Hello. Over recent weeks I have come to the conclusion that I certainly have IBS. I take medication that seems to have helped a bit. I suffer from diarrhea, constipation and stomach cramps. What exactly do most medications do? I've heard that different things can bring on IBS such as stress, anxiety and poor diet. How does the medication help all people when there are different things that bring it on? Lately I have thought that the medication may be stopping me from going to the bathroom when I have to? Is this right? Thanks in advance.

I don't have a scientific answer for you but in my experience. ( I take levsin) it doesn't get rid of the D it is however supposed to help with the cramps at least that is how it was explained to me. I find it either doesn't help or only helps sometimes. I was directed to take as needed when there is a problem rather than as a preventative. I don't want to be a downer. But I think you'll find it's different for everyone. You have to keep looking and experimenting until you find what works for you. And sometimes, occasionaly you may still have set backs where your stomach just doesn't cooperate. I worked with someone who knew that acidic foods like tomato sauce for example could trigger an episode. The only two things I know for sure give me trouble if I have Too much is fatty food and caffeine. I can tolerate only one rich meal in a day (I wen't on atkins a few yrs ago and it set me in too an IBS nightmare after only a couple of weeks... it was hard to get me back on track). Good luck finding a way to work around it. It is a pain but we all have something so you just learn to deal... Talking to other people who understand is a real help. :)

River, thanks for your help. You have certainly cleared a few things up for me.

One more question I was hoping someone may know the answer to. Can IBS medicine stop "D" when its neccessary. What I mean is when you eat something that may give you "D", you usually just go to the bathroom a few times and its over. Does the medicine stop you from doing what you have to? I ask this because the other day I had very sharp stomach pains that I had never had. I felt as if I had "D" but couldn't go to the toilet. What do you think? Thanks in advance.