I suffer from IBS-D (for 10 years now) and nothing I've tried has helped. Fiber, flaxseed oil, acidodolphilous (sp?) all made it worse... so much so that many times I've shown up in the ER in the middle of the night.

I was never an anxious person before this, but now find that the slightest trip outside the house, whether its to the supermarket or just to pick up my child at school, causes me to have what I call an anxiety attack.... which usually results in me having to run to the bathroom 2 seconds before I'm due to leave, which makes me more nervous, which makes me run to the bathroom again... what a vicious cycle. I'm sure we've all been there.

As a result of this, my doctor put me on the generic brand of librax. Its supposed to have a calming effect (which I haven't noticed lol) and is supposed to 'dry up the liquid in my intestines', which it must be doing because my stools for the first time in years are actually formed (not hard).

However...I've been waking up now in the early dawn hours with the most excruciating cramps in my lower stomach. The pain can be so horrific that I can't even breathe, much less move. I've had to do lamaze breathing thru it. After maybe 20 minutes of this, I feel the need to use the bathroom. After I have a BM, the pain subsides but my stomach feels much like it was used for a punching bag most of the day.

I'm wondering if my intestines are spazzing out because my stool is harder than it has been (its been pure water at times) or if something else is going on. Stomach cramps are not a side effect of this med according to my pharmacist. Anyone else experiencing these cramps?

thx,
seabell

You could also try Magnesium supplements. They may help the constipation without the stomach cramps.

However, you do need fiber in your diet as your GI system will not function without it.

Welcome Seabell. Your symptoms sound a lot like mine. I've been told I have a spastic colon & have had all the tests, with everything negative. That's good? Well, yes, that's good, however, the symptoms I have are horrible & I can't get rid of them. I cannot take ANY of the antispasmodic drugs due to side effects. I'm very sensative to all drugs. Since Christmas 2002, I've been in a pattern of IBS that I can't seem to break. I, too, have horrible pain, only mine is in the back. I thought it felt a lot like my labor pains while giving birth to my kids. I awake from 3-4-5 a.m. with a horrible left sided back pain & in a few minutes I feel the urge to push & I have a bm & feel somewhat better. Then my back pain feels like it's sore or inflammed. I then "go" again when I get up around 6 & again & again. I have diahhrea, but, after taking Metamucil, I do have more formed stools. I don't think it would do any good to go back to my Dr. as I have been there 3 times since Jan.03 & keep getting the same answers. I can only ask for a referral to a Gastro, BUT, from what I've read, the same tests w/be done & the outcome w/probably be the same, IBS. At any rate, know that you are not alone w/your symptoms, but, if you have not been tested (i.e. blood, stool, xrays, etc) you should do so to rule out any underlying disease. Let us know how you are doing. GOD BLESS AMERICA.

You guys sound like me and I have horrible IBS with constipation for it's chief complaint that of course triggers other complaints.
For both C and D IBS the anti spasmodics are often the first thought in finding the comfort zone.
It's rough going if none of the anti spasmodics are agreeable to your system. and there are many many different types of anti spasmodics.
Basically, Calcium will firm up the stools and magnesium will losen up the stools and generally when doing a suppliment it's best to work out a balance between the two substances.
I personally don't do well on Magnesium.
It just cramps my gut too much.
Labor pains are a good descriptive only sometimes I think labor was easier and it did not happen every day for days on end.
My IBS belly gets anoyed very easily at the wrong kind of stimulus.
With either IBS problem adding fiber to the diet is essential.
Although the kind of fiber for each problem will be specific and individual to how each body responds.
Like with calcium and magnesium.
People with IBS C do better with ripe pears for fruit fiber and IBS D folks do better with Apples for fruit fiber. Little specifics in your fiber make all the difference in the world.
kat