LiteraryPumpkin

New to IBS?

You're looking for something or you wouldn't be at this website.

You need something from us. Answers, encouragement, solutions ... a secret cure?

I have IBS, I've had chronic gut problems from birth.

One thing that you probably need from us is a list of all the things that are wrong with us. If very many of these items match your sufferings, then it's time to exclaim: "I am not alone! My God, I was so sure that I was!"

I call this the 'Show and Tell' phase of your recovery: I'LL SHOW YOU MINE IF YOU'LL SHOW ME YOURS. By the way, did you notice that I used the word RECOVERY?

OK, I will show you mine. It will be embarrassing for me .. but it's for the greater good isn't it.

Before I do that, let me share something with you that I think is important.

People don't share things like IBS symptoms. It is quite possible that your cousin, your aunt or your next door neighbor has IBS. IBS is a better kept secret than anything in the Central Intelligence Agency. So, you have problems in a pattern that is completely unfamiliar to you. You've never heard of such a thing, and I might add, neither has your boss or spouse or other important people in your life. Now, you are alone and unsupported, at least not supported to the degree that you need.

Depression is fairly common with those who suffer chronic illness and you have a chronic illness that neither you nor those close to you understand. Both support and knowledge are missing and everyone fears the unknown. So, now add fear, whether you conciously admit it or not. DEPRESSION WILL MAKE YOUR SYMPTOMS WORSE! It's very, very simple: depression is another chronic illness pancaked on top of what you already have.

I worked in one of the world's largest hospitals and I worked in trenches. I saw a world of pain and suffering and dispair and depression and limb-shaking fear. People are such interesting creatures! Guess what? People blame themselves for their illnesses. Oh, usually they don't do it consciously. They don't even know that they are doing it:

"I'm a weakling ... I should have gone to work."
"I'm disgusting! I have gas and diarrhea and other unpleasant and unseemly problems. This makes me dirty from the inside out."
"There is something inherintly inferior about me. Other people don't have this."
"I'm a pathetic failure! My life has gone to hell. My friends are disappearing, my job is on the rocks and for what? Cancer? Heart Disease? MS? HARDLY! If what I have was considered a major illness, there would be an IBS Foundation just like there is a Cancer Foundation. Therefore, I'm letting a minor illness ruin my life. Indeed, I am a ridiculous figure of a person!"

THE ABOVE EXAMPLES ARE FEELINGS .. EMOTIONS. THEY ARE NOT ONLY AS REAL AS LOGICAL THOUGHTS, THEY ARE MORE POWERFUL!

Let's recap then:

You are sick
You are alone
You are confused (as to exactly what you have, how to deal with it and what is your future)
You are in an emotional freefall because you have no foundation on which to stand or quality support
You may be depressed
You are definitely frightened (admit it)
You are developing a deluxe case of poor self-esteem

Well my friend, you are not alone because you are here. Stay in contact with us and/or others who suffer as you. No matter what it takes, hold on to that connection.
You must have friends. This is not an option. You must learn that you don't have to touch someone to love them, to gain strength from them.
Read, read, read. Learn about IBS. Learn about us and others who are your brothers and sisters in pain. Don't believe everything you read. With quantity will come knowledge and discernment.
Be very watchful for the symptoms of depression and run (don't walk) to the doctor if you think that it's developing.

Let your friends on the net love you. Ask for that love. If you are shy .. get over it. You will gain the ability to throw away those feelings of inferiority, guilt and that "dirty" feeling.

MY GROCERY LIST OF GUT PROBLEMS

Bellyaches that can last a month
Frequent gas (2 years ago, I had gas 24/7)
Undefined and troubling pain in the gut
Constipation that launches diarrhea (a very painful diarrhea)
Diarrhea often leads to constipation
Acid reflux
Acid that burns my anus (associated with diarrhea)
Wildly exagerated hunger pangs
Nausea and that exagerated hunger at the same time
Diarrhea often leads to constipation
Disgusting smelling belches
Soft stool that takes half a roll of toilet paper to clean up
Hemoroids that bleed during diarrhea
Acid reflux that burns my air passage and causes me to struggle for breath
Distended abdomen, looks like a pot belly (comes and goes)
Chest pain that is (according to my doctor) deferred pain from the gut
Intolerance to milk products
Sugar craving (sugar gives me acid)
Episodes of horrible gut pain that last 2 - 3 hours. Always consumated by diarrhea
Nausea

WHAT HAS HELPED ME

Zantac
Metamucil
Eating less
Avoiding sweets (when I do, which is seldom)
Avoiding foods that kick my *** (cabbage, booze, coffee, etc)

If I don't have a bowel movement in the morning, before I go to work .. I'm in trouble! I eat Metamucil wafers and drink hot Postum every morning and this has helped a lot.

HOW MUCH HAS THE ABOVE HELPED

Acid is not much of a problem anymore. BIGGIE!
My bouts of ping-ponging between constipation and diarrhea are now rare
My episodes of terrible gut pain occur 2-3 times a year now
No disgusting belches, ever
Stools are an easy clean now, they are NORMAL. Hooray!!!!

Life is better. I credit Zantac and Metamucil in starting me down the road of recovery. My eating habits, if I ever get them under control, could represent more major progresses for me.

Now, all my friends are on the net. I lost every one that I could see and touch. Can't see or touch them now. I love my friends on the net. I want to help them. I am willing to cry with them. I pray for them. I miss them when they disappear for awhile (typical in chronic sufferers. they don't always feel up to logging on).

If I can do it. You can do it. If you think that you can't ... let's talk .. just you and me .. I don't bight.

Russell