Well for the last couple of months I've had the runs nearly everyday and been getting through immodium instants like sweets and last week decided it's come to a point and went to the doc's and got diagnosed with IBS and given colofac mr which hasn't helped soo now got colomin or something today anyway these are anti-spasmodics so take away the bloting feeling and the pain but i need to stop the diarrhoea as i go to college and work and it takes 45mins to get to college and nowhere to stop etc and at work i can't just dash off so i really really need it to stop because it's causing me to take time off when t's really bad because there's nothing i can do now. I've cut out dairy as much as possible along with soft drinks and spicy foods but it odesn't seem to be helping much.

Any advice?

Rach

Hi,

One way is to try using soluble fibre supplements like Equate (walmart brand) or metamucil (if you haven't already). Fibre is naturally contained in food and help bulk up stools.

If the soluble fibre supplements on their own doesn't work - Have you ever tried taking calcium supplements? Powdered calcium is much stronger. However, be very careful, because calcium is very strong. It can turn normal into extremely hard stools and it can turn constipation in to a colon ripping rock-like thing.

Powdered calcium tastes awful, but works even better.

So, try taking calcium with your meals. Remember to drink plenty of water/fluids.

You should also remember to use plain white yogourt to help repopulate your intestines with the useful bacteria that help digestion. They get washed out with diarrhea, and will need replenishing.

There'll be more information on this topic on this site if you do some searches too.

If the above techniques all fail, there is another good method - but I'll reserve that for later.

Cheers, Raju. ;)

Hi Rachel: I can relate, because I have had almost the exact same thing for several years. Certainly try what Raju suggests, if you want, but I wanted to give you a couple other ideas.

First of all, my IBS is so bad I have to take pain meds (Methadone) for the pain. My doctor has prescribed Lomotil for the diarrhea, but if that doesn't work, I also have (it's a prescription also) a powder that comes in individual packets (in a box of 60) of a med called Cholestyramine. You mix it with juice or even water (what I have right now is orange flavored) and it stops everything up. My doctor reminded me though, you cannot take any other meds for about six hours after you've taken a dose of this powder, because it won't be absorbed into the system. I mix mine with Gatorade and it does work! Whenever we travel, I always make sure I bring some packets of this med, plus the Lomotil and my other meds as well.

Ask you doctor about it and good luck.