My IBS. - Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Message Board

Jammy|Matt · 01-21-2005, 02:44 AM

I've had IBS for about 2 months now(Diagnosed for that long) But I've had it longer. My brother has suffered with it for about two years now. Im a twin, and the doctors believe its come through the Genes. Im 16 Years old (17 next month).

I've been having problems lately, and it seems my tablets are not working, I've been getting Burning stomach pains and cramping, unable to attend College because of it and my life is just running away from me because of this.

My symptons are Burning, Cramping mainly, apart from the rare toilet problem.

I have read alot of peoples post and seen I have it easy to some, I hope you find something to help you.

The question is: Does anyone have any ideas to calm down the pains and cramping so I can get on with my life like I used to? Or just so I can attend College and Im not in as much pain.

Feel free to ask questions.

Thank you for time for reading this,

-Matt

P.S I am so grateful for these boards, Thank you Admin/Founder/Mods

rush_rulz · 01-21-2005, 09:49 AM

hi Matt!!

Well, I can certainly relate to the feeling that your life is out of control some days, and at the mercy of your bowels! It sucks for sure...

I am a 23 yr old female, soon to be 24 and I've had bowel problems for a long while. I didn't hear about IBS until recently. But I've never taken any meds for it. The only questions I could pose to you so far is have you tried or considered trying meditation or sitting and just closing your eyes to cope with pain? Even if you are at a toilet, say at the school or work or whatever, you can do it--just be sure to put both feet on the floor, close your mouth and breath thru your nose (for me this was a toughie and still is on certain days b/c I have CHRONIC siunitis issues and on my bad days cannot breath through my nose) but effectively you would breath through the nose and place your tounge on the roof of your mouth. Count your breaths and just breath slooowly in and out and try to get more breath, or a longer count going out than in (hard to do but does help you to relax with practice).

That s really all the suggestion on coping with pain I can offer as only the "pink stuff" (Pepto) has ever eased my D days, but my IBS alternates between D and C type.

bulletinboard25 · 01-21-2005, 10:18 AM

As far as medicine goes.... for pain... well, many people on here or suffering from IBS take anti-depressants, b/c they have uses other than for the treatment of depression; for example, i take tofranil which also has a use for "nervous pain", typically being IBS pain, and also helps stop the D...

There are also anti-spasmadics, like levsin, bentyl, donnatal, and librax... my personal favorite, the one that worked the best for me w/ pain was librax, definitely....

Natural remedies... You can take peppermint capsules, those have been shown in studies to help eleviate IBS pain.. you can also drink the peppermint tea... doctors have even recommended if you have no other source of peppermint to take like 3-4 peppermint altoids.

you could try digestive enzymes w/ meals to help with digestion and ease those cramping pains...

any other questions ask.

Jammy|Matt · 01-21-2005, 03:28 PM

I guess mine is through Stress? Just because of Exams I've had recently and still coming up.

I know that some foods/drink effect my stomach but thats all so far, I took anti-cramping tablets and that just.. hurt more then the cramping usual did.

For meditation, I'll try it to be honest, because I can be an angry person I guess(nothing bad, Just get angry easy, wouldn't harm anyone though), Just to calm me down(when thats the factor that effects it) or is it just cramps because it feels like it.

Im not a depressive person, if Im depressed then I listen to music to make me feel better and its rare Im depressed so don't think Depression effects my case.

Im grateful for your posts =), I'll keep checking back aswell.

-Matt