Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Support Group

Irritable bowel syndrome is a common intestinal disorder that is characterized by bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, cramping, and constipation. Typically no abnormalities appear during standard medical testing, and so irritable bowel syndrome is identified by the symptoms. Although irritable bowel syndrome can cause serious discomfort, the intestines are not harmed.

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Gastrointestinal System
/ Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Support Group

newly diagnosed.

TC40
TC40
Not only am i missing my ileocecal valve, i was dxd with IBS by my gastro dr today.

I have been having diarrhea almost everyday since June. I have diarrhea anywhere from 1 to 9 timesa day. It is seriously AWFUL. It has interfered with my life. I have to run to thebathroom at work with explosive diarrhea...my workouts have been altered because i won't go the gym when i amhaving severe diarrhea. This absolutely sucks. Today i felt so full, like i had just eaten a huge meal. It was weird.

My dr told me to take one citrucil tablet each am to bulk up my stool.

I also have nausea and stomach pain, gas and bloating. Every now and then, a day of constipation will take place. It is most likely due to the excessive amounts of immodium i take.

I am sick of feeling so awful all of the time.

also...alot of what i eat looks the same coming out as it did going in. Does anyone else notice this???
ChattDana
ChattDana
Hi TC40, I had the same problem for about 20 years, but recently I began (my diahrrhea wasn't so severe, but it was daily) with food not digesting (looking same coming out as going in) like you describe. I was given a barium swallow upper GI series with small bowel test and it was found that I have rapid emptying of the small intestine. My doctor prescribed Levsin (hyoscyamine) which is an antispasmodic. It did stop the diahhrea and the food started digesting properly, BUT I completely lost my ability to feel hunger. I only took the medicine once and it made me very sleepy and groggy ( I could deal with that side effect okay) and that's when I noticed the hunger pangs were gone. After 7 days of not taking the medicine, my hunger sensation came back. It is now about ten days and my bowels are still much better but I can tell that the old problems are starting to come back. To me it is not worth it to have the no hunger side effect (although my doctor thinks it is NOT a side effect) for me to continue this medicine. However, if my diahrrea ever became so impossible, I might consider it. Not everyone gets the same side effects from medication and I have read that other antispasmodics like Bentyl? work even better and have less side effects. I am just telling you about this medicine because I can not believe how it "corrected" my bowel problems and I am one of those people who get the weirdest side effects from medicine, so you could try asking your doctor about antispasmodics. It might be that you need to have a barium swallow so they can see if you have the quick emptying of your small intestine. I really hope you feel better--I know how maddening this is. I did take psyllium (Citrucel) fiber to book up my stool too and it did help a lot, but the antispasmodic made my stool closer to normal than it has ever been in 20 years (but like I said, I won't take it for the side effects, but that is an individual choice).
22Lynn
22Lynn
I was just diagnosed with IBS a month ago. I've daily diahrea now for 15 months. And I have a lot of nausea with it. I also have celiac disease. I was already gluten free when I got the IBS.

In the last month I've cut out dairy, caffiene, soy, and nuts. But I still have the diahrea. I see my GI doctor again tomorrow. She doesn't know what else to do for me.

I've been trying to educate myself about IBS. It seems like it is a very individual disease. I'm going to ask for an antispasmodic tomorrow and see if it helps. I'm really tired of staying home this much.

I found that Lomotil works much better than Immodium. It's a prescription.

I think this is a terrible way to live. I agree with you, it is horrible feeling like this all the time. But you have to take control of your health. Start a food diary and see which foods bother you the most. I know it isn't easy. I've only been dealing with the diagnosis for a month. Good luck in your search for answers.