I understand IBS is diarrhea/constipation or a combo of both. The thing is that I have always had normal bowels. I went every morning with no problem except having some cramps or pain. Why now since Saturday, am I having trouble? I just can't understand it. I haven't been going normal. All I keep passing is globs of mucus. The past couple days I have been passing bright red blood-tinged mucus. I do have hemmoroids. Could that be the problem? I'm just scared I have a bacterial/viral/parasite infection! When are my bowels going to get back to normal?

Fairy,
I have found that to have normal BMs that are regular and without straining I have to take a water soluble fiber supplement like Metamucil twice daily and drink at least 6 glasses of water daily.

The psyllium in Metamucil absorbs water & is a bowel regulator and bulking agent. It also acts like a cleaner for your intestines.

I don't use Metamucil -- I use the Equate brand from Wal Mart --it seem a lttle courser, and 1 dose is about 1/3 more psyllium than Metamucil and it cost about half as much -- it works just as well. This fiber is safe to use daily.

It is a natural fiber supplement and is brokendown by digestion and ferments causing gas but with contunues use the gas goes away-- just start off slower than the recommended dose.

I wish you well---Harry

Have you been diagnosed as having IBS by a doctor or is it just an assumption or self-diagnosis at this point? If this problem is sudden and you've gone almost a week of it, I'd say it is time to call the doctor.

I've had both e-coli and c-difficile, and believe me, it is better to find out sooner than later if you have an infection. When I had e-coli, I waited a week to go to the doctor. Actually, because I had diarrhea so bad (with a limit of about six seconds between the time the brain got the "gotta go!" message to the time I had to be at the toilet), I didn't dare make an appointment at her usual office 25 miles away, so I saw her physician's assistant nearby. Unfortunately, that was a mistake, as for two weeks he kept stringing me along with "there's a virus going around." Then without a stool test, he gave me a prescription for an antibiotic, and it wasn't strong enough to kill what it turned out that I had. And in the meantime it killed off the good bacteria, so c. difficile, one of the bad bacteria got a good start, too. By the time I saw my doctor, I had had the problem for four weeks, totally housebound because of the problem. She had me do the stool tests and it was almost another week before that came back, as it had to be cultured. So it was five weeks before I knew what I had and started taking the right meds. I lost 20 pounds in those five weeks!

The heavy mucous doesn't sound like e-coli, but IBS isn't the only thing that produces mucous. I'd call for an appointment first thing Monday and find out for sure what you really do have.

Uff-Da,

Yes, I have already had a colonoscopy and everything was normal. It did show some spasms, which he diagnosed as IBS. I know what IBS is and what all the signs/symptoms are. I did believe I had an infection because my bowels just weren't right. I never had a problem like this before or since being diagnosed. I ate a burger from Wendy's Sat. and it just didn't taste right. That's when most of the problems started. I have called m GI doctor, but I'm still waiting for a response. I was able to get into my GP, and he gave me ampicillin. When you were infected, what were some of your symptoms?

Uff-Da,
When you were infected, what were some of your symptoms?With the e-coli, I had the most severe watery diarrhea I've ever had in my life. Like I said above, from the time my brain sent the message that I had to go, I had only six seconds to be at the toilet or I'd have an accident. Talk about urgency! LOL! Good thing I didn't have cats back then to get in my way or I'd have had more accidents than I did! Good thing I was about ten years younger then, too. I don't think I can move that fast anymore. (Age 64) I had no problem with mucous in the stool, but globs of mucous are not normal, and though mucous is seen with IBS, since it was a distinct change for you, I'd be inclined to think there was another cause. So I'm glad you were able to get in to see your GP. I hope the ampicillin takes care of the problem.