IBS Newbie With Questions - Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Message Board

DaveinCt · 11-15-2003, 12:40 PM

Hi All:

I have a preliminary dx of IBS-D after Upper GI/small bowel , Colonoscopy and all lab and stool analysis. My Question concerns the attacks I have. For a few days I'll feel quite good and then WHAM I'll have quite the attack. Starts with lower abdominal cramps with somewhat normal stools then leads to upper and lower cramps with looser and looser stools. Eventually just passing what looks like mucous strands. Along the way I'll get some significant nausea and queasiness. This whole process seems to last from 24 to 36 hours and then subsides. Seems to happen every few days. My diet follows fairlyclosely to most of the conservative approachs I've read about concerning IBS. Any of you with IBS-D have similar experiences to this and is there any way that you've had success aborting (or at least coping with) the attack. Any info would be helpful.

Thx,
Dave

AngelGlow · 11-15-2003, 01:14 PM

Hi Dave,

Your symptoms and mine are very similar. I have been dealing with IBS-D for over 25 years. It sounds like you are doing the right things diet-wise. Has your doctor given you any meds? Right now I am taking Donnatal, which helps the cramping significantly. It does make me very groggy, so I only take it if I am staying at home. I have found that less cramping results in less D... and less queasiness and nausea. I started out with Bentyl, but it ceased to be effective after a few years. I was then put on Levsin, but I fund the side effects bothered me more than a flare up did. Many people find relief from Calcium, although that did not work for me. Immodium is another thing that has given a lot of people relief.

Take care, and enjoy your good days

DaveinCt · 11-16-2003, 10:46 AM

Hi AngelGlow:

Thanks for your reply. WOW! 25 years. You must be one tough person. I've been only dealing with this (in this capacity) for about 3 months and I'm about to go crazy! I go back to see my GI in about 8 days. The only med so far has been Levsin but, I haven't seen any benefit from that. I've been just trying to survive the attacks the best I can. Occassionally, I'll take a Klonopin that I have in case of a panic attack, which I used to get, and that seems to help the nausea, also some pepto seems to calm the cramping and D, but only a little. I've actually been to the ER twice because of the symptoms. Yuk. Lord willing, the doctor will come up with something to help. Good luck to you.

Thx,
Dave

want_to_be_free · 11-16-2003, 02:57 PM

Hello Dave. I'm sorry to hear of your condition. When I first started having my ibs problems, I found myself going to the hospital a few times too. And I suffered a lot of bad stomach aches. I dont know if the cramps your are feeling are like mine are, but most of the time if I take GAS-X, it will take my tummy ache away. I know cramps and tummy ache are two different things, but I wish I would have known about it when I was a newbie ibs sufferer. Good luck.

AngelGlow · 11-17-2003, 08:58 AM

Dave,
Panic attacks, stress and anxiety play a HUGE role in IBS. I am currently in a stress management group and the relaxation/cognitive behavioral therapy techniques help me somewhat when I am having a bad day of it. These techniques don't make my IBS disappear, but it helps to try and be relaxed and realize this is not life-threatening (although it sure feels that way sometimes).

I am thinking good thoughts for you... take care!