A few weeks ago I started having abdominal discomfort/pains along with diarrhea and gas. I also felt dizzy and "out of it" during these times. To counter the watery stools, I started taking Fibercon--which ended up working miracles. I almost immediately stopped having the gut pains and my BMs were reduced to about three from as much as six in one day (all well-formed, dense stools). The dizziness seemed to abate somewhat as well. After about a week later, my diarrhea returned severely for about one day. I made a note that I had drank some caffeinated tea during the past three days. I've stopped drinking tea again and so far so good. Then I started taking acidophillus about three days which seems to help with the gas (knock on wood). It's been three days since I first took the pills.

The past two mornings I have had severe nausea, it gradually wears off during the day and I feel most normal at night after dinner. It's gotten to the point where I don't even want to go to bed at night because I dread the nausea so much. The night before I had a lot to eat before I went to bed so I thought that could be the cause of the "indigestion" if you could call it that. (I didn't take in enough calories during the day and I wanted to make up for it.) I tried to eat lighter last night and though I feel better today than I did yesterday, I had a tough time falling asleep because I felt the indigestion backed up in my stomach.

It's like for every progress made there was something new to take its place. I've been under so much stress these past few months and i'm trying to relax as much as I can but these feelings are leaving me so tired and desperate.

Hi IBSux,

You're a real fighter man - you can make it through. You've got the right attitude to help beat your problems. Don't get depressed - there's a whole lot of people out here rootin' to make sure we all make it alive dude.

Regards, Raju.

I went through just about the exact same thing. Here were my culprits...

eggs
dairy
chocolate
broccoli
cauliflouer
too many onions
fatty meat

Thanks all for your support. I'll report back if I find any other "triggers".

One thing that helped me more than anything... other than cutting out those foods, was taking acidophilis suppliments. I would recommend that to anyone with IBS.

I think the acidophilus has done well with the gas. The Fibercon seems to be wearing off. I don't have to go as much since I started taking it, but the stools have reverted back to a more mushy type. It's been two weeks since I started taking them.

Also, I am finding that I am experiencing discomfort during meals--some mild nausea and gas. Could a coordination of gut muscles have something to do with this phenomenon?

Overall, I think its gotten a lot better but I don't think I'm quite there yet.

*fingers crossed*

It takes time.

So here I am two weeks later...Fibercon turned out to be completely useless after a while and so now I've switched to taking 4 metamucil, 2 acidophilus, and 4 calcuim supplements. The result? Well there are days where I have 2 BMs and very little discomfort. My best day was about two days ago. But the past two days, I've had 2 hard BMs in the morning, followed by diarrhea until mid afternoon. Knock on wood but the gas seems to have diminished. I'm generally no longer nauseaus and my appetite seems is back to normal. Although I get some indigestion (feel like regurgitating) if I eat anything after 8 or 9 at night. The calcium, I think seems to have gotten me to this point. Also I have cut caffeine, carbonation, and all dairy products out of my diet.

I'm still under a great deal of stress (end of semester) but am managing it better. I'm still so frustrated with the loose/watery stools in the afternoon and the feeling that I need to make a BM.

I'm at the end of my rope. I feel like I've made some progress, but it hasn't been steady. I've read so many posts now that short of antidep meds, I've tried everything. Please someone help.

Hi IBsux,

I think that it is possible that your calcium isn't getting well spread within the food and so you are having inconsistencies in your stools.

If this is the case, I would suggest a couple of things you can try. One is to only take a half a pill of calcium with each meal. (do it only at meal time, so that there is a better spread in the food). Two is when you take the half a pill powder it. I believe that powdering calcium is more effective as it spreads better, and since it is more effective you should only take a half a pill to start with. (Although I've tried powdered calcium and it tastes terrible) :(

Well, good luck - I hope something works for you.

Cheers, Raju.