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.
I was on here a while ago, not sure if anyone remembers, but anyway, I've had a few new updates, and I am soooo LOST! Since the begining of Jly I have had abdominal pain and I've suffered from IBS for the last 12 years. I am only 28 now. I've had 3 kids and during my pregnancies I've had no symptoms. Well, my general doctor is also a natural path and she has tested me like crazy. everything seems to come back fine. I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's but she doesn't want to treat me or send me to a specialist because it will make my diarrhea worse. She did an extensive allergy test (more like a sensativity test) But since then I am gluten free, milk free, and now yeast free. She aslo wants me to stay away from my slight sensativities which involve 34 things, including fruits and vegetables. She thought I have candida because I am allergic to yeast. Well, then she sent me to a GI specialist because crohns runs in my family and I went to see him, he said it sounded just like it. So I recently went and did a colonoscopy and an endoscopy. He said everything looked fine, he didn't see any signs of crohns, he did find a polyp that came back fine (no cancer). He put me on bentyl, but then I had to go to the ER because I had an ellergic reaction to it, so then he told me to take peppermint oil after every meal. I end up burbing that up and tasteing it for hours. Then I did get a yeast infection so I took a diflucan and got yeast coming out with my bowel movements. So I'm now on candex to help kill that, and they want me to stay away from white potatoes and cane sugar. I have been doing all of this and I am still waking up and about an hour after I get this horrible pain and I get diarrhea with it. I am also on a refridgerated probiotic that doesn't cantain soy milk ect, everything I can't eat. I'm soooo at my ending point. I'm almost ready to ask the doc to give me the bag and cut out my colon, just so I can get out of my house. I've tried the aloe vera juice, but haven't been consistant, I need to start that up again. At first when I go to these doctors they seem sooo compassionate and determined to help me, but now that they've run the tests they want or think it could be, I feel like they have dropped off the earth. My husband is getting tired of me looking things up online and trying to diagnose myself, but I don't know whatelse to do. I can't keep living this way. It just feels like there is something they are missing. Is there a simple test for addison's desease? Does this sound like anything that anyone else can think of? How do I know if it's not one of my other organs not working properly? I need help.
hang in there
Have you thought about using those sexy little disposable under garments so you can go out and not worry?
Hang in there. You have friends here and we're here for you.
Some brands are better than others as far as fit and so on. They can add a lot of security so you can relax when you go out. There was a young woman who had been injured in the war, and I read that she would have to wear those for the rest of her life.
I've seen pink ones before near the pharmacy counter and for a while they were being advertised for women who experience very heavy period.
That's another one of those things that I think should be more socially acceptable. So some of us could be more social!
Please read this in it's entirety (and sorry it's so long).
I was just searching the web and saw your comment, so I wanted to reply to you. I'm 42 and have had IBS for most of my life. It wasn't that bad (or it didn't seem to be) when I was young, but once I was in my early teens, it really started to affect my life negatively. So I can certainly understand where you are coming from. I have been to the emergency room so many times I can't even count. I have real problems with gas and passing it. I have some kind of Asthma or COPD, which the bloating makes 10 times worse.
Anyway I have several suggestions for you:
1) Stay away from sugar, sweets, and carbohydrates as much as possible. Minimize, and keep conscious of your intake of these. The usual cause of IBS is an overpopulation of bad-bacteria in the gut. These bacterium LOVE sugar and carbohydrates. Try to eat more complex carbohydrates (fruits, veggies, whole grains etc.)
2) Eat fiber, like a multi-grain hot cereal. Start with a minimal amount and then gradually increase until you get to a comfortable amount, without feeling bloated. You might also try a product like Citrucel, which contains soluble fiber and will help keep you regular with minimal gas and bloating. I also sprinkle ground flaxseeds on my hot cereal and prepare flaxseed tea from whole flaxseeds. In addition to being a good source of essential fatty acids, the mucilage from flax helps to calm the digestive system and make you feel full.
3) As you already know probiotics do work, but they don't work very well unless you take them consistently, and in large enough quantities. I have been taking a product called BIO-K for a few years now and it seems to help my conditions. There are others as well. I have recently started using Stevia instead of sugar, and using more FOS (Fructooligosaccharides, Inulin etc.). These are gut friendly sweetners and fibers in one. They are often packaged with Stevia, as pure Stevia extract is expensive.
4) There is a new Antibiotic on the market called Rifaximin (generic) / Xifaxan (brand name) which has proven to be very effective in providing relief (though temporary) for IBS patients. If you Google "Rifaximin + IBS" or "Xifaxan + IBS", and search through the returned webpages, you will see the results of trials and testimonials of people for whom this medication has worked. I'm going to take it for two weeks, and then flood my body with Probiotics, and repeat this cycle every 3 or 4 months. These Antibiotics are certainly not a cureall, but people have reported feeling relief from their IBS symptoms for up to 2 to 3 months after taking them.
5) Your concern about the possibility of other diseases is not unfounded. The problem is, -the symptoms of IBS, could be caused by IBS or 100 other diseases or conditions. Have your doctors ruled out Celiac Disease yet? or Pelvic Floor Dysfunction? There are sometimes conditions/diseases with the female reproductive system and hormones that can mimic the symptoms of IBS.
There are many others and I can't list them all here, but you also might want to consider occasional Diagnostic Imaging, to rule out more serious diseases. The human body is so complex and there is such a myiad of possibilities, that it is impossible for the "medical establishment" to run every possible test (and not economical or practical either), even though one of those future tests migh reveal the actual cause of the problem.
We are all (unfortunately) responsible for our own health and acheiving the best possible outcome. No one will do it for us. I wish you the best, and am glad that you at least have a family to support you and give you love. I hope you will take some of my suggestions seriously (and actually try them :)
Sincerest Regards,
-John
Just another suggestion: I've had IBS for probably 20 yrs...just have to control it as it happens. it would 'arrive' and stay days, monthes? then go away for long periods. Stress did make it worse, but not always...sometimes it flares when life is just good/boring--go figure.
But the last few monthes--as I am going thru Menopause (aaarrrgh) it has been really bad. I am at a point where I might not have a period for almost a year then have spotting...the meno symptoms change from not tooo bad to OMG awful...But Ive noticed that the last couple monthes, my hormones must be fluctuating alot...(too much info, but as an example breasts change cup size by 2 in just a day or two like pms). When this happens--THE IBS IS WORSE!!!
Sorry this is long...my point is you said during your pregnancies you were fine...maybe investigate what your hormones do and how it affects your digestive system???
good luck...keep us posted.