bad foods (eg: greasy / fried, beef, processed, etc), it will cause a variety of symptoms.
If I am stressed out I can have IBS C or IBS D.

But when I'm happy and I'm eating right, my symptoms are usually minimal.

I haven't thought about what pain does to the ibs..... I'm sure elevated pain causes stress and stress can has effects on the ibs. And the other way around, too. If you are having a lot of ibs flares it can stress you out which can't be good for your fibro either.

Whether you have one or the other or both, it's painful, uncomfortable, miserable even.

I suffer every day with this malady as I do with pain. For me I don't think it's related to pain levels or what some people call flares.

I don't know Lizzy and unfortunately the only way to really know is to stop your medication. WHICH I AM NOT SUGGESTING. You might ask your pharmacist if people commonly experience constipation with that medication.

My approach thus far is that since I can't nip fibro in the bud, I try to do what I can for each of the symptoms and the gastrointestinal issues seem a big one. I mean gastrointestinal problems seem to be so closely associated with fibro..

Just read an article that celiac disease has been associated with low levels of bifidobacterium in the intestines. Don't know which is the chicken and which is the egg, but still, those findings suggest it's a good idea to take a good probiotic.

I'm lucky I get both.

I had the IBS with diarrhea but im finding changing my diet to mostly vegetarian has helped.