Hello,
I am new to these boards so I'm just throwing out some random questions I've been having!

First, let me just say that my mom has been diagnosed with IBS, Diverticulosis (sp?), and my Grandma has the same thing. So here's my question.

I dont have bowel movements very often (maybe once a week, 2 times if I'm lucky) Usually, they are quite uneventful, however, sometimes (about once a month) I have a really bad bowel movement, it consists of horrible pains, sweating, and it takes me about 15 minutes to completely finish going, and I have pain for about an hour afterwards. Sometimes, I will just have mucus come out when I feel like I have to poop.

Does this sound like IBS?

Any advice is helpful...thanks!

Hi,

WEll, it could be....but I'd advise you to go to a gastroenterologist firstly to get you checked out and make sure there isn't anything else wrong. At least starting with a "clean slate" and proceeding from there is much easier.

Do you eat enough? Are you eating enough fruit, vegetables, salads? Are you on any medications, do you take a lot of calcium (for some that slows down the peristalsis).

The object for you would be to find out if you have what's called lazy bowel symdrome. The peristalsis would be slow, but having stool in the colon for extended periods of time isn't really that good for you.
You'd have to retrain your bowel to start working again, and that can be (hopefully) by adding foods and fibre in a balance as not to cause any undue painful gas, etc.

There is an IBS board on this site....check in there and maybe someone can give you some other suggestions.

Best to you,
quincy